Friday 23 January 2015

Environmental Storytelling: Treasure Planet

It was only a matter of time 'til I talked about this bad boy of an animation again. Treasure Planet is one of my all time favourite films and I've decided to talk about it's setting because it's a lot different to the ones I've already discussed.


The story is set in space, and for a good majority of the film whilst the crew are on the ship, that (and the boat) is all you can see. Even though it is just a blend of different colours, I think it is beautiful and it does an excellent job of portraying space and how vast it is. Disney also use different colours for the space background not only to represent different nebulae they come across, but to help portray different emotions and moods. For example, when the crew are in danger there are hot reds and oranges, but blues and purples are used to create a calm atmosphere. 


Not only is space animated really well, but the designs for the planets are too. I particularly like the design for the Montressor Space Port. I thought it was a very imaginative take on the moon. I like how it is at the center of the galaxy and is a highly populated place that many travel to, much like the actual moon is the thing we are drawn to the most when we look at the night sky. Not only did I think this was a nice touch, but I think the design ties in nicely with the rest of the film. The port is made up of old medieval style houses, but they have been built in a way that makes them look quite futuristic. This makes it stand out from other buildings - such as Jim's family home - as it feels "newer" but still follows the medieval theme. The colour palette also doesn't differentiate much between these two locations, and consists mostly of browns and oranges, creating a warm, friendly atmosphere. This atmosphere is strengthened by the art style. The artists haven't used harsh lines for either the characters or the settings, so the whole film feels "smooth" and welcoming. I think this helps give a more stronger impact on the viewer in the more emotional scenes because you are drawn into the world they have created as everything seems real. 

Montressor Space Port

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