Squid Game‘s Production Designer Explains Those Gift-Wrapped Coffins

Squid Game play two near fans with cliffhangers to ponder up of the impending play three, but 1 happening everyone tin hold connected is that the show’s look remains strikingly distinctive. Season 2 brought backmost the acquainted bloodshed of “Red Light, Green Light,” but it besides introduced respective caller games. This required the instauration of caller sets embodying the show’s signature aesthetic: a jarring blend of childlike whimsy and the chillingly macabre.

In a caller “making-of” video released by Still Watching Netflix, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, stars including Lee Byung-hun (the Front Man), and behind-the-scenes creatives sermon however the life-or-death competitions came unneurotic this clip around.

“Honestly, each clip we went connected acceptable for each game, we were each speechless,” Lee recalls. “It was truthful expansive and amazing, similar stepping into different world. The patterns and decor felt consecutive retired of a fairy tale, but the things happening successful determination were truthful brutal and ruthless. That opposition was truly interesting. In a way, I deliberation the premix of these beauteous spaces with specified cruel events is what gives Squid Game its unsocial benignant and appeal.”

Production decorator Chae Kyoung-sun, who won an Emmy for her enactment connected Squid Game‘s archetypal season, explains that’s precisely the feeling she and her squad were going for. For the six-legged race, which incorporates aggregate games arsenic players hobble astir rainbow-painted circles, she drew inspiration from schoolhouse sports festivals—with details similar the schoolhouse desks and chairs utilized by the guards.

“The manager suggested creating 2 circles, and it got maine reasoning astir the meaning of the rainbows. People accidental the way to eden is decorated with rainbow colors. As you know, we wrapped the coffins similar gifts. That was benignant of a reflection of our tough, competitory world successful this satellite wherever truthful galore radical fail. People are bushed of the harsh reality. So it was a mode of wishing those who passed distant a peaceful afterlife, wherever determination would beryllium nary much pain. I deliberation the rainbows stock the aforesaid meaning arsenic the coffins.”

Watch the afloat video below; it besides shows however Squid Game really made a elephantine merry-go-round (in a circular country ringed with dozens of doors) for the agonizing “Mingle” game.

Squid Game seasons 1 and 2 are present streaming connected Netflix; play 3 is coming aboriginal this year.

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