Leitmotifs

Stella’s theme is an important part of the AB Stella series for obvious reasons. It has been featured in a few different tracks from the games AB POP! and AB Stella and was even referenced in an episode of On the Run. Of course, Stella’s theme also plays as the opening theme of the AB Stella animated series!

AB Stella game theme

“Chilling It” from Pop the Top levels, which feature Stella

AB Pop main theme, featuring more brass and an auxiliary section


On The Run
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t294_pGE0HI
0:52

Appropriately enough, the very first episode of the animated series starts off with Stella’s theme. The theme is played in a slow, calm manner for a “peaceful morning” atmosphere.

At 1:36, the theme is played in a relaxed manner, but not slowly and softly like it was at the beginning of the episode. This reminds me of “Chilling It” from AB Pop and is a nice way to show a tropical activity for Stella and her friends.


The second episode, “Bad Princess”, opens with Stella’s theme again, but this time, it is more intense as Stella does parkour in the Big Tree.

As Stella breaks a branch and falls, the music shifts to a different melody, but this might still be a part of the same theme.

This auxiliary melody used in a few action scenes appears at 0:31 in the AB Pop main theme.
The auxiliary melody kicks in again at 2:39.

Stella’s theme is played in a slow, sad manner at 4:43. The use of a minor key here reflects Stella’s emotions after fully realizing Gale’s betrayal.



Stella’s theme is often played when she and her friends are doing activities together, such as 3:50 in “All That Glitters”

or 0:41 in “Pig Power”.

The bright tone of the theme’s default style makes the theme lend itself well to this kind of scene.

“Own the Sky” prominently features both Stella and her theme; in fact, it plays at the very beginning of the episode.

Stella’s theme later plays in a somewhat triumphant manner at 1:11 before the music, along with Stella’s flight, takes a darker turn.

Stella’s theme can be heard in a darker, more intense style at 1:37 to fit with the scene.

At 5:20, the music echoes back to this cue as Stella tries to save Luca. This final flight features this intense take on Stella’s theme, followed by a more triumphant cue (louder than the first time)—an inversion of the how Stella’s theme is used in the earlier flight.

Between these two scenes, at 2:26, Stella’s theme is played in a slow, quiet, staccato style. These factors serve to emphasize that Stella feels unable to do much as she recovers.

The theme is played again in a similar manner at 3:31, but in a different key that reflects her emotional state getting even worse.

At 3:56, Stella’s theme plays instead of Willow’s before the (small) reveal that Stella is standing just offscreen.

Stella’s theme is briefly used in the next episode, “The Prankster”, at 4:13.



Stella’s theme is played in several different manners aside from the more typical, bright tone in the season 2 premiere, “New Day”. At the beginning of the episode, after a bit of ambient music, a snippet of Gale’s theme plays as Stella sees a piece of her cape.
Then, Stella walks off as her own theme plays in a a sad tone before a silhouette that looks like Gale shows up.

The preceding description actually also applies to the last scene of the episode, which mirrors the first!
A bit later in the episode, at 1:52, the theme plays again, this time in a manner meant to sound sneaky, before transitioning into a melody associated with the directionless pigs that only shows up in this episode. [not featured in clip below, see "Piggies" section for more information]

At 2:55, Stella’s theme plays in a gentle manner as she wakes up, similar to the beginning of the first episode of the previous season.

At 4:22, the theme sounds a little darker, featuring instrumentation like that more often used for Gale’s theme. Like Gale once did, Stella is leaving her friends to go to Gale’s castle with the pigs in this scene!



“Night of the Bling” starts with a spooky rendition of Stella’s theme to set the mood.

The following episode, “Step it Up”, uses Stella’s theme in its action music starting at 1:04.

When it is used as such in this episode, the theme is never brought to its conclusion (“Stella, Stella!”). At 2:13, the theme is played in a sadder, slowed down manner, but not staccato like in some other episodes.



The episode “The Storm” begins with Stella’s theme being sung by Stella herself, adding another example to the list of times in the series leitmotifs are used diegetically.



As the show opened with Stella’s theme, so it also closes with it. Stella’s theme can be heard woven into the music at the end of the last episode of the series, “You Asked for It”. The ending music starts at 5:22, and Stella’s theme can be heard at 5:35 (0:11 in the clip below). The concluding music for the series offers a cheerful, happy ending for the series that contrasts with much of the rest of the last few episodes, as the island has been restored.

