A Study on the Color Narratives of Film Posters from the Perspective of HSL Chromatography -a case analysis of Hayao Miyazaki’s animated films-

As the primary point of contact between a film's content and its audience, the color design of movie posters plays a critical role in guiding audience emotions, conveying thematic significance, and capturing attention. This study focuses on the posters of Hayao Miyazaki’s animated films, analyzing them through the lens of HSL (Hue, Saturation, and Lightness) color space. By selecting representative poster examples, the study quantitatively extracts color parameters and employs 3D scatter plot visualization to explore their color distribution characteristics and narrative expression patterns. Based on a literature review, Miyazaki’s films are categorized into three thematic groups: “Man and Nature,” “Growth and Adventure,” and “Humanities and Philosophy.” A systematic analysis of the posters reveals patterns and characteristics in their use of hue distribution, saturation, and lightness. The posters for different themes exhibit distinct color design features: blue and green contribute to the harmony of the “Man and Nature” theme, warm tones highlight the vitality and dynamism of the “Growth and Adventure” theme, and contrasts between warm and cool tones underscore the profound depth of the “Humanities and Philosophy” theme. Additionally, color contrast plays a significant narrative role in depicting plot conflicts and emotional tension. Through the dynamic adjustment of saturation and lightness, the posters not only enhance visual layering but also intensify the progression of emotional expression. Further analysis demonstrates that the design of Miyazaki’s film posters deeply integrates the Japanese traditional aesthetic concept of mono no aware and Eastern philosophical thinking, achieving a balance between cultural heritage and modern visual language innovation. This study provides theoretical insights into the color design of animated film posters and holds academic and practical significance in the fields of film culture dissemination and visual narrative research.