The Arrival

Shaun Tan's The Arrival is a masterpiece of visual storytelling. The book is completely wordless, but the visual elements create an enchanting and warm story. The story is about an immigrant.  The story follows the man who leaves his family in search of a new home. It is about his struggles, encounters, and discoveries in a foreign place.
Tan uses lighting and soft charcoal techniques to enhance the mood throughout the work. The rough, grainy traditional media beautifully adds to his intent. He also uses unique symbols (foreign and familiar) to establish the world he has created. His comic is full of dramatic scenes and close up shots of characters. The addition of various immigrants' stories (which the protagonist discovers along the way) add to the theme. We experience the various feelings of multiple characters on the same topic - immigration. The visual style is almost like an old picture or memory book. It feels as if we are reading a relatives travel journey.
Shaun Tan created a magically believable world. Together, all the visual storytelling techniques create a masterpiece. While the tale is based on the creator's own personal immigration to Australia, it is still relatable to people in various ways. It is safe to say, that almost any reader has felt as if they were a foreigner in a new environment. Tan captures those exact feelings of confusion, wonder, and happiness in his story. In the end, we feel the character's adaption and acceptance. The Arrival revolutionizes the picture book.