The popularity of witch-themed Korean dramas, known as "witchj kdramas," has been on the rise in recent years. These shows offer an intriguing mix of fantasy, romance, and suspense, captivating viewers with their unique storylines and captivating characters. In these kdramas, the main character is often a young woman who discovers her hidden powers and must navigate a world filled with magic and mystery. Whether she is born with magical abilities or stumbles upon them unexpectedly, the journey of the protagonist as she learns to control her powers and harness them for good is a central aspect of these shows. One of the key elements that sets witchj kdramas apart is the inclusion of romance. Often, the main character finds herself entangled in a complicated love triangle, torn between two potential love interests who are usually unaware of her magical abilities.
This score is for a stoner parody of the director’s cut of the 2000 film “Thomas and the Magic Railroad.” Creator Britt Allcroft’s original screenplay for the 2000 film would’ve been almost 2 hours, but poor test screenings caused a massive restructuring of the film very close to the final release date, and saw one major villain get axed and a lot of character backstory and motivation get truncated from the final product. The result was a flop at the box office and Allcroft was forced to step down from her production company. This film is a stoner parody/part-musical adaptation of that original director’s cut.
My score for this parody adapts a lot of his writing style for the fantasy comedy genre and also his character leitmotifs from the original, namely for the characters of Mr. Henry s crash from The Flying Kipper is mentioned to have happened only recently explaining why the island still has a supply of his special coal, which he no longer required after his rebuild in said episode but suddenly needed again in the original film.
Often, the main character finds herself entangled in a complicated love triangle, torn between two potential love interests who are usually unaware of her magical abilities. This romantic element adds a layer of depth and emotion to the story, resulting in intense and emotional scenes that keep viewers eagerly tuning in for each episode. Witchj kdramas also often explore themes of friendship, loyalty, and sacrifice.
"The Magic Railroad" Parody Original Soundtrack
This is a very long score - about 100 minutes of music. I’ll post some individual tracks I want to highlight below, but you’ll probably want a few hours to kill to listen to the whole thing.
With that out of the way, welcome and thank you for listening to my biggest score yet!
This score is for a stoner parody of the director’s cut of the 2000 film “Thomas and the Magic Railroad.” Creator Britt Allcroft’s original screenplay for the 2000 film would’ve been almost 2 hours, but poor test screenings caused a massive restructuring of the film very close to the final release date, and saw one major villain get axed and a lot of character backstory and motivation get truncated from the final product. The result was a flop at the box office and Allcroft was forced to step down from her production company. This film is a stoner parody/part-musical adaptation of that original director’s cut.
For the theatrical release, Hummie Mann was hired to write the score, and many agree that his score was one of the best things about the final product.
My score for this parody adapts a lot of his writing style for the fantasy comedy genre and also his character leitmotifs from the original, namely for the characters of Mr. Conductor and Diesel 10, while also infusing my own style and writing habits for the fantasy genre a la James Newton Howard, James Horner, and a dash of Alexandre Desplat and Danny Elfman.
All in all, though, if you take the time to listen to this full score, I would love that, and I’d love to hear what all you thought, in terms of orchestration, writing, developing character themes and ideas, and your overall impressions of the album.
Thanks so much, guys!
Now for some highlights:
“Sparkle, Sparkle, Sparkle!”
This one I wrote about a year ago. Features a 70s-ish acoustic guitar rendition of the Mr. Conductor theme, which was a blast to write, and weaves the Burnett Stone theme in there for a bit. I really enjoy the overall tone I was able to create - I love writing for guitar and strings/winds like this.
“Patch Finds the Workshops”
In the original film, Patch didn’t have a character theme, so I was given full license for making my own for the film, at the director’s behest. This was both the very first piece I wrote for the film, and where I came up with Patch’s theme. It’s a goofy, bumbling theme with a bit of swing rhythm to it that really fit the misfit but well-meaning character, and the director told me it’s been a theme that’s stuck in his mind when I’ve been able to use it, so mission accomplished for writing at least one memorable theme, even if it’s only for a supporting character!
“Powder in the Tank”
For this one, I got to go big on the brass for this one, and it introduces 2 new original themes for the Diesel 10 character: the “Diesel 10 Attacks!” theme and “Diesel 10 Threatens Someone” theme. Hummie Mann had his own “Diesel 10 is Dangerous” theme for the original score, but I wanted to do something different for my take on this scene, so I did.
“A Job for Young Burnett Stone”
This was a fun one to make - I got to play with the Mr. Conductor and Burnett Stone themes in this one, and it’s where we first hear the Lady the Magical Engine theme. This theme is directly adapted from Mann’s original score. Introducing the Lady theme meant I got to go epic fantasy mode for the first time, which I am always down for. This one’s also a little meandering, simply because that’s how the scene was in the original edit. The final scene is much shorter, though, and flows much more quickly.
This is the first piece where the Lily character theme is stated in full. It isn’t the first time her theme appears in the score - that happens very early on in “A Hermit’s Caretaker” - but it’s the first time it plays out in full. It was originally based on a lyrical song that was set to appear in the film, but that song ended up getting cut, and my orchestral renditions of the theme became Lily’s sole thematic material.
Part 1 - (Splitting These Up Into a Few Posts as I can only post 6 SoundCloud embeds in a single post at a time).
Next Part Coming Up!
