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1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN
THE DESIGN SCHOOL
FOUNDATION IN NATURAL BUILD ENVIRONMENT
NAME: WONG YUN TENG
STUDENT ID NO: 0323454
FILMS SELECTED: SCIENCE FICTION ANDFICTION (WALL-E & UP)
WORD COUNT: 705
ENGLISH 2 (ELG 30605)
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT 1: COMPARE – CONTRAST ESSAY
LECTURER: GOPIGHANTAN MYLVAGANAM
SUBMISSIONDATE: DECEMBER 4TH
2015

2. Have you ever wondered where to draw the line between science fiction movies and
fiction movies? Well worry not, many of us do as well. Science fiction movies refer to films
that tells about the science and technology of the future. These stories consists of partially
true and partially fictitious theories of science. On the other hand, fiction is a movie genre
that is primarily plot-driven, flexible, and can consist of mystery fiction, inspirational fiction,
western fiction, et cetera. I have chosen to write about the differences between two of my
favourite movies, Wall-E and UP, a science fiction and inspirational fiction movie
respectively.
To begin with, the settings of both movies are drastically different. Wall-E is set in a
time where the Earth is in ruins and covered in heaps of trash while UP is set in a beautiful
world with rare animals as well as stunning nature and sceneries. The “Earth” Wall-E is in
appears to be an apocalyptic Earth where all the resources had been used to the core and the
land is covered in layers of dust and debris while robots are left to clean up (Stephen, 2009).
In contrast, UP’s world is a world that is far from ruins. Along with the vibrant nature, there
are many human interactions. Wall-E revolves around the destruction of nature while UP
revolves around the attraction towards nature. According to Roger (2009), “It's a triumph of
design, and perhaps owes its inspiration, though not its appearance, to Miyazaki's "Castle in
the Sky."
Another point that differs between the two movies is the characters. Wall-E features a
robot that lives a life filled with curiosity and is portrayed as loving and adventurous. Other
than Wall-E himself, there is also another robot, called Eva. She is your typical standard robot
that is always seen following protocol. However she later develops and started showing more
loving emotions. Meanwhile, UP’s characters consist of a grouchy old man called Carl. He
deems life as not worth living after he lost his loved one, Ellie. He is no longer curious about
the world and prefers to lock himself away from society. Russell is also an essential
character. He is an energetic Boy Scout who seeks to earn his final Boy Scout patch. He is
loving, cheerful and full of energy. Russell assists Carl on his journey throughout the story.

3. The next contrasting points are the filmography and graphics. Wall-E’s graphics and
effects perfectly displays and emulates an abandoned, dishevelled Earth with its mountains
filled of garbage, along with rusty tainted imagery and overlays. The colours of the movie are
blander when compared to UP. In comparison to Wall-E, Up’s graphics and effects are
brightly coloured showing a fun and adventurous atmosphere with a glimmer of anticipation.
It has many beautiful shots of the sky and cities that showcases the beauty around the world
as well as stunning nature shots.
Last but not least, the soundtrack and music selection of the movie carries a different
atmosphere to the film. Wall-E’s soundtrack gives short yet touching songs throughout.
Computer generated tones mixed with an array of classical instruments fits perfectly with the
movie. The short tracks tend to be forgettable when standalone but creates an impact when
used together in the movie. Despite that, Wall-E’s short soundtracks are incapable of stirring
up as much emotion as the soundtracks in UP. UP’s soundtrack uses 1820-1830s harmonies
and takes us on a reminiscing journey through Carl’s life. This style of music is maintained
throughout the movie and the length of each soundtrack is average. The songs are simple but
effective in catching people’s attention as well as leaving a bigger and longer lasting
impression when it is laid next to Wall-E’s tracks.
In conclusion, both movies of different genre, Science fiction and fiction has its
differences in settings, characters, cinematics and soundtracks. It can clearly be seen that one
takes a more realistic approach and another is a more upbeat roller coaster of fun adventures.
Both movies are well executed and they are both masterpieces. Over the years, we have
witnessed the evolution of Pixar Animation Studio’s, with each project, they push their
boundaries and come up with amazing movies such as these two.

4. References –
Science Fiction vs Fantasy | Now Novel. (2013, November 26). Retrieved December 2, 2015,
from http://www.nownovel.com/blog/difference-fantasy-science-fiction/
Up Movie Review & Film Summary (2009) | Roger Ebert. (2009, May 27). Retrieved
December 2, 2015, from http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/up-2009
Up (2009) -vs- Wall-E (2008) | Movie Smackdown®. (2009, June 22). Retrieved December
2, 2015, from http://www.moviesmackdown.com/2009/06/up-walle.html