Marathon's Graphic Realism: Art Style Influences and Evolution

마라톤의 그래픽 리얼리즘 아트 스타일은 단순화된 디자인과 실제 세계의 충실도를 결합하여 시각적으로 인상적이고 눈에 띄는 공상 과학 세계를 구현합니다.

### 마라톤 아트 스타일 분석: 과거와 미래의 조화
* 🪐 Bungie가 정의한 **그래픽 리얼리즘**은 단순화된 디자인과 현실감의 조화를 추구하며, 마라톤의 시각적 언어의 기반이 됩니다.
* 🎨  **단순화된 형태와 명확한 기능성**을 강조하며, 과도한 디테일 대신 깔끔한 형태와 선명한 색상을 사용합니다.
* 🖌️ 포뮬러 1, MotoGP, 나이키, 고스트 인 더 쉘 등 다양한 영감의 원천에서 영향을 받아 **미래지향적이면서도 그런지한 미학**을 구현합니다.
* 🌃  **강렬한 색 대비와 미니멀리즘**을 통해 초현실적이면서도 현실적인 분위기를 조성하며, 플레이스테이션 2 광고의 초현실적인 영상 스타일에서 영감을 받았습니다.
* ⚙️  Chris Cunningham, Oaker, Aphex Twin의 작품에서 영감을 받은 **기계적이면서도 유기적인 디자인**과 **단순하면서도 환각적인 시각 스타일**을 보여줍니다.
* 🎮  *미러스 엣지*, *더 파이널스*, *와이파우트*, Teenage Engineering, Metahaven 등 유사한 미학을 가진 작품들과의 연관성을 보여줍니다.
* 🏛️  **브루탈리스트 그래픽 디자인**을 활용하여 과감하고 날카로운 시각적 대비를 만들어냅니다.
* ♾️  원작의 정신을 계승하면서 현대적인 감각을 더한 **새로운 마라톤**은 과거와 미래를 연결하는 다리 역할을 합니다.  "어딘가 하늘에" 와 같은 디테일한 요소들은 원작에 대한 존중을 보여줍니다.

[Music] [Applause] [Music]  A we marathon's visual language is heavily

rooted in what Bungie calls graphic realism, a concept that synthesizes simplified, impactful design with the

fidelity of the real world. This approach shapes every aspect of the game's aesthetics, creating an art style that

feels grounded in a tangible reality while also embracing stylization. In this context, the 'graphic' part of graphic

realism means something that's simplified, deconstructed; a universal design language that has strong graphic and color statements with limited

materials. While the 'realism' component indicates that they utilize proportions and scale with implied functional details in a generally

grounded world. Basically, graphic realism depicts something we could see in the real world with extraordinary techniques of

vibrant colors, materials, textures, and so on. It's a use of accents, contrast, and scales. Marathon's environments, objects, and

character designs are rendered in a visually pared-down style where each form serves a purpose. Surfaces aren't

overloaded with detail; instead, the focus is on clean shapes and clear forms that convey their function without

unnecessary visual noise. The game uses saturated colors selectively. Graphic realism prioritizes a visual language that feels accessible and recognizable.

The result is a world where signs, symbols, and objects have immediate visual impact and clarity. In keeping

with the graphic approach, materials are simplified with textures that suggest their real-world equivalents: metals, glass, or synthetic fabrics. These

materials appear tactile yet minimalistic, balancing realism with a stylized clarity. Everything in Marathon is proportioned as though it could exist

in our reality. Buildings, weapons, and armor have realistic scales, making it easy to imagine them as functional objects in a physically plausible world.

The environments are textured with restrained realism, striking a balance between clean visual design and believable surface detail. This grounded

approach allows players to feel as though they are navigating real spaces while still experiencing surreal and stylized sci-fi universe elements.

After the first trailer, Marathon's art director, Joseph Cross—known for his work on projects like *Dune*, *Destiny*, the

live-action *Ghost in the Shell*, *Dead Space*, Apple TV's *Foundation*, and much more—shared the sources of inspiration for

developing the art style of *Marathon*. He described how elements from various influential works and industries merged

to shape the game's unique visual language. Formula 1 and MotoGP racing circuits: every detail, down to

color schemes and material finishes, reflects precision, speed, and efficiency. The sleek, angular forms of F1 cars and

MotoGP bikes are mirrored in *Marathon*'s character and environmental design. Just as these machines are optimized for

performance, *Marathon*'s tech-centered world is filled with streamlined, aggressive lines and sharp edges. F1 and MotoGP use bright, eye-catching colors

to improve visibility at high speeds, which is echoed in *Marathon*'s use of neon highlights and contrast-heavy

palettes. Bright greens, reds, and blues over metallic or dark backdrops create a dynamic, high-octane feel. The visible

mechanics, exposed gears, and modularity of F1 and MotoGP machines are reflected in the game's intricate details,

especially in weapon and armor designs that seem as though each piece has a specific functional purpose. Nike: much like Nike's athletic wear and branding,

*Marathon*'s design is both clean and precise. Nike's designs focus on performance, which aligns with the

implied speed and efficiency in its visual language. The armor suits and weapons feel light, flexible, and engineered for agility. Nike is known for its iconic

Logos and use of graphic symbols; this finds a parallel in Marathon's glyphs, digital markings, and holographic interfaces.

