Why is the genie blue in Disney’s Aladdin?
The story of Aladdin and the Magical Lamp has captivated the imagination of kids from all over the world through generations. One of the tales in Arabian Nights, a collection of folktales that originated in the Middle East between 8th to 13th century, Aladdin and the Magical Lamp is about a poor lad named Aladdin living in China with his widowed mother. The fascinating fairy tale revolves around how his fate changes after he meets two gennies, one from a magical lamp and one from a magical ring. Disney created an animation movie in 1992 based on this Arabian Nights story. It was a massive success, spawning sequels and a live-action adaptation in 2019. One of the remarkable aspects of the Disney movie is that the genie is represented in blue. Ever wondered why? Get ready to take a magic carpet ride through the world of Aladdin and find out why the immensely powerful genie is blue.
Blue is associated with good people
This creative decision was made by Eric Goldberg, the supervising animator for the genie’s character. Goldberg had a few reasons for choosing the colour blue. One of his main goals was to make it stand out from the human characters in the movie. The genie was a magical, otherworldly being, and Goldberg wanted to ensure his appearance reflected that. By giving the genie a striking blue colour, he made the character look distinctly different from the other characters. But why did Goldberg specifically choose the colour blue? According to Goldberg, blue is often associated with good people, while red is often associated with bad. So, he was subtly conveying to the audience that the character was a good force. If you watch the movie again with this in mind, you can see how Goldberg’s creative choices come into play. The movie’s antagonist, Jafar, is often dressed in black and red, while the group of heroes—Aladdin, Jasmine and the Genie—are often dressed in cooler shades of blue!
The colour blue has a deeper symbolic implication
Richard Vander Wende, the production designer for the Disney classic, played an essential role in selecting the colour of the genie. Wende believed the colour blue had a deeper symbolic meaning that would resonate with the audience. This colour is a prominent feature in Persian miniatures and tiled mosques, where it stands out brilliantly against the backdrop of sand. It also represents water and sky, which indicates life, freedom and hope in a harsh environment. According to Wende, this symbolism was one of the reasons for making the genie blue. By choosing this colour, the creators of Disney’s Aladdin hoped to make the character memorable and beloved in the history of animation. The colour blue helped the genie stand out on the screen and it quickly become a fan favourite. Moreover, blue also provided a sense of calm and serenity, making the character even more appealing to the audience.
The scientific explanation
Well, there’s a third perspective behind the choice of colour blue and this one is scientific, not a creative viewpoint. The reason why the Genie is depicted as blue is linked to the same scientific principle behind why the sky is blue. According to Richard Prum, an ornithologist from the Yale University, how we perceive the colour blue is all about how light works. In his perspective, the genie, is in a gaseous state. So, the molecules in his body scatter light like the molecules in the sky do, thus making him appear blue! The next time you gaze at the beautiful blue sky, think about the fascinating physics that connects it to this magical blue genie!