“(500) Days of Summer” Blue is love and happiness. What is the meaning of “color” in movies that indicates the theme more than lines?

Colors that are used in limited quantities can become important symbols!?

The most impressive thing about "Blue of Happiness" is the sudden animation that is mixed with live action. In this scene, Tom, who is at the peak of happiness as his love with Summer seems to be going well, sings and steps like in a musical out of sheer joy. Then, an animation appears, a blue The Birds. In Maeterlinck's fairy tale "The Blue The Birds," the blue bird is a symbol of happiness, and in the famous song " Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah " from the Disney animation "Song of the South," the lyrics "Mr. Blue Bird on My Shoulder" express a happy day. "Song of the South" is also a combination of live action and animation. In "(500) Days of Summer," the blue The Birds lands on Tom's shoulder, paying homage to the film. In this scene, the people dancing around Tom and the brass band are also dressed in blue.

Basically, blue suggests the existence of a woman named Summer and the happy times spent with her. That is why "red" is used in a limited way in "(500) Days of Summer." Blue origami cranes are hung as a mobile in Summer's room, but there is a scene in which red origami cranes appear. What does this mean? Perhaps it is something important that has been lost. Then, at the climax of the movie, "red" appears meaningfully. Those who have already seen the movie will understand the "red," and those who are going to see it in the future should look forward to finding out what that "red" means. The symbolic color is used in this movie to such an extent that it seems to stimulate the subconscious of the viewer.

Speaking of colors, the paintings that appear in the background of the tense "day x" also have a variety of tones. On days when Tom and Summer's relationship is going well, the colors are bright, and on days when it's strained, the colors are dark. It's interesting how the shading foreshadows their relationship. In this way, by watching the film while absorbing the feelings that the creators put into the "colors," we can get closer to the hidden feelings of the characters and the theme of the work.

Text: Hiroaki Saito

Became freelance in 1997, contributing movie reviews and interview articles to various media such as movie magazines, theater pamphlets, and movie sites. The column is constantly updated on Yahoo! News. Star Channel's program "GO! Theater" introduces the latest released works.

Watch now 

View work information

(500) Days of Summer 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Suggested retail price: ￥1,419 + tax Released on September 5, 2012 (on sale now)

(C)2012 Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC. All Rights Reserved.

*Information as of August 2017 article publication.