Ghost in the Shell: The 1995 *Ghost in the Shell* anime brought a deeply cyberpunk, philosophical aesthetic to science fiction. The influence here is clear.

*Ghost in the Shell* combined sleek, advanced technology with grittier industrial elements; a balance that Marathon captures in its futuristic grunge aesthetic.

Marathon's lighting—heavy shadows on bright surfaces with bursts of neon—echoes the layered, atmospheric lighting in *Ghost in the Shell*, helping evoke an eerie, contemplative sci-fi setting.

Just as *Ghost in the Shell* explores cybernetic enhancement, Marathon integrates digital interfaces and projections directly into the environment, creating a sense of interconnected technology within the world.

Under the Skin: It is actually a weird inspiration material, but after a closer look it becomes easy to understand.

The film's minimalist sets and stark contrasts are found in Marathon's stripped-down environments, where key objects and lighting provide stark contrast to empty, cavernous spaces. This is a perfect example of the graphic realism trope, as we've discussed earlier, where lighting plays a huge role in helping portray a believable yet surreal scene.

*Under the Skin* suggests an otherworldly presence through simple yet unsettling visuals. Marathon employs stark color contrast and visual minimalism to convey a similar feeling of otherness and mystery.

PlayStation 2 Commercials: Sony's PlayStation 2 advertisements, and many of its other experimental ads from the '90s and early 2000s, were known for their surreal and boundary-pushing visuals.

Marathon's design is clearly informed by this concept of surreal and sometimes confusing imagery that was featured in these ads. Both use abstract concepts and...

dreamlike visuals to evoke intrigue and mystery. I mean, you've probably seen something like that in one of your

dreams. Sony ads often utilize sharp, angular typography and well-known X, circle, square, and triangle iconography, a

style that's visible in Marathon's symbols and glyph system. These elements reinforce a sense of unearthly

communication and coded language. The Sony Y2K ads often feature dark backgrounds with shocking color contrast, something Marathon uses to create a

futuristic yet nostalgic feel that mirrors the ads' exploration of tech frontiers. Chris Cunningham, Oaker, and

Aphex Twin. Cunningham's visuals often combine organic and mechanical elements, creating unsettling, cyborg-like forms. The game's mechanical design suggests a

blend of human and machine, much like Ayer's visuals. And while we're on the subject, I'd be remiss not to mention

Aphex Twin's graphic language. Aphex Twin's style uses a clean but psychedelic visual style with minimalistic patterns

and stark, contrasting lime green color, much like in Marathon. The monospaced font is also extremely [Music]

similar. Now let's talk about works that share a similar aesthetic. These projects where the visual style immediately evokes parallels to Marathon. *Mirror's Edge*,

although Josef Fares mentioned this game as an inspiration in one of his replies, it stands out more as a kindred

spirit in aesthetic terms. In *Mirror's Edge*, we see a near-realistic urban environment elevated by striking color accents. The clean white architecture

serves as a canvas for bold injections of red, orange, and blue, creating a world that feels both familiar and futuristic.

Like Marathon, it uses color to guide the viewer's eye and emphasize key elements, balancing simplicity with moments of

vivid intensity. A similar aesthetic can be seen in *The Finals*, where the environments are heavily inspired by real-world architecture but infused with

Vibrant colors and sleek design: flat, angular surfaces mixed with bright, minimalistic symbols and iconography.

This creates a surreal but grounded atmosphere. The game shares Marathon's love for clean, high-contrast visuals and

bold graphic elements, while establishing a sense of energy and modernity in its design. The work of the designer Republic

on Wipeout is a time capsule of the Y2K era, arguably one of the most iconic

examples of this style in gaming. The studio's design for Wipeout combines sleek, futuristic elements with an intense

focus on branding, geometric layouts, and high-energy colors. Wipeout thrives on the balance between future realism and

stylization, with in-game assets and environments that feel artistically heightened. The heavy use of minimalistic

logos and typography in Marathon follows this lineage, firmly rooting it in a legacy of bold graphic experimentation. Teenage Engineering, known for its

innovative design of audio devices and synthesizers, embodies a philosophy of functional minimalism paired with

vibrant aesthetics. Their products, like the OP-1 synthesizer, combine sleek, retro-inspired interfaces with playful use of

color. This ethos aligns with Marathon's focus on graphic realism, especially in weapon design, where the balance of

functionality and bold design statements comes to the forefront. Both embrace a utilitarian approach that's elevated by

its strong graphic choices, merging utility with a striking visual identity. The work of Metahaven, a design

studio known for its experimental visual identity projects, has a clear kinship with Marathon's aesthetic. In particular, if we take the example of the mine from

the ARG, it immediately reveals this rebellious and almost schizophrenic style: the fragmented, collage-like layouts, saturated colors, and cryptic

