Ever felt like the ordinary world around you holds a secret, hidden magic? That's the essence of Shaun Tan's work, now captivating audiences in a new TV adaptation of his book, Tales from Outer Suburbia. But here's where it gets controversial: Is it fantasy, or something far more profound? Tan, who grew up in the then-unremarkable suburb of Hillarys in Perth during the 1980s, admits to a childhood marked by boredom. Yet, it was this very boredom that sparked his imagination, transforming the mundane into the extraordinary. His parents, newcomers to the area, built a house in a place they barely knew, leaving young Tan to explore the park next door and bike around with neighborhood kids. These long, aimless days became fertile ground for his creativity, where the ordinary streets felt like a 'castaway universe' waiting to be discovered.
Tan's ability to find wonder in the everyday has defined his career. With 14 books written and illustrated, and an Oscar for his short film The Lost Thing, he’s mastered the art of turning the familiar into something uniquely special. His latest adaptation, Tales from Outer Suburbia, now an animated series on ABC iview, is a testament to this skill. Inspired by the oddities and musings of his childhood suburb, the series recreates moments like a strange wind carrying newspapers across the park—a scene both ordinary and magical. 'It’s not fantasy,' Tan insists, 'but a way of tapping into the inherent strangeness of everything.'
And this is the part most people miss: Tan’s work isn’t about escaping reality; it’s about revealing the surreal within it. Deep-sea divers strolling to the milk bar, a tiny visitor in the crockery cupboard, goldfish swirling in the night sky—these bizarre elements are grounded in the everyday. Tan avoids the dreamlike detachment of fantasy, favoring surrealism for its ability to highlight the absurdity of our routines, behaviors, and histories. 'All things are strange,' he says, inviting us to see the world anew.
Yet, beneath the whimsy lies a tinge of melancholy. Tan’s stories often grapple with themes of belonging and displacement, rooted in his own experiences as a half-Asian child in a predominantly white area. 'It’s a question of how we fit into this particular time and place,' he reflects, turning personal introspection into universal existential queries.
Despite being labeled a children’s author, Tan’s work transcends age groups. 'I see these as adult stories,' he explains, 'using childhood memories to reinvigorate adult perception.' His protagonists are often children because they embody curiosity, a trait he believes should carry into adulthood. The TV series, he jokes, might be the first time he’s consciously thought about kids as an audience.
Tan’s inspiration owes much to fellow Perth writer Tim Winton, whose stories about suburban landscapes showed him that even the most ordinary places deserve literary attention. 'You can write about where you grew up, and it’s as important as anywhere else,' Tan realized. Now, he frequently returns to Perth’s suburbs for inspiration, though he’s quick to clarify: 'I’m not glorifying the suburbs. They’re just a canvas for the human experience.'
Here’s a thought-provoking question for you: Is Tan’s work a celebration of the suburbs, or a subtle critique of their monotony? Whether set on Earth or another planet, his stories retain the same structure and feeling, inviting readers to find their own connections. 'The book starts where it ends,' he says, leaving the interpretation open-ended. As viewers dive into Tales from Outer Suburbia, one thing is certain: Tan’s magic lies in making us see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Watch it free on ABC TV and ABC iview, and decide for yourself—is it fantasy, surrealism, or something entirely unique?
What do you think? Is Tan’s portrayal of suburban life a love letter or a quiet rebellion? Share your thoughts in the comments!
