Leitmotifs

A leitmotif (/ˌlaɪtmoʊˈtiːf/) is a musical "phrase" or melody, re-used in multiple songs to associate a tune with a person, event, or place.

The extensive use of leitmotifs in Undertale's soundtrack and other sound files helps create a nostalgic mood for the game and often evokes emotional responses in players. Toby Fox has stated that the majority of Undertale's soundtrack was composed using reiterations of free soundfonts and synths.

Attempts have been made at documenting all of the leitmotifs used in the game; players frequently find new connections, and it may be impossible to list them all conclusively. Every single piece of data is open to interpretation and any change should be explained in this page's history description.

Timestamps found below are approximate to one second and are sourced from this playlist, which reflects the timing of the official soundtrack.

Once Upon a Time

Sheet music for the Once Upon a Time (part 1) leitmotif.

This leitmotif can be considered as the main theme of Undertale. It is the most common melody of the game. There are 3 parts to this leitmotif, as well as a recurring embellishment throughout the later tracks.

• Once Upon a Time - 0:00–0:27 (Part 1); 0:28–0:58 (Part 2); 0:58–1:28 (Part 3)
• Start Menu - 0:00–0:21 (Part 1)
• Home - 0:36–1:10 (Part 1); 1:11-1:44 (Part 2)
• Home (Music Box) - 0:36–1:10 (Part 1); 1:11-1:44 (Part 2)
• Hotel - 0:20–0:40 (Part 1); 0:41–1:22 (Part 2) (Embellishment)
• Can You Really Call This A Hotel, I Didn't Receive A Mint On My Pillow Or Anything - 0:14–0:30 (Part 1); 0:31–0:57 (Part 2) (Embellishment)
• Undertale - 0:37–2:48, 3:26-4:41, 5:20–5:58 (Part 1); 2:49-3:25 (Part 2) (Embellishment)
• The Choice (Part 1) (Undertale paulstretched to 15% speed)
• Fallen Down (Reprise) - 1:18–1:43 (Part 1); 1:44-2:10 (Part 2); 2:10-2:30 (Part 3) Syncopated to 3/4
• Hopes and Dreams - 0:00–0:43 (Part 1); 0:44-1:29, 1:52–2:14 (Part 3) (Embellishment)
• SAVE the World - 0:00-0:04, 0:10–0:14 (Part 1); 0:42-1:04, 1:05-1:46 (Part 3) (Embellishment)
• Final Power (Part 3) (Hopes and Dreams reversed)
• Reunited - 0:43–1:41 (Part 1); 1:42-2:41 (Part 2); 2:57-3:56(Part 3)
• Menu (Full) 0:00–0:21 (Part 1); 0:22–0:32 (Part 3)
• Bring It In, Guys! - 3:47–4:05 (Part 1)
• Last Goodbye - 0:02–0:23, 0:45–1:06 (Part 2); 0:24-0:28, 1:54-2:15 (Part 1); 1:08-1:29 (Part 3) (Embellishment)
• Good Night (Part 1)
• Dating Start (FM Version) - 0:00–0:08 (Part 1)
• Before the Story - 0:29–1:28 (Part 1)
• School — 0:00–0:54 (Part 1); 0:54–1:19 (Part 2)
• Undertale (Unused) (unused track) — (Part 1, 2, 3, and embellishment)

Flowey

Sheet music for the Flowey leitmotif.

This leitmotif is associated with Flowey and appears in the following tracks:

• Your Best Friend
• Your Best Nightmare - 0:54–1:26, 2:00–2:27, 3:00–3:27
• Finale - 0:00–0:40, 0:57–1:52
• Hopes and Dreams - 1:18–1:52
• SAVE the World - 0:05–0:08, 0:15–0:18, 0:25–0:28, 0:36–0:39, 1:35–1:46
• Last Goodbye - 0:29–0:32, 0:39–0:42
• mus_toomuch (unlisted track)
• mus_f_finale_1 (unused track)

Toriel

Sheet music for the Toriel leitmotif.

