Are you excited as we are for Wes Anderson's newest film to arrive? Isle of Dogs, a beautiful stop-motion story set in Japan, follows a boy on a mystic journey in search of his dog. Expected release date is spring of 2018 (trailer here). New to Wes? Ever wonder why Instagram is flooded with pastels, top views, and intricately placed objects? Mr. Anderson was the tastemaker behind many of these trends. Check out our field notes below so you can make your own Wes Anderson-inspired video that will leave people wanting to dance on a deserted beach, Françoise Hardy style.
Color Palette
Wes is known for meticulously sticking to color schemes throughout the entirety of a film, down every last wallpaper. Whether you choose the pastry pinks of The Grand Budapest, or nautical nostalgia of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, take note of the beauty and simplicity of these color tones:
The Grand Budapest Hotel, 2014
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, 2004
Lure tried a monochromatic tone of chocolate browns ourselves in this video, although we're under no illusions that our best Wes Anderson homage is yet to come:
Composing The Shot
Wes goes for flat compositions with typically a low depth of field, squeezing objects and characters into a frame so no space is left untouched. Or for effect, allow space to take over the scene. Your new mantra can be described as: “symmetry of subject.”
Moonrise Kingdom, 2012
The Grand Budapest Hotel, 2014
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, 2004
Some samples of our own symmetry for fun:
Pro Tip: For a big moment in the scene, consider using an almost uncomfortably tight close up for your leading character. Don’t be afraid of quick zooms for comic relief.
Rushmore, 1998
From our own archive:
Movement
How is quirky crafted? Movement is key. Wes experiments frequently with long tracking shots, quick zooms, or even a few swift glances between characters. Fun fact: Wes’ famous camera tracking shots originated on a whim – due to bad weather on the set of Rushmore.
A muddy athletic field forced Wes to get creative with camera movement and patterns. A complicated tracking shot setup spawned that day, and Wes never looked back (neither did we). Read more fun facts about Wes and his career here.
Fantastic Mr. Fox, 2009
The Grand Budapest Hotel, 2014
Moonrise Kingdom, 2012
From our own archive (featuring our favorite pigeon):
Production Design
The whimsical nature of the Wes we all know and love shines brightest through production design. Adam Stockhausen joined Anderson on The Darjeeling Limited and has been creating magic ever since. Anderson’s overhead shots are perfect for advertising a product with a touch of curiosity and charm. Childlike energy is made through rhythm, color, and movement of a hand. Take note of background, chosen artifacts, and speed/direction of movement in the shot. Also, top views have just become your new favorite camera angle.
The Darjeeling Limited, 2007
Moonrise Kingdom, 2012
The Royal Tenenbaums, 2001
Typography
Lastly, type. Let’s be honest, you can’t find opening title sequences like Wes’ on any other movie. When in doubt, use Futura as your chosen typeface (and you’ll get a stamp of approval by any Wes fan). Don’t be afraid to let the type take over the screen, take this opportunity to make your message loud and clear.
The Royal Tenenbaums, 2001
Also, have fun with the ornate options out there. Everyone enjoys a little Moonrise Kingdom cursive every once in a while.
It's clear that each of these categories takes many talented people, from production designers to cinematographers, to wardrobe stylists and make up artists (and more).
Now, go gather your awesome team and try it for yourselves! And don't forget to join us in counting down the days until spring 2018 to watch Wes Anderson's upcoming Isle of Dogs.
Click here to make your own Wes Anderson style video.