Thomas

Newman
FILM SCORING

The Sounds
of The
Universe
Laura Edwards

Preface
Thomas Newman is an esteemed film scorer with an
incredible track record. He has scored films such as Fried
Green Tomatoes, The Shawshank Redemption, American
Beauty, Skyfall, and Saving Mr. Banks.
Music can be used to create a certain atmosphere. This is
especially true in films, where music is used to make the
audience feel a certain way or imagine certain images.
This is especially true in animated movies. The music works
with the animation to create a world we never couldve
thought existed.
Younger movie watchers may recognise his works from
animated films such as Finding Nemo and Wall-E. In this
book, we will explore the ways Newman uses music in both
Finding Nemo and Wall-E to mirror the feeling of the ocean
and of space. His music to replicate the images of water
and space, helping the audience connect with the film.

Newman in his younger years, sitting at a piano.

Chapter 1

Water

The ocean is filled with many dierent creatures that

can fill one with a wide variety of emotions.
Newman is able to capture that emotion and put
music to it. He conveys the fierceness of sharks, the
fast pace of fish, the beauty of the water, and the
overall elegance of aquatic life.

1
.

Water
Dierent sounds for dierent parts of the ocean

Playing right now is the music from the Pixar

animated film, Finding Nemo. You can hear the
flow of the music, resembling the flow of the
ocean. At the beginning of the piece, the light
Go with the flow

piano is reminiscent of light streaming through

the water. Later in the soundtrack, he picks up
the speed, to mirror the fast paced movement
of undersea life.

Sun streaming
Fast Swimmers

If you click on the sound

button to the right, you will
hear Friends Not Food, also
from Finding Nemo. In this
part of the movie, Marlin and
Dory are being chased by a very hungry shark.
You can hear the dissonance in the chords,
which creates a sense of anxiety or fear, and
the fast tempo creates an image of a chase.

Chapter 2

Space

Playing right now is the music from the Pixar

animated film, Wall-E. Space is a constant source of
wonder for humans, and Newman creates an
atmosphere that is both mysterious and curious.
The aesthetic of the piece changes from phrase to
phrase, capturing the vast wonders of space.

Space

Below is a scene from the Pixar animated film, Wall-E. In the scene, Wall-E and Eve fly and dance around,
exploring the space around them. Throughout the score, his chords feel full and sweeping, reflecting the vastness
of space. You can also hear that the melody is usually composed of plucked strings, sounding like shimmering
stars. He also uses the eect of interspersing periods of sparse sound, which resembles the speckled stars filling a
dark sky.
Define Dancing

A scene from the movie Wall-E, scored by Thomas Newman.

5

Review
Thomas Newman Review

Question 1 of 4
Which eect did Newman use to mirror waves?

A. Legato movement
B. Plucked strings
C. Large chords
D. Sparse sounds

Check Answer