Toriel's theme. This song appears in the following tracks:

• Fallen Down (the track in-game is played 25 cents above C♯ major in A440 equal-tempered tuning; the sheet music shown above is written in D major)
• Fallen Down (Reprise) - 0:00–1:18
• Bring It In, Guys! - 3:34–3:47 syncopated to 4/4
• Empty House

Ruins

Sheet music for the Ruins leitmotif.

This motif appears in the following tracks:

• Ruins
• Waterfall - 0:27–1:56
• Quiet Water
• NGAHHH!! - 0:34–1:22
• Spear of Justice - 0:36–1:55
• An Ending, has a variation of the melody
• Don't Give Up, uses variation
• Respite, uses variation
• Bring It In, Guys! - 1:48–2:14, uses variation
• But the Earth Refused to Die, uses variation
• Battle Against a True Hero - 0:44–1:35, uses variation
• Abandoned Town — 0:14–0:27
• mus_ruinspiano (unused track) - (variation of An Ending)
• Undyne Battle (Unused) (unused track) - 0:29–1:17

Enemy Approaching

Sheet music for the Enemy Approaching leitmotif.

This leitmotif is related to enemies or dogs. It appears in the following tracks:

• Enemy Approaching - 0:10–0:15
• Anticipation (bassline)
• Heartache - 0:53–1:03
• Dogsong has the variation of the melody
• Temmie Village also has the variation
• Tem Shop also has the variation
• Bring It In, Guys! - 0:00–0:34
• Absolutely Overfamiliar Shrine
• Dog Dating
• Dog Casino (XBOX) (unlisted track)
• Annoying Dog PS4 Theme (unlisted track) also has the variation
• Dogtroid (Unused) (unused track)

Ghost Fight

Sheet music for the Ghost Fight leitmotif.

This leitmotif appears in the following tracks, most of which are the boss themes of various mini bosses. There are two parts to this theme, one shared with Spider Dance and one exclusive to Ghost Fight and Dummy!.

• Ghost Fight (Ghosts, Spiders)
• Dummy! (Ghosts, Spiders)
• Pathetic House (Spiders)
• Spider Dance (Spiders)
• Mad Mew Mew (Spiders)

Determination

Sheet music for the Determination leitmotif.

This leitmotif appears in the following tracks:

• Determination - from 0:00
• ASGORE - 1:50–2:28 syncopated to 4/4
• Bereavement- 1:50-2:27,4:41-5:20 syncopated to 4/4
• Snowed Inn Jazz — from 0:00
• mus_snoresymphony (unlisted track)
• mus_kingdescription (unused track)

Sans

Sheet music for the Sans leitmotif.

Sans's theme. Appears in the following tracks, one of which is never played in the game.

• sans. - 0:00-0:44
• It's Raining Somewhere Else - 0:20-0:58, 1:00-1:17, 2:00-2:17, 2:20-2:38
• Song That Might Play When You Fight Sans
• Bring It In, Guys! - 0:40–0:46 (bassline)

Papyrus

Sheet music for the Papyrus leitmotif.

Papyrus's theme. appears in the following tracks, one of which is never played in the game.

• Nyeh Heh Heh!
• Bonetrousle
• Song That Might Play When You Fight Sans - 0:33–0:58
• Bring It In, Guys! - 0:34–0:53
• Bonetrousle (Trailer Version)

Snowdin

There are two main motifs corresponding to Snowdin.

The Snowdin leitmotif (part 1) as it appears in Snowy

These leitmotifs are associated with Snowdin. There are two recurring themes, the first of which first appears in Snowy and the second of which first appears in Snowdin Town. They are used in the following tracks:

• Snowy (Part 1)
• Snowdin Town - 0:00–0:56 (Part 1); 0:56–1:16 (Part 2)
• Shop - 0:00–0:25 (Part 1); 0:25–0:50 (Part 2)
• Dating Start! - 0:00–0:16, 0:37–0:54, 1:31–1:56 (Part 1); 0:16–0:35, 0:54–1:31 (Part 2)
• Dating Fight! - 0:00–0:13 (Part 1); 0:13–0:35 (Part 2)
• Confession (Part 2)
• Hopes and Dreams - 2:15–3:01 (Part 2)
• Bring It In, Guys! - 0:54–1:16 (Part 1); 1:16–1:29 (Part 2)
• Reunited - 3:56–4:25 (Part 2)
• Dating Start (FM Version) (Part 1 and 2)
• Snowdrift — 0:00–0:26 (Part 1); 0:26–1:16 (Part 2)

Undyne

Sheet music for the Undyne leitmotif.