Messages embody a sense of subversive energy; both styles reject traditional design norms in favor of something

deliberately disjointed and provocative, encouraging the audience to decode and engage with the chaos and rely on

pushing graphic design conventions into a futuristic and slightly chaotic direction, making it feel raw. Marathon leans heavily into brutalist graphic

design across its promotional materials, website, and branding. The visuals are marked by bright, almost neon colors juxtaposed against black or neutral

backgrounds, creating a striking and somewhat aggressive visual contrast. In graphic design, brutalism throws traditional grids out the window,

embracing unconventional, often jarring layouts. It takes inspiration from architectural brutalism, which emphasizes raw, unrefined, and highly functional

aesthetics. It often features minimalistic, grid-based layouts, bold typography, and limited color schemes. This style intentionally disregards

polish in favor of raw functionality, giving a rugged, utilitarian feel. It uses stark contrasts, large text, pixelation,

and heavy iconography to achieve a look that feels both retro and starkly modern. Before we conclude, I would like

to touch on an important question: Is this still Marathon? Does the game have the right to bear the same name as the

original trilogy, which is now approaching its 30th anniversary? The answer to this question is quite simple,

though perhaps not obvious to everyone: yes, this is still Marathon. The new game takes bold steps forward, but it does so

with a deep respect for its origins. For instance, the logo, a simple yet powerful symbol, pays direct homage to the

original while modernized with sharper edges that replace the rounded curves of the old design. It retains the iconic

form and unmistakable essence. This evolution reflects a bridge between eras, honoring the series' beginnings while embracing a sharper

More contemporary, aesthetic striped patterns are a hallmark of Marathon's visual identity. They're deeply embedded in the new game's graphical language, as

well, whether seen in the environmental textures or minimalist UI elements. They serve as a subtle yet effective callback to the limited design opportunities of

the originals. These patterns are more than decoration; they are a part of the DNA that makes Marathon what it is.

Then there's the phrase, "somewhere in the heavens," which is written in lowercase, just like everything else on the new

Marathon website. This typographic choice is deliberate, evoking a sense of understated confidence and tying the

game's identity to its broader world-building. It's a small but poignant detail that demonstrates how Marathon balances its reverence for the past with

a sleek, modern sensibility. The grittier concept art for the new game also brings to mind the

work of Craig Mullins, whose visionary illustrations defined much of the atmosphere in the original trilogy. The

sense of vastness, mystery, and tension that Mullins captured is alive and well in the new Marathon. This connection is

not mere coincidence; it's a conscious effort to channel the same spirit, reinterpreted for a new generation. And

all of this is just a small glimpse of the similarities we've already seen from the very few things the developers have

revealed. The game takes place in the same universe fans know and love, expanding and enriching its scope. Though

the visuals have evolved, the affection for the original trilogy shines through in every detail. We've already caught glimpses of unmistakable compiler

designs in the beloved Marathon automated defense drones, or MATs, and it's highly likely we'll encounter even

more familiar elements as the journey unfolds. Ultimately, the new Marathon is more than a reimagining; it is a

Marathon Art Style Breakdown

Jake The Alright

마라톤의 그래픽 리얼리즘 아트 스타일 분석

번지가 정의한 그래픽 리얼리즘: 단순화된 디자인과 현실 세계의 충실도를 결합

그래픽 요소: 단순화, 해체된 디자인, 강렬한 색상과 제한된 재료 사용

리얼리즘 요소: 현실적인 비율과 크기, 기능적인 디테일 암시

시각적 단순화: 각 형태의 목적성 강조, 과도한 디테일 배제

선택적 채색 사용, 접근성과 인식 가능성을 중시

F1, MotoGP: 정밀성, 속도, 효율성을 반영한 디자인, 색상 및 재료 마감

나이키: 깔끔하고 정확한 디자인, 성능 중시, 민첩성을 위한 경량화

고스트 인 더 쉘: 사이버펑크적 미학, 고급 기술과 산업적 요소의 조화

언더 더 스킨: 미니멀리즘 세트, 극명한 대비, 초현실적인 분위기 연출

플레이스테이션 2 광고: 초현실적이고 실험적인 시각 효과, 추상적이고 몽환적인 이미지

유사한 미학을 공유하는 작품들

미러스 엣지: 현실적인 도시 환경에 강렬한 색상 강조, 미래적인 분위기

더 파이널스: 현실 건축물에서 영감을 받은 환경, 선명한 색상과 매끄러운 디자인

와이프아웃: 미래지향적인 요소와 브랜딩, 기하학적 레이아웃, 고에너지 색상

틴에이지 엔지니어링: 기능적 미니멀리즘과 활기찬 미학 결합

메타헤이븐: 실험적인 시각적 정체성 프로젝트, 파편화된 레이아웃, 채도 높은 색상

원작에 대한 존중과 현대적인 해석의 조화

로고 디자인: 원작에 대한 오마주와 현대적 디자인의 결합

줄무늬 패턴: 환경 텍스처와 UI 요소에 사용, 원작에 대한 암시

소문자 사용: 절제된 자신감과 세계관 구축과의 연결

크레이그 멀린스의 작품과의 유사성: 원작의 분위기 계승