Opening Credits Analysis

Opening Credits Analysis

     Superman (1978)

GENRE - Superhero/Action

SOUND - There is an non-diegetic orchestral soundtrack playing throughout. We hear drums, strings, and horns, to name a few instruments. The music is quite upbeat and exciting, creating an epic mood, and the idea of something incredible taking place. It seems to sweep the viewer off their feet and insert them into a thrilling story. The sound is quite loud and immersing right from the beginning, showing that it will be an exciting caper throughout. The only other sound heard is the whooshing of the names as they fly towards or away from the viewer.

VISUALS - The opening starts with a black and white theatre film of a boy reading a comic, which sets up the movie and shows that the film is based off a comic book. During the names, the main background is a film of space, showing stars and galaxies. This  tells the viewer that there will be themes of sci-fi, in that Superman is alien. There are also images of fire and sparklers, creating a mood of excitement and danger. These images create an epic and excited feeling in the viewer, and makes the film seem out of this world and extraordinary. The text flies in front of this, creating the idea of flight, which reflects Superman in the film.

FONT - The font is an outlined electric blue colour. It is quite big and blocky, without serif, which make it seem cosmic & out of this world, and like it's come from space. The glowing outline makes it seem as if it is made of light, adding to the idea of the film being big and epic. The mood created is one of something awesome, an amazing story that is like nothing ever told before.

GENRE CREATED - From the opening, the movie seems like it's an epic and incredible story, that will leave it's viewers gasping for breath in their seats. However, it does suggest that it is set in space, and that it is an action sci-fi film, which it isn't really.

     Skyfall (2012)

GENRE - Action/Spy

SOUND - The only sound we hear is a non-diegetic soundtrack. It starts simple and quiet - a single piano, and then a woman's voice. Her voice is haunting and mysterious, creating a feeling of mystery in the viewer. The sounds then builds up, as more instruments are added. The overall sound is quite dramatic and mysterious, creating this mood in the viewer. The music also has the traditional James Bond theme incorporated, telling the viewer that it is a Bond film, so they should expect the normal themes of mystery, action and romance, amongst others.

VISUALS - The footage is not from the film, but relates to it. The main colours are dark blue, which is mysterious, and red, which suggests violence. Orange fire is introduced later, and then a stylish black and white sequence. These suggest the atmosphere of the film - mystery, violence and death, plus a certain stylishness and class. The sequence is also rich in symbolism. There are lots of things that symbolise death, including graves, skulls, bulletholes, guns and knives. There is also a lot of blood and shadows. There is also lots of symbolism for physical things, such as the house they visit and the chinese dragons that suggest they are going to China.

FONT - The font is very simple, yet also very stylish and clean. It is white, rounded, and without serifs, which creates an impression of style and class. The font also looks very professional and smart, reflecting the atmosphere of Bond films.

GENRE CREATED - The opening credits create a mood of mystery and of style, but also of action and fighting. This successfully captures the genre and themes of this Bond film.

     Coraline (2009)

GENRE - Animation/Fantasy

SOUND - The sound is non-diegetic and starts quite quiet, never becoming particularly loud, although building up past the quiet beginning. The sound is a non-diegetic soundtrack, and sounds quite creepy. At the beginning, the sound fades in from complete silence, and we can hear strings and high piano solo. The sound of a chorus of indecipherable children's voices is heard, creating a creepy atmosphere. These sounds are the main ones used throughout, along with an indecipherable lower male voice. This is quite creepy, and puts the viewer on edge, but later on the sound becomes more wondering and magical, hinting that it won't be entirely dark, and there will also be a mood of intrigue and wonder.

VISUALS - At first, the background looks like it's made of leather, with the text sewn on top of it. This establishes the theme of sewing and textiles used throughout the film with the dolls. This is used to introduce the production companies and main actors. After this, we then see an animated film that acts as an establishing prologue, showing robotic, spindly pincers disassembling then reassembling a cloth ragdoll. The actions are quite vicious and violent, which puts the viewer on edge and creates an atmosphere of unease. This introduces us to the character of the mother, and to Coraline through the doll. The colour is quite dark, grey, and desaturated, hinting at the creepy, dark atmosphere to the film.

FONT - The font is an old-looking classic font, with swirls underneath that make it seem slightly gothic. It is slightly faded, creating a creepy and uneasy atmosphere. This creates an idea that the film will be quite dark and slightly mysterious, and almost gothic in nature. The font is a grey-white, adding to the dark and mysterious mood.

GENRE CREATED - Overall, the genre created is one of dark yet intriguing mystery, with gothic tints. It also seems quite creepy and scary.

     Aladdin (1992)

GENRE - Animation/Adventure

SOUND - The opening is a song, which at first seems like a soundtrack, but at the end seems to have been sung by a turbaned arab man. The music is quite basic at the beginning, with only a few instruments and the singing, but builds up midway through. It starts with an arabic-sounding pipe and some drums, introducing the film as taking place in Arabia. The arabic sound continues throughout the opening credits song. The beginning creates an atmosphere of mystery, which changes to an atmosphere of excitement and adventure once the sound builds up. We also hear other diegetic sounds, like the thud of the camels footsteps.

VISUALS - The first thing we see is a picture of fire and purple smoke. This creates a feeling of mystery and wonder. Images are then shown of the fiery, desolate desert, showing the setting, and how removed and empty the desert is. The majestic palace is then shown, creating a mood of wonder and amazement that the viewer associates with the palace for the rest of the movie. The image then swoops through the streets, showing crowds of people and a street entertainer. This creates a mood of excitement and adventure, and shows what an exciting, busy place the city is. Overall, the viewer gets an atmosphere of wonder, magic and excitement.

FONT - The font is a gold colour, which hints at treasure and also creates an idea of wealth. It also matches the arabic font used, which helps establish the setting of the film. It helps to show the exoticness and mystery of the film.

GENRE CREATED - Overall, an atmosphere is created of mystery, excitement, adventure, and a touch of magic. It also establishes the arabic setting of the film.

     A Shot in the Dark (1964)

GENRE - Comedy/Detective

SOUND - Both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds are used in the opening credits. A soundtrack is used, which sounds quite jazzy. It creates the idea of someone creeping along, showing the mystery, but it also sounds comical, showing the light and comedic side of the film. There are 2 breaks from the soundtrack at various parts; the can-can when some detached legs dance along the screen; and a romantic violin tune during the sound credits. This suggests themes of sex and romance in the film. Diegetic sounds are also used. The main sounds are comical gunshot sounds, which show the action and danger, but also the comedy of the film. There is also an exaggerated shriek and a whistle-blow, but no speech.

VISUALS - The opening credits play over a cartoon of a comedic-looking detective with a massive chin wandering around and getting blown up. This shows that it is a detective film, but also creates an atmosphere of humour and slapstick. The colours are vivid and quite blocky, showing that the film will not be very serious, an will be quite bright and funny. There is very little symbolism in the opening credits, only visual gags and slapstick.

FONT - The font for the main title and any important names, such as the actors of the main characters, is very mixed. The letters all seem to be different styles, including western, newspaper, simple, and pretty, plus a target board. This creates an impression of the film  and the main character being slightly messy and funny. It also seems comedic, showing the comedy of the film. Less important names and titles use a much more simple font, creating an impression of smartness and cleanness.

GENRE CREATED - The opening clearly establishes that the film is a comedic detective parody, which can be seen in the comedic slapstick and hints at detective mystery films.