VISUAL DEVELOPMENT · FAIRYTALE

The Emperor’s New Clothes

A classic tale reimagined with theatrical color, expressive characters, and a playful stagecraft.

A stage set for a grand reveal.

This visual development explores costume, setting, and character contrast building a fairy tale world that feels theatrical without losing its warmth.

This visual development explores costume, setting, and character contrast, building a fairy tale world that feels theatrical without losing its warmth.

This visual development explores costume, setting, and character contrast building a fairy tale world that feels theatrical without losing its warmth.

Phase 1

One day, two fellows calling themselves weavers came to town. They said that they knew how to weave cloth of the most beautiful colors and patterns. The clothes made from this wonderful cloth would be invisible to everyone who was unfit for the job he held, or who was very simple in character. The Emperorthought “These must indeed be splendid clothes! If I had such a suit, I might at once find out what men in my kingdom are unfit for their job. I would be able to tell the wise men from the foolish! This stuff must be woven for me immediately.” He gave large sums of money to both the weavers in order that they might begin their work at once.

Phase 2

The Emperor said to himself “How is this? I can see nothing! This is indeed a terrible affair! Am I a simpleton, or am I unfit to be an Emperor? That would be the worst thing that could happen." He said aloud "Oh! The cloth is charming, I approve of it completely.” He smiled most graciously and looked closely at the empty looms. No way would he say that he could not see what two of his advisors had praised so much. Everyone with the Emperor now strained his or her eyes hoping to discover something on the looms, but they could see no more than the others.

Phase 3

The Emperor was undressed for a fitting, and the thieves pretended to array him in his new suit. The Emperor turned round and from side to side before the looking glass. Everyone cried out: “How splendid his Majesty looks in his new clothes, and how well they fit!”. “What a design! What colors! These are indeed royal robes!”. The Emperor said “I am quite ready”. He appeared to be examining his handsome suit.