Dragonball Evolution: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Encyclopedia
Dragonball Evolution: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the licensed soundtrack to the 2009 Twentieth Century Fox film Dragonball Evolution by composer Brian Tyler
. It was released on March 17, 2009 in the US
, on March 30, 2009 in Europe
, and on April 15, 2009 in Japan.
The score was met with positive reviews from music critics who also drew comparisons to Tyler's previous works as well as other composer works.
stating that "they could make the film very, very epic". Tyler stated that the basis for his score is on the vibe that film is a parallel universe with a mythic aspect. He began work on the project before the initial filming by writing various themes to the anime itself. With the notion that a particular theme would be fitting for characters such as Goku
, Piccolo
, and Gohan
. Tyler stated that he didn't want to go with "pop, synthpop stuff" that was presented in the anime as it was live-action. Yet he wanted something that "kind of stood outside of time a little bit more". But there are references to contemporary music within the score. Tyler conducted the score with Hollywood Studio Symphony Orchestra at the Newman Scoring Stage on the Twentieth Century Fox lot. With orchestrations by Robert Elhai, Brad Warnaar, Dana Niu, and Pakk Hui.
gave the score a C grade. Christopher Coleman of TrackSounds praised the soundtrack, stating that Tyler's status as a fan of the series helped fuel his performance. He then recommended the album for those who enjoyed Tyler's work in such films as Timeline
and Eagle Eye
. David Abraham Dueck referred to the soundtrack as "a solidly engaging, robust, and complex musical thrill ride". Yet he felt that it wasn't groundbreaking, stating that did very little to stylistically deviate from Tyler other works. Tom Hoove of ScoreNotes gave the soundtrack an eight out of ten, citing the music as respectable. Yet like Dueck, Hoove would comment that the score was not groundbreaking, he then continued that the percussion sequences were easy to get into, and would also go on record citing "Chasing Dragonballs" and "Grime Vinyl" as favorite tracks. James Southall of Movie Wave gave the soundtrack three and a half stars. As he felt that while the soundtrack played too long, it was not much of a problem. As Tyler was able to keep his pace throughout the film. He would also describe that album as an amalgamation of Timeline and Danny Elfman's
Batman and Spider-Man scores.
Brian Tyler (composer)
Brian Tyler is an American composer, producer, conductor, and film producer most known for his scores of Eagle Eye, The Expendables, Battle: Los Angeles, The Final Destination, Rambo, Fast & Furious, Fast Five, and Final Destination 5. Tyler is a symphonic conductor and conducts his own scores....
. It was released on March 17, 2009 in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, on March 30, 2009 in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and on April 15, 2009 in Japan.
The score was met with positive reviews from music critics who also drew comparisons to Tyler's previous works as well as other composer works.
Development
A fan of the franchise, Tyler jumped at the job when he was offered it before filming even began. He called director James WongJames Wong (producer)
James 'Jim' Wong is a Cantonese-American television producer, writer, and film director notable for his screen works of The X-Files, Space: Above and Beyond, Millennium, Final Destination 1 & 3, The One, and the remakes of Willard and Black Christmas along with writing partner Glen...
stating that "they could make the film very, very epic". Tyler stated that the basis for his score is on the vibe that film is a parallel universe with a mythic aspect. He began work on the project before the initial filming by writing various themes to the anime itself. With the notion that a particular theme would be fitting for characters such as Goku
Son Goku (Dragon Ball)
Goku, known as in the English-language manga and original Japanese-language version, is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the Dragon Ball franchise created by Akira Toriyama. He is loosely based on Sun Wukong, a central character in Journey to the West...
, Piccolo
Piccolo (Dragon Ball)
is a fictional character from the Dragon Ball manga, authored by Akira Toriyama. Piccolo was first introduced as the reincarnation of the evil Piccolo Daimao in chapter #167 first published in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine on April 4, 1988, making him a demon and archrival of the primary...
