Do you like how Doctor Strange has very nice chemistry with his cape? Many fans loved the portrayal of the magical cape that allows the titular character to levitate and protects him like a loving pet. Doctor Strange is a “strange” film. The character himself was hugely popular and made a great addition to the roster of superheroes that inhabit the MCU.
The movie itself was praised for its amazing visuals and great acting. However, it was a moderate box office success and did not really gather a lot of praise from fans. Don’t get it wrong, people liked the movie. They just didn’t love it. It was an average installment in the universe that casually vowed its viewers on a regular basis. Much like Antman and Spiderman, the film managed to introduce a likable character who was welcomed by fandom yet failed to be a memorable standalone movie.
Undeniably, the MCU has its low moments and Doctor Strange is far from one of them. What many people loved about the movie is that its protagonist looked just like the hero from the comics. Benedict Cumberbatch certainly knows how to rock a short beard and make his hand waving convincingly. He is stylish, smart, self-confident, and does not have any issues fighting cosmic evil.
The appearance of the character in his final form was exactly what sold the hero as a big addition to the MCU roster. The shot of Doctor Strange walking in the hallway while putting on his magic cape immediately became iconic. He was sporting his new clothes like a champ and definitely had that magical charisma while doing so. The red cape highlights his otherwise bleak wardrobe and turns him into a true mage.
Want to know something cool? The original design of the cape was even more stylish and colorful with some additional accessories sprinkled here and there and a gold embroidery covering its surface. Ryan Meinerding who worked on the costume showed a collection of his early works in which Doctor Strange looks completely different. He has a fancy cape and his uniform has some cool ornaments all over it.
The cloak of levitation never had anything fancy embroidered on it in the comics. It was a plain red cape that could fly which alone makes it 100 times cooler than any other cape. However, Meinerding initially wanted to give it some flair and added many cool details to the costume. To be honest, it doesn’t really make much sense that the cape has the same pattern of ornaments as the other parts of the wardrobe but who cares when it looks so great. Sadly, we don’t have any details explaining why the fancy-looking cape was not used in the final version of the film.
The simplification of the design could actually make it easier for the CGI team to work on it. The cape of levitation has its own personality and loves to fool around. The cape is constantly moving and has its own unique behavioral pattern. All of the above makes it hard for the animation team to work with it. Adding more complexity to the appearance of the cape could have made the animation process harder.
This all can be changed in the upcoming sequel to the film. Doctor Strange and The Multiverse of Madness is set to premiere on November 5 of 2021. The next film promises to be even more CGI-heavy and try to get an Oscar nomination for visual effects. The movie can definitely use a little bit more fanciness. Who knows? We may very well see the ancient ornaments covering the cape. The brave piece of clothing can definitely have a character arc of its own!