The Knockturnal
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Videos
  • Covers
  • Merch
EntertainmentFilmThe Latest

Wes Anderson and Jason Schwartzman Uncover ‘Isle of Dogs’ Mysteries, Japanese Cinema Influences, and Grumbles of Pugs

by Riyad Mammadyarov March 26, 2018
by Riyad Mammadyarov March 26, 2018 0 comments
3.3K

Wes Anderson and his co-story writer Jason Schwartzman discuss the dystopic eccentricity of ‘Isle of Dogs,’ the multiple references to influential Japanese films, and a bizarre explanation about what a group of pugs is called.

Wes Anderson has long been heralded as one of the most quintessential American filmmakers of our generation. For the past two decades, Anderson has managed to carve out a profilmic niche that has slowly grown to mainstream success and adoration. Few directors have been able to imitate Anderson’s style, making him a prized visionary whose work is consistently idiosyncratic and highly personalized, all while maintaining an air of charming rigidity. From his perfectly symmetrical set designs and shots to his earth-toned color palettes, Anderson’s auteurist style has inspired numerous imitations and video essay odes that work to no end in trying to recreate the magic and vivacity of his timeless films.

Anderson’s newest film Isle of Dogs returns the lauded filmmaker to his penchant for stop-motion animation, a style he first explored in his acclaimed George Clooney-starring masterpiece, Fantastic Mr. Fox. Now nearly ten years later, it seems that Anderson has caught the animator-bug yet again, this time focusing his attention on the personality-driven characterization of man’s best friend. With yet another star-studded cast, typical sharp dialogue, and eccentrically detailed visual presentation, Isle of Dogs is yet another Anderson film that fits nicely into his highly personalized cinematic repertoire. Anderson and his co-story writer Jason Schwartzman took the time out of their day to talk about the inspiration for the story, unpacking their love of Japanese films into a pastiche-oriented way, and always coming back to the work with the same people. Check out what they had to say below.

Anderson

A Writer’s Room Approach

When most filmmakers begin writing a screenplay, they do so either in partnership with someone else or in complete solitude. It seems that most screenwriters presume that having too many voices weigh into the script may invoke the “too many cooks in the kitchen” rule, making it a muddled, directionless mess. But that never seemed to be the case for Wes Anderson who has always written with one other person or several partners, save for Grand Budapest Hotel. And while Anderson penned the screenplay himself, it seems that his penchant for writing with others has is still as intense as ever, with his latest feature boasting four-story partners.

Anderson explains that “I think maybe we make it sound free flowing,” referring to the easy-going manner in which the story was envisioned. “The movie was as simple as an idea of five dogs named Chief, King, Rex, Duke and Boss stranded on a garbage dump island,” continued Anderson. The Academy Award-winning director noted that his collaborations are a seamless part of his filmmaking, saying “to me, my default is always that I want to bring people back.”

An Ode to Japan and its Cinema

Modern filmmakers owe a great deal to the traditions set by Japanese cinema. Whether it’s the manipulating perspectives and showcasing the fragility of memory in Rashomon or the expertly framed wide angle shots in High and Low, a great deal of Anderson’s toolbox seems to borrow from the playbook of Japanese cinema. But it appears that Isle of Dogs is his most obvious homage to the cinematic language from the land of the rising sun.

Asked what were the heaviest influences for the film’s aesthetic, dialogue and characterizations, the director answered, “we were certainly inspired by Japanese cinema. That may be first and foremost.” Anderson went on to muse that, “Kurosawa and Miyazaki are the ones that we really talked about the most.” Jason Schwartzman seemed to be the one to inject the most influential aspect of Miyazaki’s films which is the role of sound. “Jason kind of pointed this out to me while we were working that one of the things we were loving in Miyazaki is the silences and the way nature is portrayed in his films in a kind of special way. There’s music in Miyazaki films, but there are wonderful kind of silences and there’s just a quietness,” said Anderson.

But the director paid notice to Japan’s godfather of cinema, Akira Kurosawa who he noted was the inspiration for most of his characterization in the film. “We actually recreated actors from Kurosawa’s films,” said Anderson. “You may have noticed Mifune, Shimura, Nakadai and then also just his urban movies were always an inspiration to us. They were kind of what we wanted our movie to look like, which it doesn’t,” laughed the director. “But that’s kind of okay. Sometimes the inspiration is very different from what it inspires you to do. Those were our masters when we were writing it and I think all through the making of the film.”

