Tangled is a computer-animated musical adventure fantasy comedy.
It is a Disney production
based on the fairytale Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm. The film is intended is for younger
audiences, which is a common theme in most Disney movies. It tells the story of Rapunzel, a
long-lost princess who yearns to leave the confines of her secluded tower for an adventure.
Against her foster mother’s wishes, she accepts the aid of a handsome intruder to take her out
into the world she has never seen.
It is one of the most successful Disney animated feature since The Lion King, beginning a
new style of marketing and aesthetics for the following films from the studio. This transition
towards a fresh and unique approach of promoting children’s’ animated films is readily
apparent in its posters, which capture a colorful, captivating and vibrant interplay of visual
elements, those that convey what Tangled is all about. The most important of these visuals is
the character Rapunzel herself, who takes the center stage with her iconic long, flowy hair
that is not only encompassing her leg, but is in place because she firmly holds on to it with
both her hands. It is note-worthy that her other leg is sticking out and her foot is lightly
touching the grass beneath her, this creates the impression that she is to embark on an
adventure. Additionally, her body is turned slightly toward the audience, which serves as
pathos - the confidence in her adventurous pose communicating an overall sense of
excitement regarding the journey to the viewers.
To Rapunzel’s sides on the poster stand Flynn, the dashing intruder and partner in her
adventure, Maximus the horse and Pascal the chameleon. The mischievous expression on
Flynn’s face, along with a poised posture of his own contribute to the fun dynamics visible on
the poster between the two, underscoring his pivotal role in Rapunzel’s journey. The detail of
him steadfastly gripping a frying pan, an unconventional weapon, both pleases the films
young audiences’ appetite for playfulness and serves as a symbol of their resourcefulness
against the challenges they will inevitably encounter on their escapade. Maximus can be seen
holding a knife in his mouth with a steely look, which also hints at the horses’ grumpy
personality in the film. Meanwhile, Pascal sits atop Rapunzel’s head with a cute, skeptical
expression which offers an interesting contrast to the more serious-looking horse. Together,
these characters contribute to the logos as they look all set for a grand quest, displaying an
action-packed suspense and anticipation.
A specific facet of the story, Rapunzel, is the tower she resides in, and it can be seen standing
tall in isolation behind the characters, covered in overgrown vines and rendering an eerie and
mysterious aura. This creates intrigue and envelops viewers in a promise of a story filled with
an enthralling plot filled of mysteries and surprise ready to unravel. The presence of greenery
– a tree, grass, leaves and flowers – surround the characters and there can be seen an
imposing mountain wall in the background. The wall serves as ethos as it generally
symbolizes entrapment. The rest of the visual backdrop sets the stage for a fun, spirited and
lively exploration of what lies beyond. It is worth highlighting that the earthy greens are a
strategic color choice in this movie poster, as it not only makes the cover look brighter, but
can be considered symbolic as it represents the enchantment of exploring the outside world.
The overall color scheme plays a vital role in the poster’s visual appeal. It primarily features
warm tones, such as earthy greens and amber along with some pint of cool blues in the sky.
This palette suggests a sense of freedom and enchantment that align with the film’s themes.
There is a pop of gold to illustrate Rapunzel’s blonde hair, which has a soft, warm glow to it,
that is telling of the princesses’ aura, as does the color of her dress. The color choices in the
Tangled poster are creatively eye catching and comforting, which are both important
elements considering the young audience of the film.
Another visual element in the Tangled movie poster is the text it uses to draw the audience’s
attention toward the title and punch line of the film. The punch line is placed atop the poster,
and it says, “they’re taking adventure to new . This creatively short sentence not only helps
convey the film’s main themes, which are adventure and self-discovery, but adds intrigue,
how is Tangled different than any other adventure film out there? The title of the movie itself
does not go unnoticed as it largely appears at the bottom, in gold, elegant arched lettering. It
also states right under that the film is 3D which given the year this was released in, was still a
fairly new and exciting facet of the movie viewing experience in cinemas. Adding these
honest details and making effective choices in curating the poster serve its purpose of good
marketing as it invites the audience to explore the enchanting world of Tangled.
The plethora of visual elements and devices employed on the poster achieve an engaging
effect on its intended audience, and draws them to the film successfully, as Tangled would go
on to become one of the most loved movies of all time.
References
(Tangled, n.d.)
(Top 50 Romance, Animation Movies, n.d.)
References