Jake Monaco is a music man, but instead of conning residents of a small Iowa town into purchasing instruments and band uniforms, he’s creating the sonic pathways behind Pixar’s new project, Forky Asks a Question.
Monaco’s resume in animation scoring is extensive, ranging from work on Frozen, to a solo gig with Dreamworks, to projects on newer platforms such as Amazon Prime and Facebook Watch.
We had the opportunity to have him tell us the score on his work, process, and (most importantly) taste in memes.
How did you get started scoring animated work?
After completing USC’s film scoring program in 2007, I got my start working with composer Christophe Beck on projects like Frozen before heading out on my own. My first big solo gig was the animated Dreamworks show Dinotrux, which was a blast to work on, and this initiated a sort of path into animation work.
Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working on all sorts of different animated projects from Amazon’s preschool-targeted show The Stinky and Dirty Show to Facebook Watch’s recent adult animated show Human Discoveries.
What drew you to “Forky Asks a Question”?
I am drawn to anything Pixar, so it was an easy sell. Their stories are so well thought out, and their attention to detail is impeccable. Particularly with Forky, it was a thrill to work through each episode, as each required a different style and purpose. For the most part, I used a small jazz ensemble but also “forked” off the Americana Jazz road to make each episode unique to Forky’s question. We had a blast making this work!
How is this project different from your previous work? How is it similar?
There are a few things that make this series unique. For one, each episode is no longer than five minutes, which makes it easy for anyone of any age to watch. Also, this show is unique and special in that it is a continuation of a larger franchise and character.
Everyone has already been introduced and charmed by Forky from Toy Story 4, and now, we get to delve deeper into his crazy curious mind! This presents the challenge of staying within the pre-established Toy Story universe while also presenting new ideas for these new situations.
What does your process look like?
It all starts during my first conversations with the creative team. I love this period of getting to know the director’s vision for the project; the collaborative aspect of every project is one of the things I enjoy most about this career.
Then it’s all about creating ideas! Sometimes it’s singing in the car and recording it on my phone; other times, it’s sitting with the guitar or piano and trying out anything and everything until something sticks. Once I know what ideas I’m running with, I begin putting together the puzzle piece by piece, scene by scene.
Throughout the entire process, it always comes back to collaboration with the director and team, throwing ideas back and forth until the recording session, which is always such an exhilarating way top off the whole process!
Are there any new tools or instruments you’re excited about for this project?
While the main sound of the Forky shorts revolves around a small jazz combo, I love the fact that most of them take a turn in a completely different direction at some point. One episode is renaissance-themed, so I got to explore countless authentic instruments from that time period while preparing to write the music. I look forward to learning something new and expanding my palate with each project.
What are your favorite cartoons and/or animated influences?
Miyazaki’s films have been incredibly influential. Specifically, Howl’s Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro, and Spirited Away. From the visuals and storytelling to Joe Hisaishi’s beautifully thematic scores, they are all-around masterpieces, in my opinion!
How does the score impact the story, and vice versa?
In Forky Asks a Question, the score helps set the stage for each of Forky’s question. Forky is always curious, but the context and friends he’s with are always changing per episode. The story heavily impacts all of my writing, and in this show, the story was asking for a score that could remind us of familiar friends while addressing each episode individually.
Are there any characters or shows that you wouldn’t score?
Would we consider Trump a ‘character’? He has definitely given us a show…
How do you feel about the Forky memes?
I love them all! When the Toy Story 4 trailers came out, there was a lot of talk about Forky being the perfect representation of 2019 and I couldn’t agree more, haha!
Any thoughts on the so-called “streaming wars,” since this is a Disney+ exclusive?
The great thing about the “streaming wars” is the plethora of new content that is being developed. It is giving more filmmakers (and in turn, composers) the chance to create and share their stories.
I think Disney waited until the right time with the right content to make their mark. Personally, I can’t wait to see all the new content that D+ has to offer. My biggest complaint is inevitably having to update my credit card for all of the different services I subscribe to.
Does your score include elements of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” or does it break away from the Toy Story franchise’s association with that song?
I do love that song! However, Forky Asks A Question— as well as Lamp Life— both divert from the classic Toy Story sound. It was an exciting opportunity to give each of these character-based spin-offs their own sonic identity.
What is the most surprising thing about this project or your work in general?
I never get bored. Every project brings its own unique challenges and rewards. I am blown away hearing the music come to life with the incredibly talented musicians we have here in Los Angeles. It never gets old.
Anything else you’d like The Dot and Line’s readers to know?
I like to draw…what started out as little lunchbox notes to my five-year-old son turned into the character “Lenny the Lemming,” who now has his own Instagram account (@lennythelemming). Stay tuned for more of his amazing (and educational) adventures!
