The Music Score is one of the final, most impactful elements added in post-production, tasked with driving the film’s emotional intensity and theme. The Composer works from the locked picture cut to write original music cues that align perfectly with the scene transitions and character actions, reinforcing the narrative beats established in the script and animatic. The score often utilizes recurring leitmotifs—short musical phrases—to represent specific characters, themes, or locations.

Before recording, the Composer and Director conduct a Spotting Session, where they watch the locked cut and decide precisely where music should start, stop, and what emotional tone it should convey. The final score is recorded with live orchestral musicians or highly specialized synthetic instruments to achieve a professional, cinematic quality. The quality of the score is vital as it directly influences the audience’s emotional connection to the animated story.

Beyond original scoring, the production must address Music Licensing for any pre-existing songs used in the film. This involves securing both the synchronization license (to use the song in the visual media) and the master recording license (to use the specific recording of the song). Failure to secure these rights can lead to legal complications or expensive removals, making licensing a crucial administrative and legal task conducted late in post-production.