Ancillary Product Research - Genre Specific Magazine Cover Analysis 2

Here is a magazine cover promoting Maleficent (2014).
The Magazine Cover

Magazine cover promoting Maleficent (2014)

Masthead
The masthead is large to make the reader aware of what magazine they are reading. The cover perhaps follows a linear structure because in the Western world we tend to read from left to right. It would make sense for the reader to look at what magazine they are reading before they start. The masthead size also acts as a way of promoting the magazine company itself. This demonstrates how the magazine is a commercial venture but also a way for the company to hold up its reputable status as having "the world's best movie reviews."
The masthead is white which makes it stand out against the dark background and contrast with the costume within the main image. The masthead incorporates the selling line which includes the price. This is written in considerably smaller font than the masthead because the information plays less of a role in whether someone chooses to buy it or not.

Colour Scheme and House Style
The dominant colour scheme used is blue to give the magazine a cold feel, relating to the character of Maleficent. It also matches the low key lighting used in the image. The white text matches the pale makeup of Maleficent and helps her to stand out. By alternating the blue and white colours in the main cover line, it adds variety and helps the reader to see how they compliment each other. White connotes innocence and so subverts the characterization of Maleficent as an antagonist but helps to emphasise the ghoulishness of her character at the same time. Yellow is used as a contrasting colour, and so would mean that the magazine is more eye catching on a newsstand. Additionally, it brings some brightness to the magazine; the blue and white colours are quite sincere whereas yellow has positive connotations such as happiness. The typography used contributes to the general house style as it is bold and the use of capital letters helps to demonstrate the importance and exciting nature of the content.

Use of 'buzz words'
The magazine uses 'buzz words' such as "exclusive!" to make the reader believe they are in a privileged position and so they feel more inclined to purchase or read the magazine. It also makes the content more engaging and attractive.

Puffs
A puff is used on the right side of the magazine to detail what is inside. By highlighting the numbers, it means that the comprehensive nature of the magazine is emphasized. It is not square, a shape used in the rest of the magazine, so perhaps deviates from the house style in this respect. Despite this, being different means it stands out and becomes more eye catching.

Main image
The main image is of the primary character, Maleficent. Maleficent has antagonistic qualities but over the course of the movie, the reasons for this emerge and so she is considered by some as a protagonist. The image uses direct address and so mirrors the power she holds over the kingdom. Direct address is something I would like to embed into my poster.

Splash
The splash is interesting because the yellow contrasts so starkly with the rest of the poster. However, it helps it to stand out and substantiates the fact that it is "massive" in the movie information it offers its readers. This is because it lists the other significant elements a reader can find in a poster.

Evaluation and Critical Reflection
The magazine cover is successfully executed as I believe it captures the essence of the film which it is promoting. In addition to this, it also informs readers of other content they may be interested in.
I feel that the main image is especially effective in drawing in potential readers. When I come to create my own magazine cover, the splash is not something I want to emulate, however. Whilst it is eye catching, I feel that it subverts the style of the rest of the magazine too much.