Season 1 of the Korean drama Squid game, which is a Netflix original series, was the most popular show all over the world in 2021. Squid game is a fictional drama in which 456 people participate in a survival game – a life-or-death competition. The winner of the contest will win 45.6 billion won (about 35.5 million dollars).
Contrary to initial expectations, Squid game was the number one show in America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The success of the drama greatly increased the number Netflix’s subscribers. In the 3rd quarter of 2021, Netflix added 4.38 million subscribers to reach a total of 213.6 million viewers worldwide and revenue jumped up 16 per cent, to 7.4 billion dollars.
There are many opinions when it comes to the reasons for Squid game’s success. To summarize the success factors of Squid game according to experts, the show analyzed concepts and materials, like Korean childhood games, which participants played and this made people around the world sympathize with the characters. Additionally, these characters in the drama are just normal people who have real problems and most of them are in financial trouble, not heroes like in Hollywood movies. Lastly, the curious code '○△□' and the vivid colors used within the show’s palette attracted people and gave the show a certain aesthetic uniqueness.
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| ▲ Squid Game, credit :Netflix |
In terms of aesthetics, this is likely the biggest success factor behind Squid game. The code '○△□' which appears on the mask of the host is the symbol of the real squid game. That idea was the idea of Hwang Dong-hyuk (51) who directed the Squid game.
Director Hwang wrote the screenplay and scenario of the Squid game. So to speak, the story begins and ends with him. He said, “I wanted to write a story that was an allegory about modern capitalist society and the extreme competition of our life”. The '○△□' code was purposefully designed with these meanings in mind. He came up with circles, triangles and squares to express what symbolizes the hierarchy of human power. The rule of dividing power was the number of vertices. Each worker’s mask either had a triangle, a square, or a circle - a circle for workers(zero vertices), a triangle for soldiers (three vertices) and a square for managers (four vertices).
The setting and palette of Squid game is very colorful. The art director of the show is Chae Kyung-sun(42). Chae majored in stage art at university and has been working in the field of commercial movies since 2010. Director Chae won the art award at the Daejong Film Awards that is one of the top film festivals in Korea, for "Detective K" and "The Royal Tailor." in 2011 and 2015 respectively.
She said that, “Squid game is an imaginative work. I wanted to capture the psychology of the characters through various colors and objects and I hoped to express extreme differences between the host group that wear pink clothes and the participating group that wear green training suits.”
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| ▲ Squid Game, credit :Netflix |
“Pink was also used in the stairway maze to give people a feeling of oppression and fear. On the other hand, bright colors like yellow, sky blue and mint were used in the spaces that invoke some nostalgia and familiarity among the players, such as the playground or the village”.
“Using white, I also intended for people to feel like they were between life and death when participants waited for the next game. I put my psychological intention into the selection of color.”
Right after the release, the review geeks, the journal of review, valued the colors and visuals of Squid game. “Aesthetically, Squid game looks absolutely fantastic. The bright colors and trippy visuals contrast so well against the gnarly and dark nature of the games.” This encapsulated the effect of Chae’s choice of color - they stood out in stark contrast from the grisly nature and tone of the show.
Jeong Ji-woo, a cultural critic, said, “One of the reasons for the success of Squid game is the use of various aesthetic techniques and strategies, like the way that the games are set up using primary and vivid colors, contrasts of color, music, close-ups and slow motions and etc.”
Pink and green are complementary colors. By placing the two colors on the screen together, it makes people feel more clear and obvious about how the things they represent relate to each other. The point is that people can clearly distinguish between the host group and participants. Bright colors give us active, fresh and joyful feelings. By setting a terrible situation in that bright space, people become more and more uncomfortable with how it perverts the things that usually comfort them. These methods of direction helped people immerse themselves in the drama all over the world and increase the experience of the audience in the show.
 |
| ▲ Squid Game, credit :Netflix |
Squid game is a dystopian drama about the negative aspects of modern society. It is a carefully-crafted, delicately-executed work that harmonizes elements such as story, acting, video, camerawork, music, and art. This harmony was enough to captivate people.