Undyne's theme. Used in the following tracks:

• Dating Tense! - 0:17–0:25 syncopated to 4/4
• Undyne
• Run! syncopated to 4/4
• NGAHHH!! - 0:00–0:34, has the variation of the melody
• Spear of Justice - 0:00–0:36, also has the variation
• ASGORE - 2:28–2:34, syncopated to 4/4, also has the variation
• Bring It In, Guys! - 1:29–1:48, also has the variation
• Bereavement - 2:28-2:32, 5:21-5:25, syncopated to 4/4, also has the variation
• Undyne Battle (Unused) (unused track) - 0:00–0:29, 1:17–1:30 has the variation of the melody

Another Medium

Sheet music for the Another Medium leitmotif.

This motif is inspired by the unused Homestuck song Patient, with the choir melody from 0:34-0:38 being used in Another Medium, CORE, and Bring It In, Guys! with a note added. The referenced melodic material in Patient is a motivic embellishment of the first part of the Ruins motif. It appears in the following tracks:

• Waterfall - 0:00–0:27, 1:56–2:07
• Another Medium - 0:00–0:51, 0:59–1:21, 1:51–2:10
• CORE has a variation of the melody.
• Death by Glamour also has variations
• Bring It In, Guys! also has variations (including the one from Death by Glamour)

Alphys

Sheet music for the Alphys leitmotif.

Alphys's theme. Appears in the following tracks:

• Bird That Carries You Over A Disproportionately Small Gap
• Alphys
• She's Playing Piano
• Here We Are syncopated to 5/4
• Alphys Lab (Unused) (unused track) also syncopated to 5/4

It's Showtime!

Sheet music for the It's Showtime! leitmotif.

This leitmotif is associated with Mettaton and appears in the following tracks:

• It's Showtime! - 0:00-0:29
• Metal Crusher - 0:03–0:20, 0:37–0:53 with variations and changes in note values without syncopation
• Live Report - 0:03-0:07, 0:09-0:12 syncopated to 3/4
• Death Report - 0:03-0:05, 0:08-0:10, 0:13-0:16, 0:19-0:21, 0:24-0:45 has a variation. syncopated to 3/4
• Death by Glamour - 1:30–1:56
• mus_tv (Papyrus's TV, unlisted track)

Metal Crusher

Sheet music for the Metal Crusher leitmotif.

Mettaton's battle theme. This leitmotif originates from Noisemaster's Theme, a fan theme Toby Fox made for Cucumber Quest.It appears in the following tracks:

• Metal Crusher - 0:20–0:37
• Last Episode! - 0:00-0:06
• Death by Glamour - 1:04–1:30

Hotel

The bassline of It's Showtime! appears in the following tracks. It is considered as a separate leitmotif, as it has an entirely different melody.

• It's Showtime! - from 0:00 (bassline)
• Hotel - from 0:00
• Can You Really Call This A Hotel, I Didn't Receive A Mint On My Pillow Or Anything - from 0:00
• CORE Approach - 0:01-0:11

Asriel

Sheet music for the Asriel leitmotif.

Asriel's theme. It appears in the following tracks:

• Memory - from 0:00
• Undertale 0:00–2:47, 3:27–6:21 (at times, the melody is barely perceptible among overlapping music. It is heard on a guitar for most of the song, becoming hard to distinguish after 3:27; the tune switches to a more audible sample after 4:42, to a quiet background piano at the key change around 5:20, and back to the second instrument at 5:57)
• The Choice (imperceptible, as it is a slowed-down part of Undertale which contains the barely-audible Memory)
• Finale - 0:40–0:57
• His Theme - from 0:00
• Memory (10 Years Later) — from 0:00

Asgore

Sheet music for the Bergentrückung leitmotif.

