In a dramatic production, anensemble cast is one that comprises many principal actors andperformers who are typically assigned roughly equal amounts of screen time.[1][2]
In contrast to the popular model, which gives precedence to a soleprotagonist, an ensemble cast leans more towards a sense of "collectivity and community".[3]
Ensemble casts in film were introduced as early as September 1916, withD. W. Griffith's silentepic filmIntolerance, featuring four separate though parallel plots.[4] The film follows the lives of several characters over hundreds of years, across different cultures and time periods.[5] The unification of different plot lines and character arcs is a key characteristic of ensemble casting in film; whether it is a location, event, or an overarching theme that ties the film and characters together.[4]
Films that feature ensembles tend to emphasize the interconnectivity of the characters, even when the characters are strangers to one another.[6] The interconnectivity is often shown to the audience through examples of the "six degrees of separation" theory, and allows them to navigate through plot lines usingcognitive mapping.[6] Examples of this method, where the six degrees of separation is evident in films with an ensemble cast, are in productions such asLove Actually,Crash, andBabel, which all have strong underlying themes interwoven within the plots that unify each film.[4]Whodunit films also often feature interconnected characters as suspects, such as inDeath on the Nile,Clue, andKnives Out.[7]
The Avengers,X-Men, andJustice League are three examples of ensemble casts in thesuperhero genre.[8][9] Referential acting is a key factor in executing this balance, as ensemble cast members "play off each other rather than off reality".[3]
Filmmakers known for their use of ensemble casts includeRobert Altman,Woody Allen,Spike Lee,Quentin Tarantino,Wes Anderson, andPaul Thomas Anderson among others.
Ensemble casting also became more popular intelevision series because it allows flexibility for writers to focus on different characters in different episodes. In addition, the departure of players is less disruptive than would be the case with a regularly structured cast. The television seriesThe Muppets,The Golden Girls,The Proud Family andFriends are archetypal examples of ensemble casts in American sitcoms. The science-fiction mystery dramaLost features an ensemble cast. Ensemble casts of 20 or more actors are common insoap operas, a genre that relies heavily on the character development of the ensemble.[10] The genre also requires continuous expansion of the cast as the series progresses, with soap operas such asGeneral Hospital,Days of Our Lives,Neighbours,The Young and the Restless, andThe Bold and the Beautiful staying on air for decades.[11]
An example of a success for television in ensemble casting is theEmmy Award-winningHBO seriesGame of Thrones. The fantasy series features one of the largest ensemble casts on the small screen.[12] The series is notorious for major character deaths, resulting in constant changes within the ensemble.[13]
Ensemble casts are common in children's television, with both human and non-human casts. Examples include:Sesame Street,Thomas & Friends,Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends,Rugrats,SpongeBob SquarePants,Total Drama,The Loud House,The Casagrandes,Animaniacs,Tiny Toon Adventures,Freakazoid!,Cow and Chicken,Hey Arnold!, andThe Replacements.[citation needed]