Netflix announced that Squid game will return for a second season on June 13. One of the most popular Netflix series ever, the creators behind Squid game, are now focusing on what kind of artistic directing will attract and engage people in season 2.
sayart.net Claire_Seo ssjjyy516@gmail.com
the curious code '○△□' and vivid colors
Season 1 of the Korean drama Squid game, which is a Netflix original series, was the most popular show all over the world in 2021. Squid game is a fictional drama in which 456 people participate in a survival game – a life-or-death competition. The winner of the contest will win 45.6 billion won (about 35.5 million dollars).
Contrary to initial expectations, Squid game was the number one show in America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The success of the drama greatly increased the number Netflix’s subscribers. In the 3rd quarter of 2021, Netflix added 4.38 million subscribers to reach a total of 213.6 million viewers worldwide and revenue jumped up 16 per cent, to 7.4 billion dollars.
There are many opinions when it comes to the reasons for Squid game’s success. To summarize the success factors of Squid game according to experts, the show analyzed concepts and materials, like Korean childhood games, which participants played and this made people around the world sympathize with the characters. Additionally, these characters in the drama are just normal people who have real problems and most of them are in financial trouble, not heroes like in Hollywood movies. Lastly, the curious code '○△□' and the vivid colors used within the show’s palette attracted people and gave the show a certain aesthetic uniqueness.
|
| ▲ Squid Game, credit :Netflix |
In terms of aesthetics, this is likely the biggest success factor behind Squid game. The code '○△□' which appears on the mask of the host is the symbol of the real squid game. That idea was the idea of Hwang Dong-hyuk (51) who directed the Squid game.
Director Hwang wrote the screenplay and scenario of the Squid game. So to speak, the story begins and ends with him. He said, “I wanted to write a story that was an allegory about modern capitalist society and the extreme competition of our life”. The '○△□' code was purposefully designed with these meanings in mind. He came up with circles, triangles and squares to express what symbolizes the hierarchy of human power. The rule of dividing power was the number of vertices. Each worker’s mask either had a triangle, a square, or a circle - a circle for workers(zero vertices), a triangle for soldiers (three vertices) and a square for managers (four vertices).
The setting and palette of Squid game is very colorful. The art director of the show is Chae Kyung-sun(42). Chae majored in stage art at university and has been working in the field of commercial movies since 2010. Director Chae won the art award at the Daejong Film Awards that is one of the top film festivals in Korea, for "Detective K" and "The Royal Tailor." in 2011 and 2015 respectively.
She said that, “Squid game is an imaginative work. I wanted to capture the psychology of the characters through various colors and objects and I hoped to express extreme differences between the host group that wear pink clothes and the participating group that wear green training suits.”
|
| ▲ Squid Game, credit :Netflix |
“Pink was also used in the stairway maze to give people a feeling of oppression and fear. On the other hand, bright colors like yellow, sky blue and mint were used in the spaces that invoke some nostalgia and familiarity among the players, such as the playground or the village”.
“Using white, I also intended for people to feel like they were between life and death when participants waited for the next game. I put my psychological intention into the selection of color.”
Right after the release, the review geeks, the journal of review, valued the colors and visuals of Squid game. “Aesthetically, Squid game looks absolutely fantastic. The bright colors and trippy visuals contrast so well against the gnarly and dark nature of the games.” This encapsulated the effect of Chae’s choice of color - they stood out in stark contrast from the grisly nature and tone of the show.
Jeong Ji-woo, a cultural critic, said, “One of the reasons for the success of Squid game is the use of various aesthetic techniques and strategies, like the way that the games are set up using primary and vivid colors, contrasts of color, music, close-ups and slow motions and etc.”
Pink and green are complementary colors. By placing the two colors on the screen together, it makes people feel more clear and obvious about how the things they represent relate to each other. The point is that people can clearly distinguish between the host group and participants. Bright colors give us active, fresh and joyful feelings. By setting a terrible situation in that bright space, people become more and more uncomfortable with how it perverts the things that usually comfort them. These methods of direction helped people immerse themselves in the drama all over the world and increase the experience of the audience in the show.
|
| ▲ Squid Game, credit :Netflix |
Squid game is a dystopian drama about the negative aspects of modern society. It is a carefully-crafted, delicately-executed work that harmonizes elements such as story, acting, video, camerawork, music, and art. This harmony was enough to captivate people.
Netflix announced that Squid game will return for a second season on June 13. One of the most popular Netflix series ever, the creators behind Squid game, are now focusing on what kind of artistic directing will attract and engage people in season 2.
sayart.net Claire_Seo ssjjyy516@gmail.com
