Fantasy genre

As part of our research we were requested to watch and analyze 3 films which show or use our desired genre.
Our chosen genre is Drama/Fantasy
Fantasy genre – Film examples
When I considered what films would be helpful to watch when examining our genre, these 3 immediately came to mind. Pan’s Labyrinth, Edward Scissor hands and Spirited away are all prime examples of a fantasy genre, all with very different styles when looked at in a comparison, this will be very beneficial when decide own style and how we will portray the story.

Pans Labyrinth
Pans Labyrinth is a Spanish film by director Guillermo Del Toro. With 3 academy awards has been deemed a master piece.
The story of Ofelia, set in 1944, Spain, is a story of dark magic and in times of war and violence her quest to find were she truly belongs.
The film uses recurring the theme of death, by using this, and emphasising it with many techniques it brings the true horror to a fairy tale, revealing the terror behind the soften stories we hear of a bedtime. By retaining the mythical and magic of the tale, but set inside a time and life were realism is force upon you it links us to the world of mystery and magic.
This rather unique take on a fairy tale will be excellent in showing us not only how we can portray our fantasy elements but how we can incorporate it in a drama genre.
Trailer


Analysis of opening sequence
Begins with music ‘pans labyrinth lullaby’, the music is classical and shows a typical piece of fairy tale music, easily associated with magic and fantasy. However at the same time creates an eerie atmosphere which is somewhat subconsciously makes the viewer tense. The text at the beginning sets the scene of the time and era of the story, easing the audience into it. It then cuts to Ofelia, laying down, this zooming in close up of her face acquaints you instantly with the main character, this not only creates focus on her but instantly creates attachment to her. This would be interesting to use in for our own main character.
It then shortly cuts to the story telling, this narrative, using a voice over while display images of the tale is a common technique in fairy tale films. It easily introduces you to the film and gives you a clue or taste as to what will come later. This is a contrast to the first information we are told, immediately showing the clash between the realistic world and the magical one. The difference in its telling also emphasises on the contrast, the text is stated as fact, formally informing us of the setting, the story however is spoken to us, as a fairy tale would be, and straight away creates a difference in how we watch the scene, bringing once again the magical atmosphere to the film. This can also be seen as making us more attached to the fantasy side of the story, as it’s told in a way we can relate to and creates a comfortable nostalgia. Compare to the alien information we are presented with of another time and place we are unfamiliar with. Emphasising on a fairy tales timeless nature.
The scene then changes to a forest setting, a sound bridge of the music retaining the magical theme. The setting itself is typically a fantasy setting, with the cars disrupting it, suggesting the real world of the characters entering a magical one. During the scene it presents us with foreboding techniques such as the mother ill with the baby, and the fairy tale book, these displays hint at scenes yet to come, heightening its mystery feel. An example of Ofelia’s character and foreboding of her story is as she instantly leaves her mother to wander in the surrounding forest, finding the engraved rock and placing back in the sculpture, suggesting she has return to her true place, or is the one able of putting the puzzle together, defining her as a protagonist. The fact she is also a child is easily a fairly tale quality as it makes her easier to relate to the common audience of a fairy tale, children. The target audience however for this film is much older, its Guillermo Del Toro’s dark take on this tale, with his forced realism of the historical side to the story that creates it less suitable for younger audiences.
Clip

This particular scene is good both in presenting the fantasy theme, with the thrilling realistic twist and a variety of morals.
• The setting and detail of props all hint to morals and reveal more about both characters. For example the images on the walls of the creature eating children, this tells us of his monstrous nature and forebodes his attempt to capture Ofelia. Plus it brings a lesson to light, of how a child should do as there told and follow warnings, after the fawn had previously warned her not to touch the banquet her human greed and curiosity lead her to eat from the food and awaken the villain.
• Another example is the 3 doors, it can be seen as a representation of the choices Ofeila must make throughout her life, and not to necessarily choose the easiest or most appealing path such as the bronze door, as it made lead to trouble, by choosing the wooden door she remain safe and retrieved what she needed.
• Keeping these morals help retain the fairy tale theme of the story.
Using these points we can see how we can represent our characters effectively and consider how to not only create interest and emotion in our story, but use all codes and conventions to portray our themes and genre.


