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Empire Strikes Back vs. Ulysses 31


filmmusic

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Here's something that I discovered today.

Ulysses 31 is my favourite animation series ever.

I've read:

During the mid 80's, there was a court ruling against the international producers of Ulysses 31 (Haim Saban) due to copyright infringement via Lucasfilm Ltd.[citation needed] The cue "Battle Theme"/"Ulysse Terrasse le Cyclope" was the case as the piece blatantly used John Williams cue from George Lucas' Star Wars sequel, The Empire Strikes Back (heard in the movie and on the Williams soundtrack album as "The Battle In The Snow"). Under the hearing, it was deemed that existing prints of the show could use this piece of music after damages were paid. Subsequent soundtrack releases would later omit that theme as royalties would have to go to their respective owners of that music.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_31

Now, I have a 2001 ost release, that doesn't have this part.

Last year there were 2 more releases:

One with the original recordings found, and one with the soundtrack revisited (meaning rearranging the music with modern synths).

The part in question isn't again in the original recordings, but in the re-arranged soundtrack the track exists and you can listen to it here:

https://myspace.com/davidcolinparallax/music/song/ulysse-terrasse-le-cyclope-32683798-33615701

The parts that resemble ESB are:

1) at 0.32'' resembling 5.03'' of the following video (not so significant if you ask me although it is also in the same tonality!)

2) at 1.22'' and on , almost identical and same tonality again to 10.37'' and on of following video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssJ3v2swJBg

But this 2nd passage isn't in the original "Battle in the Snow" track in the OST of ESB as that quote suggests, or is it?

By the way, i was always wondering, why that passage in ESB sounded so familiar, and now I found out!! :)

Also, i wonder if they're paying royalties to Lucas now, or if it's something that slipped their mind!

edit:

oh, i found the passages in question in the cartoon too:

1) at 12.39''

2) at 13:17''

the piece repeats afterwards, so they are repeated too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIL66saszXc

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Remember that series well, it played in French in Quebec when I was young!

It also remembers me Capitain Flam (Captain Future), Goldorak and Albator (Harlock)...

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Remember that series well, it played in French in Quebec when I was young!

I love it so much!

I would love to see the restored (with better picture) French DVDs but unfortunately there are no subtitles and I don't know French.

I hate it when they don't include English subtitles..

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