Genre Research - Fantasy
🦄 FANTASY 🦄
- GENRE CONVENTIONS - CONTENT
An aspect of the content that characterizes the fantasy genre are the defiance of the laws of science
and human capability, which goes hand in hand with the story and plot of the films in their
mythological and unrealistic qualities. This includes mystical and otherworldly forces that cannot be
explained in a realistic context such as magic.
and human capability, which goes hand in hand with the story and plot of the films in their
mythological and unrealistic qualities. This includes mystical and otherworldly forces that cannot be
explained in a realistic context such as magic.
EX: The magical forces in Harry Potter
The story can take place within a main character’s imagination, dream, or hallucination and takes place
in reality for an extremely short amount of time. Otherwise, the entire story takes place in an unreal and
magical setting. Often they are set in kingdoms and forest environments. Many stories in fantasy films
are inspired by myth, legend, and fairy tales. There can be an assortment of magical objects used and
seen in the films such as magic wands and spells and mystical weapons, to name a few.
in reality for an extremely short amount of time. Otherwise, the entire story takes place in an unreal and
magical setting. Often they are set in kingdoms and forest environments. Many stories in fantasy films
are inspired by myth, legend, and fairy tales. There can be an assortment of magical objects used and
seen in the films such as magic wands and spells and mystical weapons, to name a few.
EX: Alice in Wonderland. Alice goes from a party to falling down a rabbit hole to Wonderland, a mystical
world
world
Common character types in the fantasy genre are spirits, witches, monsters, ogres, fairies, gods, angels,
gnomes, dragons. dwarves, elves, magicians/sorcerers, and princes/princesses (royalty). Animals are
often personified as characters as well. They can either be enemies or friends of the main character. In
these stories where the context is coming from a realistic to a fantastical world, the protagonist is normally
quite ordinary but finds themselves in this otherworldly atmosphere where they have a heroic responsibility
and are usually in denial of their surroundings and mission at first, as well as portrayed as cowardly.
Protagonists coming from the imaginative world in itself can also deny their destiny and adventure in the
beginning. However, later on in the story, the heroes accept their responsibility and show courage and
strength. There is a self-fulfilling prophecy throughout many fantasy films.
gnomes, dragons. dwarves, elves, magicians/sorcerers, and princes/princesses (royalty). Animals are
often personified as characters as well. They can either be enemies or friends of the main character. In
these stories where the context is coming from a realistic to a fantastical world, the protagonist is normally
quite ordinary but finds themselves in this otherworldly atmosphere where they have a heroic responsibility
and are usually in denial of their surroundings and mission at first, as well as portrayed as cowardly.
Protagonists coming from the imaginative world in itself can also deny their destiny and adventure in the
beginning. However, later on in the story, the heroes accept their responsibility and show courage and
strength. There is a self-fulfilling prophecy throughout many fantasy films.
EX: Aslan, a personified lion character in Narnia
- GENRE CONVENTIONS - PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES
The production techniques are utilized to achieve the fantasy genre’s goal, to create an imaginative
experience for the audience and fill them with wonder.
experience for the audience and fill them with wonder.
There is a large emphasis and importance on the art direction of the film. The escapism aspect of
fantasy into an entirely imaginary world means that in order to make the fictional story come to life,
the creation of the immersive and creative mise-en-scene elements have great importance. This
includes but is not limited to props, set design, special effects, and costume design. Advanced
cinematic technology is used to easily create extraordinary effects for the movie.
fantasy into an entirely imaginary world means that in order to make the fictional story come to life,
the creation of the immersive and creative mise-en-scene elements have great importance. This
includes but is not limited to props, set design, special effects, and costume design. Advanced
cinematic technology is used to easily create extraordinary effects for the movie.
EX: The special effects in Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory to create the chocolate river in the
movie and the surroundings
movie and the surroundings
EX: The art direction and set design sketches for one of the first environments shown in the chocolate
factory, which was full of candy made natural structures
factory, which was full of candy made natural structures
The lighting and color is also altered to create the mood of the fantastical environments and even give a
tone of good or evil.
tone of good or evil.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
2005
ADAMSON
The Narnia film encapsulates the fantasy genre in many ways. The characters in the film originate from
a realistic setting and go into a fantastical one as they come from the inside of their normal house through
the wardrobe into the magical world of Narnia. There is a presence of witches and magic in the character
Jadis, the white witch that had froze Narnia. There are other mythical creatures in the film as well such as
centaurs, minotaurs, and unicorns, completely imaginative characters often found in medieval folklore.
