Fantasy (film genre)
My connection to the fantasy genre runs very deep, as it was one of the first forms of media I remember engaging with. I chose to research this genre because of the limitless potential and huge range of stories it can encompass. Unlike some other genres, fantasy is unconstrained by the restrictions of the real world, allowing creators to imagine entirely new realms, systems, and possibilities. In this sense, fantasy is open to the extraordinary. Anything can happen. This gives me a lot of freedom as to what I can do with my film opening. However, that liberation also creates some challenges as not only is the wonderful and otherworldly possible in a fantasy, but it is expected. Even so, I trust in my own inventiveness enough to pull off such a task.
Fantasy films make the audience feel swept up in the wonder of a far away imaginary world where events are unlikely to occur in real life. The key element that ties all fantasy films together is that they feature magic, or some kind of thing that would otherwise be impossible. From there, the genre branches out into many iconic sub-genres that integrate components from other major genres and while there is overlap between them, fantasy films will always take place in a world unlike our own. They provide an escape from reality and the mundane by showing the viewer magical powers or fictitious creatures. Many of these films revolve around some kind of quest that the main character must embark on, following the typical narrative framework of the “Hero’s Journey,” and the character tropes that we see in many media texts. Regardless, fantasy stories can be exceptionally outstanding and memorable when quality writing meets the dramatic cinematography that films in this genre often have. Fantasy has a broad scope that can incorporate many facets of our world and imaginations.
Fantasy is a genre that is about as old as fiction itself. Our earliest recorded narratives contain elements of fantasy and it we can only assume that the stories passed down orally which inspired these ancient tales were full of fantasy as well. For example, fables, which historically feature talking animals (something that could not happen in the real world), are a type of fantasy. The imagination and creativity of the brain tempts you to create something that transcends the bounds of the real world when fabricating a made-up story. Indeed, this genre is the backbone of modern fiction. The earliest fantasy film dates all the way back to the late 19th century, in France. However, it wasn’t until the 1960s when fantasy films would become more frequent staples.
By far the most recognizable and emblematic subgenre that has become a symbol of the genre as a whole is high fantasy or epic fantasy. It is likely what immediately comes to mind when you think of the genre. Sometimes based on books, these kinds of stories involve swords, spells, wizards, dragons, quests, princes and princesses, and of course, magic — generally all of the key elements you would associate with fantasy. The trademark of a high fantasy film is the presence of a secondary world, a setting that looks similar enough to Earth but operates by the standards of a fantasy. It is a place where anything can happen. With that said, a fantasy world should have basic rules as to how it and the magic within the world functions, to avoid inconsistency and gaping flaws in the plot. This requires a level of world building, and explain to the audience the ways in which this secondary world functions. For that reason, these films are usually more prone to over-exposition than most others. High fantasy is predominantly dramatic and serious, exploring a world-ending threat, high stakes, or a problem that will terribly disrupt life for the characters forever. The fate of everything is on the line in a high fantasy epic. Lord of the Rings is a perfect example of this. The scope of the story and the setting are huge. It often employs an internal character arc for the protagonist, incorporating the conventions of a coming-of-age story.
Typically speaking, a fantasy uses the dichotomy between good and evil as a central theme and pits the two against each other. The protagonists may be a small part of a greater force.
These films are usually inspired by mythology or folklore. Another staple is the adaptation of fairy tales, which is commonly seen in Disney films.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is urban fantasy. Urban fantasy is modern, gritty, and nuanced. This sub-genre usually takes place on a version of Earth, though a secondary world setting can still be used, and typically based in the past. Though they still include fantastical elements, such as supernatural beings, the existence of magic, or something else otherworldly. That extraordinary element may exist in secret and hidden away from the rest of the world, allowing for it to exist alongside our reality. Harry Potter and Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief are films that would be considered this type of urban fantasy. However, if the fantastic exists openly, then it is likely a blending between both the real world and fantasy elements. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a good example of that. Common conflicts of involve humans fighting against the supernatural or magical beings, and urban fantasy usually has more realistic themes than high fantasy.
Horror is a genre that pairs quite well with fantasy, resulting in the dark fantasy sub-genre. Dark fantasy explores the horrific side of the genre by combining it with horror. They usually take place in a real world setting, but may be set in a secondary one. It takes the more wondrous and mystifying aspects found in fantasy films such as magic and fantastical creatures and twists them to be purely malicious, dangerous, or violent. Many horror films could be considered fantasy. Think of ghost and monster movies, which feature supernatural beings. Movies like Dracula and the Conjuring are dark fantasy. There are so many films that focus on vampires, werewolves, witches, ghosts, and the occult, but they are often associated with only the horror genre and not always recognized as fantasy.
Technically, superhero films are also a sub-genre of fantasy, featuring human characters with incredible and unnatural powers. With that said, superhero movies are usually considered their own separate genre entirely.