An arrangement of Poppy’s theme appears in the AB Stella soundtrack under the title “Stella Scat”.

The cartoon actually includes a stylistic reference to it before its actual first appearance. At 1:02 in “Bad Princess”, a melody shows up that is not Poppy’s normal theme; however, it has a similar sound to Poppy’s theme.

Composer David Schweitzer seemed confirm that this was a reference to the style (but not the melody) of Poppy’s theme in an email conversation. After the stylistic reference returns at 5:14,

Poppy’s theme comes in for real for the first time at 5:38 and plays over the credits.



“Rock On”, despite heavily featuring Poppy, does not actually feature her theme, so its next appearance is in “The Prankster”. The theme kicks off the episode in a manner that likely is meant to reemergence the default style of Dahlia’s theme (Poppy is pranking Dahlia in this scene).

At 1:02 (and many other points throughout this Poppy-centered episode), the theme plays in a manner similar to the “Stella Scat” arrangement.

At 5:28, the actual scatting can even be heard. [the what]



Poppy’s theme appears twice in season 2. The first example is at 5:26 in “Camp Scary” as Poppy runs around, scared, as the result of a prank by Willow and Dahlia.



While Poppy’s theme usually is played in a more cheerful tone, it takes a different tone in “Last Bird Standing”. Poppy’s theme is referenced at 2:59 as Poppy becomes the first to agree to come to Gale’s castle. The tune is slower and less energetic here, going along with the more desperate tone of the episode in general.

Luca’s theme appeared in a handful of episodes in the Angry Birds Stella animated series. Unless I’m missing something, it was never in any of the games. The track “Luca’s Secret” from AB POP does not actually showcase Luca’s theme from the series. A good example of Luca’s theme would be the music played over the credits for “The Runaway” (the song is played prominently in that episode, of course).



In the episode “Bad Princess”, at 4:53, a whistle-like sound is played in reference to Luca’s theme as Luca imitates Handsome Pig.

The actual melody of Luca’s theme doesn’t really play, which is why I haven’t noted this in my score chart.

Luca’s theme is first used right off the bat in “The Runaway”. It is a playful little tune, and the opening scene of this episode gives viewers a good idea of how this theme sounds by default.



At 1:23, Luca’s theme is played in a slower, softer manner in order to sound gentle as Luca is put to bed.

It develops a more staccato, sneaky sound as Luca sneaks off.
At 1:46, the melody is played by a low brass instrument. Low brass melodies are associated with the pigs. This shift makes sense here, as Luca encounters some pigs playing in the mud.



As Luca approaches Gale’s castle, the pigs sing the Bad Piggies theme!

After Luca enters the castle, Luca’s theme is briefly heard as the pigs assemble a small throne for him.

In this scene, the melody is mostly on string and upper brass instruments, which usually do not play the melody for Luca’s theme. This, and the fact that the phrases start extending their second note a little instead of being played as straight eighth notes, seem to serve to give Luca’s theme a more “royal” flavor as Luca pretends to be a little prince.

As Luca finds himself lost in the dark, his theme starts to take a more ominous tone at 4:26.

After Luca wakes up in the treehouse at the end of the episode, Luca’s theme is played in its default style like it was at the beginning of the episode. Both Luca’s theme and Luca himself end the episode where they started.



Luca and his theme first show up in “Step It Up” at 0:42. Like a lot of the music in this episode, Luca’s theme is played on what sounds like plucked strings to imitate or reference what I think is supposed to be a more Eastern style of music.

Luca’s theme is played a few times throughout the episode at a few moments in which Luca is featured. Its style briefly switches a little to something more resembling its default style at 5:35, but it then switches back as Stella gives Luca her ninja headband.



Other instances of Luca’s theme include 4:21 in “It’s Mine”, 1:31 in “The Golden Queen”, and 0:51 in “Last Bird Standing”.
All of these are played in different styles to match the tone of the scene: mildly distressed or uncomfortable in “It’s Mine”,

softer and more cautiously in “The Golden Queen”,

and brighter as Luca provides comic relief in “Last Bird Standing”.

