If you’ve spent as much time watching movies as the average person, you’re well aware that the intro or title sequences at the beginning of the movie can really set the scene for the entire film. A site called Art of the Title has become an archive for some of the most amazing introductions to cinema and television shows with wonderful critiques, examples, influences, and interviews. Not only does the site offer an extensive list of designers and studios responsible for creating this killer content, but they’ve also got some amazing, in-depth write-ups that go into the nuances of how each came into being including scripts, storyboards, and quotes from the creators.
One of my favorite shows on AMC several years ago was Halt and Catch Fire, named after the early 80s programming function in which the computer would freeze up, causing a full system reset. Programming idioms aside, you can find a great interview on their site with the creators along with a ton of behind the scenes information that extends your understanding of the show in a fun, yet meaningful way.
Other titles from the small screen I’ve been impressed are from the Marvel Comics catalog — in particular, Netflix’s Daredevil and Luke Cage which is also represented on the site. While these shows are no longer actively being produced, it does provide some insight into how they set the stage for future shows.
The big screen is not neglected, as they’ve got the Black Panther represented as well. I enjoyed watching the trailer again as it captured all of the excitement from the movie. It’s a great way to relive it from the creators’ perspective.
And lastly, the site does a great job paying homage to the classics such as Terminator, and the creepy Se7en intro with powerful typography and images that really add to the horror. Not only are they mindful of things that made movie history, but they also roll up recent title sequences into Top 10s by genre. Here’s an example:
If you haven’t spent time on the site perusing all of the great talents, I highly suggest you do. At the very least, it’ll provide inspiration for your next animation project. Check it out here.