Crafting the world in afantasymovie is one of the most fun and important parts of making speculative fiction films. Everything from the character and set design to the visual effects must work in perfect harmony to immerse the audience in an otherworldly universe and make them care as deeply about this world as they do reality. When this is done well,fantasy is at the height of its power, and filmmakers get to experiment with style and form.Since the logic of reality doesn’t apply to fantasy, this translates to the cinematography and production design.
Many of thesefantasy movies are considered masterpiecesbecause they don’t just have incredible visuals but instead use this element to elevate the central story. In the world of filmmaking, the visuals are just as important, if not more at times, as the narrative. Of course, every aspect of the project should work in harmony, buteven when a movie’s story is weak, it can still be appreciated for its aesthetic style.A cohesive world and texture can do more for a fantasy narrative than the most explicit moments of exposition.
When James Cameron’sAvatarpremiered in 2009, it was unlikely anything audiences had ever seen. Using motion capture technology and the best of what visual effects had to offer,Avatarwas an immersive ride that sparked a technologically impressive franchise. The world of Pandora and the intricate ecosystem of the planet are reminiscent of Earth, sparking nostalgia and familiarity. However,the environment is just fantastical enough that it transports the viewer to another reality.
It’s the design and realism of Pandora that ensure the viewer will fall in love with it and care about its fate.
It will be interesting to see ifAvatar 3will break away from franchise criticisms, as the first two films were unquestionably gorgeous but garnered some critiques in terms of story structure. For a movie that could’ve simply been a classic blockbuster,Avatardoesn’t rest on its laurels or rely on the momentum of the action to make the audience invested in the narrative. It’s the design and realism of Pandora that ensure the viewer will fall in love with it and care about its fate.
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It’s impossible to discuss visual achievements in fantasy without bringing up Studio Ghibli,particularly the visionary director Hayao Miyazaki. Though it’s almost impossible to pick just one of his iconic films to commend for its visuals,Spirited Awayis widely considered the filmmaker’s crowning achievement. Winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature,Spirited Awayis a moving tribute to the loss of innocence in childhood and the fantastical worlds we escape to during this period.
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Miyazaki’s work is generally considered the benchmark for animation,and the fact thatSpirited Awayis referred to as his most enduring work speaks to the movie’s quality. The detail and care with which Miyazaki and the animators created the spirit world and visually represented Chihiro’s evolution as a character makes the story even more emotionally visceral. In the years sinceSpirited Awaypremiered, few fantasy films, animated or not, have compared.
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Though there’s no installment of Peter Jackson’sThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy that skimps on visual style and cohesive design,The Fellowship of the Ringis a stunning first outing.The Fellowship of the Ringhad a lot of pressure on it, as it had to kick off the series by appealing to fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s workwhile enticing audiences who wouldn’t traditionally watch fantasy to the theater. Fortunately,The Fellowship of the Ringfeatures some of the most beautiful sets of the series.
While the later scenes in Mordor and other parts of Middle-earth are just as engaging,The Fellowship of the Ringhas major sequences in the Shire and Rivendell.
While the later scenes in Mordor and other parts of Middle-earth are just as engaging,The Fellowship of the Ringhas major sequences in the Shire and Rivendell. These are two of the most inviting and gorgeously crafted parts of Tolkien’s universe, encouraging audiences to settle in and be swept away by the story. Additionally, the natural elements of the world elevated Jackson’s vision for the adaptation, with New Zealand’s rugged landscape striking the perfect tone.
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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings (2001)
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A futuristic fantasy reimagining of the classic novelTreasure Island,Treasure Planetis a greatforgotten fantasy movie that deserves a second chance. ThoughTreasure Planetdidn’t blow critics and audiences away,it took visual risks and helped bring forth the coming sweep of computer-generated animation.As time has progressed,Treasure Planethas been reevaluated, becoming a cult classic. It’s recognized for its contributions to cinema and its boundary-pushing style, which was well ahead of its time.
Blending the look and feel of the Golden Age of Piracy with a steampunk space opera,Treasure Planetis unique among its contemporaries. Using sci-fi and fantasy elements sets it apart from other works of speculative fiction. Many references to the illustrations of classic editions ofTreasure IslandmakeTreasure Planetfamiliar, even as its story is set in an alien world. Using both hand-drawn and computer animation can be difficult to pull off, but it works for the tone ofTreasure Planet.
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Crediting with popularizing the wuxia genre with Western audiences and transcending cultural boundaries,Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragonis a testament to Ang Lee’s vision as a director.Lee has worked across a wide variety of genres, always elevating the importance of the visual landscapeno matter the story. Thanks to its otherworldly elements,Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragonlent itself to dynamic stylistic choices that showcase the fight sequences across the story. While every aspect of the film is carefully crafted, the cinematography is uniquely skillful.
