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Belen Torres

Dr. Sharity Nelson

English 1301 – 102

24 October 2023

The Bigger Picture of a Tiny Picture

Star Wars is a franchise that people all over the world have fallen in love with. What may

have started as a trilogy grew into a sensational hit with a vast array of movies, TV shows, and

merchandise. In 2021, Insight Editions partnered with Disney to publish a tiny sized picture book

based on the hit show The Mandalorian. The book is titled The Tiny Book of Grogu. It featured

up to 192 pages of illustrations and images depicting some of the plot points of the show for fans

and new potential fans. Within these pages the book starts off with a facing image spanning two

pages. On the right side of the frame a heavily armored man can be seen walking towards the

camera in a barren desert while carrying an alien creature in a satchel (Fig.1). The message of

this visual text is to convey a sense of heroicness and wonder through intricate main characters,

an immersive background, and contrasting colors.

Firstly, the visual text creates a sense of heroism through placing two atypical characters

in the foreground. A man covered in heavy armor stalks toward the viewer in the right side of the

frame. He wears a helmet on his head, so the audience is unable to see his face. He holds a gun in

his right hand, but it is modified to have a longer barrel and slimmer frame to give it a more

futuristic look. Behind the man is another weapon that is less distinguishable. It looks as if it is a

giant sausage fork. The man also wears a long, flowy cape wrapped around his neck with slightly

destroyed edges. A cape is a distinct detail often associated with heroes; however, the destroyed
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edges of the cape suggest a grimmer interpretation to the hero archetype. The armor, weapons,

and cape tell us the man is ready to battle at a moment's notice, but what differentiates the

character into a hero instead of a villain is the way he protectively carries a tiny, green creature

in a satchel on his side like a parent would a child. The green creature has two pointy ears bigger

than its head and wide black eyes to make it appear adorable. The juxtaposition of a strong,

warrior carrying around a smaller, cuter creature gives the viewer the sense that the man acts as a

protector for the tiny alien and hints to the parental relationship between the two characters. It is

through the relationship of the man and the alien that a sense of heroicness and wonderment is

created.

Second, the background of the visual text creates a strong atmosphere that helps build the

wonder the audience feels. The alien landscape is a desolate desert with only giant rock hills

scattered along the ground. It contains no plant life and offers no protection from the sun. The

hostile environment adds another layer to the image because it helps highlight the roles of the

characters by showing another way the strong man acts as a protector for his tiny companion.

The man carries the creature away from the sun and his left-hand hovers over the creature's face

to act as a cover either from the sun or enemies. In the horizon, the sun can be seen either rising

or setting while the dessert stretches beyond what the eye can see. If looked upon closely

enough, there is the barest hint of stars twinkling in the sky. Stars are often symbolized as lights

that guide the way or objects that stretch beyond human existence; as a result, their addition adds

to the wonderment the image instills in the audience. Overall, the world in which the image takes

place helps create an astonishing and venturous ambience.

Finally, the colors used in the facing image of the picture book contribute to setting the

mood to one of awe and heroism. In the center of the visual text, the viewer’s eye is drawn
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towards the shining, yellow sun. The yellow contrasts with the cooler blues of the sky and the

ground in an appealing way as the two base colors meet through an orange hue. The sun’s light

near the center of the image creates a sense of hope and awe as it reflects off the man’s armor

while shadowing the rest of the image in darkness. Once again, displaying the man as a knight in

shining armor and symbolizing there is a light in the dark. Additionally, the blue colors used in

contrast with the yellow help the green creature camouflage into its surroundings, further giving

the impression to the viewer that the creature must be hidden and covered. Thus, the brightness

of the yellow contrasting with the darkness of the blue helps establish the sense of wonder and

hopefulness the image displays.

In conclusion, the main characters in the foreground, the landscape in the background,

and the distinct colors from the facing image in a picture book are all components that work

together to display a message of heroicness and wonder. It is through the visual text that a newer

audience may be convinced to read the rest of the Tiny Book of Grogu and watch The

Mandalorian for themselves. For those who have already seen the show, the entirety of the

picture book acts as a great piece of merchandise.

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Appendix

Figure 1. Facing Image of an Armor-Clad Man Walking Foward with an

alien in His Satchel for The Tiny Book of Grogu.
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Work Cited

Insight Editions. Facing Image of an Armor-Clad Man Walking Foward with an Alien in His

Satchel for The Tiny Book of Grogu. Disney Star Wars, 2021.