The series has a legacy as both "one of Japan's most beloved" and the video game cognoscenti's "sacred cow", and is known for its long-lasting, resilient fan community. At one point leading up to "Mother 3" release, the series' "Love Theme" played as music on hold for the Japan Post. Similarly, the Eight Melodies theme used throughout the series has been incorporated into Japanese elementary school music classrooms. Donlan of "1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die" wrote that "EarthBound" is "name-checked by the video gaming cognoscenti more often than it's actually been played".