In “Last Bird Standing”, there are fewer background/rhythmic parts in the arrangement than when the theme is played at the end of “The Runaway”. This may be because “Last Bird Standing” represents a part of the series with a more serious or even tragic overall tone. Luca’s comic relief is just a small part of the birds’ general situation, so Luca’s theme doesn’t get anything near a whole orchestra (just a couple of instruments). Or maybe it’s just coincidence and speculation.

I did not have to dig into the score for the animated series to find Willow’s theme because it is used in AB POP. The track is even explicitly labeled as her theme. If you are unfamiliar with the song, I recommend you listen to it here:
Willow's Theme


As for the animated series, Willow’s theme only actually appears in it in two episodes. However, in those two episodes, the theme is very prominent. If you are familiar with the series, you could probably guess which two episodes they are even if I hadn’t already specifically referenced them twice: “The Portrait” and “Premonition”, the eleventh episode of each season.

“The Portrait” starts off with Willow’s theme being played right of the bat in its typical manner: calmly.

Willow is usually shy and gentle; despite being in a series about Angry Birds, she has barely any anger at all. As such, Willow’s theme is played by default in a relaxed manner, often featuring either what sound like woodwind instruments or harmonicas.

At 1:07 in “The Portrait”, Gale is reminded of Willow when she sees a red-and-yellow striped pain smear. A snippet of Willow’s theme briefly plays before the scene cuts, but in an odd manner. The distortion could be to just hint at Willow before she actually shows up, or it could be to highlight how Gale has something a bit sinister planned for her.



As Willow paints Gale’s giant portrait and the pigs fool around with paint, a montage featuring Willow’s theme occurs. This starts off soft, but it quickly becomes more energetic as Willow invites the pigs to join her and comes out of her shell. The montage features what sounds like an electric guitar instead of the usual soft, woodwind sound for the melody. I love this part, and it’s the main reason why this is probably my favorite episode in the series.

There is this part that plays in between moments featuring the chorus of Willow’s theme, but strangely, the melody doesn’t seem to match any part of the arrangement seen in AB POP (even though that did include some auxiliary melodies).

The music really helps to highlight the emotion in the scene in which Willow gives the Artist Pig her brush. The music starts out mildly sad, but then a different instrument takes over the melody, which starts to climb. This highlights her act of kindness toward the pig and their new friendship.



“Premonition” opens with Willow’s theme being played gently, like “The Portrait”. In this episode, though, Willow sings along. She knows her own theme song!



After Willow’s theme cuts off and things begin turning to stone, a whispering effect starts to play. This serves to produce a greatly unsettling effect on the viewer and highlights how unnatural and ominous the scene is. Within the whispering, the word “ey-nah” (which means “egg”) can be heard, hinting at the Golden Egg being the source of the transformation. This doesn’t actually have anything to do with Willow’s theme, but this seemed like a good place to mention it.

A brief montage with Willow’s theme featuring what sounds like an electric guitar is used in “Premonition”, like in “The Portrait”, although the tempo is noticeably less energetic here. This is not a bunch of pigs; this is just Willow with one friend.

Like the montage in “The Portrait”, this is cut off abruptly; this time, though, the cause is something more serious.

At 5:02 in “Premonition”, Willow’s theme plays softly, but not quite how it played before. It has a soft, mallet percussion sound here, almost like a lullaby.

This stands in stark contrast to the dark scenes at the end of the episode, especially when it is played over the credits immediately after a gong sound.

The way in which the softness of Willow’s theme is juxtaposed with the rather dark preceding scenes makes Willow’s theme sound kind of sad, even though one would likely find it a calm sound out of context.

Fun fact: the episode “The Portrait” once won an award at a Norwegian film festival.

Dahlia’s theme first appears right off the bat in her first feature episode, “Pig Power”. I believe this to also be the best example of the theme in the series, so I encourage readers to listen to it. Dahlia’s theme is typically played in a somewhat staccato manner.



After the initial scene of Dahlia making blueprints for her bridge, Dahlia’s theme is featured in many other parts of the episode “Pig Power”.
It plays for a short bit at 0:54 as Dahlia shows her blueprints to her friends,

and then in a sped-up manner at 1:56 as Dahlia races to quickly construct a disguise.

