A title sequence is the method by which films or television programs present the movie title, main actors, institution, director and other important information.

The function of the title sequence is to present the audience a quick overview of the movie genre and clearly present the title.

Three films featured in the A brief history of the art of the title sequence are:

Psycho

King kong

Juno

A film shown in ‘a brief history of the art of the title sequence is Catch me if you can. Catch me if you can uses stickmen with no faces or clear actor to represent the ‘mystery’ or the unknown which is typical for the ‘action/crime’ genre. Also the opening uses music which is very similar to the music of Pink Panther. Pink Panther is a crime movie/programme, the music is very well-known and is easily known to be part of the crime genre. The mood created by the music makes us feel enigma of why they are undercover and why they are hiding their identity.

The opening for Catch me if you can uses sound elements of music to clarify the genre to the audience. The use of stickmen and hiding their identity also hints to the genre of crime and action as it doesn’t show you the actor so you cant make pre-asumptions on who they are and what they might be like! Also the way the shots fade to black is typical of the action genre.

The opening of ‘dawn of the dead’ is shown the art of the title sequence. The opening uses graphic pictures of ‘murders’ and ‘death’ this creates feelings of being scared and worried. The title sequence also uses scream follisounds which also create fear and the enigma of what is going on? And why is everyone dead or screaming.

the use of graphic murder/death pictures suggest that the movie is horror as it build up the typical horror emotions and also things which are typical of a horror movie. The red font on black background also suggets it’s a horror as the red can be a connotation for blood and the black symbolises mystery and the unknown.

Visit the following website: Art of the Title watch the sequences and read the 6

Film Title Sequence interview with Richard Morrison.

Select 2 of the 6 Morrison Title Sequences and complete the following questions

the opening titles use a dark background which implies there will lots of mystery through out and this suggests the movie will come under the action genre. Also the music is very slow yet still has a ‘creepy’ feeling which makes the audience feel on edge and awaiting something to happen

Batman 1989

Morrison suggests that they used techniques and styles which no one had ever used before thus creating a timeless opening.

Batman 1989

Morrison feels this is a successful sequence as no one had ever done anything like this (before it was made) and it has a timeless feel and you cant forget it .

Batman 1989

the opening sequence is low key which suggests it will have lots of mystery and enigma. The music is very eerie. There is ‘blood’ in the rain which suggests the movie will be of the horror genre. The music rapidly speeds up as the action intensifies as you see the guts and the blood travelling through the london town and sewers.

Sweeny todd: the demon barber of fleet street

Morrison feels this sequence was successful as they brought new elements to the opening style. They used advanced animation for the ‘blood’ and he said ‘that was a dream project

Sweeny todd: the demon barber of fleet street