Edward Scissor Hands

Edward scissor hands by Tim Burton is a film which presents to us a unique story with a fairy tale twist.It follows the tale of Edward, a man created by a long gone sciencist, when during his creation, the sciencist died Edward was left without on thing, hands. Now after being discovered by a kind mother and wife he tries to adapt to this strange new world known as a suberb.The film uses classic themes common to fairy tales, he scary beast who is fear by all is truley the gentlist of creatures, such as can be seen when Peg first enters the mansion garden and see's the beautiful scluptures and hedges, in comparsion to the dark and gothic house, reflecting on edwards character. He is represented as different and almost scary on the outside, but his soul is kinder than most.These common themes continue in the gap between the two worlds, the mansion and the town below.

Trailer


The opening sequence shows many techniques and elements to represent the themes and set the mood for the film.The title sequence uses panning and tracking camera movements going into and around the mansion, not only setting the scene but giving the impression of 'stepping inside' The credits are slow and timed with the twinkling, magical music.This emphasises on the fanatasty themes.Props, such as the cookies, easily relate to children and child like qualitites, hinting a theme and also revealing some of Edwards character.The snow and christmas setting is easily appealing to a child and is a strong magical theme.Looking to the grandmother telling her child the story of Edward, its a bedroom setting, a bedtime story emphasising on a classic fairy tale and childrens theme, something anyone in the audience can relate to.All these themes could be very benefical and effective to use in our story, its instandly interesting to children and possiblely other ages, while gentle easing the audience into the film.


Clip


This clip from Edward scissor hands shows an important contrasted between edwards world and peg's, this change from an almost magical world to a very human one, if exgratted is a interesting twist to the normal theme and plot used in the fanatasy genre.This goes on later to be used in other films such as enchanted.Also the vast contrast in colors and visual content from Edwards mansion to the town below. This is similar to entering a new and magical world in the fanatasy genre, such as literally in the wizard of od, when the picture changes to colour, this is a clear influence in Edward scissorhands, and present us with our world being the new and unexplored world for Edward. The colourful grass and gardens also seem to be an important subject.A representation of Edward himself, because of his ability to take something almost scary as his hands and the mansions gardern and use it to create pure childhood innocence and beauty.








Spirited away

Spirited Away is an Oscar winning film, becoming the first anime winner and first original Japanese film to win. Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Miyazaki, known as the 'godfather of Japanese animation'.He has created a long line of films alongside Studio Ghibli such as My Neighbor Totor, Laputa : Castle in the Sky and Princess Mononoke.
The story begins with Chihiro and her parents driving to there new home after moving. However once lost driving her father stumbles upon an old tunnel.This mystery tunnel seems to be part of an abandoned theme park and Chihiro soon finds herself to have literally wandered into a different world of spirits, witches and magic. Now she must do all she can to save her parents and leave before she is trapped there forever, and as always she has friends to help her along the way.With themes of family,friendship, adventure and magic the conventions follow that of a typical fantasy film.However i find that the ideas of the story and characters make this story very unique and create a epic vision.

Trailer



The trailer in this instance is very helpful for me to analyse.Again, even through an animated story we see the aspect of realism meets fantasy from the beginning, so far a main convention used for fantasy films.This is also useful for our media project should it entail setting our story in a modern era, such as in spirited away.The use of a young girl as the main character is again a typical convention and becomes a protagonist everyone can relate to or care for.The quick and abrupt change into the surreal world is used to 'throw' the character unwilling into the world and allows us to easily emphasise with the confusion and panic of the character. In the trailer we also see a clear suggestion of Chihiro's character, Judgement, Courage and Loyalty are stated as main morals of the film and are represented through Chihiro. Researching this film has given me a good representation of fantasy through over cultures, and how very similar conventions are used in his genre in the world of film and not just British and American film, however it also still retains throughout the film strong visual elements of how the culture interpret the fairy tale.

Clip


During the clip the use of music suits and adapts to Chihiro's moods and the stituation she's in,effectively putting you in place of the character and experiencing the story with her. The magical theme is emphasized throught the continuous movement in the scene, such as the working soot, Kamji's work station and the steaming boilers all emphasise how this world is unlike Chihiro's and the use of magic creating a busy atmoshpere.We also again see the use of morals and lessons used as Chihiro goes through the film. 'finish what you started'.