Pokémon Detective Pikachu (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the
score album to the 2019 film
of the same name, based on the Pokémon franchise, and the loose adaptation of the 2016
video game series of the same name. The score, composed by
Henry Jackman, featured 27 tracks and was released digitally by
WaterTower Music and
Sony Classical Records on May 8, 2019, and in physical formats on May 10, coinciding with the film's United States theatrical release.[1] The film also features an original single "
Carry On" by
Kygo and
Rita Ora, served as the standalone track and not featured in the score album, it was independently released by
RCA Records on April 19.[2] The score is included as a part of Jackman's score catalog acquired by
Reservoir Media in March 2022.[3]
Development
Henry Jackman composed the film's score, in his third collaboration with
Rob Letterman on Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) and Gulliver's Travels (2010).[4][5] He called the music writing process as "immensely fun" and further added "The film itself was a unique invitation to create a new musical world representing all the wonderful and colorful characters of the Pokémon universe. I really enjoyed using many different sonic colors so, if you listen carefully, you can hear everything from the full symphony orchestra to analog vintage synths",[6] although
Bustle called the soundtrack as "heavy on electronic dance music".[7] Letterman helped Jackman to bring his
Roland TR-808 drum machine for the film score, but they could not use it as it "was faulty and damaged".[6] Besides composing the score, Jackman arranged
Junichi Masuda's "Red & Blue Theme" (used from previous
Pokémon media) for the film's end credits, but was not included in the score soundtrack.[8]
Kygo and
Rita Ora released a standalone single for the film,[9] titled "
Carry On".[10][11] The song and its accompanying music video were released on April 19, 2019.[12] A remixed version of the song, is performed by Dutch DJ
Nicky Romero.[citation needed]Honest Boyz also collaborated with
Lil Uzi Vert to make another song for the film, titled "Electricity" and produced by
Pharrell Williams, which also plays over the end credits.[13] Reservoir Media acquired all of Jackman's score in March 2022, including his work for Detective Pikachu.[14]
Casey Cipriani, writing for Bustle, called the soundtrack as "fun and boppy" while also adding "it keeps you in Ryme City long after you leave the movie theater".[7] Karen Han of
Polygon called it as "a rollicking, riotously fun soundtrack, as befitting the surprisingly terrific movie."[17]Filmtracks.com criticised the score, saying "it lacks the cohesive narrative and genuine heart of the far more effective Wreck-It Ralph scores, seeming like a cheap knock-off of the same environment whenever the electronics are incorporated. Those looking for robust orchestral action may be moderately intrigued by the suspense and action sequences here, but they are too few and too disjointed to merit a recommendation."[18]CNET called Jackman's score as "catchy",[19] while Umesh Punwani of Koimoi wrote that Jackman's "absorbing background score matches up to the dazzling visuals on screen".[20]
Personnel
Credits adapted from CD liner
Composer – Henry Jackman
Record Producer – Henry Jackman, Maverick Dugger
Additional Producer – Evan Goldman, Jeff Morrow, Kazuma Jinnouchi
Bassoon – Gavin McNaughton, Rachel Simms, Richard Skinner
Cello – Anthony Lewis, Chris Worsey, Hetty Snell, Ian Burdge, Nick Cooper, Paul Kegg, Tim Gill, Tony Wollard, Vicky Matthews, Caroline Dale
Clarinet – Anthony Pike, Dave Fuest, Duncan Ashby, Jon Carnac
Cor Anglais – Janey Miller
Double Bass – Allen Walley, Andy Marshall, Richard Pryce, Steve Williams, Steve Mair, Mary Scully
Flute – Anna Noakes, Karen Jones
French Horn – David Pyatt, Michael Thompson, Nigel Black, Philip Eastop, Richard Berry, Richard Watkins, Simon Rayner
Harp – Skaila Kanga
Oboe – David Thomas, Matthew Draper, Janey Miller
Percussion – Frank Ricotti, Gary Kettel, Paul Clarvis
Piano – David Hartley
Piccolo Flute – Helen Keen
Trombone – Andy Wood, Barry Clements, Byron Fulcher, Dave Stewart, Ed Tarrant, Peter Moore, Tracey Holloway
Trumpet – Daniel Newell, Jason Evans, Kate Moore, Philip Cobb
Tuba, Trombone [Cimbasso] – Owen Slade
Viola – Andy Parker, Annie Beilby, Fiona Bonds, Fiona Winning, Helen Kamminga, Julia Knight, Kate Musker, Martin Humbey, Max Baillie, Peter Lale, Reiad Chibah, Bruce White
Violin – Alison Dods, Boguslaw Kostecki, Cathy Thompson, Clio Gould, Dai Emanuel, Daniel Bhattacharya, Emlyn Singleton, Ian Humphries, Jackie Shave, Jackie Hartley, Jenny Sacha, Marianne Haynes, Mark Berrow, Martin Burgess, Martyn Jackson, Matt Ward, Natalia Bonner, Nicky Sweeney, Ollie Heath, Oli Langford, Patrick Kiernan, Perry Montague-Mason, Richard George, Rick Koster, Roger Garland, Thom Gould, Tom Pigott-Smith, Everton Nelson, Steve Morris
Orchestrated By – Andrew Kinney, Stephen Coleman
Additional Orchestrations – Ed Trybek, Henri Wilkinson, Jonathan Beard
Orchestra Leader – Everton Nelson
Orchestra Contractor– Lucy Whalley
Score Conductor – Gavin Greenaway
Music Coordinator – Jane Berry
Music Supervisor – Margaret Yen, Peter Afterman, Alison Litton
Copyist (Music Preparation) – Jill Streator
Pro Tools Recordist – Chris Barrett
Music Editor – Pete 'Oso' Snell
Score Editor – John Chapman
Recording Engineer – Nick Wollage, Alex Ferguson, Jack Mills
Technical Engineers – Felipe Pacheco, John Paul Lefebvre, Maverick Dugger
Mixed By – Chris Fogel
Legal Business Affairs – Mark Cavell
Music Assistance – Allison Swift, Michaela Green
Product Development – Guido Eitberger
Music Production Services – Matthew Kusell Justmann