Genre Research: Fantasy Films

Fantasy Definition

-Fantasy is a genre of fiction that uses magic and other supernatural occurrences as a main element of the plot, theme, or setting. -The genre the setting takes place in imaginary worlds where magic is common. -Considered to be distinct from science fiction film and horror films (although do overlap which then become sub-genres)

What are the fundamental aspects of Fantasy?

Fantasy films are films with themes involving: -magic

-supernatural events - make-believe creatures-exotic fantasy worlds

Fantasy films often have an element of magic, myth, wonder, escapism, and the unexpected.

Genre History

Fantasy films were rare until the 1980s, when high-tech filmmaking techniques had increased the audience interest also increased which then caused the genre

to succeed.

With its roots in myth and legend, fantasy is the most basic of all the genres.

Genre History- 1900’sThe earliest fantasy films combined science fiction with visions

of the future. Some of the earliest were Georges Melies' fantasy silent film about a trip to the Moon, Voyage Dans La

Lune (1902)

It was extremely popular at the time of its release.

Genre History- 1930’sThe greatest children's fantasy/musical of all time was  The

Wizard of Oz (1939)

The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-

Mayer.

Genre History- 1940’sIn 1946, Jean Cocteau's classic adaptation of Beauty and the Beast won praise for its surreal elements and for exceeding

the boundaries of the fairy tale genre. 

Sinbad the Sailor (1947), starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., has the feel of a

fantasy film though it does not actually have any fantastic elements.

Because these movies do not feature elements common to high fantasy or sword and sorcery, some modern critics do not

consider them to be examples of the genre.

Genre History- 1950’sThere were a number of low budget fantasies produced in the

1950s, typically based on Greek or Arabian legend.

Scrooge, released as A Christmas Carol in the US, is a 1951 film adaptation of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. It

starred Alastair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge and was directed by Brian Desmond Hurst.

Disney's 1951 animated film Alice in Wonderland is also a fantasy classic.

Genre History- 1960’sJason and the Argonauts is a 1963 fantasy film starring Todd

Armstrong as the mythical Greek hero. Directed by Don Chaffey, the film was well-known for its stop-motion features.

1968 saw the release of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang based on a story by Ian Fleming with a script from Roald Dahl. It

Starred Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes and Lionel Jeffries.

Genre History – 1970’sA few low budget pictures were made in this era such as:

-1975's The Land That Time Forgot. -1971's Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Willy Wonka & the

Chocolate Factory (again being from Roald Dahl in both script and novel.)

Genre History-1980’s

The modern sword and sorcery boom began at this time with 1982's Conan the Barbarian.

Conan The Barbarian starred  Arnold Schwarzenegger, and tells the story

of a young barbarian who seeks vengeance for the death of his parents.

Sub-Genre Research

Epic or High Fantasy

High fantasy is defined as fantasy fiction set in an alternative, entirely fictional ‘secondary’ world, rather than the real, or

‘primary’ world.

The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien created a massive influence on the writing of the field, which established the form of epic fantasy. Other examples include The Lion, the

Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis.

Typical features of high fantasy include elements such as: elves, fairies, 

dwarves, dragons, demons, magic or sorcery, wizards or magicians, constructed

languages, quests, coming-of-age themes, and multi-volume narratives.

Low Fantasy Low fantasy is characterised by being set in the real ‘Primary’ world, or a normal and familiar fictional world, with the addition of magical

elements.

"Low" is not an suggestion of quality but of the level of "fantasy" contained.

Examples include 17 again which is a combination of low fantasy, romance

and a teen comedy.

Matilda: Low fantasy includes a young girl with telekinesis’ powers.

Distinguishing between subgenresThe distinction between whether the setting is the primary or secondary world, and therefore whether it is low or high fantasy, can be unclear:

The secondary world may take three forms.

-Primary does not exist -Entered through a portal from the primary-World-within-a-world

HOWEVER: The Lord of the Rings is set in Earth's past but the setting, Middle-earth, is different from the reality to be classed as a secondary world and therefore high fantasy.

Harry Potter series is set in the real world; however, the primary setting, which is the school, (Hogwarts) in Scotland, but is separated from the real world and becomes a "world-within-a-world.’ Hogwarts is therefore as much of an alternative world as C. S. Lewis' Narnia, which means that both series are in the high fantasy subgenre.

Contemporary fantasyContemporary fantasy, also known as modern

fantasy or indigenous fantasy is set in the present day.

The contemporary fantasy and low fantasy genres can overlap as both are defined as being set in the real world.

Contemporary fantasies are set in the real world but may also include

distinct fantasy settings within it, such as the Harry

Potter series, in which case they would be high rather than low fantasy.

Sword and sorcerySword and sorcery (S&S) is a sub-genre

of fantasy and historical fantasy, it generally includes sword-wielding heroes engaged in violent battles.

An element of romance is often present, as well as an element of magic and the supernatural. Unlike the genre high/epic

fantasy, the tales, though dramatic, focus mainly on personal battles rather than world-endangering matters.

The sub-genre will soon have been around for a hundred years, author Robert E. Howard

generally being considered the founder of Sword and Sorcery in the late

1920s.

Romantic FantasyRomantic fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy which describes a fantasy story using many of the elements and features of the

genre romance.

Magic in Romantic Fantasy are usually expressed differently then in high fantasy or sword and sorcery. Magic is represented

by taking the form of abilities that are natural and simple to use, sometimes described as psychic talents.

Examples include Twilight Saga: Eclipse which is a romantic fantasy film including

the story of vampires and werewolves joining forces to defeat a vampire army.

Science fantasy Science fantasy is a mixed genre within fiction  elements from

both science fiction and fantasy.

 An example is Star Wars. The main difference between the two is that science fiction is largely based on scientific

concepts, while science fantasy is largely far-fetched and unlikely.

Other examples include the

1980’s films Time Bandits E.T and

Back To The Future.

Fantasy

If the author is doing their job you can experience a world as close to ours or as different from ours as

their imagination allows, but at the same time allowing us to believe that elves, magic, epic

adventure, and fairy folk exist. Fantasy plays with our imaginations and lets them run wild in a way

that few other genres allow.

(source for definition fandomania.com)

Conclusion

KEY ELEMENTS:-Magic-Supernatural-Fantasy or parallel worlds as a setting-Make-believe creatures-Villain or hero