Transnational Transmedia Eclecticism: Tracking Transformations in Musical Polystylism in Screen Adaptations of Video Games Across East and West

When video games embark on the journey of adaptation into films or TV series, their soundtracks often undergo significant transformations. These changes extend beyond mere functional shifts, encompassing stylistic relocations that can reshape audience reception. A key aspect of these transformations is the treatment of stylistic eclecticism. Adaptations may emphasize or downplay this eclecticism, altering the balance of diverse musical styles to align with cultural and industrial contexts. The process becomes even more complex when products overcome local barriers and transnational adaptations come into play, as cultural exchanges and industrial standards influence the musical reinterpretation of these works. Such shifts uncover crucial questions about how soundtracks are imported and exported across different media landscapes and what drives these stylistic choices in a globalised entertainment industry. This paper positions transnational transmedia adaptations within two distinct industrial frameworks: the Western transmedia model and the Japanese polymedia system. The bidirectional exchange between these models creates a dynamic interplay of musical styles, shaped by both creative intent and industrial conventions. How do these shifts reflect broader cultural negotiations? What role do industry standards and audience expectations play in determining the final sound of an adaptation? By analysing musical transformations in selected case studies, this study explores how stylistic eclecticism is reshaped in the adaptation process and how this reveals the presence of underlying processes that are ubiquitous ever-expanding landscape of global entertainment.