Film Focus: Origin- Spirits of the Past

This morning I watched Origin: Spirits of the Past (2006) directed by Keiichi Sugiyama. It was epic to say the least. The soundtrack enhances the story so well creating intense emotion hype in the appropriate sequences. I have great respect for the artistry that goes into anime films because each scene has so much fine detail; it’s clear that each shot is carefully planned out with great attention gone into deciding on form, composition, colour, layout etc.

Whilst watching the film I made notes on nature related design element, particularly how nature has been used to create fantasy themes in the film. This post will probably contain a lot of images but it’s worth it as each one looks like a beautifully crafted painting.

All images are stills from Origin: Spirits of the Past (2006)
directed by Keiichi Sugiyama

The film starts off with scenes of a moon being ripped apart by long plant-like tendrils. You later discover that these are genetically modified plant cells breaking free of their lab and descending to earth. This is a good starting sequence because its epic to watch but also quite beautiful to see the familiar object of the moon being broken. The use of using a familiar object within the fantasy setting is an example of Suspension of Disbelief which I have

looked at previously.

This is a still of one dragon-like plant stems racing to earth. This has an element of the Gaia Theory mixed into it as it shows the plant as a kind of sentient, spiritual creature infused with the power of nature.

In the film they briefly show them growing trees on the moon because Earth at this time was incapable of supporting plant life. I think this is interesting because it takes an everyday object like a tree and places it somewhere out of the ordinary and out of context, thus creating the fantasy element.

As I said before seeing something so familiar like the moon suddenly being destroyed instantly captures the imagination of the audience. When I watched this scene in my head I started to ask questions like ‘What would happen if our moon broke apart?’, ‘Would it look like that?’, ‘I wonder what the inside of the moon looks like?’ I was engaged almost immediately.

This shows the moon at night reflecting the light as our own moon does; with however the added element that it is starting to form its own dust

particle rings.

An example of the moon during the day. This is a particularly beautiful scene with lots of detail in the moon but also the trees and cliff face. The colour composition works well here with the purple sky creating an ethereal atmosphere. The overgrown forest instantly telling you this is

not normal civilisation.

In this world Nature has gone wild and covered most of the planet in dense forests and alien-like plants.

The once modern cities are now desolate wastelands left exposed or buried under vast forests.

The genetically modified forest which is able to think and protect itself controls the water supply to the remaining human inhabitants. I like the idea that the forest is a sentient force able to think and communicate. The idea of kami fits again with this element of the story.

The modified plants cover the abandoned skyscrapers like parasitic worms, covering the structures in veins of red roots. This unusual colour helps create a sense of unease about the plants, as red is often associated with danger. The audience recognises plant structures but the red colouring creates a discord from the norm.

The humans can communicate to the forest but only by entering within its boundaries. The fact that humans must approach the forest to communicate puts the forest outside humanities control, allowing it to be free from human influence and making it equal. Humans have no influence over it and that is a scary thought.

Branches of ivy turn into snakes of flora attacking anyone who approaches. The idea that trees can attack twists plants into a force to be feared.

During the film it is revealed that humans can gain special powers from the forest but in exchange will eventually be consumed by the forest. I like this idea because it’s as if nature dooms any person who requests its help. The humans eventually turn into the thing they fear.

One location in the film is a large manmade structure full of machinery and void of plant life. There are similarities between the red pipes seen here and the red root structures seen in the forests elsewhere in the film. This is like Biomimicry which I have spoken about in previous posts- using nature as inspiration for solving human problems.

At the heart of the forest is a large central chamber where the original genetically modified trees first descended to earth. This chamber is filled with lush green plant roots which makes it look almost as if this is where all life stretches from. A complex root structure in the centre holds a spherical object- to me it looks like a sphere of water held in suspense by unknown forces. The blue glow that illuminates this space is beautiful but also quite eerie.

Two humanoid figures are fused with the branches in the middle of the chamber as if they grow with the tree. This fusion of human form and tree can play in the imagination of the audience because we know it is physically impossible...but what if it were?

Two humanoid spirits fusing together through the power of the tree.

At the end of the film it is revealed that not only does the forest consume humans, as shown earlier, but it also gives life to them. This idea of Mother Nature or Gaia being nurturing and caring contrasts entirely with the views of the humans in the film up until this point of realisation.

The main character is reborn from the tree. Gaia theory plays a part here again- the tree gives new life to the main character to keep the balance of good and evil in the world. Nature cares for itself maintaining balance.

Another example of human life being given through the forest.

This final image helps emphasise a point i realised through this film. Fantasy elements can be easily achieved by taking a common object, like a tree, and placing it out of context in an unusual environment. Here a tree is flowering in autumnal colours on a outcrop of rock within a flaming volcano.

From this film I have learnt that effective way to create elements of fantastic nature are to use contrasting environments, fusion elements, colour changes, spiritual entities, elements of the unknown or unexplained and things within the familiar. Some work in response to this is now called for I think...

All images are stills from Origin: Spirits of the Past (2006)

directed by Keiichi Sugiyama