The Sounds of TRON: Legacy Deconstructed

As we near T-day (December 17, the day when the highly anticipated sequel, TRON: Legacy hits movie theaters), the TRON-related buzz assumes an almost fever pitch online. And while much has been said about the movie’s revolutionary computer generated graphics, 3D visual effects, and high-tech costumes, the film’s sound design is just as forward-thinking and noteworthy as the visual aspects.

It’s an interesting task to be faced with, to be sure: How does one create a sonic environment for a fictional, futuristic digital world? The film’s sound designers, editors and engineers faced both a technical and creative challenge in composing the complex, layered audio effects that would aurally depict the TRON world with as much vibrancy and nuance as the awe-inspiring visuals. In the interview below, they describe their process, their moments of difficulty and rationale for the TRON sound design.

And then, of course, there’s the movie’s soundtrack, which may have been just as eagerly anticipated as the film itself. Written and recorded by seminal electro-pop duo Daft Punk, the film score was finally released yesterday, to assuage the rabid masses. The group also released a new music video for their track “Derezzed,” one of the finest we’ve seen thus far. It makes ample use of the TRON graphics and offers a tantalizing sneak peek at the Grid, light cycles, and lazer-tinged landscape.