At 3:08 and throughout the rest of the episode, Dahlia’s theme is played in a way that is slower than usual and features low brass (which is associated with the pigs). At first, I didn’t even recognize this melody for what it is! Dahlia’s theme, like Dahlia herself, is in disguise here.

The only other season 1 episode in which Dahlia’s theme appears is the next one, “Own the Sky”. It appears in its default manner when Stella visits Dahlia’s room.



Dahlia’s theme only appears in one season 2 episode, but it is heavily featured in that one. That episode is, of course, “It’s Mine!” The theme comes in early in the episode, at 0:28, interrupting the Golden Egg’s leitmotif. Like the Egg’s leitmotif, Dahlia’s theme sounds a bit off here, reflecting Dahlia’s mental state. I believe this effect is achieved mainly by playing Dahlia’s theme in a different key.

Dahlia’s theme comes back in at 0:45.

At 1:09, Dahlia’s theme is played quietly as Dahlia sneaks past the monsters guarding the Egg. This may be to highlight the stealth aspect of the scene; however, the music doesn’t grow THAT quiet.

The scene isn’t completely silent stealth, and it isn’t slow-paced, either. The music at this point has every instrument not playing the melody grow very quiet at this part, and only one instrument at a time gets the melody here. This is likely to give the music a quality reminiscent of the echoing effect of a cave, as well as to mirror the fact that Dahlia is alone here (after she distracts the monsters, of course).
Dahlia’s theme returns at 1:35 when Dahlia sneaks the Egg into the treehouse.

It is also prominently featured in the scene in which Dahlia tries to study the Egg, starting at 2:27.

The key used for Dahlia’s theme keeps changing throughout these examples, but the theme pretty much never feels quite like it did back in season 1. Again, this likely reflects Dahlia’s mental instability.
The theme briefly becomes dramatic at 3:03. [0:36 in clip above] The string instrumentation makes the transformation of objects in Dahlia’s room to gold/stone seem intense and unnatural.
At 3:47, Dahlia’s theme is played in an especially quiet manner as Dahlia thinks of a (not very good) plan.

A snippet of Dahlia’s theme then plays at 5:17 when the baby monster throws Dahlia’s fake egg back at her. The theme, unsurprisingly, sounds distorted here.

The episode concludes with Dahlia scribbling on a blackboard while an upper wind melody plays. This is not Dahlia’s normal theme and makes no major appearances elsewhere in the series, but I thought it deserved a special mention.

If I remember correctly, this melody played during a special feature for one of the AB Stella DVDs while Dahlia was discussed.
Finally, a distorted version of Dahlia’s theme featuring whistling sounds plays over the credits for this episode.

Gale, as the main villain, is a crucial part of the Angry Birds Stella series, and her theme music is, unsurprisingly, quite frequently used throughout the animated series in a variety of different ways. A very good example of this theme is the arrangement posted on David Schweitzer’s website or the shortened version used for the credits of Angry Birds Pop
(I highly encourage you to check it out if you are unfamiliar with the theme).
Gale's Song:


Interestingly, though this arrangement contains three main melodies/sections (a second starts at 0:32 and a third at 0:46), only the first is really used elsewhere. When I asked him about this, composer David Schweitzer said that this probably had something to do with the theme typically being introduced with just a quick “sting” in the animated series. Gale’s theme also found some uses in a few promotional videos, including (but not limited to) an unusual arrangement in the second half of the recap video for the first season of AB Stella(by the way, the first half uses the same melody from the “My Name Is Willow” teaser).

The first episode of the animated series, “A Fork in the Friendship”, heavily features Gale’s theme, as Gale is (arguably) the main character of that episode. It first comes in quietly and softly at 0:52 as a sleeping Gale makes her first appearance in the series.

Later in the episode, at 2:30, Gale’s theme comes in with a more mysterious tone as Gale finds a weird tree. The music becomes slightly more majestic as Gale finds two interesting artifacts and picks up the crown.

The theme comes in again at 3:58 as Gale looks at her reflection and fantasizes.

The episode ends with Gale’s theme being played in a more sinister manner for the first, but definitely not the last, time as Gale finalizes her decision to trade Stella’s flock for power over the pigs.

Gale’s theme plays over the credits here.



Gale’s theme comes in softly in the subsequent episode, “Bad Princess”, at 0:48 when Stella briefly thinks that Gale has come back.

