ParaNorman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2012 stop-motion animated comedy horror film ParaNorman, directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler for Laika. The film's original score was composed by Jon Brion and based on his compositions for previous films which were used as temp tracks. The score album was released through Relativity Music Group on August 14, 2012.
Development In June 2011, it was announced that Jon Brion would compose music for ParaNorman. Fell and Butler storyboarded the few pages of the script and used the themes from the soundtrack of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) which fit the film. He described as Brion as a "mad scientist", further adding "just like us, he's into old tech/new tech, and that's exactly what we're doing visually". Besides Eternal Sunshine, Brion used his themes from the previous films as temp tracks and curated the score based on them. For the score, he used a EMS VCS3 synthesizer, which was notably used by John Carpenter.
Release The soundtrack was announced on July 23, 2012, with the complete track list being unveiled. Relativity Music Group published the soundtrack on August 14, 2012. A vinyl edition of the album was published by Mondo and released on April 19, 2014, in conjunction with the Record Store Day.
Critical reception Chrysta Cherrie of AllMusic described it as "a Frankenstein's monster-like mish-mash of kid-friendly chills and silly camp, synthesized through Brion's high-concept eccentricity." John Hazelton of Screen International wrote "Jon Brion provides a suitably off-kilter score." Justin Chang of Variety "Jon Brion's playfully creepy score nails the pic’s tone." Dylan Chester of The Film Stage called it as "John Carpenter-esque". Tasha Robinson of The A.V. Club reviewed that the score "provides for more variety". Jeff Meyers of Metro Times called it as a "shrewd and spirited score, which subverts horror genre expectations".
Track listing
Personnel Credits adapted from liner notes. Music composer, producer and conductor – Jon Brion Arrangements – Kevin Kaska Recording and mixing – Greg Koller Mastering – Stephen Marsh Music editor – Eric Caudieux Assistant engineer – Paul Pritchard Auricle programming – Andy Glen Contractor – Isobel Griffiths Assistant contractor – Jo Buckley, Lucy Whaley Supervising contractor – Kevin Kaska Studio management – Colette Barber Production manager – Charlene Ann Huang
Release history +Release dates and formats for ParaNorman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Region Date Format(s) Label Various August 14, 2012 Back Lot Music April 19, 2014 Vinyl Mondo
Accolades +Accolades for ParaNorman (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Awards Category Result International Film Music Critics Association Best Original Score for an Animated Film
References