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A thread for some shot analyses from FE: Fates. This thread is to show some small details devs put in to tell their story. It's not for discourse or arguing. I'll open with my favorite shot from the intro:
(1) Corrin, in feral dragon form, pinning Azura
(1) Corrin, in feral dragon form, pinning Azura
(1a) First of all, classic symmetrical wide shot always makes for a great painterly effect. The contrasts between light and dark are emphasized with intense lighting emerging from the top center. The bubbles floating up gives us visual clarity of how-
(1b) stifling/strangled Azura must feel from enraged!Corrin's strength (bc otherwise the image is too blended for us to tell what's happening prior to playing the game). It alerts us that water will be an actual element of the narrative AND that Azura is inextricably woven into
(1c) Corrin's story. This "inextricable" part is literal here, as the wide shot makes it impossible to tell where Azura ends and where dragon!Corrin starts.
(2) Garon's truth revealed (Conquest spoilers):
Another wide shot that interestingly angles the camera back. Some things worth nothing:
Another wide shot that interestingly angles the camera back. Some things worth nothing:
(2a) the focal point of the shot is the empty throne. This visually signals that a power struggle is at work, and the siblings are all spread out to reflect that they all have a stake in this. The low and far angle of the camera has an illusory effect: it levels each models'
(2b) heights so that they all look almost equal in stature. Despite Garon being actually much larger than Xander (and the rest of the family), the camera diminishes his stature visually, with Xander being the most level to his height. This is a compositional strategy that
(2c) not only emphasizes his role as heir but as successor. He is closest to the throne, and due to the angle he actually appears only SLIGHTLY taller than Garon (again this is an illusory trick of the camera to play with our sense of positions in a coup d'etat)
(3) Corrin duels Xander (BR spoilers)
It's worth putting 4 shots together. The first two are prior [REDACTED]'s death and the last two occur AFTER her death.
![(3) Corrin duels Xander (BR spoilers)It's worth putting 4 shots together. The first two are prior [REDACTED]'s death and the last two occur AFTER her death.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ehhxnq5XkAARPek.jpg "(3) Corrin duels Xander (BR spoilers)It's worth putting 4 shots together. The first two are prior [REDACTED]'s death and the last two occur AFTER her death.")
![(3) Corrin duels Xander (BR spoilers)It's worth putting 4 shots together. The first two are prior [REDACTED]'s death and the last two occur AFTER her death.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EhhyuWaWsAAcblM.jpg "(3) Corrin duels Xander (BR spoilers)It's worth putting 4 shots together. The first two are prior [REDACTED]'s death and the last two occur AFTER her death.")
![(3) Corrin duels Xander (BR spoilers)It's worth putting 4 shots together. The first two are prior [REDACTED]'s death and the last two occur AFTER her death.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EhhyuY5XYAIR5b6.jpg "(3) Corrin duels Xander (BR spoilers)It's worth putting 4 shots together. The first two are prior [REDACTED]'s death and the last two occur AFTER her death.")
![(3) Corrin duels Xander (BR spoilers)It's worth putting 4 shots together. The first two are prior [REDACTED]'s death and the last two occur AFTER her death.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EhhyuY4WoAY6VF2.jpg "(3) Corrin duels Xander (BR spoilers)It's worth putting 4 shots together. The first two are prior [REDACTED]'s death and the last two occur AFTER her death.")
It's worth putting 4 shots together. The first two are prior [REDACTED]'s death and the last two occur AFTER her death.
(3a) In the first two shots, the camera takes Xander's perspective. It's not a shot-reverse-shot, as it stays with Xander the entire time. His larger stature hides behind the sprite, while the small Corrin is dwarfed by both distance and angle.
(3b) The camera is also off-kilter, showing how both characters have a skewed mental state at the moment. Xander is conflicted about fighting Corrin, and Corrin's resolve is wavering against Xander. Their ideological impasses can't set either straight.
(3c) After [REDACTED]'s death, the camera interestingly stays with Xander, but with a differnce: Corrin is closer and the angle makes Corrin larger. The skewed angle also makes him appear taller, visually symbolizing that Xander is weakened and too distressed. Though the-
(3d) angle is still skewed, it is clear that Corrin's straightened posture is now the unequivocal focal point, and his figure literally appears to cross against Siegfried in the shot. He is not a "little prince" anymore. He is ready to fight and defeat Xander.
