Experiencing a surreal sensation while working on the Pokémon anime: The Edmonton composer's perspective
Edmonton-based composer and sound designer Geoff Li is making waves in the world of Pokémon anime music, particularly with his work on the latest series, Pokémon Horizons.
Li's journey with Madcap Labs, the studio behind the English dub of the Pokémon anime, began when he posted a guitar solo transcription on YouTube. Impressed by his talent, Ed Goldfarb, the president of Madcap Labs and the lead composer for the English Pokémon animated series, reached out to him.
Initially, Li worked as an associate composer, translating musical sketches into full orchestral scores. As his skills and training were recognised, he progressed to composing and orchestrating his own works for the series. To date, he has contributed scores for over 100 episodes of Pokémon Horizons, collaborating as part of the team that produces the music for the English dub.
One of Li's standout compositions is Fury Dance, a battle theme that feels like a mix of his childhood influences and the sound palette of Pokémon Horizons. The texture of Fury Dance is also inspired by the work of John Estacio, the ESO's first composer in residence. Fury Dance shifts between different time signatures, has a low chugging piano introduction, and is inspired by the Pokémon main line of games.
Li's love for music and video game soundtracks led him to dream of writing memorable scores for games. His musical influences include East Asian traditional styles connected to his heritage, which he actively studies and applies in his compositions.
Beyond the Pokémon anime, Li is currently working on music and sound design for various video games. One of the projects he worked on during the pandemic was Element X, and the one in development now, with no release date yet, is called Rogue Racer.
Li is also proud of how Fury Dance turned out, as it is frequently reused in the Pokémon Horizons show. His favourite piece outside of Pokémon is a piano quintet piece called A New Era of Immigrant Stories, which he wrote in 2020.
Pokémon Horizons follows the conclusion of Ash Ketchum's 26-year journey in Pokémon Ultimate Journeys. As one of the longest-running anime series in the world, having begun broadcasting in Japan in 1997 with more than 1,300 episodes to date, the new series promises exciting new adventures for fans.
- Geoff Li's talent in music, showcased in his work on the Pokémon Horizons series, extends beyond anime, as he also composes and designs sound for various video games, such as Element X and Rogue Racer.
- The world of technology and news is buzzing about sports-betting, alongside entertainment, as Geoff Li's latest composition, Fury Dance, from Pokémon Horizons, is used recurrently in the show.
- In the realm of music, Geoff Li's influences are diverse, encompassing his heritage's East Asian traditional styles, childhood influences, and the sound palette of Pokémon Horizons, creating a unique blend in his compositions, like Fury Dance.
