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A leitmotif (/ˌlaɪtmoʊˈtiːf/) is a musical "phrase" or melody, re-used in multiple songs to associate a tune with a person, event, or place.

The extensive use of leitmotifs in Undertale's soundtrack and other sound files helps create a nostalgic mood for the game and often evokes emotional responses in players. Toby Fox has stated that the majority of Undertale's soundtrack was composed using reiterations of free soundfonts and synths.[1]

Attempts have been made at documenting all of the leitmotifs used in the game; players frequently find new connections, and it may be impossible to list them all conclusively. Every single piece of data is open to interpretation and any change should be explained in this page's history description.

Timestamps found below are approximate to one second and are sourced from this playlist, which reflects the timing of the official soundtrack.

Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time leitmotif

This leitmotif can be considered as the main theme of Undertale. It is the most common melody of the game, playing in seventeen tracks.[2] There are 3 parts to this leitmotif, as well as a recurring embellishment throughout the later tracks.

Flowey

Flowey has two leitmotifs relating to him.

Your Best Friend

Flowey leitmotif

This leitmotif occurs in seven songs, and one unused audio file.[5]

Your Best Nightmare

This leitmotif is used in three songs.[7]

Toriel

Toriel leitmotif

Toriel's theme. This song is used in four songs and one song unique to the demo OST.[8]

Ruins

Ruins leitmotif

This leitmotif can be considered as the Underground theme, appearing in eleven official songs and 2 unused sound files.[9]

Enemy Approaching

Enemy Approaching leitmotif

This leitmotif is related to enemies or dogs. It appears in eleven songs and one unused song.[10]

Ghost Fight

Ghost Fight leitmotif

This leitmotif is used in five songs.[13] Most of which are the boss themes of various mini bosses. There are two parts to this theme, one shared with Spider Dance and one exclusive to Ghost Fight and Dummy!.

Sans

Sans leitmotif

Sans's theme. Found in four songs,[14] one of which is never played in the game.

Papyrus

Papyrus leitmotif

Papyrus's theme. Found in four songs, one of which is never played in the game.[15]

Snowdin

This leitmotif is split into two parts, with some songs using only one of the parts.

Hopes

Snowdin leitmotif

Used in six songs.[17]

Dreams

Used in eight songs. Appears to be a more general cheerful theme rather than the theme of Snowdin itself.[18]

Undyne

Undyne leitmotif

Undyne's theme. Used in seven songs and one unused song.[19]

Another Medium

Another Medium leitmotif

Theme of Hotland. Used in five songs.[21] The theme originates from the "Doctor" leitmotif from Homestuck.[22]

Alphys

Alphys leitmotif

Alphys's theme. Used in four songs and one unused song.[23]

Mettaton

Mettaton's themes.

It's Showtime!

It's Showtime! leitmotif

Mettaton's main theme. Found in four songs and at least one other sound file.[24]

Hotel

The bassline of It's Showtime! is present in three Mettaton-related songs. It is considered as a separate leitmotif, as it has an entirely different melody.

Metal Crusher

Metal Crusher leitmotif

Mettaton's battle theme. Used in three songs.[26] This leitmotif originates from Noisemaster's Theme from Cucumber Quest.[27]

Asgore

Asgore is related to two leitmotifs. Both are used in his fight theme.

Determination

Determination leitmotif

This motif is used in two songs, one unlisted song and an unused audio file.[28]

Bergentrückung

Asgore leitmotif

This motif is used in three songs.[29]

Asriel

Asriel leitmotif

Asriel's theme. Used in five songs.[30]

  • Memory
  • Undertale 0:00–2:47, 3:27–6:21 (at times, the melody is barely perceptible among overlapping music. It is heard on a guitar for most of the song, becoming hard to distinguish after 3:27; the tune switches to a more audible sample after 4:42, to a quiet background piano at the key change around 5:20, and back to the second SoundFont at 5:57)
  • The Choice (imperceptible, as it is a slowed-down part of Undertale which contains the barely-audible Memory)
  • Finale 0:40–0:57[31]
  • His Theme

Other

Minor Leitmotifs

Similar Samples

References

  1. most of undertale's music was made using free soundfonts + synths but everyone likes it. that's cool - @FwugRadiation on Twitter, September 19, 2015. Archived on November 29, 2015.
  2. (Undertale) Once Upon a Time Leitmotifs - YouTube
  3. Undertale Main Menu Music Easter Egg - YouTube
  4. I heard that if you sped up "The Choice" (the music that plays when Sans is giving you Judgement) by 666%, you get "Undertale". - bibliophilea on Tumblr, November 22, 2015.
  5. [Version 2] Undertale - All songs with the "Your Best Friend" melody/leitmotif - YouTube
  6. Undertale OST "But Nobody Came" Sped up 1200% - YouTube
  7. Undertale - All Songs With the "Your Best Nightmare/You Idiot" Leitmotif - YouTube
  8. Undertale - All songs with the "Fallen Down" melody/leitmotif - YouTube
  9. [Version 2]Undertale - All songs with the "Ruins" melody/leitmotif - YouTube
  10. [Version 2] Undertale - All songs with the "Enemy Approaching" melody/leitmotif - YouTube
  11. [Version 2] Undertale - All songs with the "Enemy Approaching" melody/leitmotif - YouTube
  12. it's all connected - YouTube
  13. Undertale - All songs with the "Ghost Fight" melody/leitmotif - YouTube
  14. Undertale - All songs with the "sans." melody/leitmotif - YouTube
  15. Undertale - All songs with the "Bonetrousle" melody/leitmotif - YouTube
  16. Undertale OST - Bonetrousle (GENOCIDE) Extended - YouTube
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 Undertale - All songs with the "Snowy" melody/leitmotif - YouTube
  18. Undertale - All songs with the "Snowdin Town" melody/leitmotif - YouTube
  19. Undertale - All songs with the "Spear of Justice" melody/leitmotif - YouTube
  20. Possible Leitmotif? - YouTube
  21. Undertale - All songs with the "Waterfall / Overworld" leitmotif/theme ✔️ - YouTube
  22. See Patient
  23. Undertale - All songs with the "Alphys" melody/leitmotif - YouTube
  24. Undertale - All songs with the "It's Showtime!" melody/leitmotif - YouTube
  25. b5b7776b-681a-4a33-ba44-e5a8e6851814 - Image
  26. Undertale - All Songs With The "Metal Crusher" Leitmotif/Melody - YouTube
  27. Cucumber Quest - Noisemaster Theme - YouTube
  28. Undertale - All songs with the "Determination" melody/leitmotif - YouTube
  29. Undertale - All songs with the "ASGORE" melody/leitmotif - YouTube
  30. Undertale - All songs with the "His Theme" melody/leitmotif - YouTube
  31. Music similarities 2: Undertale: Finale and His theme - YouTube
  32. An Examination of Leitmotifs and Their Use to Shape Narrative in UNDERTALE – Part 2 of 2 - jasonyu.me
  33. Nearly UNKNOWN Gaster's Theme secret in Undertale (snd_mysterygo) - YouTube
  34. Undertale 'Barrier' sped up - YouTube
  35. W. D. GASTER "Mus_Smile" Dissected! - YouTube
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