The Fidelity of Dogs and Owning Them

Most of the individuals involved in the film are avid dog lovers. From Bill Murray to Jeff Goldblum, the myriad of talented cast members all noted their adoration for the furry balls of fun. But it seemed that of the four people on the writing team, only Jason Schwartzman actually owned a dog. It seemed that it gave Schwartzman a leg up on the authenticity of showcasing dog life and their companionship to dogs—that is, in demonstrating that they have very real and tangible personalities.

“In the beginning, it was trying to figure out who are these dogs and what are the rules of this place, but very quickly it became clear that it wasn’t about dogs, really,” reflected Schwartzman. “We thought of them as people,” continued Schwartzman. “And I think that’s how we always felt about them. Once that decision was made or once we all kind of agreed that was the approach, we didn’t really look back,” noted the writer-actor. “But, I do have a dog in my real life. I’m the only guy with a dog, so I also felt a responsibility when we were making the film to draw the line sometimes when certain ideas were suggested,” joked Schwartzman. When asked whether that really was true, Schwartzman coyly said, I’d say, stop, stop, you would never do that if you knew what I knew,” before modestly adding “I’m only joking.” And the Anderson-inspired jokes never truly stopped for Schwartzman who wryly added after discovering the name for a group of pugs, “that should be at least a chapter in somebody’s memoir, a grumble of pugs.” Perhaps we can look forward to a future Wes Anderson film that has just that as one of intertitles signaling a new act. One can only dream.

Isle of Dogs hit theaters Friday, March 23 before it goes to wide release on April 6.

Akira KurosawaAnimationComedyDramaFox Searchlight PicturesHayao Miyazakiisle of dogsJason Schwartzmanstop motionWes Anderson
0 comments 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Riyad Mammadyarov

I am a graduate of New York University and am currently pursuing my master's degree in cinema studies at the same institution. My passion for films knows no bounds! It warms my heart and inspires zeal to talk movies with fellow cinephiles. Have any questions, comments or just want to chat? Email me at riyad.mamedyarov@gmail.com

previous post
Bill Murray and Liev Schreiber Talk Dog Personalities and Shooting Scenes in Mere Hours
next post
ipsy Gen Beauty Arrives in LA

Related Posts

Super-Meh: James Gunn’s Superman Feels Like It’s Trying...

July 11, 2025

Inside the Star-Studded Gurus Beauty Awards Hosted by...

July 10, 2025

The 2025 Gayming Awards Blessed WeHo with Star...

July 9, 2025

Reagan To talks Squid Game

July 9, 2025

Baekhyun ‘Climbs Up Our Hearts’ with Dreamy ‘Reverie’...

July 8, 2025

Julian Lerner: Leading a New Era of Disney...

July 8, 2025

A Garden in the Sky: Fourth of July...

July 8, 2025

Splendid Summer with Peroni and Giada De Laurentiis

July 8, 2025

The Death of Rasputin Was a Dark Dream...

July 7, 2025

Julia Melim’s One-Woman Show #MESSY (The Brazilian Hour)

July 7, 2025

Digital Cover No. 19

The Knockturnal Merch

Follow Us On The Gram

theknockturnal

Lifestyle. Music. Entertainment.
Info@theknockturnal.com
New Cover Out Now ⬇️

Diana Ross defines an icon. A national treasure w Diana Ross defines an icon.  A national treasure with a magnificent legacy that has changed the course of music history and popular culture. Get ready for an incredible night at the Hollywood Bowl on July 24 +25. We’ve teamed up with #HollywoodBowl and #LAPhil for a ticket giveaway! This is a show you won’t want to miss! 

Click the link 🔗 in our bio to enter

Giveaway ends on Friday @ 11:59PM EST - Good Luck!
#knockgiveaway #losangeles
Sweet as “Candy,” and as high as an “Elevato Sweet as “Candy,” and as high as an “Elevator…” 🍬

On July 6th, at the iconic Kia Forum in Los Angeles, the beloved Korean idol @baekhyunee_exo took the stage for the last U.S. stop of his first ever solo tour under his own label, @inb100_official. ✨