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Thread starter“The Rabbit Goes Phishing”
This is definitely one of the more comedic action bits, and it’s where I feel I really started to hone my skills in regards to action writing. A bit of a meandering middle section - this is fixed in the final version of the scene - but I got to do goofy Mr. Conductor getting into fast-paced mischief, and this is also where we first hear a minor, secondary theme for the Rabbit, a character only ever referred to in the original film.
“Walking to Shining Time”
This is perhaps my favorite piece in the score that isn’t an action piece. The first section in this piece is chronologically where we hear a secondary theme that informs the Burnett vs Boomer conflict. This was originally going to feature much more heavily in the film, but it never materialized, as scenes between Burnett Stone and P. T. Boomer never really happened, so it only appeared twice. After that, another statement of Lady’s them, and then a really fun rendition of Lily’s theme with an acoustic guitar swell in the middle there. I also got to play with Patch’s theme in this piece, writing it for strings is a more dramatic, reflective way, really developing his theme.
This is also where we hear the full statement of the villain theme for P. T. Boomer. Boomer was the villain who got axed from the original director’s cut and whose removal threw the whole story of the film into upheaval. I got to create my own original theme for this character; I honestly stumbled on it by accident when I wrote an ominous, villain-esque sounding theme in “A Hermit’s Caretaker,” and I was able to take that short riff and create an entire character theme around it.
“I Feel Small/Magic Trick/The Next Part of the Clue”
This is a favorite, slower piece for this score. I really love the synth and string quartet sound I was able to bring to Lily’s theme in the first section and then expanding it to full strings and woodwinds. This is also where I wrote the “Drunk Mr. Conductor” theme, perhaps the most comedy version of a theme in this score. The final section is pure Hummie Mann, though, adapting unreleased score material from the theatrical cut, expanding it slightly but keeping as much of the orchestration, tone and structure as possible.
“Some Things Do Leave You”
This piece is where the “Burnett vs Boomer” theme was first born and heard in all its glory. At one point, this was talked about becoming Boomer’s main theme for the film, but I convinced the director that it was more suited for representing the conflict between Burnett and Boomer instead of entirely Boomer himself. Unfortunately, that meant that it fell by the wayside when scenes between Burnett and Boomer didn’t really materialize. This also features a really tragic version of Burnett’s theme that I was really proud of myself for writing and a near straight lift of the Lady theme from the theatrical release soundtrack from Hummie Mann, with only the very tail end changed up to the fit the scene structure in the parody.
“Smelters Stand Off”
This might just be my favorite piece in the entire score. This was the piece where I feel I was able to really wholly mesh Hummie Mann’s original score with a lot of my own material and style in a really engaging, fantastic way. I really love how I was able to adapt his “Diesel 10 is Dangerous” theme, incorporating it and marrying it to my own “Diesel 10 Attacks!” theme.
“The Chase, The Joint, and the Happy Ending”
The title of this one is a parody itself of the title of the original title on the soundtrack, “The Chase, The Clue, and the Happy Ending.” This piece was the biggest action piece I did for the film, the climax. The writing and orchestration is a bit messy - I feel I tried to do too much rhythmic material all smashed up against each other in this piece, muddying the clarity of themes, but I still like the tone and energy I was able to create. I especially love the treatment I was able to give Boomer’s Theme, the “Diesel 10 Attacks!” theme, and even the main Thomas theme from the original television series.
That’s all for now, folks! I’d be thrilled if you guys would look over even a little of this.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you all have a good one!
The main character is usually supported by a group of friends who share a common goal or face similar challenges. These friendships not only provide emotional support but also serve as an important source of strength and guidance as the protagonist navigates her newfound powers and the obstacles that come with them. Furthermore, witchj kdramas often feature a strong female protagonist who defies societal norms and challenges traditional gender roles. These characters are not only portrayed as powerful and independent but also face various adversities and hardships that they overcome through their determination and resilience. This depiction of strong female leads has resonated with audiences, attracting viewers from diverse backgrounds who find inspiration and empowerment in these characters. In conclusion, witchj kdramas have emerged as a popular genre in recent years, captivating viewers with their mix of fantasy, romance, and suspense. These shows offer a unique blend of supernatural elements, complex relationships, and empowering narratives that keep audiences hooked. As the genre continues to evolve and expand, it is likely that witchj kdramas will continue to captivate audiences with their fascinating stories and captivating characters..
Reviews for "Witchcraft and Family: Exploring the Dynamics of Witch Families in Kdramas"
- John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Becoming Witch". The storyline was all over the place, and the characters were underdeveloped. The acting was subpar, and I found it hard to connect with any of the characters. The special effects were also poorly done and looked very fake. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this drama to anyone who enjoys well-crafted storylines and compelling characters.
- Sarah - 1 star - "Becoming Witch" was a complete waste of time for me. The plot was confusing and made no sense. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the dialogue was cheesy and predictable. I honestly couldn't finish watching it because it was so boring. The acting was also not up to par, and I found it hard to root for any of the characters. I would advise anyone looking for a good drama to stay away from this one.
- Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Becoming Witch", but it fell short in many aspects. The storyline was messy and didn't flow well. The characters lacked depth, and their decisions didn't make sense half the time. The romance was forced, and the chemistry between the leads was nonexistent. The special effects were poorly executed, and the action scenes were awkwardly choreographed. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this drama to anyone.