Poppy’s cackle can be heard in the background, hinting that the scene is just one of her pranks.
At 1:27, Stella looks at some old photos of her and Gale, and a soft, sorrowful quote from Gale’s theme serves to convey Stella’s longing for her friend to return.

Gale’s theme takes a similar tone near the end of the episode (5:26) as Stella looks out at Gale’s castle from a branch of the Big Tree, but it turns a little brighter as Stella turns her attention to her other friends.

At 4:00, Gale’s theme is played in a mysterious manner as Stella enters the castle, hinting that Gale is behind the project.



With Gale having cemented herself as a character willing and able to do actual harm to the island in the previous episode, her theme comes in at 0:55 in a dark, ominous manner in the third episode, “The Golden Egg”.

This style returns as Gale herself returns to her castle at the end of the episode.

At 3:15, Gale’s theme has an intense, electric sound as Gale comes in, prepared to cut down the Big Tree.



After a brief appearance in “All That Glitters”,

Gale’s theme appears at 2:06 in “Pig Power” as Dahlia appears in her Gale costume. The music here is quiet and played in a staccato style likely meant to reference Dahlia’s own theme.

Another humorous usage of the theme comes later, at 2:48, when Handsome Pig is confused by Dahlia’s costume.



In episode 10, “Piggy Love”, Gale’s theme plays in a soft, romantic tone as Handsome Pig fantasizes about Gale. This happens multiple times throughout the episode, the first of which being at 0:37.

At 1:18 in “Don’t Steal My Birthday”, pigs play Gale’s theme on horns, signifying that, apparently, Gale’s theme exists in-universe (along with some of the other themes, as mentioned in some of my previous articles).



At 3:17 in “To the Bitter End”, Gale’s theme takes on a different tone. Here, Gale and Stella work together and actually have a positive interaction in a long time. Gale is, perhaps briefly, no longer acting like an antagonist in this scene; as such, Gale’s theme is played in a more heroic manner.

The notation is a bit different here to achieve this affect (I think it is probably case of using a major instead of a minor key).
Gale’s theme returns in a similar manner at 4:30 as Gale tries to save Stella from the lava.

The episode ends with a slow, sad rendition of Gale’s theme starting at 5:46. This version has a bit of a ringing sound in the background and features a conclusion not used elsewhere.



A lone woodwind instrument slowly plays Gale’s theme at a couple of points in “New Day” when a piece of Gale’s cape reminds Stella of Gale: 0:34 and 5:32 (I discussed how the first and last scenes of this episode mirror each other a bit in my article on Stella’s theme).

At 4:52, Gale’s theme plays briefly again. The pigs are shown here to be in chaos; Gale’s theme helps indicate that this chaos is an effect of Gale’s absence.

The ending, of course, includes a powerful moment for Gale’s theme.

The theme returns right off the bat in the next episode, but is is slower and softer than at the very end of “New Day”. After the big revelation of Gale’s return, the theme now generally serves to highlight Gale’s weakened state.

Later, the louder and more powerful way Gale’s theme plays as Gale receives the throne-like wheelchair she demands helps to accent the fact that, despite her injury, Gale still wants to be treated like a powerful queen.

A similar effect occurs at 3:30.



[This isn't in the original article, but I'd like to give a shoutout to "Friends Whenever"'s credits theme]



Gale’s theme can be heard once in “Night of the Bling” at 2:04. This being a Halloween episode, the theme has a slurred, “spooky” sound here.



At 2:41 (and later in the episode) in “Royal Pains”, Gale’s theme is heard using a softer, woodwind sound as Handsome Pig fantasizes about her.



In “The Golden Queen”, Gale’s theme has a generally ominous sound throughout most of its appearances in this pivotal episode. For example, Gale comes up behind Luca at 3:04, the theme is soft, but still has a sinister tone behind it due in large part to the lowest note being a half-step lower than some other examples. Luca still sees Gale as at least a somewhat friendly figure, but Gale, of course, has bad intentions here (though not toward Luca).



“Gilded Cage” reuses/references some music from season 1 episodes.
At 0:45, the music is the same as when Gale first finds the crown and the Book all the way back in the first episode of the series (only slightly louder).

At 3:30, as Handsome Pig cries in front of the large portrait of Gale (which apparently has had the snout removed), Gale’s theme is heard in the same way it was featured in “Piggy Love”, but in this context, it seems more sorrowful than romantic.



