The Wes Anderson Effect: art direction’s importance in big films
2. Isle Of Dogs (2018)
Art Director: Curt Enderle
After the success of the Fantastic Mr. Fox, Anderson took his second shot at animation with Isle Of Dogs. Having set the film in Japan this time around, he capitalised on the chemistry between Japanese culture’s portrayal during the Edo period and his symmetrical, centred visual style to create an expansive yet more detailed world than his first outing in animation. After an outbreak of “canine influenza” poses a threat to humanity, all of the dogs in Japan are banished to Trash Island (a literal trash heap), where most of the movie takes place. Anderson and his design team directed a cinematic experience that creatively included elements of the 50s/60s Japanese film without sacrificing the charm that makes his classic films. Although stop-motion is a painstaking and tedious production process, it certainly doesn’t come across in the final product. By working with the right team, Anderson successfully bought spirit and charisma to a pack of stray dogs on an island of garbage.