The Art of the Title Sequence

A title sequence of a film is very important as it is what the audience are most likely to judge the film on within the first few seconds of the opening credits.  It presents the idea and genre of a film and suggests where it is most likely to go through elements such as mise-en-scene, titling itself, timing, music etc.  Title Sequence's are what we base our judgement of a film on; as the opening credits give the audience clues, creatively setting expectations for the movie. Creating and presenting a title sequence is almost an art - as it is the first thing an audience will set eyes on.  Title sequences and how they have been created have changed overtime as technology and graphics have advanced - yet they all have the same aim and it is to grasp the audience's attention making it as effective as possible.  

Analysing Title Sequences

CORALINE (2009)


Directed by Henry Selick, Coraline is a fantasy/ horror children film where an adventurous young girl unlocks the door to another world where an idealized version of her frustrating home is found - but sinister secrets lie ahead.  I think this is one of the best creepiest/ horror children film made and the title sequence is very effective in foreshadowing what is to come later in the film.  It is very crucial opening as it presents a punch and cut distressing construction of a doll which is the main element of the film; as this doll leads Coraline to the parallel world where everything is 'perfect'.  The animation used in this title sequence is spectacular as it is made for 3D viewing; objects such as the creepy needle constructing this 'Doll' seems to almost come out of screen to the audience - a great illusion.  We see the careful process and the calm yet eerie/ happy music that goes alongside it.  I think this is a great title sequence as it is really important for the audience's first impressions in setting the scene.

To watch the opening sequence, Click Here

00:04 - Focus Features Presents
00:09 - A Laika Production
00:14 - In Association with Pandemonium (LLC)
00:20 - Coraline
00:24 - Dakota Fanning
00:27 - Teri Hatcher
00:31 - Jennifer Saunders
00:35 - Dawn French
00:39 - Keith David, John Hodgman, Robert Bailey Jr.
00:44 - and Ian McShane
00:47 - (Doll descends through window, starry night)
00:51 - (Doll grasped by needle like hands) lead animators Travis Knight, Trev Thomas, Eric Leighton, Phil Dale
01:02 - (Rags of Doll being cut with scissors) Concept artist Tadahiro Uesugi
01:05 - (Doll's hair being removed) Art directors Bo Henry, Tom Proost, Phil Brotherton
01:11 - (Buttons on Doll's eyes removed) storyboard supervisor Chris Butler
01:20 - (Insides of Doll such as fluff descends)
01:23 - Editors Christopher Murrie, Ronald Sanders
01:27 - Visual effects supervisor Brian Van't Hul
01:29 - (Doll being filled with sand)
01:36 - (Doll layed down, thread being pulled through needle) Music by Bruno Coulais
01:47 - (Doll's mouth is being sown) Supervising Animator Anthony Scott
01:54 - (Button is chosen, sown on eye of Doll)
01:57 - Director of photography Pete Kozachik, ASC
02:01 - (Doll's hair is woven) Produced by Bill Mechanic, Claire Jennings
02:10 - (Clothes of Doll sown to fit)
02:12 - Produced by Henry Selick, Mary Sandell
02:16 - Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman
02:22 - (Completed Doll released from window) Written for the screen and directed by Henry Selick

PSYCHO (1960)

The outstanding Alfred Hitchcock box office hit Psycho is a classic suspense/ horror film based on the 1959 novel also Psycho by Robert Bloch.  It presents the encounter between a secretary hiding at a motel after stealing money from her employer and the disturbed owner and manager of the motel she stays in.  Long under the domination of his mother; we later witness the all famous murder in the shower scene and the stabbing orchestra that builds the biggest ever suspense.  The famous music plays throughout a black and white opening sequence - it seems to be fast and snappy with horizontal dancing lines as the titling appears on screen.  There isn't much going on apart from the fast names; yet it seems to build suspense and captures the audience's attention as the music rises and the titling increases.  There is an emphasis on the great Alfred Hitchcock's direction of this film as his name is mentioned twice - I think that's very good!

The trailer for the 1960 Psycho Original - Alfred Hitchcock himself builds the suspense of the story that we are about witness! Click Here  
I absolutely love how trailer's were made back then.. Nothing better than Alfred Hitchcock himself to have the audience screaming as they anticipate the film's release.  


00:03 - A Paramount release
00:13 - Alfred Hitchcock's
00:18 - Psycho
00:25 - Starring Anthony Perkins
00:29 - Vera Miles
00:33 - John Gavin
00:37 - co starring Martin Balsam & John McIntire
00:44 - with Simon Oakland, Vaughn Taylor, Frank Albertson, Lurene Tuttle, Pat Hitchcock, John Anderson, Mort Mills
00:54 - & Janet Leigh as Marion Crane
01:01 - Screenplay by Joseph Stefano, based on the novel by Robert Bloch
01:09 - Director of Photography John L. Russel A.S.C, Art direction Joseph Hurley & Robert Clatworthy, Set Director George Milo, Unit manager Lew Leary , Titles designed by Saul Bass
01:23 - Edited by George Tomasini A.C.E, costume supervisor Helen Colvig, Make-up supervision Jack Barron & Robert Dawn, hairstylist Florence Bush, special effects Clarence Champagne, Sound recording by Waldon O. Watson & William Russel
01:33 - Assistant director - Hilton A. Green, Pictoral Consultant Saul Bass
01:42 - Music by Bernard Herrman
01:48 - Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

To watch the opening sequence, Click Here