Squid Game Season 2: The Making of the Mingle Game
The highly anticipated second season of the hit drama series Squid Game has been making waves globally, with fans eagerly discussing the new games and plot twists. According to an article on Netflix’s Tudum website, the show’s creator and director, Hwang Dong-hyuk, revealed that he wanted to introduce a game that would be both simple and thrilling. "The games had to be really simple," says Hwang. "The penalty for the loser also had to be immediate and self-explanatory. So if only one of those many requirements were met, it wouldn’t be fun for Korean and non-Korean viewers alike. It takes a great deal of prudence in deciding on the games."
One of the new games introduced in Season 2 is the Mingle game, where players are placed atop a spinning carousel and must gather together in rooms in precisely the requested number of people. The game, which Hwang wanted to include in the show from the beginning, is a childhood favourite that requires strategy and quick thinking. "I remember really wanting to add this game if there were going to be a Season 2," says Hwang. "It’s a game we used to play in kindergarten or elementary school. Depending on the number of people left, sometimes you tear someone away or abandon someone. So teaming up happens very randomly in a split second. I thought it would definitely be a fun game to add for the calls people have to make in a heartbeat and the drama those decisions lead to. On top of that, you have to sing — which makes it more fun."
The production team behind Squid Game had to overcome significant technical challenges to bring the Mingle game to life. According to Chae Kyoung-sun, production designer, the team drew inspiration from amusement parks and merry-go-rounds. "I thought a lot about amusement parks when I read the script for Mingle," says Chae. "I realized, if In-ho [Front Man, played by Lee Byung-hun] was the one who designed this game, he would have wanted to enjoy an amusement park with his wife and child, and merry-go-rounds are iconic landmarks of amusement parks. So I thought I’d create a spinning stage inspired by the merry-go-round and have the players run amok on top of it like horses."
The set design for the Mingle game was a key aspect of creating an immersive experience for viewers. The team used a color map of 50 high-saturation colors to create a vibrant and playful atmosphere. "With the bright lights and the mix of different colors, I wanted to give the sense of horses who have lost their sense of direction," says Chae. "The players must have had dreams once, so I wanted to express the colors of their lives by using a color map of 50 high-saturation colors you’d find in a child’s Cray-Pas [oil pastels] set for the doors."
Lee Jung-jae, who plays the protagonist Gi-hun, was impressed by the set design and the mechanics of the merry-go-round. "When I’m traveling outside of Korea and come across a merry-go-round, I always take a lot of photos," says Lee. "They’re just beautiful…. And to see that kind of merry-go-round installed in the set, I was really impressed. The mechanics that made it spin while literally hundreds of people were on top and moving about, it’s very hard to do."
The filming process for the Mingle game was also a complex and challenging task. Kim Ji-yong, director of photography, explained that the team used a combination of camera angles to create a sense of tension and suspense. "While filming the first three games and the series overall, I considered the distance between the camera and the actor to be crucial," says Kim. "When the camera is positioned near the actors, the viewers tend to feel as if they’re active participants in the game, working through it together."
The music for the Mingle game was composed by Jung Jaeil, who wanted to create a sense of unease and tension. "This simple and pure, naive melody all of a sudden turns into menacing, terrifying music," says Jung. "And that transition from round to round happens five to six times. I thought of the song as having about five different verses and added variations to each part, and kept swinging back and forth."
The editing process for the Mingle game was also crucial in building tension and suspense. Nam Na-young, editor, explained that the team paid close attention to the details of the acting and the pacing of the game. "We paid attention to the details of the acting in building tension and suspense so that everything would explode at just the right moment," says Nam.
The Mingle game is just one of the many thrilling games introduced in Squid Game Season 2. With its unique blend of strategy, suspense, and drama, it’s no wonder that fans are eagerly discussing the show online. As Hwang Dong-hyuk explains, "It takes a great deal of prudence in deciding on the games. But I think it came together beautifully." The article on Netflix’s Tudum website provides a detailed insight into the making of the Mingle game and the creative decisions behind it.
The show’s creative team worked tirelessly to bring the game to life, from the set design to the music and filming. Their hard work paid off, as the Mingle game has become one of the most talked-about aspects of the show. Squid Game Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
This article was sourced from Netflix’s Tudum website: https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/squid-game-season-2-mingle-game.