When it comes to a story likeCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the visuals must match the epic scale of the story, and the film delivers in every way.
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragonwon the Academy Award for Best Cinematography and was nominated across several additional categories, including Best Director. When it comes to a story likeCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the visuals must match the epic scale of the story, and the film delivers in every way. Even during the sequences shrouded in darkness, every frame is perfectly crafted, furthering the story through the camera movements and production design.
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Based on the fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen,The Red Shoesdemonstrates how music, dance, and fantasy elements can blend perfectly to make an unforgettable picture. Winning the Academy Award for Best Art Direction,The Red Shoesinherently features a fantastic color motif through the titular ballet slippers, but the creative team behind the project took the visuals much further than that. Using color to successfully juxtapose the shoes in every frame,The Red Shoesweaves elements of German expressionism and contemporary fantasy into its style.
The Red Shoesis an exploration of the cost of art and the lengths that artists will go to for the sake of perfection.Much of the protagonist’s,Victoria, internal struggles and decay are represented visually,especially in the iconic dream ballet sequence. Artistic obsession is a theme frequently touched upon, narratively and visually, in film, andThe Red Shoeswent on to inspire contemporary works likeBlack Swan. Today,The Red Shoesis considered one of the best movies of all time.
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The Secret of Kellsis the first installment of the Irish folklore trilogy from the animation studio Cartoon Saloon, followed bySong of the SeaandWolfwalkers. Though each of the films was critically lauded and acclaimed,The Secret of Kellswas a striking debut, universally praised for its gorgeous animation style inspired by Celtic mythology. Like the text at the heart of the story, the famous Book of Kells,The Secret of Kells, is full of intricate designs and painstakingly created details.
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Much of animation history comes through inThe Secret of Kells, a film that was almost completely hand-drawn, reminiscent of the golden age of the genre.The design ofThe Secret of Kellsis deeply in conversation with the natural world and the way folklore is an extension of how humanity interacts with its environment. Every color, frame, and contemplative moment ofThe Secret of Kellsstrikes the perfect tone for the moving narrative.
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One of the most influential directors of all time, Akira Kurosawa, gave the world his 1990 anthology filmDreams, which brings to life a series of surreal vignettes.Fantasy is a genre that lends itself particularly well to this style of filmmaking,as following the logic of a dream landscape allows the filmmaker and cinematographer to explore visual styles that don’t adhere to the rules of physics. ThoughDreamswas a departure from the typical narratives Kurosawa is known for, he pulled it off brilliantly.
While anthology-style movies can be polarizing, it’s easy to recognize the merits ofDreams, which takes its time unpacking different essential themes of humanity.Nature also plays a significant role inDreams,like many of Kurosawa’s earlier projects, as the natural world offers inspiration for some of the most unique tableaus in the film. LettingDreamstake you on a vivid and vibrant journey across the dreamscape is a great way to drink in the movie.
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Excaliburhas been highly influential within the sword and sorcery niche of fantasy, helping to define how these stories are visually represented. Bringing the legendary tale ofKing Arthurto life,Excaliburdoesn’t shy away from the darkness of this story and the tragedy of Arthur’s reign as king.The costume and character design inExcaliburis an essential part of its visual texture, as well as the use of light throughout the movie, which gives the audience visual cues about who is ordained as a rightful king and faithful servant of the land.
Excaliburstill manages to capture the spirit of the story, thanks to the look and feel of the film, which transports the audience to a world where adventure, romance, and magic rule.
Narratively,Excaliburattempts to chronicle a long and nuanced story, often skipping over or missing key parts of Arthur’s story to condense it. However,Excaliburstill manages to capture the spirit of the story, thanks to the look and feel of the film, which transports the audience to a world where adventure, romance, and magic rule. The stellar ensemble cast, led by Nigel Terry as Arthur, easily steps into this universe and carries the weight of the story with the weight it deserves.
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Widely considered Guillermo del Toro’s masterpiece,Pan’s Labyrinthis one of the definitive works of fantasy of the 21st century.Seamlessly blending practical effects with CGI to create a world so immersive the viewer might forget they’re watching a work of fiction. The line between fantasy and reality is continuously blurred throughoutPan’s Labyrinth, as the magical world the protagonist, Ofelia, escapes to is representative of the horrors of the events around her. However, each test Ofelia goes through in the narrative is more visually enchanting than the last.
Sergi López gives one of thebest fantasy movie performancesof all time as Captain Vidal, Ofelia’s evil stepfather, and officer in the fascist regime in Francoist Spain. The work of the actors inPan’s Labyrinthhelps to elevate both the mystical and real in the narrative, making the most fantastical visual moments seem like a natural extension of the world. Winning Best Cinematography at the Academy Awards,Pan’s Labyrinthis the peak offantasydesign in cinema.
