Creative Spotlight: Wes Anderson

Have you ever noticed that with some creatives, you can just tell it is their work immediately without even knowing?

I’m sure most of us could tell a Tim Burton movie from a mile away just from the illustration style, or know without being told that a beautiful piece of jewellery comes from Tiffany just by the particular shade of the little blue box? Some art leaves a visual signature that is completely unique. We love nothing more than visual identities being so powerful and unique, that they speak for themselves and have their own stamp. In this series we are going to be taking a look into some of our favourite brands and creators whose style is instantly recognisable, starting with the one and only Wes Anderson.

The Inimitable Style of Wes Anderson: A Cinematic Signature

In the vast landscape of filmmaking, where directors strive to leave their unique mark, Wes Anderson’s style is instantly recognisable. From meticulous symmetry to vibrant colour palettes, his films carry a distinct visual identity.

We will delve into the intricacies of Wes Anderson's style, exploring the elements that make it so unmistakable, and the reasons behind its enduring charm.

Symmetry and Precision:

Wes Anderson's style focuses heavily on symmetry and precision, which is evident in his shot composition. Anderson often aligns his subjects in the centre of the frame, which has become a distinctive part of his directing style. While we are used to seeing a directing style called ‘shot reverse shot’, which films subjects from either point of view over the other’s shoulder from different angles, Wes Anderson has completely reversed this by placing his subjects in complete centre frame. As well as filming in this way, the theme of symmetry often continues in his work through the use of colour palettes, patterns, staging and compositions, which leaves a very strong stylistic signature.

Use of Colour:

You can’t talk about Wes Anderson without bringing up his incredible and distinctive use of colour. Each film carries its own unique colour scheme, contributing to the overall mood and tone. Whether it's the pastel hues of ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ or the autumnal colours in ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’, Wes Anderson's colour choices are deliberate and play a crucial role in conveying emotions and themes within the story.

Just like his use of symmetry, Anderson likes to flip the use of colour on its head completely. Usually, filmmakers like to use soft and warm, or pastel toned colours to depict a feeling of warmth and security, while darker and bolder colours are used to convey a feeling of danger or uncertainty. Wes Anderson loves to flip this theory on its head, and creates discord by using ‘happy’ colours to depict sad or unfortunate events, and also loves to play with colour brightness and saturation.

Quirky Characters and Dialogues:

Beyond the visual elements, Wes Anderson's style is deeply embedded in the characters he creates and the dialogues they deliver. His characters often possess a charming quirkiness, and their dialogues are characterised by a dry wit and deadpan delivery. This unique blend of eccentricity and humour establishes a distinctive atmosphere that runs throughout each of his films.

Soundtrack Selection:

Wes Anderson is renowned for his exceptional taste in music, and his films are often accompanied by carefully curated soundtracks. From classic rock to orchestral compositions, the music in Anderson's films serves as an additional layer that complements and enhances the overall aesthetic. The blend of visuals and music creates a harmonious cinematic experience that just screams Wes Anderson.

Narrative Framing:

Anderson's narrative framing is another key aspect of his style. His films often unfold in a whimsical and fantastical world, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. This narrative approach allows Anderson to explore complex themes with a touch of surrealism, adding depth to the storytelling and making his films memorable and thought-provoking.

One of the reasons Anderson's style is so instantly recognisable, is the consistency maintained across his body of work. Whether it's ;The Grand Budapest Hotel’ or the more recent ‘Asteroid City’, the visual and thematic elements that define his style remain remarkably consistent. With a strong sense of creative control and distinctive style, this level of consistency allows him to craft a cohesive and identifiable cinematic universe.

His style stands as a beacon of uniqueness and creativity. The meticulous symmetry, vibrant colour palettes, quirky characters, and narrative framing all contribute to the instantly recognisable style of his films. Anderson's ability to maintain consistency across his body of work solidifies his place as one of the most distinctive artists in contemporary cinema. 

While the cinematic style of Wes Anderson is something that can be delved into so deeply and possibly even studied for years, we hope this overview of his visual signature can highlight the importance of creating your own unique and distinctive style to stand out against the crowd, and become instantly recognisable.

If you would like to find out more about how we can help you or just fancy a chat, feel free to get in touch with us at Nurture via hello@designbynurture.com.

Written by Charlene Payne.