Getting in touch with our inner sadistic, bloodthirsty child: Adapting Game of Thrones for the adult colouring book market

Abstract

Adult colouring books have become a permanent fixture in shops across the globe. These books began as a way of marketing illustrators’ work but have expanded to become part of the media franchising industry. This article will explore the two licensed colouring books created for Game of Thrones and the news media response to them. This response is varied, with much criticism of this kind of licensed product which appears to exist as potentially unimaginative Christmas presents. It will explore how these colouring books act as both an adaptation and how they are an important part of the modern media franchising industry. This kind of product is considered as an important way to keep licensed properties in the public eye, particularly when they are in between television seasons. When it comes to Game of Thrones colouring books there are a number of common themes in news media, such as the idea that colouring such images is not a route to mindfulness, and that these books act as a substitute for the ‘real thing’.