Leitmotifs

A **leitmotif** (/ˌlaɪtmoʊˈtiːf/) is a musical "phrase" or melody, re-used in multiple tracks to associate a tune with a person, event, or place. Leitmotifs occur several times in the *Deltarune* OST, for Chapter 1, Chapter 2, and unlisted and unused tracks.

The system of repeatedly re-adding full or partial leitmotifs to soundtracks is a common accessory to Toby Fox's compositions, which makes said soundtracks catchy and memorable. In *Deltarune*, many important characters have an associated leitmotif, commonly playing when encountering them in some way.

Timestamps found below are approximate to one second and follow the timing used in the Bandcamp version of the soundtrack.

## Don't Forget

This leitmotif can be considered the main theme of *Deltarune*; its melody is featured prominently in the end credits tracks for both chapters, and it is the most common melody in the game so far.

* *Laura Shigihara - Don't Forget*
* *Beginning* – 0:06-0:38
* *School* – 0:13-0:14, 0:27-0:40
* *Field of Hopes and Dreams* – 0:53-1:40, 2:18-2:26, 2:33-2:41
* *Scarlet Forest* – 1:59-2:08
* *THE WORLD REVOLVING* – 0:20-0:40, 1:07-1:09, 1:17-1:19, 1:21-1:41
* *Friendship* – 0:00-1:30, 2:19-2:31
* *Your Power* – 0:01-0:10
* *A Town Called Hometown* – 1:00-1:26
* *You Can Always Come Home* – 0:57-1:12, 1:18-1:35
* *Dog Check* – 0:34-0:41
* *Faint Glow* – 0:06-0:10, 0:18-0:24
* *The Dark Truth*
* *Until Next Time*
* *Hometown Day* – 0:41-1:12
* *School (alternate)*
* *Game Main Theme (Piano Sketch)*

## Lancer

This leitmotif relates to Lancer and King, and appears in 8 tracks. The usage of it in Acid Tunnel of Love and It's Pronounced "Rules" seems to also loosely connect Lancer's Theme with the Thrash Machine.

* *Lancer*
* *I'm Very Bad* – 0:00-0:13
* *Thrash Machine* – 0:01-0:50
* *Vs. Lancer* – 0:00-0:40
* *Card Castle* – 0:30-1:01
* *Chaos King* – 0:41-1:08
* *Acid Tunnel of Love*
* *It's Pronounced "Rules"* - 0:29-0:38, 0:42-0:52

## The Legend

This leitmotif relates to Ralsei's legend and appears in 4 tracks and three other applications.

* *The Legend*
* *Empty Town*
* *Chaos King* – 1:08-1:31
* *My Castle Town*
* *My Funky Town*
* Ralsei's Sing ACT, usable when fighting Ponman or in the battle against Lancer and Susie
* *King Boss (Orchestral)*
* *Legend (Alternate)*

## The Legend (bassline)

*The Legend* also hosts a recurring bassline that appears in 11 tracks.

* *The Legend* – 1:29-1:48
* *Empty Town*
* *Lantern*
* *The Circus*
* *A Town Called Hometown* – 0:00-0:15, 0:20-0:34, 0:40-0:55, 1:01-1:24
* *My Castle Town*
* *Queen* – 0:23-0:55
* *Berdly*
* *Bluebird of Misfortune*
* *Acid Tunnel of Love* – 1:16-1:23
* *Dialtone*
* *Legend (Alternate)*

## Noelle

This motif is associated with Noelle and/or Dess.

* *Girl Next Door*
* *Lost Girl*
* *Ferris Wheel*
* An unused `noelle.ogg` track
* *Lost Girl (Alternate)*
* `findher`
* *sneaking.mp3*

## Queen

This leitmotif relates to Queen, and appears in 9 tracks.

* *Queen*
* *A Simple Diversion* – 0:00-0:06, 0:14-0:21
* *Smart Race* – 0:01-0:02, 0:04-0:05, 0:07-0:10
* *Cool Mixtape* – 0:00-0:06
* *Elegant Entrance*
* *Pandora Palace* – 0:21-0:34, 0:59-1:37
* *Attack of the Killer Queen* – 0:00-0:06, 0:13-0:19
* *Giga Size* – 0:30-0:38, 0:43-0:53
* *Knock You Down !!* – 0:09-0:13, 0:59-1:03

## Queen (mixtape)

This leitmotif also relates to Queen, but it's not the same as the main "Queen" leitmotif. Appears in 4 tracks.

* *A Simple Diversion* – 0:07-0:14, 0:22-0:27
* *Cool Mixtape* – 0:06-0:26
* *Attack of the Killer Queen* – 0:06-0:12, 0:19-0:39
* *Giga Size* – 0:53-1:01

## Sweet Cap'n Cakes

This leitmotif relates to Sweet Cap'n Cakes, and appears in 6 tracks.

* *Almost To The Guys!*
* *Cyber Battle (Solo)*
* *When I Get Happy I Dance Like This*
* *Sound Studio*
* *Mini Studio*
* *Holiday Studio*
* *A CYBER'S WORLD?* – 0:38-0:40, 0:55-0:57
* *WELCOME TO THE CITY* – 0:17-0:19, 0:30-0:32, 0:43-0:45

## Spamton

This leitmotif relates to Spamton and appears in 4 tracks.