Gale’s theme has one (particularly slow and dark) appearance in “Premonition” at 5:31.



The final appearance of Gale’s them in the series is another diegetic example: a pig plays her theme on a violin as funeral music after Gale is turned to gold in the final episode, “You Asked for It”.




P.S.
I didn’t realize this until I had already completed my penultimate article in this series, but a video on the official Angry Birds YouTube channel from a few years ago promoting a poll about people’s favorite bird from AB Stella used every bird’s theme over the appropriate clips. I guess that could have made my job a little easier when I had to figure out some of the character themes out myself.

Prior to Angry Birds Stella, a portion of the classic AB theme was used to represent the pigs. It was used in AB Toons episodes and as a foundation for the Piggy Tales theme, for example.


The AB Stella series, however, introduced its own theme for the pigs. You may know the theme as “Funky Porkcini”, and David Schweitzer’s website refers to the song as “Pigs Attack/Handsome Pig”.

I like to think of the title “Funky Porkcini” as just referring to that specific arrangement of the theme.

The pigs’ theme for the AB Stella series is first heard in the very first episode. It appears at 2:52 along with the first pig to appear in the series.

The theme is played with low brass instruments playing the melody at its very first appearance. Low brass instruments are often associated with the pigs. As more pigs arrive to see Gale with her crown, the pigs’ theme is played louder.



The pig’s theme next appears in the following episode, “Bad Princess”, when we see the pigs destroying a forest at 2:13. The theme is played in a slow, threatening manner in this scene.

Later in the episode, when Gale sends the pigs to attack Stella, the pigs’ theme plays loudly on what sounds like a guitar after a suspenseful moment in the music.

A similar occurrence in both the music and the plot happens in the following episode.

After a brief appearance at 1:55 in “The Runaway”, the pigs’ theme appears in “All That Glitters”. The episode opens with the theme at 0:27. A drum can be faintly heard hear, as if the music is a march for the pigs (the music does not actually seem to be diegetic (existing in-universe) here).

Just as a side note, the same melody plays twice in this episode and once in the next as Handsome Pig cries.



In “Pig Power”, a somewhat slowed-down version of the pigs’ theme can be heard at 1:26 as the pigs are seen working.

When a distorted version of Dahlia’s theme is used later in the episode, it not only used similar instrumentation, but it also leads into a similar continuation (compare 1:37 with 3:19) [or 0:12 in the clip above with 0:02 in the clip below].

The pigs’ theme returns at 4:39 when Gale retakes control of the pigs.



“Piggy Love” begins similarly to “All That Glitters”, except the pigs’ theme transitions into a dreamy version of Gale’s theme here.

The differing manners in which the pigs’ theme is played when Handsome Pig and the Book minion try to open the door to the Piggy structure they find reflect the different ways the pigs go about their task (attempting to look noble vs crudely).

Some of the ambient music in this episode, such as the music at 2:14, may be a reference to the pigs’ theme due to the Piggy artifacts surrounding the setting of the episode.
[I chose to clip 2:50 instead, as it plays for longer, and is a little more audible.]


The theme really grows in a “heroic” way at 4:51 when Handsome Pig tries to save Gale from the carnivorous plants... and then, of course, cuts off abruptly as he realizes how bad his plan is.



In “Don’t Steal My Birthday”, the pigs’ theme is used diegetically as party music! I find it interesting how many of the themes, even themes for specific characters, seem to exist in-universe in this show. This is also the first of two episodes in which the B-section of this theme is heard (starting at 2:56) [or 0:17 in clip below].



The final use of the pigs’ theme in season 1 is at 5:06 in “To the Bitter End”. Here, it comes in a triumphant or heroic manner as the pigs and Stella’s friends drill into the cave to rescue Stella and Gale.



Throughout “New Day”, another melody that seems to be associated with the pigs is played in addition to their normal theme. This melody is first heard at 2:11 and is not heard in any other episodes.

I have no idea why this melody is heard repeatedly in this episode and this episode only, honestly.

The normal pig theme for the series returns in a fun manner at 3:36, though.

This example is in a scene in which Handsome Pig is nowhere to be found, and the next episode uses the pigs’ theme at 3:56, where no pigs other than Handsome Pig is anywhere to be seen.

