Wes Anderson is no doubt a design-aholic, and his latest Bill Murray flick shows no letting up in his keen regard for art direction. Few filmmakers have shown the obsessive interest in typeface, particularly the Futura font, which Anderson shows in his films. Whole weblog posts have been devoted to even the slightest interference of a little Helvetica.

The latest Wes Anderson debate has focused on the poster designs for The Life Aquatic. The striking design, which features a silhouetted Bill Murray wearing orange cap, colored in with various ocean life, is perhaps one of this year’s strongest movie posters. (click thumbnails for larger pics)

It’s one of those posters that you think you’ve seen before, somewhere, if you can just pin it down. To Matt at low culture it feels like Milton Glaser’s Dylan poster from 1966. To one of his commenters, it feels like Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s Water painting from 1566. (thanks greg)

I feel as if I’ve seen another work that more fully influenced this vision. I’m picturing two Renaissance silhouette portraits filled with flowers. If anyone has any idea what I’m talking about, email me.

In any case, it’s a striking poster. View the trailer.