Questions tagged [inspiration]
Use this tag for questions about the inspiration behind ideas (names, characters, objects, titles, etc.) in science fiction or fantasy works. Use [influence] for questions about how SF&F works have influenced other works or culture.
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What inspired the name Shrek?
Simple question: is there any information about the inspiration or thought process behind the creation of the name Shrek for the eponymous film and franchise?
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Who was the real life inspiration for Prince Charming?
In the movie Shrek the Third (where as usual for the franchise the traditional roles in folktales are subverted), Prince Charming appears as the main antagonist.
Charming in a position of power ...
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The Art behind Bruce Wayne’s visual design
When Bill Finger and Bob Kane first introduced Bruce Wayne in detective comics 27, was he visually inspired by any actor like Clark Kent was by Harold Lloyd or Joker with Conrad Veidt ?
If he was ...
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What story by Charles L. Harness is R. A. Lafferty alluding to here?
In the 1970 novelette "Animal Fair" by R. A. Lafferty he apparently alludes to some story by Charles L. Harness. What story is that? (And who was that "old Greek philosoph"?)
The ...
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Which comic book elements inspired Rachel Dawes' portrayal as Bruce Wayne's childhood friend?
Has Christopher Nolan ever talked about the idea behind Rachel Dawes? Especially her depiction as Bruce Wayne’s childhood sweetheart, a concept I loved about her character. She was originally created ...
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Which one of Batman’s inspirations inspired his martial arts abilities?
I know it’s normal for a character without special powers such as Batman to have hand to hand skills, but Batman was fashioned after pulp heroes and film noir characters. The Shadow inspired his dark ...
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What inspired the Incredibles?
The Incredibles' story strikes me as a very original plot line, with the 'supers' outlawed and a spurned sidekick villain. Most 'superhero' movies are inspired by the comics they originated from, but ...
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Is the Well of Ascension based on the Eye of the World?
The Eye of the World, from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, and the Well of Ascension, from Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series, seem to be far too similar for coincidence. Here follows a lot of ...
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How Close is "Last Crusade" to Actual Grail Lore?
In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, almost anything that we see once they enter the temple would have to be made up (the three traps, the very old grail knight, the great seal, and so on), but how ...
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Did Tolkien base the beacons of Minas Tirith on a real world communication system?
In The Return of the King, a series of large wooden pyres—beacons—are lit, each in once the previous one in order appears to burn, and so in this way lead to a beacon visible from Meduseld. This ...
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What was the inspiration for April O'Neils ultimate fate in the original TMNT Mirage comics?
I'm digging into the history of April O'Neil, and I've just found out how her story ends in the original Mirage comics, or if not 'ends' then a major story point for her.
Was this at all inspired by ...
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Was the name "Angharad" in The Blue Sword an homage to the Chronicles of Prydain?
The Blue Sword was a children's fantasy novel by Robin McKinley, published in 1982. The main heroine is known as "Harry" through most of the book, and although it is clear from early on that that is ...
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Where did the title of the short story "Allamagoosa" by Eric Frank Russell come from?
The famous (anthologised and adapted for radio) Eric Frank Russell sci-fi short story "Allamagoosa" involves a misunderstood word:
However, the title is a complete, utter mystery to me. Is ...
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Is the Encyclopaedia Galactica in the Hitchhiker's Guide a reference to Asimov's Foundation Trilogy Encyclopædia Galactica or a tribute to Carl Sagan?
While reading the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, I was thinking if the Encyclopaedia Galactica mentioned in the book is the same as Asimov's Foundation Trilogy's Encyclopædia Galactica? Could it be ...
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Inspiration for the Dementors
Are there any classical analogues to the dementors in the Harry Potter franchise?
Many of the creatures that inhabit J.K. Rowling's world of Harry Potter and hogwarts are taken directly from ...