🔗 https://theknockturnal.com/baekhyun/ 

#Baekhyun #INB100 #Kpop #KpopConcert #ReviereTour #Reviere #EXO
✨ Red, white, and boom! ✨ Macy’s iconic @mac ✨ Red, white, and boom! ✨
Macy’s iconic @macys Fourth of July Fireworks lit up the night sky over the Brooklyn Bridge in a dazzling display of light, sound, and celebration. 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/macys-fourth-of-july-fireworks-sparkle-bright-at-brooklyn-bridge/

-
#MacysFireworks #BrooklynBridge #FourthOfJuly #NYCSummer
@lorde “Virgin” is more than an album — it’s an aural snapshot of an artist on the brink of redefining pop music. Step inside Lorde’s world, with us. 🎧🩻

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/virgin-an-x-ray-of-lordes-sonic-arrival/

✍️: Jesse Kosierowski

-
#Lorde #Virgin #MusicReview #PopCulture
Meet @dominiquethorne , the rising star behind “ Meet @dominiquethorne , the rising star behind “Ironheart”, @marvelstudios newest @disneyplus show. From Wakanda to a tech-powered hero, she shares the journey, challenges, and excitement of suiting up as Riri Williams. Get ready for a fresh take on heroism! 🔥💥

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/dominique-thorne-talks-new-marvel-tv-show-ironheart-on-disney/

✍️: OJ Williams

-
 #Ironheart #MarvelTV #DisneyPlus #DominiqueThorne
Taron Egerton’s range is unreal, and in his late Taron Egerton’s range is unreal, and in his latest project, he’s turning up the heat, literally! We chatted with him for Smoke at @tribeca! 💨🔥
Real fire, real life, Smoke on @appletv has it all Real fire, real life, Smoke on @appletv has it all! We chatted with director Dennis Lehane at @tribeca! 🔥💨
Anna Chlumsky talks working with Dennis Lehane (an Anna Chlumsky talks working with Dennis Lehane (and real fire!) at the world premiere of Smoke on @appletv @tribeca!
The Future of Black Music is NOW! 🎶🎵🎤 We The Future of Black Music is NOW! 🎶🎵🎤

We got the chance to profile 5 amazing new artist and, just know, BLACK music is in great hands!

Check out our profiles on @thefcknartist @niko.noir @babyfaceray @veezeworst @ynjay_ 

Detroit, don’t miss out! Come experience the Future of Black Music live! 🎧🎸🥁🎹🎺🎻

With live performances of today’s best emerging artists. 

RSVP now in the bio to come visit the culture. ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Detroit! Are you ready to experience the Future of Detroit! Are you ready to experience the Future of Black Music! 🎶🎵🎤

Presented by Smirnoff Lemonades & BCode, curated by The Basement Series. Come see the movement move forward! 

RSVP now in the bio to come experience the culture. ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Cutting-edge scares, killer dance moves, and AI ch Cutting-edge scares, killer dance moves, and AI chaos 💃🤖
@m3gan 2.0 is the wild ride your summer needed. Read our full take! 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/m3gan-2-0-is-ridiculous-over-the-top-fun-but-also-poses-important-questions-about-ai/

✍️: Ishan Wankavala

-
#M3GAN2 #AIHorror #SciFiThriller #HorrorComedy #SummerMovies #TechTerror #AIQuestions #MovieReview #CampyHorror
Mini fashion moments, major throwback energy 👛 Mini fashion moments, major throwback energy 👛
@shopcider x @pollypocket took over @alfred with tiny accessories, buttery croissants, and all the Y2K feels 💅☕

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/tiny-fashion-big-nostalgia-cider-x-polly-pocket-pops-up-in-beverly-hills/

✍️: Ashley Lopez

-
#CiderxPollyPocket #ShopCider #PollyPocket #CiderGirls #CiderStyle #Alfreds
☀️Summer just kicked off with @dearsummerfesti ☀️Summer just kicked off with @dearsummerfestival. The HBCU kickback inspired festival that grew from a cultural campus phenomenon into becoming the latest and fastest-growing black-owned music festival. 🔥

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/inside-dear-summer-festival-the-black-owned-festival-gaining-national-momentum-built-by-hbcu-alumni/

✍️: Briana Boateng 
-
#MeekMill #Valiant #HBCU #DearSummerFestival
@tydollasign takes Tribeca. 🎥 The artist premie @tydollasign takes Tribeca. 🎥
The artist premiered his powerful new doc ‘Still Free TC’—a raw, emotional follow-up to his 2015 album—spotlighting family, justice, and legacy.
10 years later, the message still hits.

