Roger Dean should be PISSED! [Avatar]

“Dragon’s Dream”
No, this isn’t a clip from Avatar, that’s all Roger Dean, one of best artists in the world. Of course, that’s my opinion Roger Dean has been such a huge influence on me. I guess Cameron too, or we wouldn’t see all the Dean concepts and art in Avatar. I really hope Dean sues. This is one of the more blatant ripoffs I’ve seen in a long time.

So I watched Avatar last night. It wasn’t my wish or my doing but sometimes when something is on the tube, you’ve got to watch it. There have been a slew of arguments about the storyline and how tired it is. Needless to say, I have to agree and I won’t bother to go there because there are times when it really has all been said before.

The one thing that a lot of defenders state is its visual punch, that that’s something new. After watching it last night, all I can say is a big hell no, it isn’t! There was this guy, this incredible artist that some might remember as the man that did most of the Yes album covers. He’s also done a little something called “Floating Islands”. If that sounds familiar to you from the Avatar movie, in the “Floating Mountains” scene, then you’d be right.

This is an animated clip of “Floating Islands”:

I’m not alone in seeing it either:

• READ: Avatar and Roger Dean

I went and saw Avatar last night for the first time and really enjoyed the film. Beautiful colors and lovely phosphorescent lighting were peppered throughout the film, and I liked the contrast between the nice jungles and cold steel of the military ships. I won’t go too deeply into a review of the film, because that’s not what this blog is about I would, however, like to point out one element of the film which relates to one of my favorite artists, Roger Dean.

• READ: Roger Dean’s “Flaoting Islands” Facebook Page

• READ: Avatar – why hasn’t Roger Dean sued?

Saw Avatar at the weekend, and I’m no prog-fan – but have browsed past enough Yes, Budgie and Asia album covers to see it’s clear the designs, geography and general look of the Avatar’s alien planet have been borrowed from Roger Dean’s portfolio: sky islands, butterfly coloured flying dragons, psychedelic shrubberies. Apparently Rog’ hasn’t received any remuneration or credit – but surely this is more than influence or inspiration?

• READ: Should Roger Dean sue over Avatar film?

As far as we know Roger Dean was not involved at all in the Cameron film Avatar but clearly his influence is there and has been recognised by a lot of people. Some outraged long-term Roger Dean fans searching in vain for a credit at the end of the film are calling for Roger Dean to sue Cameron. Others are are asking why he wasn’t honest enough to acknowledge Roger Dean’s influence or involve him in the project.