The poster shows Bilbo Baggins stepping out of his front door, representing his journey out of his comfort zone into adventure. It establishes familiar and exciting settings from the Lord of the Rings trilogy to appeal to fans. It promotes Peter Jackson's direction as ensuring high quality after his success with the trilogy. Overall, the poster conveys Bilbo's character development and entices audiences with promises of adventure, excitement, and enrichment by venturing beyond what is safe and familiar.

1. Fantasy film poster analysis
Using posters from the film The Hobbit: an Unexpected Journey

2. • In the centre of the poster we can see a young Bilbo Baggins, who appears to be stepping out through his front door to
the outside world. One of the main themes of the film is the idea of Bilbo, a Hobbit used to life at home, leaving that all
behind and stepping out into the big wide world – the theme being that of people stepping out of their comfort zone
and experiencing new and potentially exciting elements to life. Whilst most people would not have an experience on this
scale, it gives people a way by which they can relate to Bilbo and his situation – and audiences love to see how ordinary
people are somehow capable of dealing with some of the most extraordinary of circumstances. By showing him stepping
out, it connotes to the idea of choosing in to the opportunity that has been provided for him and so the audience will be
curious to see what led him to make such a decision as well as to follow what happens to him next.
• The main setting of this poster is that of the Shire and Bag-End. This is a recognisable location that fans of the Hobbit
and the Lord of the Rings will likely be very familiar with at this point – thus selling those fans that the film will stay true
to its origins as well as making them excited to travel back there in another series of films. Inside Bag-End is shown as
drab and dull, a safe place to stay for those who would be comfortable to spend the rest of their lives doing little of
proper excitement. The outside world is shown in the glory of sunrise and thus connotes excitement and adventure
should those brave enough choose to go there. Overall, the message interlaced with this is the idea that by choosing to
step out of the drab and safe environment of the home one can experience enlightenment, excitement, adventure and
overall a brighter future - but first you have to be brave enough to open the door and take the first steps.
Poster 1 (part 1)

3. • At the top of the screen we can see that it says: “from the director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.” As the film is being
directed by Peter Jackson, who was able to successfully represent the much loved Lord of the Rings trilogy of books, the
advertising campaign will actively capitalise on this fact and use it in an effort to sell the audience on the fact that these
films are going to be just as successful. If the audience is led to believe that this will be the case then they will be much
more likely to want to go and see these films too.
• The title of the film is shown in full view at the top of the screen making it plainly obvious to the audience what it is that
they are looking at. Whilst the recognisable location will be known to many of the fans, its important that the poster
make it clear to those who are looking precisely what they are looking at. The subtitle, “an unexpected journey,” fits in
neatly with the theme of the poster – that of stepping out of your typical comfort zone, on an adventure and a journey
into the big wide world.
• And finally, as per usual, the release date and extra information can be seen at the bottom of the screen so as to push
the audience in the right direction of where exactly they need to go next if they want to find out extra information. By
pointing out the fact that the film will be shown in IMAX and 3D, this may sell the audience on wanting to go and see
the film even more as people love to get the best quality out of something
Poster 1 (part 2)

4. Poster 2
• As the Hobbit is centered around this particular group of dwarves, on a quest to reclaim their homeland, this poster serves to
showcase all thirteen of them; in the same place. Here we get a snapshot of what each of them is basically like as well as the
similarities and differences between them. Examples of the basic differences include: the serious faces given by Dwalin (bald),
Fili (2nd from the bottom on the left) and Kili (2nd on the left at the top) as compared to the more relaxed and even confident
faces on Nori (bottom right) and Bofur (wearing a hat); the various different ages of the various dwarves from the young Ori
(right flank of centre) right up to the old Balin (left flank of centre) – and by placing them there could be seen as a time gap
between the people in this poster. An example of personality traits is most clearly seen in Bombur (plate), by showing him with a
plate of food it reveals his hungry nature. On the whole, this particular group of individuals does not particularly appear to be
one that you would first think of to undertake such a quest, making the film seem more appealing as seeing a less organized
group attempting such a thing is more interesting than one that would get the job done like clockwork.
• From the positioning's of a couple of the characters we can infer some things about them too, once again helping us to learn
about the characters that this film be centered around. Thorin Oakenshield (centre) is evidently the leader of this group, we can
see this from the intensely focused expression and centric (thereby important) position he is given in the frame. Balin (white
hair) is positioned in a way that makes him appear to be looking over Thorin’s shoulder and the knowing expression on his face
could be considered the look of someone who is wise and experienced with age. This gives us the impression that he may be
considered as Thorin’s adviser and confidant.
• All of the characters shown here will be known to the audience from the book “the hobbit” and puts what has been imagined by
the fans into picture. From this the audience can decide if this interpretation is what they would have imagined it to be in
reading the book, how it may be similar, how it is different to what they constructed and fell in love with in their heads. By
showing this many characters in the same picture it also allows for a showcasing of a large number of the actors: Richard
Armitage (Thorin Oakenshield), Aidan Turner (Kili), and James Nesbitt (Bofur) to name a few.
• The extra information for the film can be seen at the bottom for the viewers to have a look at and use to get to more information
regarding the film. The title and release date are most prominent among these so that the audience knows what they are
looking at (which may be less obvious than the other poster here) as well as when they can go and see it in the cinema. Like the
other one, this poster does not fail to point out the director as this will be more likely to attract the fans attention.