After hearing Phillip rave about the title sequence for Se7en all semester, I figured this would be a good time to watch it. First of all, the style of the font is a mix between typewriter generic font and uneven scrawling. The effect is immediately jarring and suggests a ‘plotting against’ theme.
In terms of animation, the combination of quick opacity level changes, and the subtle shaking of text to suggest an unsteady camera is only enhanced by quick intercuts of numbers and letters that hold no substantial meaning, but causes you nonetheless to look closely in case it gives something away.
Meanwhile, you are watching hands creating something- almost like an introduction to the storyline. It is difficult to see what the hands are doing, but the camera focuses on it deciphering or creating some type of code. The images get increasingly graphic, which sets the tone for the entire movie.
On the other side of the spectrum, Honey, I Blew Up the Kids introduces the movie through a series of comics. Actual stories play up the inconveniences of having a giant baby in light-hearted ways, setting a goofy and fun tone. The bright colors and round text obviously prepares the viewer for a family-friendly movie, one that is welcoming to everyone.
My brother told me all about the movie 30 Days of Night recently and his rendition of zombie vampires attacking little girls and then chopping heads off did not do this title sequence justice. But then again, I think it may have been the audio elements that really did it for me (I had to turn the volume down because I got scared).
The font is simple- nothing fancy there. But the transitions effectively appear suddenly, as if they were hiding behind the frame the entire time, watching you as you slept. Very subtle scaling and opacity changes of the text on top of broken picture frames with family photos hint at some sort of disaster ripping apart families. My favorite part of this, though, is the lighting of those images. Through moving harsh shadows, it’s as if someone is shining a flashlight on them. No, not even on them- rather around them. As if they are looking for survivors. And then you notice a subtle color of red. It took me a few seconds to realize I was looking at bones, hands and bloody ice.
All three of these had differences being that one was a drama, another was a family comedy, and the third was a horror film. However, each one incorporated subtle animation to their titles. This is what sets professional titles apart from amateur titles. And furthermore, each one entertains the audience in some way. You aren’t watching scrolling black and white names. You’re watching an extra limb to the movie. In the case of 30 Days of Night, you are literally watching an extra limb.