What is Fantasy

Fantasy can be characterized through its exhibition of the supernatural, impossible, and superhuman, but by simple definition it is "imaginative fiction that relies on the strangeness of setting...." -Britannica. Through fantasy writers in many ways, bring imagination to life, many consumers of fantasy are filled by a sense of wonder, and often are inspired by the struggle of fantastical characters. In many cases, fantasy projects the power felt by the characters in the story into the hearts of the audience.

Content: A key factor that not only contributes to the fantasy genre but also defines it, is the immense amount of world-building. Many fantasy films and books build many intricate settings in order to capture the viewer, these large complex landscapes invoke a sense of curiosity, giving the consumer the feeling that they themselves are with the main characters exploring their worlds.

EX: The imaged showcased below is from Game of Thrones, the map shows many regions, biomes, landmarks, and civilizations spread across the map

Another factor that helps characterize fantasy as a genre is the intense focus on Good Vs. Evil. As shown in many films across the genre, the frequent of the protagonists often facing the pure embodiment of evil itself is recognized immensely. In many cases, the protagonist also exhibits an internal struggle along with the conflict with the antagonist. This is also another reason that contributes substantially towards the fantasy genre's popularity, many members of the audience sympathize with the main character and their struggles.

EX: In Disney's adaptation of Hercules (1997), Hercules develops from a young man to a hero, until he finally confronts hades (portrayed as the embodiment of evil and death itself.)

Finally, a key factor in fantasy is the supernatural, whether it be wizardry, bodily enhancement, objects enchanted with mystical powers. Every fantasy film has an exhibition of something other worldly, this quirk in the fantastical genre, is often developed parallel to the characters development mentally and relation wise with other characters. In many ways what makes the world supernatural is actually a metaphor or a scapegoat, to teach real life lessons and morals. This is another reason as to why fantasy is so popular with young adults. The close relation to almost feeling like the character the audience is watching because they share some of the struggles the main character faces is more often than not the key to the fantastical genres success.

EX: Disney's The Sword in the Stone(1963) showcases the struggles Arthur Pendragon faces throughout the movie, but through pulling the sword out of the stone it shows that it's not the sword that gives him strength, it's him.

Production: There are many unique film techniques used in fantasy films, among those are miniature sets. In many films miniature sets are used when it is too difficult to make a set in a real-life location, so filmmakers hire a crew to create a scaled down version of the set in the movie and then record real life effects using forced perspective.

Another Technique used is, lighting, fantasy films rely heavily on atmosphere in order to reach a depth a perception that the audience otherwise wouldn't have if they did not use specific lighting techniques. While the majority of the lighting techniques are used on set, productions still depend on editing to capture the right emotion for each scene.

Marketing: Due to recurring complex storylines, the fantasy genre is often consumed by young adults to middle aged persons, and nowadays it's easier than ever to market films, due to the mass consumption of media of the 2020s. Consumers of this target audience are likely to find fantasy through an advertisement, social media post, or communication applications, fan communities of fantasy films have also gained popularity in recent years.

Sample: One of the faces of the fantasy genre is the Harry Potter series, notable for it's progressive dive into the conflict between Harry Potter and his allies against Lord Voldemort. It shows the story of a young Harry living with his aunt and uncle after his parents died while defending him from Voldemort. Harry goes from a young boy with a struggling childhood, to a student at the Hogwarts School of Wizardry, to learn to use magic. There, he creates the most important relationships in his life with Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley, Albus Dumbledore, and Ginny Weasley to mention a few. Throughout the saga he grows along with his friends defending Hogwarts from world threatening evil by using magic, all while hidden in plain sight behind the mask of the wizarding world. The Harry Potter films were exceptionally influential to those who had the privilege to grow up alongside its films, this also contributed to its development as a franchise, building a community of fans, and bringing them together through attractions like Universal Studios in Orlando.

Sample #2: Another solid franchise within the fantasy genre is Pirates of the Caribbean, a story following the journey of Captain Jack Sparrow. Known for its comical elements and unique world and era, giving a nod to piracy in the mid 18th century, Jack Sparrow faces off against a range of antagonists ranging from his own crew that marooned him following Captain Hector Barbossa to Davy Jones. As the saga progresses, he makes new allies such as Elizabeth Swan, Will Turner, and Hector Barbossa. The films feature a number of plot twists, as well as a range of landscapes, including the Caribbean, Singapore, Isla de la Cruz, Jamaica, among others. Pirates of the Caribbean became popular through its intense soundtrack, comical moments, and story development as the scale gets larger with each movie.