Beauty behind genre

                 

                                               Why is fantasy so fantasized?

    Through the aspect of the lens, in film history, many genres have been witnessed yet none as fan-favorited.  From the creative costume design to the vibrant colors offered, fantasy is most definitely one of a kind. 

    Elements that are factors in any or most fantasy genre films or media include imaginative or made-up figments or settings. There are no limitations to what fantasy has to offer, five minutes into a film you can be seeing talking trees and birds on your screen. The genre mostly applies to the fictional world rather than reality. Some examples of subgenres that would fall under Fantasy include Fables, Fairy tales, High/epic fantasy, and Dark Fantasy.  

Content:  

Usually when viewing a Fantasy, one will notice that there is always a "good guy" and a "bad guy," which means conflict.  In most cases, the protagonist goes on a quest to find something important that ultimately invents the plot. The protagonist would also carry around him/her a sidekick which would be a talking animal or object.  This would appeal to the younger audience since there is always a happy/cheerful outcome and funny aspects from a childlike perspective.  There is rarely ever disappointment throughout the storyline. 

These aspects are what make Fantasy interesting for younger viewers, especially when there are important messages or themes that follow in this genre. By influencing younger viewers, parents are more in favor and this genre becomes beneficial for people to view. For example, in the film, Zootopia, the protagonist is a bunny and her dream is to be a cop.  Judy, the protagonist, goes through several obstacles that attempt to stop her from her dreams. The main message that targets the youth is to work hard and never give up in order to become anything that you want to be.

Another example of an important message film is in a Disney film known as Mulan. This film is recognized for acknowledging the importance of protecting family and teaching children the value of family. 

Fantasy also entails a strong connection between characters. Whether characters go from being enemies to lovers or friends to foes, there is always some aspect of the connection between our main subjects. This develops a better plot and a better understanding of the importance of interaction and understanding of one another. In some cases, quests or plot begins because of character development. Also, the connection between the main subjects in a film is what resolves a conflict. 

For example, the film Anastasia (based on the true story of the Romanov family during the Russian Revolution), is about Anastasia who is the daughter of Tsar Nicholas ll during the massacre, Anastasia is lost from the palace and is not heard from since.  Long story short, she meets a boy named Dimitri who she meets when she is much younger and later on in the film, he realizes that she is the princess and that is how she is found.  They eventually fall in love as well. 

Production technique:

In the film-making world, Fantasy highly incorporates other significant aspects that might not appear at first to an audience since Fantasy films usually include this aspect in them and that is just what viewers are used to viewing when it comes to this genre.  The vibrance and color scheme of what one is watching is crucial in any Fantasy film.  There is rarely any dull or dark-toned color scheme noticed in this type of genre. This is what makes what sets the overall tone in the film. Producers work to create a lively setting with vibrant, upbeat coloration. From costumes to extreme saturation toward scenery, the film industry definitely attempts to develop a fun, feel-good mood to audiences. 

Costume-making is also one of the most significant factors in fantasy as well. In most movies in this genre, apparel is greatly seen.  Character costumes reveal what the character itself is like. Whether he/she is wearing dark-toned clothes or bright and bold-colored clothes, costume makes a big impact when making predictions about the character. This aspect also hints to viewers what the "vibe" of the film is. If it is funky, unusual-like costumes with bright patterns included then the film reflects a whimsical feel and wants the viewers to interact with it in a fun and enthusiastic way. For example, in the film known as Alice in Wonderland, there is not only a highly vibrant setting and overall saturation but there is also creativity in different costumes fitting every character. 

    

        Production Marketing: 

        In stores or on social media, one might find posters or appealing bold coloring to try and lure viewers to watch a Fantasy film.  Expression and vibrancy both work to market the film in every way. For example, on the front of a movie poster, the expressions of the main characters might be joyful, making a movie more exciting to see.  Another way to make entice younger viewers is by creating a trailer with upbeat music and a happy mood in the characters.  By fitting the likes and interests of main children (target audience), it creates a more appealing and comforting feel for viewers.  Coming from experience, as a former child herself, I used to (and still do) find comfort in rewatching Disney movies since the different colors and emotions are what interest me most. 

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