The evolution of the Tomorrowland aftermovie

By Amy Martine 2.7k

Widely regarded as one of the world’s most iconic festivals, Tomorrowland has established itself as an unstoppable force within the events industry. Held in Belgium every year, the festival unites a global crowd of dedicated fans, many of whom return year after year. One of the main driving factors in Tomorrowland’s growth is arguably the festival’s ability to craft aftermovies that connect with the audience on a deeper level. As Tomorrowland 2019 approaches, we’re going to take a look at the progression of the Tomorrowland aftermovie.

The first Tomorrowland aftermovie was released in 2005, and shares no resemblance with the footage the festival publishes in the present day. The 2005 aftermovie is representative of the period within electronic music, with an incredibly high-paced soundtrack alongside grainy footage of revelers enjoying the festival. Even the outfits of the festival-goers are something to behold, and are a huge marker of the way the scene has developed over the last 15 years.

In 2006, there hadn’t been much development. Following the same style, the aftermovie captures the mood of the time, with dark footage of ravers immersed in the experience, enjoying the moment. While the footage doesn’t share much resemblance with more recent aftermovies, it does capture the unique magic that can be experienced on the holy grounds.

Over the course of the next few years we see more glimpses of the aftermovie style that Tomorrowland is known for today. Sunny skies, happy ravers and a fairytale aesthetic. 2009 is a huge turning point, with the introduction of the overhead Mainstage shots that have become so iconic in Tomorrowland’s footage. Another aspect which shifts is the music style, which takes a turn towards uplifting house.

2010 undoubtedly marks a turning point in the festival’s history, and the years that follow are still regarded by many as the golden age of EDM. This time period saw the festival grow exponentially, and become world-renowned for it’s euphoria and beauty. Many would agree that one of the most iconic moments during Tomorrowland 2010 was when Swedish House Mafia performed a mind-blowing set at the Mainstage.

2011 was the year that truly saw Tomorrowland delve into its fairytale branding, with visuals of a story book opening the aftermovie. This aftermovie was one of the most important in Tomorrowland’s history, as it connected with such a vast amount of people, many of whom made plans to travel to the festival over the following few years. Many would argue that it is the music that truly makes an aftermovie special, and the 2011 aftermovie undoubtedly delivers from that perspective. Avicii‘s ‘Levels‘ is one of the major features, bringing the footage of Tomorrowland to life in all its glory.

In 2012, much of the focus was based around Tomorrowland’s Global Journey packages which allowed fans from all over the globe to travel to the festival in style. That year marked the debut of the iconic ‘Book of Wisdom’ stage, which is set to make its return this year over two-weekends. Regarded by many as the best aftermovie in Tomorrowland’s history, the 2012 aftermovie undoubtedly captured the soul of the festival and shared it globally. In fact, the aftermovie has over 156 million views, illustrating exactly how powerful one video can be.

2013’s aftermovie opens with Avicii’s ‘Wake Me Up‘, instantly injecting a surge of energy into the footage. This year marked the debut of the mesmerizing volcano stage, which is still one of the festival’s most iconic stages ever. Next up, 2014 was the first year that the festival was spread across 2 weekends, this was to celebrate Tomorrowland’s 10 year anniversary. The result was an extended 30+ minute aftermovie that captured many of the greatest moments from the 8 days of madness.

Remembered by many by its Mainstage design, 2015 saw revelers dance the night away at the foot of a gigantic castle. Although the weather that year impacted the festival’s aesthetic, the spirit of the event is captured in every moment of the aftermovie. 2016 marked the last single-weekend Tomorrowland, packing a huge amount of energy into the 23 minute aftermovie. Right at the peak of commercial EDM, this aftermovie reflects the era’s tastes through its soundtrack. Uplifting house is at the centre of the soundtrack, with hits like ‘Empire‘ by Dimitri Vangelis & Wyman vs Tom Staar effortlessly capturing the spirit of the festival.

2017 and 2018 saw Tomorrowland strive to create the same unique energy through their aftermovies, as fans eagerly anticipated more content from the iconic festival. In 2018, one of the most noticeable aspects of the aftermovie is the diversity of its soundtrack, featuring a wide range of EDM sub-genres to cater to the tastes of the attendees and fans. The surprising aspect about the 2018 aftermovie is that unlike previous years, Tomorrowland dropped the aftermovie right after the conclusion of the second weekend. Surprisingly, they still managed to upkeep their sky-high standards, and didn’t leave any room for disappointment.

The 2017 aftermovie is unavailable on YouTube, but can be viewed here.

As fans around the world prepare for Tomorrowland 2019, many are already speculating about the design of this year’s Mainstage, as well as the full timetable which is yet to be released. One thing is for certain, Tomorrowland is ready to exceed expectations once again and provide festivalgoers with the best experience yet.