Genre Research

What is fantasy as a genre?

• Fantasy is a genre of fiction that typically features magic, supernatural or otherworldly things.

What is dark fantasy?

• Dark fantasy is a subgenre of the main genre of fantasy. This genre blends horror and fantasy elements, often having a grim dark setting. This subgenre features a darker tone to fantasy. 

What is the difference between fantasy and dark fantasy?

• Fantasy is a whole genre, while dark fantasy is a subgenre of it, but what mostly differentiates these particular genres is the settin.g when fantasy as a whole is thought of as a genre it is imagined as a world of magic and light, while dark fantasy has a darker tone and has some horror.

 Movie Research

According to my genre of dark fantasy, I have researched some movies that will help me progress in developing my end project.

Sweet Home Series

One TV series that matches my genre is "Sweet Home".

Sweet Home is a South Korean series that portrays the genre of "Post Apocalyptic/Apocalyptic dark fantasy".

Sweet Home portrays the story of a boy who faces an apocalypse that is called the"mutation phenomenon"(sudden unnatural genetic change resulting in superpowers, monstrous transformations, or enhanced abilities)

The storyline starts with the protagonist's attempt to commit suicide, he sets timers and waits for the day to come until an infection begins to arise.

The main character having an unstable mindset is portrayed in this suicidal scene. Showing his nervous and unstable personality at the start. In the first season, it is seen how the character is still unaware of his power and is scared of his surroundings. The show has a typical start for every protagonist in this genre.

 

As the series develops, it shows how the character then develops his internal power to match his surroundings, and this shows that he is no longer the vulnerable person he used to be.

 

(season 3 showing the development of the character)

The storyline of Sweet Home is designed to show the growth of the protagonist from a vulnerable state to a state where he is strong enough to save everyone.

One of the main elements that make the genre of dark fantasy come to life is the use of CGI and VFX effects. 

Most of the Sweet Homes' monstrous characters are brought to life using CGI and VFX effects.s 

(photos taken from Google)

this shows how Sweet Home has brought a realistic nature to all the characters, fictional and non-fictional. 

Pan's Labyrinth

Another film that matches my genre is Pan's Labyrinth

Pan's Labyrinth is a psychological/gothic dark fantasy

Pan's Labyrinth is a dark fantasy, the film blends elements of fantasy and the real world, creating a deep, moving, creative, world mixing both capacities of cruel and fictional worlds.

The story follows a little girl named Ofilia who escapes the real world of her stepfather into a labyrinth of fantasy.

The Pan's Labyrinth depicts a girl's trouble she faces with her stepfather who wants to find a world of her own and finds out that she is a lost princess resulting in the protagonist seeking her mysterious identity.

As she is seen entering the fictional world, it shows how she is more comfortable meeting scary creatures than meeting her stepfather, resulting in a young child confronting a random monstrous creature instead of the harsh realities of the real world.

Meeting the Stepfather

(picture from Pinterest)

Meeting the monster

(picture from Pinterest)

As the movie unravels the dark fantasy genre through the story, different elements also play a crucial role in bringing the genre to life. 

This showcases how this film has used handmade sculptures to portray the realistic imagery of the fictional creatures.

General theme - Based on my research into both series and movies of the dark fantasy genre, I find specific characteristics that are similar across them.

•  The props and surroundings are dark and mysterious. 
• Both films feature protagonists who have faced a difficult time in their lives, revealing a unique character who develops their own specific skills, ultimately becoming the protector or hero by the end. 
• Another similar aspect is how the antagonist is portrayed throughout the story as a villainous character who attempts to challenge or eliminate the main character.
•  Both films utilize CGI, VFX effects, and handmade sculptures to create a realistic look that aligns with the genre's theme. 

This helps me understand how the setup of a movie should reflect the specific genre.