Portal fantasy is a very particular sub-genre of fantasy, but also one that is famous and seen a lot in media. In this kind of story, the protagonist leaves our reality and enters a secondary world, a magical world. It differs from other sub-genres of fantasy in that both the real world and the secondary world coexist, but are completely separate from each other. And thus, the only way to traverse between them is through a “portal.” There is often a heavy contrast between scenes taking place in reality and in the secondary world. There is usually a quest or a mission awaiting the protagonist in the other world that they must complete with the help of characters native to the magical world. The main character’s primary end goal in a portal fantasy is typically to return to their own realm. The Wizard of Oz is a textbook example. These films are perfect way to combine an epic journey with character growth.
As stated before, fantasy films often incorporate different kinds of tropes depending on the sub-genre. The typical quest format is an especially pertinent one, along with numerous character tropes. Antagonists are usually powerful and domineering, with some kind of supernatural abilities or armies. There are also parental figures, love interests, mentors who train people in a skill, damsels in distress, big cities, and wise elders. One of the main tropes is setting the story in medieval times, or some time in the past. Crafting a character in a fantasy is exceptionally fun as there are endless possibilities. The genre allows for the existence of elves, ogres, princes and princesses, wizards, witches, shape-shifters, and talking animals. However, it is important that the story supports the character concepts in order for the narrative to be more cohesive, which is something I want to keep in mind when making my film opening. Despite the fantastical setting, the characters are still real people with wants, desires, goals and motives.
Fantasy films often use grandiose, orchestral music in the score to emphasize the intense plot and action. They also typically have very detailed set designs in order to better flesh out the fictional world in which the characters inhabit rather than through expository dialogue. As stated earlier, high fantasy films usually have a very large scope, and for this reason they mainly utilize wide shots, establishing shots, and long shots to capture just how big everything is. Fantasy movies also commonly use heavy, dramatic lighting as well to enhance emotion. I am going to strive to use these techniques in my film opening. Fantasy films rely very heavily on special effects.
The target audience for most fantasy movies is young adults, and the films give a feeling of escapism and magic. The dramatic plot lines and complex world-building appeals more to an older crowd, though fairy-tale inspired fantasy films are commonly marketed towards families and children with a more light-hearted and whimsical tone. Like I said before, many high fantasy stories are adapted from novels, and promotion of the films might lean into its faithfulness to the original source material to draw in old fans. Studios love fantasy films because their epic scale stories give them great potential to make a franchise out of it, especially when a film or TV show is based off of a preexisting series with multiple installments.
Trailers for fantasy movies typically show the general mood, style, and aesthetic rather than the plot. They are crafted to highlight the grand visuals, set pieces, stakes, and characters, creating a visual spectacle. Fantasy film marketing loves to utilize cross-media convergence, with tie-in books, video games, and other pieces of merchandise.
Examples:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
This is the first film in one of the most famous fantasy franchises that has ever hit the screens, and a perfect representation of the genre. The Harry Potter films hit almost every single major convention of a fantasy story. The films are all about wizards and witches and other magical creatures, with magic and spells being one of the most important elements in the series. It follows the typical “Chosen One” storyline, and a moral struggle between the forces of good and evil. The fantastical setting is fully developed, with the magic school of Hogwarts as a key location. Mise-en-scene elements such as the gothic architecture, robes, and magical symbols instantly communicate the fantasy genre. The films end up exploring personal themes such as friendship and loyalty, death, loss, and choice.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is a classic example of escaping the real world into one of magic, Narnia. The titular wardrobe acts as the portal between the realms, as ordinary children are taken out of their plain reality into a land full of wonder, but also of evil and corruption. The film centers around a prophecy guiding the protagonists, and there is a clear battle between good and evil. Aslan, the lion, represents goodness and light, while the villainous White Witch is the embodiment of fear and control. Narnia is full of mythical creatures such as talking animals and centaurs, with a snowy enchanted forest landscape that the viewer will undoubtedly associate with fantasy.
This genre can be shaped to fit any situation. It is perfect for the blending of other genres, resulting in so many distinguishable sub-genres. Fantasy has many serviceable tropes that can be tools to craft a story or something to cleverly subvert, and allows the imagination to go anywhere.
Sources for research:
Bradley, D. (2022, April 7). Making your own fantasy film: A field guide. PremiumBeat. https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/fantasy-film-field-guide/
Alter, N. (2015, February 16). The 10 popular types of fantasy movies. Thoughts on Fantasy. https://thoughtsonfantasy.com/2015/02/16/the-10-popular-types-of-fantasy-movies/
Hellerman, J. (2023, December 6). The fantasy genre in film and TV. No Film School. https://nofilmschool.com/fantasy-genre/
No comments:
Post a Comment