Twee or Not Too Twee TikTok challenge: How people create Wes Anderson-inspired videos
Have you ever heard of Wes Anderson-fying your life? The latest TikTok trend involves transforming everyday moments, such as train journeys and lunches, into cinematic masterpieces by borrowing from the iconic film director's aesthetic.
Anderson's movies are known for their distinctive style, exemplified in movies including 'The Grand Budapest Hotel', 'The Royal Tenenbaums' and 'The French Dispatch'. Anderson's curated color schemes, music and typography make his movies immediately recognizable. Now, TikTok users are embracing the auteur's signature style, utilizing his trademark colors, music, framing, and camera techniques to elevate and romanticize their own lives.
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How did the Wes Anderson TikTok trend start?
As with many TikTok trends, this one began with a single video. User Ava Williams uploaded a clip featuring a train journey and captioned it, "You better not be acting like you're in a Wes Anderson film when I get there." The video utilized Anderson's signature style with a title card, symmetrical shots and a soundtrack from Alexandre Desplat's 'The French Dispatch'. The trend quickly gained popularity, and numerous social media users have since joined in, creating similarly charming videos.
The hashtag #WesAnderson currently boasts 554.7 million views and continues to rise on TikTok. This trend, like the popular sunkissed photo trend, highlights the platform users' undeniable attraction to an adorable and highly-saturated aesthetic.
Wes Anderson's style is captivating TikTokers
Anderson's unique aesthetic is so otherworldly that it transports viewers to a different era, and TikTok users can't seem to get enough of it. The video-sharing app is filled with countless clips emulating the director's symmetrical framing and color palette.
Anderson's movies are praised for their use of a high saturation palette, contributing to their whimsical nature. According to TikTok users, clips in the Anderson's style should generally be static and avoid shaky, handheld footage. Any movement that is included should be slow and smooth, with the subject carefully tracked along the frame.
When selecting subject matter, it's recommended to choose buildings, landscapes or interiors with warm, earthy tones, along with vintage clothing and objects featuring pastel colors. In terms of color grading, users are encouraged to be creative, incorporating hints of green and yellow in the shadows and mid-tones, as well as a touch of magenta in the highlights and skin tones.
