The Dark Crystal

The funny thing is I watched this film in the summer before I came to university and during this project I came across this book, "The World of The Dark Crystal". The film takes place on a planet called "Thra" which has several suns. Living amongst the planet is a race of creatures which are called "Urskeks" who are the guardians/protectors of the crystal of truth. 1000 years before the movie really begins, the Urseks divide the crystal into two halves and upon the suns aligning they create two new species. The story follows a young "Gelfling"(elf like creature) who believes he is the last of his race after tragically losing his family in an attack.

I don't want to give anymore away just incase anyone wants to watch this movie, I just thought i would give a basic introduction to demonstrate what I will be refering to. Now the book I found in the libary was very old and a little tattered especially when condidering how many people had taken this book out. The thing I remember most about this film was the magnificient set design. I really loved the environments and the way the layed out the film.

This film unlike some others have everything in place for a reason. I love the set design in this movie, from start to finish, especially within the castle at the end. Below this text are some images of concept art that really inspired me at the begining of this project.

Ok so the books concept art I couldnt find on the internet but only in the book so I hope the quality of the images is ok and easy to see.

The images below and above have been picked from the internet and not the book. I love the image above which reminds me of a possesed forest, full of life. I really like the way the trees roots come together to create spirally patterns amongst the surface and around the main trunk of the tree. This is something I was trying to do when I was creating the forest concept. The image below however gives me a sense of eerieness. Although dark and creepy I also get a sense of beauty in this image, maybe the moon, or the coloured highlights amongst the sky. Another spirally pattern but used in a different way, another technique.

Another one of Jim Hensons great movies. Jim Henson, famously known for "the muppets, Sesame street and the Labrinth(David Bowie) which is also another great film for set design, I think.

I am currently trying to find a video which showreels some examples of the set of the film and some of its more important conceptual pieces.