Personification in Movies

Unravel the captivating realm of cinema where rivers weep, cities breathe, and shadows dance. In “Personification Examples in Movies,” we’ll not only spotlight iconic instances where inanimate objects come to life, but also guide you through crafting such compelling narratives yourself. Grasp the essentials, delve into the art of infusing soul into the soulless, and pick up invaluable tips to master this classic cinematic technique. Welcome to the fusion of film and feelings!

What is Personification in Movie Scriptwriting? – Definition

Personification in movie scriptwriting refers to the technique of attributing human-like qualities, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts. This device is employed to convey deeper meanings, evoke emotions, or provide a unique perspective to a scene. It’s not just about characters talking; it’s about the environment, objects, or nature reacting or expressing in a human-like manner.

What is the Best Example of personification in the Movies?

One of the most celebrated examples of personification in movies is the character of Wilson in “Cast Away.” Wilson, a mere volleyball, becomes a vital emotional anchor for the protagonist, Chuck, played by Tom Hanks. Throughout the movie, Wilson is treated with human emotions, evolving from an inanimate object to a character with feelings, underscoring the depth of human loneliness and the need for companionship.

100 Personification Examples in Movies

Details

File Format

• PDF

Size: 148 KB

Download

In the realm of cinema, personification beautifully blurs the lines between the animate and inanimate. As movies breathe life into non-human entities, they redefine storytelling, allowing audiences to connect on profound levels. Here’s a deep dive into iconic examples from cinematic masterpieces:

1. The dancing brooms in “Fantasia”.
2. The city’s architecture in “Inception”.
3. The ship’s presence in “Titanic”.
4. The living toys in “Toy Story”.
5. The AI companion in “Her”.
6. The house’s journey in “Up”.
7. The car’s consciousness in “Christine”.
8. The forest in “Avatar”.
9. The reflections in “Snow White”.
10. The wardrobe’s portal in “The Chronicles of Narnia”.
11. The emotions in “Inside Out”.
12. The compass in “The Golden Compass”.
13. The GPS system in “Cars”.
14. The eerie Overlook Hotel in “The Shining”.
15. The ocean’s call in “Moana”.
16. The planet’s feelings in “WALL-E”.
17. The shadows in “Peter Pan”.
18. The train’s magic in “The Polar Express”.
19. The whispers of the Cornish woods in “The Blair Witch Project”.
20. The AI’s awakening in “Ex Machina”.
21. The character of the city in “La La Land”.
22. The sunflower’s joy in “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”.
23. The prowling sand dunes in “Dune”.
24. The protective shield in “Doctor Strange”.
25. The life of the guitar in “Coco”.
26. The house’s defenses in “Monster House”.
27. The Fox’s cunning in “Zootopia”.
28. The charm of the river in “The Shape of Water”.
29. The moon’s allure in “Moonlight”.
30. The arena’s challenges in “The Hunger Games”.
31. The wind’s story in “Gone with the Wind”.
32. The ship’s spirit in “Star Trek”.
33. The reality of the game in “Jumanji”.
34. The malevolent force in “Poltergeist”.
35. The AI’s consciousness in “Blade Runner”.
36. The forest’s teachings in “The Jungle Book”.
37. The tales of the sea in “The Little Mermaid”.
38. The trees’ might in “The Lord of the Rings”.
39. The chocolate factory in “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”.
40. The beating heart of the island in “Lost”.
41. The mischief of the Marauder’s Map in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”.
42. The repeated day in “Groundhog Day”.
43. The life within the board game in “Jumanji”.
44. The castle’s enchantment in “Beauty and the Beast”.
45. The sandstorm’s wrath in “Mad Max: Fury Road”.
46. The toys’ rebellion in “Small Soldiers”.
47. The forest’s warning in “FernGully: The Last Rainforest”.
48. The tech’s consciousness in “Tron”.
49. The tale of the sea in “Pirates of the Caribbean”.
50. The paintings’ stories in “Night at the Museum”.
51. The determination of the Axiom ship in “WALL-E”.
52. The magic of the circus in “Dumbo”.
53. The camera’s tales in “One Hour Photo”.
54. The power of the ocean in “Jaws”.
55. The charisma of the TARDIS in “Doctor Who”.
56. The power of Excalibur in “King Arthur”.
57. The tree’s journey in “Guardians of the Galaxy”.
58. The ring’s seduction in “The Lord of the Rings”.
59. The hidden world of “Narnia” through a wardrobe.
60. The living jungle in “Jumanji”.
61. The AI’s self-awareness in “Westworld”.
62. The tale of the rose in “Beauty and the Beast”.
63. The force of the hurricane in “The Perfect Storm”.
64. The car’s transformation in “Transformers”.
65. The television’s tale in “The Ring”.
66. The ocean’s depth in “Finding Nemo”.
67. The magic of the Nimbus 2000 in “Harry Potter”.
68. The house’s spirit in “Coraline”.
69. The mysteries of the ark in “Indiana Jones”.
70. The spells of the book in “Hocus Pocus”.
71. The will of the universe in “Interstellar”.
72. The loyal carpet in “Aladdin”.
73. The forest’s allure in “Into the Woods”.
74. The shoes’ magic in “The Wizard of Oz”.
75. The clock’s urgency in “Alice in Wonderland”.
76. The life of the portraits in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”.
77. The roaring city in “Metropolis”.
78. The desert’s vastness in “Lawrence of Arabia”.
79. The mischievous clouds in “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”.
80. The passion of the opera ghost in “The Phantom of the Opera”.
81. The moon’s power in “A Trip to the Moon”.
82. The house’s presence in “Bates Motel” from “Psycho”.
83. The path’s purpose in “The Yellow Brick Road”.
84. The sound of the night in “A Quiet Place”.
85. The machine’s rebellion in “The Matrix”.
86. The living car’s adventure in “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”.
87. The will of the tornado in “Twister”.
88. The magic hat’s wonders in “Frosty the Snowman”.
89. The land’s spirit in “Pocahontas”.
90. The pride of the lion in “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”.
91. The artifacts’ essence in “The Mummy”.
92. The living streets in “Mary Poppins”.
93. The painting’s world in “What Dreams May Come”.
94. The mountain’s spirit in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”.
95. The soul of the ship in “Master and Commander”.
96. The mansion’s character in “The Haunting”.
97. The spell of the amulet in “The Dark Crystal”.
98. The spirit of winter in “Frozen”.
99. The drive of the road in “Easy Rider”.
100. The curse of the Black Pearl in “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl”.