* *Spamton*
* *NOW'S YOUR CHANCE TO BE A*
* *Deal Gone Wrong*
* *BIG SHOT*

## THE WORLD REVOLVING

This leitmotif is associated with bonus bosses.

* *THE WORLD REVOLVING* – 0:20-0:40
* *The Circus* – 0:14-0:15, 0:24-0:25, 0:34-0:35, 0:45-0:46
* *BIG SHOT* – 0:55-1:22
* *Dialtone*

## Minor Leitmotifs

### Card Castle

This leitmotif relates to King and his residence and appears in 3 tracks and one unused track.

* *Card Castle*
* *Basement*
* *Chaos King* – 0:00-1:07
* *King Boss (Orchestral)*

### The Door

This leitmotif seems to be associated with the doors leading to the Dark World. Appears in 4 tracks and one unused track.

* *The Door*
* *The Chase – 0:11-0:33*
* *THE WORLD REVOLVING* – 0:02-0:05, 0:07-0:10, 0:12-0:15, 0:17-0:19
* *Checkerboard -* 0:12-0:37, 0:48-1:36

### Hometown

This leitmotif is used in the Light World and appears in 3 tracks. So far, it has always been used alongside the Snowdin and Don't Forget motifs.

* *School*
* *A Town Called Hometown*
* *Hometown Day*

### Berdly

This leitmotif is associated with Berdly and appears in 6 tracks.

* *Berdly*
* *Smart Race* – 0:12-1:04
* *Bluebird of Misfortune*
* *Attack of the Killer Queen* – 0:40-1:46
* *Knock You Down !!* – 2:04-2:07

### Cool Beat

This leitmotif is a drumbeat associated with Sweet Cap'n Cakes and appears in 5 tracks.

* *Cool Beat*
* *Cyber Battle (Solo)*
* *When I Get Happy I Dance Like This*
* *Sound Studio*
* *Holiday Studio*

### HEY EVERY !

This leitmotif is associated with Spamton and also appears in one hidden music track.

* *HEY EVERY !*
* *A Real Boy!*
* *dog.ogg* - 0:00-0:03

### Susie

This leitmotif is associated with Susie and appears in three tracks.

* *Susie*
* *Vs. Susie* (0:53-1:21)
* *Lost Girl (Alternate)* (0:26-0:32)

### Rouxls Kaard

This leitmotif is associated with Rouxls Kaard and appears in three tracks.

* *Rouxls Kaard*
* *It's Pronounced "Rules"*
* *Epic Rouxls Battle*

### Other

* *Scarlet Forest* – *Quiet Autumn* – 0:21-0:49
* *The Chase* - 0:14 – *Vs. Lancer* - 0:03
* *Darkness Falls* – *Faint Courage (Game Over) - audio\_menu.ogg*
* *A CYBER'S WORLD?* – *WELCOME TO THE CITY (and cybercity\_old.ogg) - cybercity\_alt.ogg*
* *Knock You Down !!* – *Powers Combined*
* *Lantern* - *Rude Buster* (slowed down)
* *School (alternate)* – *Friendship* - 1:43-2:07
* *Hip Shop* – *Green Room*

## Undertale

A few leitmotifs from *Undertale* have been referenced throughout *Deltarune*'s OST.

### Once Upon a Time

The Once Upon a Time leitmotif is used mainly in Hometown.

* *Beginning* – 0:38-0:52 (Part 3)
* *You Can Always Come Home* – 0:19-0:57, 1:19-1:33 (Part 1, Part 3)
* *Before the Story* (Part 1)
* *Dog Check* – 0:27-0:33 (Part 2)

### Determination

The Determination leitmotif has been used in the Dark World.

* *Rude Buster* – 0:27-0:48
* *Lantern* – 0:43-1:05
* *Determination* from *Undertale*, present in *Deltarune* as `gameover_short.ogg`

### Snowdin

The Snowdin leitmotif has been used in Hometown.

* *School* – 0:44-1:19
* *A Town Called Hometown* – 1:27-1:46
* *Hometown Day* – 0:00-0:07, 1:12-1:43

### Your Best Nightmare

Your Best Nightmare has been used in the Dark World.

* *Imminent Death* – 0:04-0:18
* *Vs. Susie* – 0:06-0:19, 0:23-0:52, 0:54-1:21 (Piano)
* *Digital Roots*
* *The Dark Truth* - 0:00-0:27
* *spamton\_house.ogg*

### Other

* *Dog Check* – *Dogsong*
* *You Can Always Come Home* – *Home*
* *Chill Jailbreak Alarm To Study And Relax To* – *Pathetic House*
* *Quiet Autumn* – *Quiet Water*
* *Before The Story* – *Premonition*
* *ANOTHER HIM* – *Gaster's Theme*
* *BIG SHOT* – *Battle Against a True Hero*/*Power of "NEO"*
* *Honk Song* – *Your Best Friend*, *Undyne*, *Enemy Approaching, Metal Crusher*
* *Holiday Studio* – *Ghouliday* (Jingle Bells)
* *BIG SHOT* - 1:47-1:49, 2:17-2:20 – *Dummy!*
* *A Real Boy!* (background melody) – Pachelbel's *Canon in D*
* *Smart Race* - `berdly_battle_heartbeat_true.ogg`

## References

1. ↑ *I have not seen anyone else notice this or point this out! #DELTARUNE* - @Shayy\_TV on Twitter, July 25, 2022.