This leitmotif is associated with Asgore and appears in the following tracks:

• Bergentrückung - from 0:00
• ASGORE - 0:00–0:33 (A variation of Bergentrückung)
• Bring It In, Guys! - 3:25–3:34
• Bereavement - 0:00–0:33, 2:34-3:26, 5:28-5:52 (A variation of Bergentrückung)

Your Best Nightmare

This leitmotif is associated with Omega Flowey and appears in the following tracks:

• You Idiot - from 0:00
• Your Best Nightmare - 0:00–0:16, 0:22–0:53, 1:27–1:54, 2:29–2:54, 3:28–4:00
• Burn in Despair! - 0:00-0:03, 0:07-0:10, 0:14-0:17

Minor Leitmotifs

There are several other melodies that are reused in a more limited capacity than the leitmotifs discussed above. All the melodies listed in this section appear in at most three listed tracks and are named below according to the first track in which they appear.

Uwa!! So

This leitmotif is used in the following Settings menu tracks for seasonal changes:

• Uwa!! So Temperate♫
• Uwa!! So Holiday♫
• Uwa!! So HEATS!!♫

Home

The Home leitmotif appears in the following tracks:

• Home - 0:00-1:12
• Home (Music Box) - 0:00-1:12

Heartache

These leitmotifs are associated with the battle themes for Toriel and Asgore. They appear in the following tracks:

• Heartache - from 0:00 (part 1) 0:12-0:15, 0:30-0:45, 1:27-1:46 (part 2)
• ASGORE - 0:34–1:25, 1:33-1:47 (part 1) 1:26-1:47 (part 2)
• Bereavement - 0:34-1:24, 1:32-1:45, 3:28-4:17, 4:26-4:39, (part 1) 1:24-1:46, 4:17-4:40, (part 2)

Spooktune

The Spooktune leitmotif appears in the following tracks:

• Spooktune - 0:00-0:15, (part 1) 0:16-0:23, (part 2)
• Spookwave - 0:00-0:15, (part 1) 0:16-0:23, (part 2)

Jingle Bells

Jingle Bells appears in the following track:

• Ghouliday - from 0:00

Oh!

The Oh! leitmotif appears in the following tracks:

• Oh! One True Love - from 0:00
• Oh! Dungeon - from 0:00
• For the Fans - from 0:00

Battle Against a True Hero

The Batte Against a True Hero leitmotif appears in the following tracks:

• Battle Against a True Hero - 0:00–1:36
• Power of "NEO" - from 0:00

MEGALOVANIA

The MEGALOVANIA leitmotif appears in the following tracks:

• MEGALOVANIA — from 0:00
• what's up? — from 0:00
• Song that Plays when Somebody Verses sans. — 0:00–0:26, 0:53–1:45

mus_dogroom

This leitmotif appears in the following tracks:

• mus_dogroom (unlisted track) - 0:04-0:36
• Mysterious Shrine - 0:04-0:33

Abandoned Town

The Abandoned Town leitmotif appears in the following tracks:

• Abandoned Town - 0:30-0:41, 0:45-0:53
• Underwater Town - 0:48-0:50, 0:56-0:58, 1:04-1:06, 1:12-1:14

Similar samples

• Sample used in Barrier is used in Amalgam
• Sample used in Ooo is used in Waterfall (0:14–0:25)
• A version of Flowey's laugh is used in Your Best Nightmare (0:16–0:22)
• mus_smile (unused track) is Muffet's laugh, slowed down and looped, with the audio being reversed every other loop.
• Sample used in Metal Crusher (0:00–0:04 and background) is used in Death by Glamour (0:39–0:58 and 2:02–2:14)
• Multiple songs from the soundtrack use instrument samples from other games.