I want my setting to blend the soft, dreamy aspects of aethetics like Fairycore and fairy tales, with modern technology and transportation. For example, things like smartphones and mopeds exist, but they either run on magic or some form of clean energy. People dress in contemporary fashions, but may pair them with natural or supernatural touches, like glowing pendents or flower braids. My focus is creating a romantic, cozy, light-hearted setting, so traditional, gritty Urban Fantasy inspirations don’t really appeal to my vision.
My problem is that I’ve found it difficult to find outside inspirations for such a setting. Just looking up ‘fairy tale with modern technology’ pulls up stuff like ‘if fairy tale characters had smartphones/social media’, but nothing for cityscapes. Any recommendations for media that depicts settings similar to this aesthetic?
Not media specifically, but maybe you could take inspiration from solarpunk? A lot of it is green technology combined with sleek modern aesthetics, combining art deco and natural patterns.
I was racking my brain thinking, maybe I’ve seen a fictional city similar to what you described, and the only one that came to mind was… Overwatch. But it’s more futuristic sci-fi than fairytale, so it’s probably not what you’re looking for. Though I found this concept art of Paris that might fit?
That’s very helpful! I think that’s essentially the look I’m going for. Abstract and fantastical yet modern-looking tech and vehicles. A suggestion I got from a friend was Ghibli movies, but I think they’re more often set in the countryside, while my setting would be more of an urban city, like the art of Paris you showed.