This shows that the theme applies to both Handsome Pig as well as the minions, in case there was any doubt.

The music Handsome Pig plays on the banjo and/or the music that plays as he juggles at the beginning of Royal Pains is probably a reference to the pigs’ theme.



While the final use of the pigs’ theme in the series is at 1:54 in “Last Bird Standing”,

the season 2 episode that uses the theme the most is definitely “Gilded Cage”. The episode opens with the B section of the theme (this is one of only two episodes to use it) being played in a romantic, sappy manner as Handsome Pig admires a portrait of Gale (Who painted that one? We only saw Willow paint two portraits, and this isn’t one of them.) and leaves her a love note.

The melody is played in this manner multiple times throughout the episode when the focus is on Handsome Pig and his (not-so) romantic relationship with Gale.
At 2:04, the pigs’ theme is quoted in the celebratory trumpet music.

At 4:07, the pigs’ theme is played quietly as the pigs try to sneak into Gale’s room. The pigs, of course, have to try to be quiet themselves.


Clearly, the Pigs’ theme is not only one of the most important themes in the AB Stella series, but is also played in a wide variety of styles and manners.

Not all of the leitmotifs in the Angry Birds Stella series represent characters. One leitmotif represents not a character, but an extremely important object: the Golden Egg. This leitmotif is usually played in a manner that sounds majestic and/or mysterious.

The Golden Egg’s leitmotif first appears in (appropriately enough) “The Golden Egg”. Starting at 1:31, that episode plays (in my opinion) the best example of the leitmotif in the series.

Even the first episode seems to make allusions to the Golden Egg’s leitmotif (despite not actually playing it due to the Book not being opened yet). From 2:43 to 2:47, when Gale discovers the crown and the Book, music that I would expect to lead into the Golden Egg’s leitmotif in a later episode plays, hinting at the contents of the Book and/or referencing how it and the crown play a related role in the story.



The episode “The Golden Egg” fully introduces the leitmotif for its title object, as mentioned earlier. The leitmotif first starts at 1:31 in a grand, mysterious manner (like normal) when Gale learns of the Egg and its power. [shown in the first clip in this article.]
The theme then becomes softer and lighter as Gale begins to daydream about the Egg.

At 2:26, the leitmotif plays again as Gale looks to the Big Tree. The theme is a bit quieter than when it first appeared; this is less of a big moment for the Egg than when its concept is first being introduced or when it actually appears.

The Golden Egg’s leitmotif appears for one last time in this episode at 5:36 when Handsome Pig brings the Book to Gale. Here, the leitmotif crescendoes as Gale realizes that there may be another way to get the Egg.



The Golden Egg’s leitmotif next appears at 0:58 in “All That Glitters”.

The leitmotif later comes in loudly and majestically at 3:17, then abruptly cuts off when Gale realizes that she hasn’t found the real Golden Egg.

It is played in a similar manner (without the cut-off) in it’s next appearance, which is when the Golden Egg first shows up for real at 3:57 in “Piggy Love”.

By the way, the music that plays when the butterfly-like creature attacks Handsome Pig in “Gilded Cage” references the music that plays when the same thing happens in this episode at 3:21.



The next appearance of the Golden Egg’s leitmotif is at 2:06 in “To the Bitter End”.

At 3:42, the leitmotif is played in perhaps the loudest, most epic manner yet as Gale sees the Egg at the top of a pyramid.

The leitmotif then leads into more intense music as the cave collapses. The Golden Egg’s leitmotif then appears for one last time in the first season at 5:21 as Gale chooses to grab the Egg instead of saving herself.



“Camp Scary” marks the Golden Egg’s Leitmotif’s first appearance in season 2. The leitmotif plays at 4:45 when Dahlia sees the Egg.

Of course, this moment would lead into the next episode, which features the Golden Egg’s leitmotif prominently. In “It’s Mine!” it is played right off the bat at 0:22. This time, the theme sounds a little strained and distorted as we see Dahlia’s obsession. The Golden Egg’s leitmotif is immediately followed by Dahlia’s theme, but Dahlia’s theme doesn’t fully take over the melody. The background instrumentation from the Golden Egg’s music continues; it then becomes louder and more majestic as Dahlia flashes back to her time in the cave before cutting off.

