This week Tangled was released in the U.S, and apparently most of film critics loved it, some even saying it deserves an Academy Award... If you've seen it you probably have been fascinated by the magical "lanterns" sequence with hundreds of lanterns flying in the sky.
I thought you would be interested to know where Disney animators found their inspiration for this sequence, but first, for those of you who haven't seen Tangled yet, have a look at the "lantern" scene in the Tangled trailer.
In the trailer you've seen just a few seconds of the lanterns scene but in the movie it is a longer and fascinating sequence. And if i tell you that the sight of hundreds of paper lanterns flying in the sky is truly magical and memorable it's because i've seen it myself! And in real.
And where did I saw it, you ask? In South-East Asia. In Thailand, more precisely. You see, on New Year's Eve it's thousand of lanterns who fly high in the sky over the Andaman Sea. Thaïs people are there to help tourists to light the lanterns (and to sell them too, for a small amount of 3$) and if one day you come to Phuket for Christmas holidays it's something you must not miss.
Above two pictures shot in Phuket on Patong beach - you don't see well the people because it's nighttime but there was literally thousands of people on the beach, both flying lanterns and waiting for the New Year's Eve fireworks. And below, two short videos filmed by me which will show you these hundred of lanterns flying in the sky - in the video, all the white spots in the night are lanterns! On the second video, a big part of the New Year's Eve firework WITH the lanterns flying in the middle of it! These two videos are in HD and the firework itself, launched from almost everywhere all around Patong Bay is spectacular, so don't hesitate to watch the videos in full screen mode!
As you understood these lanterns-flying-in-the-sky is a typical Asian tradition and, although you won't see this in Europe, it didn't stopped Disney animators to use the idea for this Tangled sequence, even if the story don't happen in Asia. After all, why not, and i'm sure this sequence will be magical in the movie. But at least you will know where the idea is coming from.
Pictures: copyright Disney - Alain Littaye
Videos: copyright Alain Littaye
You don't have to go all the way to Asia to see lanterns released at New Year's Eve. I've noticed the last couple of years that lanterns have been released at New Year's in England. This year, from the top of a hill in Dulwich, I could see lanterns rising all over London - it really did look magical!
ReplyDeletethis is also found in Taiwan!
ReplyDeleteEvery year around April, people go to this place called Pingxi in Taipei.
There is a lot of traditional street food at Pingxi and goods as souvenirs.
Go during the day for the street food and stay until the night and go to one of those lantern shops,you can write your wishes on it, and let it fly to the sky.
When we send those lanterns to the sky, we send our message to the above.
It really is like the scene in Tangled!:)
Also a tradition in Northern Portugal on every June 23rd!
ReplyDelete... ifloatinglanterns.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete