Analysis of contemporary opening title sequences vs. older opening title sequences:

Analysis of contemporary opening title sequences vs. older opening title sequences...

Vertigo Vs. Catch me if you Can:

Vertigo: A San Francisco detective suffering from acrophobia investigates the strange activities of an old friend's wife, all the while becoming dangerously obsessed with her.
Genre of film - Crime/mystery/romance
Release Date - 21 July 1958
Tagline - A tall story about a pushover.

When looking at the codes and conventions of this title sequence, analysising the title sequence of the 1958 film, 'Verigo' it begins with a close up shot of someones face which then changes into a extremem close up shot of someones eye. This may be done this way to emphaise on the idea of looking at something closely. The eye then changes from a normal skin colour to a red image of the eye which may connote the idea of danger. Then the eye image imerges into a new image which is of a pupil of the eye, then into a spiral which changes colour and shape (this continues throughout the title sequence). During the process of the spiral changing colour and shape, it could represent to the audience the idea of confusion and disorientation which may show what the film may be about. Then the film title sequence about includes a many different names of the people behind the making of the film. Names such as the co-director, casting, actors/actresses, screenplay, director of photography, sound recorder, make up artist, who edited it and many more behind the scenes roles. Then once the names have all been shown, the spiral changes back into the pupil of the eye, showing that the credits of the names have finished and the film is about to begin. The music which has been used I feel connotes the idea to the audience of the film being about confusion as the music is very edgy with loads of beats.

Catch Me If You Can: A true story about Frank Abagnale Jr. who, before his 19th birthday, successfully conned millions of dollars worth of checks as a Pan Am pilot, doctor, and legal prosecutor.
Genre of the film - Crime/Drama/Biography
Release Date - 31 January 2003
Tagline - Catch them this christmas.

When analysising the title sequence of the 2002 film, 'Catch Me If You Can' the audience are able to realise that it is an all animated title sequence. The music throughout the title sequence is the sound of a harp playing, which connotes the idea of peace. However, when the harp music becomes faster and more up beat, it connotes the idea of something being fast or in a rush, showing that this film may be about someone that has to be shy but quick at the job, maybe a spy or secret agent.

The title sequence also begins with an animation of people walking with a briefcase in their hands and airplaines in the sky. This could connote that these people could be important or have a high paid job, and showing that they are at an airport. The graphic image has three colours used in the first shot, blue, white and black. This may connote the idea of being calm and laid back, when using the blue colour. The names of people included in the production of the film are also consist of these colours, as the text emerges from the images. The text then changes and forms into another name and image. The images of air hostessesand a sign with a yellow arrow on it, which is a connotation of an airport; showing the idea of travelling. The text then becomes part of the images and changes a male cartoon to someone with a hat on, which could connote the idea that the film is part of changing identity. As the title sequence continues the animations almost confirm to the audience that it is based in an airport due to the use of images such as more airplanes and air hostesses, which could be a connotation to people travelling maybe for leisure or something such as escaping. The character walks up some black steps, running away from someone connoting that this person is running away from someone, maybe becuase they have done something wrong. The title sequence continues with a variety of different animated scenes which connote the idea of running away and different identities throughout the different themes. For example, the scene of a taxi driving through different streets could connote the of running away from something.