Another main character, Aslan, is a talking, personified character of a lion. There is an implied presence of
royalty as well as destiny and prophecy in the story as the four children are said to be destined to rule over
Narnia and save them from the witch. Much of the story is set in a forest and a kingdom. There are many
special effects (the CGI Aslan and the replication of soldiers to make it seem like a bigger army) and a well
thought out mise-en-scene that fits the imagery of the narrative the movie is based on like the snowy forest
(set design) and the prosthetic and makeup to make Tumnus the centaur (costume design). The lack of color
and bright lighting with an abundance of white and light blues represented the evil white witch while the
more earth-toned and brighter colors with natural lighting represented the good of the citizens of Narnia.
a realistic setting and go into a fantastical one as they come from the inside of their normal house through
the wardrobe into the magical world of Narnia. There is a presence of witches and magic in the character
Jadis, the white witch that had froze Narnia. There are other mythical creatures in the film as well such as
centaurs, minotaurs, and unicorns, completely imaginative characters often found in medieval folklore.
Another main character, Aslan, is a talking, personified character of a lion. There is an implied presence of
royalty as well as destiny and prophecy in the story as the four children are said to be destined to rule over
Narnia and save them from the witch. Much of the story is set in a forest and a kingdom. There are many
special effects (the CGI Aslan and the replication of soldiers to make it seem like a bigger army) and a well
thought out mise-en-scene that fits the imagery of the narrative the movie is based on like the snowy forest
(set design) and the prosthetic and makeup to make Tumnus the centaur (costume design). The lack of color
and bright lighting with an abundance of white and light blues represented the evil white witch while the
more earth-toned and brighter colors with natural lighting represented the good of the citizens of Narnia.
Spirited Away
2001
MIYAZAKI
Miyazaki’s spirited away is first introduced in reality then the main character Chihiro supposedly is in a
dream (revealed at the end) after getting lost in a field beyond a river. She finds herself in a mystical world
with a bathhouse for imaginative characters like spirits and monsters, that is staffed by women and strange
frog-like men. It is run by an evil witch named Yubaba and she also along the way meets a personified character
of a mouse and a fly, and a spirit named No face. There is also a spiderman who helps run the electricity and
little-personified balls of soot called soot sprites. She means a boy named Haku, who is also cursed to become
a dragon and obey Yubaba’s orders. There is a presence of magic and mystical forces in Yubaba’s magic and
No face’s production of gold and coins. The mise-en-scene is deeply thought out and created with great detail
from the environments shown of the entire creation of the bathhouse and the layout inside, the marketplace,
Yubaba’s room, not to mention the imaginative character design of the many creatures that visit the bathhouse.
The film overall captures the essence of fantasy through its immersive and detailed environments with the
mise-en-scene, the transition from a realistic to a fantastical setting, and the many different fictional characters
and magic forces and powers.
dream (revealed at the end) after getting lost in a field beyond a river. She finds herself in a mystical world
with a bathhouse for imaginative characters like spirits and monsters, that is staffed by women and strange
frog-like men. It is run by an evil witch named Yubaba and she also along the way meets a personified character
of a mouse and a fly, and a spirit named No face. There is also a spiderman who helps run the electricity and
little-personified balls of soot called soot sprites. She means a boy named Haku, who is also cursed to become
a dragon and obey Yubaba’s orders. There is a presence of magic and mystical forces in Yubaba’s magic and
No face’s production of gold and coins. The mise-en-scene is deeply thought out and created with great detail
from the environments shown of the entire creation of the bathhouse and the layout inside, the marketplace,
Yubaba’s room, not to mention the imaginative character design of the many creatures that visit the bathhouse.
The film overall captures the essence of fantasy through its immersive and detailed environments with the
mise-en-scene, the transition from a realistic to a fantastical setting, and the many different fictional characters
and magic forces and powers.
FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM
YATES
2016
2016
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
DEBLOIS, SANDERS
2010
PAN'S LABYRINTH
DEL TORO
2006
THE HOBBIT
JACKSON
2012
BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA
CSUPO
2007
sources:
Butler, D. (2018, November 20). Fantasy. Retrieved December 6, 2018, from http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199791286/obo-9780199791286-0192.xml#backToTop
Fantasy Films. (n.d.). Retrieved December 6, 2018, from https://www.filmsite.org/fantasyfilms.html
Three different Conventions of the Fantasy film genre. (n.d.). Retrieved December 6, 2018, from https://siobhannmediastudies.weebly.com/blog/three-different-conventions-of-the-fantasy-film-genre
Butler, D. (2018, November 20). Fantasy. Retrieved December 6, 2018, from http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199791286/obo-9780199791286-0192.xml#backToTop
Fantasy Films. (n.d.). Retrieved December 6, 2018, from https://www.filmsite.org/fantasyfilms.html
Three different Conventions of the Fantasy film genre. (n.d.). Retrieved December 6, 2018, from https://siobhannmediastudies.weebly.com/blog/three-different-conventions-of-the-fantasy-film-genre
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