How to Write a Professor Layton Theme

One thing I was a little surprised you didn't mention was how much Layton's soundtrack was pretty clearly inspired by the Triplets of Belleville. Like just listen to these: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stO_tVJaa2k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv9Is_Vz5gM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDH0fxIvn14 To me, it was also one of the biggest visual influences for Professor Layton's art style as well. (That and Studio Ghibli, obviously.) Biggest difference between The Triplets of Belleville and Professor Layton is the inclusion of Violin in Layton, while most of Belleville's soundtrack goes pretty hard on the jazzy brass. Still, I think the influence is pretty apparent especially paired with the visual style!

I thought seeing you compose something in the mould of a game was a really fresh and fun angle. My one suggestion is just structural – after the bait and switch at the start, and the examples you pull from the canon, I would have liked you to showcase your own piece again at the end so we can compare based on the step by step analysis throughout. But definitely a nice format and one I'd like to see you return to for other series!