Who composed the music for the original film Ice Age?

David Newman composed the music for the original film Ice Age.

Newman’s score supports the film’s combination of wilderness adventure, physical comedy, and emotional family drama. The music shifts between broad orchestral action, tense moments during the journey, and warmer themes for the developing friendship among Manny, Sid, and Diego.

The score is separate from the film’s songs and end-credit music. That distinction matters because animated films often receive attention for recognizable songs while a composer is responsible for the original instrumental underscore throughout the story.

Newman is a prolific film composer whose credits include many dramas, comedies, and family films. John Powell composed the score for Ice Age: The Meltdown, so the two composers are easy to confuse when comparing the first two theatrical installments.