The Good Dinosaur soundtrack, composed by Michael Danna and Jeff Danna is now available and we think you'll be surprised with what you hear. This is Pixar's first western-inspired film and the score definitely mirrors that feeling during moments of levity, but as the film shifts to heavier moments the score also adjusts — almost sounding more like a traditional live-action film score at times. As we continue to discuss the score, please read on carefully as titles will give away spoilers for the film.
Tracks like Chores embody the western spirit with a perfect animation flare — you feel like you're waiting in line for Splash Mountain (Disney World/Land) in Frontierland with eager anticipation. We tended to gravitate towards the more traditional film score tracks like Fireflies or You're Me and More for their emotional gravitas and sweeping moments of strings. Fireflies is the first track that incorporates Michael Danna's signature "world music" sound and we feel it blends perfectly in this moment.
Other tracks which bring Danna's signature to the forefront are, Swimming Lessons and Pet Collector which blend elements of Asian, Indian, and Australian flare along with toy pianos and cinematic swells. Arlo's theme (reoccurring through the score) is a beautiful, soft, airy flute (watch a clip of this moment being scored at 3:30 in our video above) which weaves in an out of poignant Celtic fiddle — but due to the fiddle, you can't help but sense Brave's score during these moments.
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