Media practice Test 2- ‘Alvin and the Chipmunk’ (2007) Film Poster

• Analysis of ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks’ (2007) film poster.

The purpose of the ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks’ (2007) film poster is to promote the release of the film at Christmas.
Representation of youth is illustrated through the chipmunks. ‘Alvin’ being in front of Simon and Theodore, it demonstrates to the audience that Alvin in the leader of the group. However by also having his name in big, large bold red font as part of the film title, it shows his importance in the film and being the main character, whilst the words ‘and the Chipmunks’ further emphasises this as it is not referring specifically to the others but just saying ‘and the chipmunks’. Alvin in particular represents youths through wearing a hoodie. Hoodies are stereotypically associated also clothing particularly worn by youths. By wearing a hoodie, it shows that the films target audience are kids as it is using dressing as way of identifying with there audience. By wearing a hoodie, it shows that the films target audience are kids as it is using aspects of the mise-en-scene, in this case what the characters are wearing, as way of identifying with there audience. Also by Alvin wearing red, this connotes trouble and danger to the audience which is further reinforced by the catchphrase ‘here comes trouble’. The word trouble connotes mischief, naughty. Where there is trouble, there is usually an authoritive figure, such as the police. In the poster, the man, who plays the character Dave, is demonstrated as the authoritive figure as he is larger than the chipmunks and is also positioned above them. However his authoritive power can be challenged as the ‘surprised’ and ‘worry’ facial expression on his face illustrates that he maybe surprised by how three little chipmunks can cause so much trouble and are hard to keep an eye on.

The film is based on the cartoon series titled ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks’. By being based on a cartoon series, kids and other audience members who may have watched the cartoon may also be people who are interested in watching the film. This in turn also means that the audience know the characters and what ideas and themes will be involved in the film. Alvin and the Chipmunks are three musical chipmunks who not only can talk but sing as they are a band group. The chipmunks are famous for there high pitch squeaky voices. Alvin, in red, is the band leader who is adventurous, brave and gets into trouble. Simon, in blue, is the intelligent chipmunk whilst Theodore, in green, is a small plump chipmunk who is seen as the innocent one. The words ‘there back’ demonstrates that after a long absence they are back, whilst the words ‘bigger than ever’ send the audience the message that they are going to be up to twice as much trouble and mischief than ever before.

The film is a hybrid genre as the poster suggests that the film has different types of genre blended together. The genre of comedy is illustrated through the chipmunks smile and Dave’s surprise and worried facial expression. Action and adventure are connoted through the idea of ‘trouble’, whilst animation is also evident as the characters themselves are CGI animated.
By the characters being CGI animated, it demonstrates both the development of technology and the animation genre. In the past animation was hand drawn until the introduction of CGI. From the first ever fully computer generated animation film Walt Disney’s Pixar ‘Toy Story’ (1995), animation has become a hugely popular genre. Only in June of this year (2007), ‘Shrek the Third’ (2007) was released and broke box office records by having the third highest intake for an opening weekend intake in

film history ($122 million). CGI has also been used to bring Alvin and the Chipmunks to life.
The film will be released at Christmas. As during this time, kids will have there Christmas holidays and by the film being during a holiday period, the film will be hoping for larger audiences. Also the film can use its popularity to draw in audiences.

To conclude, ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks’ film poster is used to promote the film and by being released at Christmas, the film will be hoping for large audiences as it is during a holiday period where kids, the films target audience, will be available to come and watch the film.