Does the aspect ratio of Netflix’s new fantasy series The Sandman seem a little unsightly to you? If so, you are not alone.
Several viewers of the long-awaited comic book adaptation have taken to the Internet (opens in a new tab) to voice concerns about the distorted – or “stretched up” – image format, which makes characters in some scenes appear stretched and stretched. unnatural (see the title image above as a case in point).
Netflix has now responded to the confusion, making it clear (for Variety (opens in a new tab)) that the decidedly unconventional aspect ratio used in The Sandman is a deliberate artistic choice intended to emphasize the dreamlike quality of creator Neil Gaiman’s fantasy setting.
For the uninitiated, aspect ratio refers to the proportional relationship between the width and height of an image. Typically, TV series use a 16: 9 aspect ratio, while movies are often produced in 21: 9, although the figure varies between directors and mediums (The Lighthouse, for example, has an almost square 1.19: 1 ratio. ).
We’re not entirely sure what proportions are at stake in The Sandman. However, Variety notes that if vintage lenses were used in its production along with more modern cameras, the combination of old and new could result in image distortion. In any case, the series looks exactly as its creators intended, despite the frustration of some viewers.
@Netflix_Sandman @netflix #TheSandman is fab so far, but why did everything seem so stretched upwards? Should it be a dream and am I just an uncultivated pig or is there something wrong with my #proportions? August 5, 2022
After going through the hell of big and small screen development for more than three decades, The Sandman finally arrived on Netflix on August 5th. Based on Gaiman’s beloved comic series of the same name, it tells the story of Dream, one of the seven Endless, a group of superhuman beings mightier than the gods, who escapes capture after 105 years and sets out to restore order to his kingdom. magical.
Tom Sturridge, David Thewlis, Jenna Coleman and Game of Thrones alumni Charles Dance and Gwendoline Christie are among the show’s stellar cast and the series is expected to run for several seasons if its first crop of episodes is to prove popular enough with audiences.
In our review, we stated that The Sandman’s “fascinating cast of characters, expansive universe and deeply human themes” make it “worthy of Gaiman’s dark fantasy comic series.” We also spoke to the cast and crew of the shows to find out how they finally brought this high-concept story to life.
For our money, then, The Sandman is definitely worthy of later rumors, especially considering how much else of the Gaiman universe has yet to be explored on screen (the author wrote 10 volumes between 1989 and 1996). And, as it tops Netflix’s popularity charts (opens in a new tab) in its first week of release, we expect the streamer to feel the same way too.
Axel is a London-based writer at TechRadar, reporting on everything from the latest Tesla models to the latest movies as part of the site’s daily news. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well versed in applications of technology beyond the desktop, and an English Literature degree means he can occasionally be spotted inserting Hemingway quotes into electric sports car stories.
Axel is a London-based writer at TechRadar, reporting on everything from the latest Tesla models to the latest movies as part of the site’s daily news. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well versed in applications of technology beyond the desktop, and an English Literature degree means he can occasionally be noticed inserting Hemingway quotes into electric sports car stories.
