“We were never wanting for visual inspiration”: Castlevania: Nocturne Took an Approach Similar to Live-Action Shows for a Key Feature
The first Castlevania animated series on Netflix succeeded by striking a perfect balance between its poignant, masterfully rendered human drama scenes and visually stunning action set pieces that brought back memories of playing Konami’s iconic side-scrolling game for the first time.
Trey Toy and Trevor Morris, the composing duo that composed the entirety of Castlevania, are among the important people making a comeback in Castlevania: Nocturne. Toy and Morris have given Castlevania: Nocturne a fresh sound while retaining the finest elements of their work from the original series. The pair also revived well-known songs from the Castlevania series’ musical history, such as the beloved “Divine Bloodlines.”
What’s On Netflix had the excellent opportunity to interview Trey Toy, the co-composer of the series. Composer Trey Toy worked on Netflix series like Castlevania, Ozark, and Pieces of Her before working on Castlevania: Nocturne.
Trey Toy Did Not Have To Face Any Challenge While Composing For Nocturne
When the interviewer asked Trey Toy what were the biggest challenges when composing the music of an animated series compared to live-action, Toy replied:
The normal answer I would give is that because animation is ‘two dimensional,’ the score must work harder to heighten the on-screen drama, to act as the ‘missing’ third dimension.
However, because the animation for Nocturne is so rich in color and depth, we approached the score in the same way that we would a live-action film or television show. We were never wanting for visual inspiration.
Toy also talked about the musical easter egg in the Netflix series. When asked if there were any subtle nods to the music of the video games and easter eggs for fans, Toy replied:
Anyone who has seen the latest trailer knows that the team wasn’t afraid of some not-so-subtle nods to the music from the video games! As for easter eggs, I don’t want to spoil anything, but I am confident that Nocturne will satisfy the fans of the games.
Toy added that Nocturne was truly an unparalleled evolution of the franchise, from the growing Belmont family tree and Castlevania universe to the easter egg-filled action sequences.
Trey Toy Described His Score For The Series
When asked about how he would describe his score for the series, Toy said that they had the exciting challenge of marrying the epic, high-stakes nature of the source material, with what was ultimately an elegant, grounded, and character-driven story.
So as much as they leaned on the traditional palette of orchestra, drums, choir, and the like, they also balanced that with intimate recordings of soloists ranging from electric cello, played by Ro Rowan, to Ari Mason’s haunting vocals.
He further added:
This duality is the heart of what makes Nocturne such an engaging adaptation, and as much as loved putting the pedal to the metal and scoring the impeccably animated action sequences, we took equal delight in the softer, emotional moments with our favorite characters. As much as the audience might know Richter Belmont as a character in the games, they’ve never met him in person, and I think fans will be thrilled to get to know him. Oh, and don’t worry, we didn’t forget the electric guitar!
When the interviewer asked what differences fans expect to hear between the scores of Castlevania and Castlevania: Nocturne, Toy said that Netflix and the production crew determined early on in the score process that Nocturne’s music would be distinct from the original.
The show takes place hundreds of years in the future and features individuals who, although linked to our beloved Castlevania heroes, have their own backstories, personal struggles, and dark sides. Furthermore, Netflix requested that the soundtrack take center stage this time, and they allowed them a lot of freedom to play, which they loved as composers.
You can watch Castlevania on Netflix.