, and Gohan
Son Gohan
is a fictional character from the Dragon Ball universe created by Akira Toriyama as a protagonist for the media franchise, which consists of a series of manga, anime, soundtracks, movies, television specials, video games, and other collectibles...
. Tyler stated that he didn't want to go with "pop, synthpop stuff" that was presented in the anime as it was live-action. Yet he wanted something that "kind of stood outside of time a little bit more". But there are references to contemporary music within the score. Tyler conducted the score with Hollywood Studio Symphony Orchestra at the Newman Scoring Stage on the Twentieth Century Fox lot. With orchestrations by Robert Elhai, Brad Warnaar, Dana Niu, and Pakk Hui.
Track List
| # | Track title | time |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | The Legend | 1:13 |
| 02 | Dragonball Evolution | 3:26 |
| 03 | Fulums | 5:14 |
| 04 | Kaiou Samma | 2:34 |
| 05 | Goku | 3:09 |
| 06 | Gohan's Special Gift | 0:57 |
| 07 | Master Roshi | 3:45 |
| 08 | The Journey Begins | 0:58 |
| 09 | Lighting the Torches | 2:44 |
| 10 | Vengeance | 5:55 |
| 11 | Chasing Dragonballs | 2:41 |
| 12 | Lord Piccolo | 2:51 |
| 13 | Mai Vs Chi Chi | 3:55 |
| 14 | A Higher Calling | 2:03 |
| 15 | Body Work | 1:26 |
| 16 | I Dream of Chi Chi | 0:54 |
| 17 | Grime Vinyl | 1:52 |
| 18 | Unwelcome Strangers | 2:12 |
| 19 | Bulma and Yamcha | 1:51 |
| 20 | Things to Come | 1:42 |
| 21 | Battle | 6:20 |
| 22 | End Game | 1:32 |
| 23 | Dragonball Evolution Main Titles | 1:32 |
Reception
The album received a fair reception in contrast to its corresponding film. In his Evolution review, Zac Bertschy of Anime News NetworkAnime News Network
Anime News Network is an anime industry news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, Japanese popular music and other otaku-related culture within North America, Australia and Japan. Additionally, it sometimes features similar happenings throughout the Anglosphere and elsewhere in the...
gave the score a C grade. Christopher Coleman of TrackSounds praised the soundtrack, stating that Tyler's status as a fan of the series helped fuel his performance. He then recommended the album for those who enjoyed Tyler's work in such films as Timeline
Timeline (film)
Timeline is a 2003 science fiction action film, directed by Richard Donner. It stars Paul Walker, Frances O'Connor, Billy Connolly, David Thewlis, Gerard Butler and Anna Friel. It is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton...
and Eagle Eye
Eagle Eye
Eagle Eye is a 2008 thriller film directed by D. J. Caruso and starring Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan. The two portray a young man and a single mother who are brought together and coerced by an anonymous caller into carrying out a plan by a possible terrorist organization...
. David Abraham Dueck referred to the soundtrack as "a solidly engaging, robust, and complex musical thrill ride". Yet he felt that it wasn't groundbreaking, stating that did very little to stylistically deviate from Tyler other works. Tom Hoove of ScoreNotes gave the soundtrack an eight out of ten, citing the music as respectable. Yet like Dueck, Hoove would comment that the score was not groundbreaking, he then continued that the percussion sequences were easy to get into, and would also go on record citing "Chasing Dragonballs" and "Grime Vinyl" as favorite tracks. James Southall of Movie Wave gave the soundtrack three and a half stars. As he felt that while the soundtrack played too long, it was not much of a problem. As Tyler was able to keep his pace throughout the film. He would also describe that album as an amalgamation of Timeline and Danny Elfman's
Danny Elfman
Daniel Robert "Danny" Elfman is an American composer, best known for scoring music for television and film. Up until 1995, he was the lead singer and songwriter in the rock band Oingo Boingo, a group he formed in 1976...
Batman and Spider-Man scores.
Release history
| Country | Date |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| Europe | |
| Japan |