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/ty-dolla-ign-premieres-still-free-tc-documentary-at-tribeca-film-festival/

✍️: Kadeem Lundy

-
#StillFreeTC #TyDollaSign #TribecaFestival #MusicDocumentary #HipHopCulture #JusticeForTC #Tribeca2025
ENTER TO WIN a pair of tickets to July Fourth Fire ENTER TO WIN a pair of tickets to July Fourth Fireworks Spectacular with Earth, Wind & Fire at the Hollywood Bowl on July 2, 3, & 4th! Nine-time Grammy Award-winning icons and one of the best-selling artists of all - Earth, Wind & Fire brings their iconic and timeless catalog of music with hits like “September” and “Shining Star” for three thrilling nights of songs, fireworks and fun. If you don’t win the tickets…don’t worry we’ll have a 20% off code on select sections!
Here’s how to enter:
✅Follow @theknockturnal 
❤️Like this post
👯Tag the friend you want to bring with you

Giveaway ends Monday, June 23 @ 11:59PM EST/8:59PM PST ! 
#KnockturnalGiveaway #EarthWindFire #HollywoodBowl #Giveaway #Concert #LosAngeles
@squidgamenetflix Season 3 has entered the arena. @squidgamenetflix Season 3 has entered the arena. 🦑🩸

New players. Higher stakes. And a game that’s more brutal than ever.
The masks return—so does revenge. ⭕️🔺◼️

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/squid-game-season-3-premieres-in-new-york/

✍️: ElizaBeth Taylor 

-
#SquidGame #Season3 #NetflixOriginal #Netflix #TheGameContinues #LeeJungJae #Player456 #WiHaJoon #GongYoo #LeeByungHun
@f1movie crew makes a pitstop in NYC for their wor @f1movie crew makes a pitstop in NYC for their world premiere of their film “F1 The Movie” in Times Square and at Radio City Music Hall. 🏎️💨
-
#BradPitt #JavierBardem #DamsonIdris #AppleCEO #TimCook #JosephKosinski #JerryBruckheimer  #LewisHamilton #HansZimmer #F1 #F1Movie #F1Film
“Love doesn’t always disappear—it just chang “Love doesn’t always disappear—it just changes shape.” 🎶
In our exclusive interview, @yourfavoritecolor opens up about vulnerability, emotional distance, and the story behind their newest single, “Less In Love.”
This one hits different. 🥹

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/exclusive-interview-your-favorite-color-contemplates-connection-on-new-single-less-in-love/

✍️: Eleanor Jacobs

-
#ExclusiveInterview #YourFavoriteColor #LessInLove #IndieMusic
@saiebeauty Art of Glow pop-up bathed the city in @saiebeauty Art of Glow pop-up bathed the city in golden light with vintage lamps, curated cocktails, and radiant beauty moments—all in honor of the iconic Glowy Super Gel. A celebration of luminosity in every form. ✨

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/a-night-to-glow-inside-saies-art-of-glow-celebration/

✍️: Ashley Lopez

-
#SaieBeauty #ArtOfGlow #GlowySuperGel #LAEvents #CleanBeauty #GlowGoals #BeautyMeetsArt #LightUpLA
@mileycyrus steps into her pop opera era with Some @mileycyrus steps into her pop opera era with Something Beautiful — a 55-minute visual album that blurs the line between music, film, and fantasy. Premiered at Tribeca, now playing on the biggest screen: herself. 🎬✨ 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/high-energy-higher-fashion-miley-cyruss-pop-opera-something-beautiful/

✍️: Jesse Kosierowski

-
#MileyCyrus #SomethingBeautiful #VisualAlbum #PopOpera #Tribeca2025 #EditorialMoment #MusicAndFilm #FashionInFilm
Follow on Instagram

About The Site

We are a collective of creative tastemakers made up of fashion, music and entertainment industry insiders. It’s all about access. You want it. We have it.

Terms Of Use

Privacy Policy

Meet The Team

CONTACT US

For general inquiries and more info on The Knockturnal, please contact our staff at:
info@theknockturnal.com
fashion@theknockturnal.com
advertising@theknockturnal.com
editorial@theknockturnal.com
beauty@theknockturnal.com

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

© Copyright - The Knockturnal | Developed by CI Design + Media

The Knockturnal
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Videos
  • Covers
  • Merch