The History Of Title Sequences

A Title Sequence is the method whereby a film and or television programme present their title, key production and cast members, using visuals and sound.

Opening credits usually follows this, which is generally nothing more than a series of superimposed text. 

At the time when cinematography was invented, simple title cards were used to start and end silent films. This was used to identify both the film and the production company involved, and act as a signal that the film has started or finished. 

Analysis

Titles In Silent Film

Words and lettering played an enormous role in films and the silent era. Film titles first started appearing in the earliest silent films, along with letter cards, which provided the context of the film.

This is the main title from D.W. Griffith's "Intolerance" (1916), where the director's name is featured in five ways.

Film titles and letter cards had to provide essential information to the viewer.

The Birth of the Title Sequence

People such as Saul Bass arrived on the scene in the 1950's, at a time when the studios were starting to struggle in their fight with the growing popularity of television. At the time, independent filmmakers made headway by doing things differently, giving a breath of fresh air to title sequences. This is the era in which the discipline of film title sequence design was born. 

This clip shows the opening title sequence of James Bond "Dr. No" (1962). Maurice Binder is the creator of the famous gun-barrel sequence, which became iconic for the James Bond franchise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3saLfYCO_G8

 

Other famous title designs were from "To Kill A Mocking Bird" (1962) and "Almost Famous" (2000).

The Digital Area, And Modern Trends In Film Title Design

In the mid-1990s, a new generation of design-education was born. With the introduction of new technology it allowed title design to be more creative and as a result countless design ideas were created.

The revolutionary title sequence for "Se7en" (1995) was named by New York Times Magazine as  "one of the most important design innovation of the 1990's"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRKGxpHDtGg

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