Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication

Music Assignment
2
By

Shashwata Datta

078

MMC(AV)-2011
Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication

Submitted to

Mr. Vinod Shridhar

Source/Film

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron

Clip

01:13:57 – 01:16:10

Clip Brief

Concluding scene, When Spirit

and Rain journey from the Lakota
village back to the Cimarron herd.

About the film

The film is an animation film using

a blend of classical 2D and 3D
animation. It follows the
adventures of a young mustang
stallion living in the 19th century
Wild West. The mustang stallion
Spirit grows up to proudly
succeed his father as leader of
the Cimarron herd in the
unspoiled Wild West. When
'civilization' reaches Dakota Territory, naive curiosity gets him caught by
cowboys and sold to the US Cavalry. Its method of training by breaking a
horse fails utterly on him. Just when the colonel intends to shoot Spirit, the
equally indomitable captured young Lakota brave, Little Creek, escapes on
his back. He also tricks him to a coral with his beloved mare, but shows
respect and wins some trust. As the railroad arrives, the Indian village is
wrecked and Spirit gets captured for use as a draft-horse. When the stallion
realizes this project threatens his whole world, he escapes and unleashes the
fury of a force of nature, ultimately teaming up with Little Creek.
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In contrast to the way animals are portrayed in an anthropomorphic style in

other animated features, Spirit and his fellow horses communicate with each
other through sounds and facial expressions. Spirit's thoughts are narrated
by his voice actor Matt Damon. Thus music had to play a major role here due
to lack of dialogues and limited expressions.

About the film’s music

A major part of the tone of the film is set by its musical scores and songs.
The music for this film has been given by the legendary Hans Zimmer and
the songs sung and written by Bryan Adams. Many of the songs and
arrangements are set in the
American West, with themes based
on love, landscapes, brotherhood,
struggles, and journeys. So all the
music have an epic grand scale of

orchestra music accompanied by the raspy voice of Bryan Adams bringing out the
emotions Spirit is feeling all throughout the film.

About the Clip

The clip is a concluding montage of the film. Spirit has just returned from his
adventures with Little Creek and has just won a great victory against the
American Army by escaping them. They return to Little Creek’s Lakota
village. Where he had met Rain (Little Creek’s mare), his true love for the
first time. Due to some incidents earlier in the film, Spirit had assumed her
dead. But after coming to the village it is revealed to him that she is still
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alive. Thus, now greatly elated after a great victory and reunited with his
true love, Spirit and Rain bid farewell to Little Creek and set out for Spirit’s
Cimarron herd in the Wild West. They journey together for days relentlessly,
crossing various terrains. When they finally reach their destination, they are
greeted by the bald eagle, who is an old friend and a companion of Spirit’s.
Spirit is immensely delighted on meeting him. And then they reach his herd.
He finally meets his mother after all those years of separation. Celebration
ensues. Then the herd runs together with its old leader and a newfound
member after a long time. In the last scene Spirit and Rain are looking of his
valley as the Cimarron herd grazes and the eagle soars overhead. And the
clip comes to an end with the credits roll.

Lyrics:

I hear the wind call my name

The sound that leads me home again
About
It sparks up the fire - a flame that still
the
burns
Music in the Clip To you I will always return

The music is a song sung by Bryan
Adams called, “I will always return”,
which is a recurring track throughout
the film and different versions and
different lyrics as well. The song
basically portrays Spirit’s attachment
to his home in the Wild West and his
herd. The song as many other songs
in the film does the talking for Spirit
when there is a need for expressing a
certain emotion or mood in him. This
song talks of his attachment with his
homeland. Of the various sensations
he had while at home and which he
longs for when away from it. And it
I know the road is long but where you are is
home
Wherever you stay - I'll find the way
I'll run like the river - I'll follow the sun
I'll fly like an eagle - to where I belong
I can't stand the distance -I can't dream
alone
I can't wait to see you - Yes, Im on my way
home
And now I know it's true
My every road leads to you
And in the hour of darkness
Your light gets me through
You run like the river - you shine like the
sun
You fly like a eagle
You are the one I've seen every sunset
And with all that I've learned
Oh it's to you - I will always, always return.
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also says how he’ll always return to it no matter how far away he is, no
matter how long he is away.

The music used has piano in the beginning, joined by drums as it progresses.
Finally when the song picks up it has the rest of the orchestra joining. It is
hard to discern each instrument used. But the music as a whole goes with
the theme of the rest of the film which come from the same composer.

The music has a typical happy ending sound to it.