Creative directors of 'Squid Game' say they aimed for continuity between first, second season

The creative minds behind the second season of "Squid Game" offered an in-depth look into the artistic, musical and cinematographic choices that shaped the show's most recent chapter, revealing some behind-the-scenes efforts that almost led to a major overhaul of the series' visual identity.
Award-winning art director Chae Kyung-sun, who has recently garnered a prestigious nomination from the American Art Directors Guild Awards in the category for "one-hour contemporary single-camera series," shared her design approach in a group interview Thursday.
While there were attempts to drastically modify the iconic green sportswear worn by the participants, Chae explained that they ultimately decided to preserve the visual identity from the beginning of "Squid Game."
"Initially, there were attempts to change the color of the sportswear to sky blue or significantly modify the set design, but ultimately, preserving the existing symbolism proved to be the right choice," she reflected.
"We (also) considered changing the color of the bedding at the accommodations or rearranging the color scheme of the hallway," said Chae, who also worked on the first season. "It was a rather bold challenge. But in the end, we decided to stick with the original."

Chae divulged that her original vision for the set design featured elements drawn from a carousel, subway stations and public apartment buildings. However, not all of these concepts came to life on screen. She highlighted the carousel chosen for the "Round and Round" game, explaining, "The carousel was a symbolic element that could convey both the festive atmosphere and the tension of the game at the same time."
Music director Jung Jae-il, also a veteran from the series' first season, explained his approach to striking a balance between honoring the iconic soundscape of "Squid Game" while introducing fresh elements for the second season.
One particularly striking example of this was his rearrangement of the Korean children's song "Round and Round," which has since become a viral hit and has even been heard playing in nightclubs overseas.
Jung said he infused the popular children's song with electric sounds to amplify the tension. "I wanted to leave a strong impression by adding a cheerful melody to the scenes full of betrayal and tension," he noted.
Kim Ji-yong, who joined "Squid Game" to helm the filming of the second season, discussed his efforts to bring a documentary-style realism to the series.
"We chose camera angles that brought viewers closer to the characters and events, making them feel as if they are inside the arena, while sometimes using a distant, omniscient perspective for observation," he explained.
Kim emphasized the use of overhead shots in the game scenes, drawing inspiration from mitosis. "The overhead shots resembling cell division imagery enhance the tension of the drama," he said.

Kim revealed that for the second season red and blue were selected as primary colors to thread throughout the series. The hues were strategically applied at multiple locations, including the exterior of the motel where Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) resides as well as in the dormitory for the games.
"I wanted to show that there is not much difference between the inside and outside of the game arena."