Personification Examples in TV Shows

TV shows have a unique way of bringing non-human entities to life, making them relatable to the audience. These instances of personification tug at our heartstrings or stimulate our imagination, helping us connect deeply with the narrative.

1. The Iron Throne’s dominance in “Game of Thrones”.
2. The Island’s mystique in “Lost”.
3. The TARDIS’s consciousness in “Doctor Who”.
4. Greendale Community College’s spirit in “Community”.
5. The library’s essence in “The Magicians”.
6. The truth-speaking car in “Knight Rider”.
7. Sunnydale’s hellmouth presence in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”.
8. The protective charms in “Charmed”.
9. The foreboding wall in “Attack on Titan”.
10. The RV’s relentless endurance in “Breaking Bad”.

Funny Personification Examples in Movies

Humor gets a whole new dimension when inanimate objects or abstract concepts take on human characteristics. Movies have tapped into this comedic goldmine, making us laugh at the unexpected quirks of non-human entities.

1. The Spanish-speaking Buzz Lightyear in “Toy Story 3”.
2. The jealous green gelatin in “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2”.
3. The drama queen handbag in “Legally Blonde”.
4. The flirty Volkswagen Beetle in “Herbie: Fully Loaded”.
5. The gangster prawns in “District 9”.
6. The sassy Magic Mirror in “Shrek”.
7. The gossiping animals in “Dr. Dolittle”.
8. The egoistical Rex in “Night at the Museum”.
9. The disgruntled appliances in “The Brave Little Toaster”.
10. The conscious arcade games in “Wreck-It Ralph”.

Personification Examples in Disney Movies

Disney movies are renowned for their vivid imagination. They breathe life into the most unexpected characters, making even a teacup or a candlestick evoke emotions, revealing the magic of personification.

1. The dancing wardrobe in “Beauty and the Beast”.
2. Grandmother Willow’s wisdom in “Pocahontas”.
3. The protective carpet in “Aladdin”.
4. The feisty enchanted rose in “Beauty and the Beast”.
5. The guiding ancestors in “Mulan”.
6. The organized ants in “A Bug’s Life”.
7. The plotting hyenas in “The Lion King”.
8. The singing mountains in “Moana”.
9. The friendly teapots and cups in “Beauty and the Beast”.
10. The romantic spaghetti in “Lady and the Tramp”.

What is the use of personification in movies?

Personification is a literary device where inanimate objects, animals, or abstract concepts are given human characteristics or emotions. In movies, this technique is frequently utilized for a variety of reasons:

1. Emotional Connection: By giving human traits to non-human elements, filmmakers can evoke specific emotions in the audience. For instance, an animated car expressing sadness can make viewers empathize with it.
2. Narrative Depth: Personification can be used to add layers to the story. A cursed castle that appears to ‘breathe’ or a tree that ‘whispers secrets’ can make the storyline more intricate and engaging.
3. Symbolism: Objects that are personified can symbolize larger themes or ideas. For example, a wilting plant in a character’s home might represent their deteriorating mental health.
4. Humor: Giving human characteristics to non-human entities can lead to comedic situations, adding levity to the film.
5. World-Building: Especially in fantasy or sci-fi movies, personification helps in building unique and immersive universes where anything is possible.

How to Write Personifications in Movie Script?

Crafting personification in a movie script requires a blend of creativity and subtlety. Here’s how to do it:

1. Identify the Purpose: Understand why you want to include personification. Is it to add humor, deepen the narrative, or create an emotional impact?
2. Choose the Object or Concept: Decide on what you want to personify. It could be anything from an old mansion, a stormy cloud, or even a fleeting shadow.
3. Assign Human Traits: Think of human characteristics or emotions that would fit the narrative context. For instance, a ‘jealous’ moon hiding behind clouds during a romantic scene.
4. Use Descriptive Language: When writing the script, ensure that your descriptions clearly convey the human attributes of the object or concept.
5. Show, Don’t Just Tell: Instead of just stating the emotion or trait, use actions or scenarios to demonstrate it. For example, instead of saying “the tree was lonely,” describe how it stands isolated from others, its branches reaching out.

Tips to Writing a Personification for Scriptwriting

1. Stay Consistent: Once you’ve given an object or concept specific human traits, remain consistent throughout the script.
2. Avoid Overuse: While personification can be powerful, overdoing it can make the script seem forced or confusing. Use it where it has the most impact.
3. Think Visually: Remember, movies are a visual medium. Ensure that the personification can be effectively translated on screen.
4. Seek Feedback: Share your script with peers or mentors. They can offer insights on whether the personification feels organic or jarring.
5. Revise and Refine: As with any scriptwriting process, be ready to revise. Check if the personification serves the narrative and adjust if needed.
6. Be Bold: Don’t be afraid to experiment. Some of the most memorable movie moments come from unique and unexpected personifications.

In essence, personification, when used judiciously, can elevate a movie script, making it resonate with viewers on a deeper emotional level. The key is to use it purposefully and creatively.