When Dahlia later makes it into the Golden Egg’s chamber, Dahlia’s theme again trades off with the Golden Egg’s leitmotif (with both melodies being played in a manner that seems a bit off to highlight Dahlia’s questionable actions and mental state).

At 1:48, Dahlia finally stops to admire the Egg, and the Golden Egg’s leitmotif again plays in its normal, grand manner... before fading into a disturbing sound effect as Dahlia laughs maniacally.

The Golden Egg’s leitmotif plays for one last time in the episode at 4:18.



In “The Golden Queen”, the Golden Egg’s leitmotif is once again played right off the bat (0:21). It starts off as grand of a manner as we should be used to hearing by this point and then leads into more intense music as Gale loses the Egg in her dream.

The leitmotif comes back again when Gale enters the Egg’s chamber and is once again cut off—this time by the daddy monster’s saliva.



The final episode in which the Golden Egg’s leitmotif appears is “Gilded Cage”. The final three episodes prominently feature the Egg, but they don’t use its music. This may be because the Egg’s leitmotif didn’t seem to fit with the mood or focus of these episodes or because the Golden Egg, now that Gale has it in her possession, has less of a mystery about it at this point in the story. If you have any other ideas, feel free to let me know.
“Gilded Cage” hints at the Egg’s leitmotif from 0:55 to 1:02 when Gale shows it off to some pigs, but the actual melody is not used yet. The music leads into a snippet of Gale’s theme instead.

The melody later plays, starting at 1:31, when Gale is happy to see that the Egg is safe after Handsome Pig knocks it over.

At 3:48, when Gale imagines that Handsome Pig’s romantic gestures are from the Egg, the Egg’s leitmotif plays in a gentle, sweet manner. Some aspects of the music here are reminiscent of the way the Egg’s leitmotif is played during Gale’s daydream in “The Golden Egg”.

This is the final time in the series the Golden Egg’s leitmotif is played.

While it isn’t played in quite as many different manners as other songs such as Gale’s theme or the Pigs’ theme, the Golden Egg’s leitmotif is still an important aspect of the music for the AB Stella series.

While most of the musical themes in the AB Stella series represent characters or at least concrete objects, one major theme in particular is a little harder to place. David Schweitzer, the composer, says he doesn’t remember what, if anything, it was supposed to represent. Based on its appearances, though, I think I have an idea: Stella and Gale’s friendship and/or reconciliation hopes.

The theme first appears in the season 1 finale, “To the Bitter End”, at 3:27. Just a hint of the theme plays as Gale and Stella smile at each other after working together for perhaps the first time since the first episode.

The theme is played for a bit longer near the end of the episode (4:54) as Gale and Stella are surrounded by lava and try to comfort each other.



The theme makes perhaps its most prominent appearances in season 2, episode 2 (“Friends Whenever”). It plays at 1:15 when Gale directs Handsome Pig to bring her back to the Big Tree. I’m not sure if the melody into which the music subsequently leads is supposed to be an extension of the same theme, but the main melody returns at 1:39 when Stella sees Gale at the base of the Tree. [0:24 in clip below.]



It also makes an appearance in the previous episode, "New Day" (1:03).



Another appearance of the theme is when Stella and Gale smile at each other (something that happens with several examples of this theme) after Gale fends off a skunk-like creature (“The Storm”, 2:47).

The theme also plays for the final time at 4:50 in “You Asked for It” when Stella makes her decision to revert Gale from her golden state.



Most examples of this theme revolve around positive interactions between Stella and Gale, possibly hinting that there is some chance that their friendship could be repaired.
One piece of music in the series may show another side to the theme reflecting the broken state of Stella and Gale’s friendship and Gale’s sinister intents. What is probably a darker version of the theme plays at 1:59 in “Last Bird Standing”. Here, Gale decides to give Stella a prominent seat, probably because of how close the two of them had been; but the closeness is gone now, and the party is just a chance for Gale to show off and parade her power obsession.

Another, more clear example of a broken version of the theme can be heard in a behind-the scenes video. This example included a vocalist melody. Unfortunately, I cannot find the video on YouTube, but it was included in the season 1 DVD. David Schweitzer says that this was likely an early sketch that never made it into the animated series, but it demonstrates Gale and Stella’s broken relationship throughout most of the series well.