History SoundtrackDissonance / WesternAnimation

*** [[spoiler:[[TheMovie Oh,]][[CosmicRetcon really?]] (Any word on whether it was retconned solely because it was too sad?)]]

* So you're got an episode of your animated series. It's a tense moment--your main hero and protagonist is absolutely getting the crud kicked out of him, to the point where it's looking like the main villain won't even need to implement his plan to discredit the hero and his organization. Said villain stands on the verge of ultimate victory. What's the appropriate music to play in this moment of crisis? Did you say "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0j0lO7uQBo a slow build to an upbeat, heroic fanfare]]"? If so, congratulations! You went to the same school of music composition as the composer for the WesternAnimation/StreetFighter animated series.

*** [[spoiler:[[TheMovie Oh,]][[CosmicRetCon really?]] (Any word on whether it was retconned solely because it was too sad?)]]

* In the PhineasAndFerb episode "Phineas and Ferb get Busted", the [[EarWorm super-catchy]] [[AwesomeMusic "Chains On Me"]]...''[[HighOctaneNightmareFuel while the boys are getting their imaginations pounded out of them]].''

* The song "Two Worlds, One Family" sung at the very beginning of ''{{Disney/Tarzan}}'' is actually sung over scenes where Tarzan's parents and Kala and Kerchak's biological son are both killed by a leopard.

* A very good example is the end of the short film [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irbFBgI0jhM Alma]]. [[spoiler: The character has her {{IHaveNoMouthAndIMustScream soul transferred into a doll}} and another doll is made for the next victim.]] All of this is scored to very cheery music.

* At the end of ''Series/TheTransformers'' episode "The Golden Lagoon", as Beachcomber sits glumly staring at the beautiful lagoon a recent battle destroyed and laments [[PyrrhicVictory "We won..."]] while the other Autobots celebrate more typically, the standard cheery & upbeat-sounding "Autobot Victory!" music plays. {{YMMV}} on whether this ruins or ironically enhances the story's point...

* In the PhineasAndFerb episode "Phineas and Ferb get Busted", the [[EarWorm super-catchy]] [[AwesomeMusic "Chains On Me"]]...[[''HighOctaneNightmareFuel while the boys are getting their imaginations pounded out of them'']].

* ''{{Nine}}'': "Somewhere over the Rainbow" plays while [[spoiler:5 is desperately trying to escape a huge and psychotic robot]].

* The big series finale of ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'' reaches the climax of its Zuko and Azula subplot when the two challenge each other to one final Agni Kai. We expect some epic, fast-paced music to start, but instead, the melody that greets us is a very sad-sounding, slow, beautiful piece called "[[http://www.imeem.com/groups/NuJd97fG/music/X1aHsR6V/the_track_team_last_agni_kai/ The Last Agni Kai]]".

* In the ''Ben10UltimateAlien'' Episode "It's Not Easy Being Gwen" Gwen's friend Emily play's Chopin's Fantasie-Impromptu while [[spoiler:Ben, Gwen, and Kevin defeat Dr. Animo. ]] That's five minutes of laser beams and explosions set to classical piano music.

* In the Ben10UltimateAlien Episode "It's Not Easy Being Gwen" Gwen's friend Emily play's Chopin's Fantasie-Impromptu while [[spoiler:Ben, Gwen, and Kevin defeat Dr. Animo. ]] That's five minutes of laser beams and explosions set to classical piano music.

* Subverted: the second half of the closing credits of ''{{Mulan}}'' are sung to a more emotional version of [[IWantSong "Reflection"]], but they're preceded by the upbeat "True to Your Heart", which fits far better with the happy ending of the film.

* This editor has seen two probably ''unintentional'' examples, with a closing credits theme that isn't somber to match the mood of the ending of the episode that just finished:
** ''CodenameKidsNextDoor'' "Operation College"
** ''Hey Arnold!'', "Helga and the Nanny"

* The other way around: The theme music for ''DextersLaboratory'' is ominous, but the show itself is humorous. This editor admits to being turned off by the ominous theme music.

* So you're got an episode of your animated series. It's a tense moment--your main hero and protagonist is absolutely getting the crud kicked out of him, to the point where it's looking like the main villain won't even need to implement his plan to discredit the hero and his organization. Said villain stands on the verge of ultimate victory. What's the appropriate music to play in this moment of crisis? Did you say "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0j0lO7uQBo a slow build to an upbeat, heroic fanfare]]"? If so, congratulations! You went to the same school of music composition as the composer for the Series/StreetFighter animated series.

* The closing credits of ''{{Mulan}}'' are sung to a somber version of the song [[IWantSong "Reflection"]] from the beginning of the film, despite this film having a happy ending.

* The other way around: The theme music for ''[[DextersLaboratory Dexter's Laboratory]]'' is ominous, but the show itself is humorous. This editor admits to being turned off by the ominous theme music.

** And on another note, the Italian intro. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4RvzmuDfYE]]

* ''[=~9~=]'': "Somewhere over the Rainbow" plays while [[spoiler:5 is desperately trying to escape a huge and psychotic robot]].

* In the Ben10UltimateAlien Episode "It's Not Easy Being Gwen" Gwen's friend Emily play's Chopin's Fantasie-Impromptu while [[spoiler:Ben, Gwen, and Kevin defeat Dr. Animo. ]] That's five minutes of laser beams and explosions set to classical piano music.

* The wrist-slittingly sad animated film ''ThePlagueDogs'' by the makers of ''Watership Down'' set the [[ShootTheShaggyDog even sadder]] ending to the song [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpVU-JI8iF0#t=5m00s Time And Tide]], a cheerful, Cat Stevens-esque ''gospel song'' about dying. [-''"I don't feel! No pain no more!"''-]

* The closing credits of ''{{Mulan}}'' are sung to a somber version of the song [[IWantSong "Reflection"]] from the beginning of the film, despite this film having a happy ending.

* The song "A Guy Like You" (a cheerful, optimistic song sung by the gargoyles) from ''Disney/TheHunchbackofNotreDame''. It's sung during the scene when medieval Paris is literally burned to the ground by the villain as an attempt to force the heroine out of her hiding spot.

** Probably FridgeBrilliance. If you read into the song's lyrics, it's about accepting that fate cannot be changed. Of course, this bring The Simpsons (which has lampshaded the ResetButton and StatusQuoIsGod)...

* SparkPlugEntertainment's ''ACarsLifeSparkysBigAdventure'' had some silly MIDI music that plays when Norbert the gas pump gets set on fire.