Marmalade Magic — musical compositions I created for the showreel of my 3D character, Princess Marmalade. I wanted the music to reflect her personality: cheerful, energetic, slightly chaotic, and unpredictable. At the same time, the composition needed to convey the atmosphere of the bright, fantastical world in which the character exists.
Concept
The primary source of inspiration was music from Nintendo video games, particularly Kirby and Mario. I appreciate how these games use simple, memorable melodies to evoke a sense of movement, adventure, and joy. I decided to merge that sound with elements of modern electronic music, taking cues from unusual synthetic timbres and sharp sonic transitions found in SOPHIE’s work.
The track is built around fast melodic sequences, 8-bit sounds, electronic drums, and rich synthesizer layers. I specifically used many short, high-pitched sounds and abrupt melodic shifts to give the composition a slightly playful and hyperactive feel.
A crucial part of the concept was the interaction between music and animation. I wanted individual sounds to be synchronized with the character’s movements, gestures, and pose changes. Therefore, the composition features short musical accents, pauses, and unexpected sound inserts.
During the process, I created two versions of the track, experimenting with melody, rhythm, and instrumentation. My goal was not to create a complex, professional composition, but rather to attempt to understand the principles of electronic music independently and to create expressive musical accompaniment that complements the visual image of Princess Marmalade.
Character Biography
A girl with diabetes and overprotective parents invented an imaginary friend—a gummy princess named Madeline. Eventually, the gummy girl came to life, and now the girl’s parents want to catch her so she stops interrupting the girl’s studies. The princess, in turn, skillfully hides in candy jars and boxes using a can opener.
Compositions
