As the opening credits set the mood for what’s to come in a movie, it is important the opening fit the look and feel of the film’s theme, genre, and story. A number of opening titles use graphics and animation to make the visuals more playful or enticing. These typically include traditional animation or computer-generated imagery (CGI) in 2D or 3D format. Others may combine different styles and formats, along with some live-action shots.
There are classic films with themes exploring detective work and travel that noticeably feature similar 2D animation treatments for their opening sequences. These movies mostly use changeable solid or gradient colors for their backgrounds and illustrations. They also utilize specific images related to things that happen in the stories.
“The Pink Panther” (1963)
The original crime comedy “The Pink Panther” introduces the character of French police inspector Jacques Clouseau, who is on a quest to catch the thief of the stolen pink panther. Although the story specifically refers to the jewel called the pink panther, the film presents an animated opening sequence of a cartoon animal also known as the pink panther.
In the 2D-animated credits, this mischievous panther interacts with the texts seen onscreen by spinning letters, unscrambling words, and correcting letters and words to complete the names and roles of the production people shown in the film’s opening credits. This character’s comic antics also creatively reflect the production crews’ designated works.
“It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” (1963)
“It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” is an ensemble adventure comedy about the last words of a thief that results in a treasure hunt across the country. It features an entertaining 2D-animated opening with a simple drawing of a globe that blows up to scatter the text of the film’s credits. This globe keeps its look but changes its form from a man carrying the world like Atlas until it explodes to become the film’s title.
As the sequence progresses, the globe also turns into a hatched egg, circus tool, face, balloon, parachute, paper cutout, yo-yo, and building window, among other objects. Aside from this globe image, another recurring element is a hand that cuts and fixes the globe and the names of those in the credits.
“Catch Me If You Can” (2002)
The biographical comedy-drama “Catch Me If You Can” tells the life story of an infamously brilliant con man who successfully travels to different parts of the world for free and cashes out millions of dollars by posing as a pilot, doctor, and lawyer. Its 2D-animated opening credits feature a smart and simple concept that consistently utilizes a visually pleasant art direction and style. The amusing elements seen onscreen match the names and designations of the people who worked on the film. This credits’ play of colors and backgrounds, along with awesome graphics and movements, interestingly diversify as the sequence progresses.
“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” (2005)
“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” explores the story of a petty thief who finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation. This murder mystery centers around three characters, including the thief (who poses as an actor), a detective, and a struggling actress. The movie’s opening credits are a fine example of how a 2D-animated introduction can effectively show the distinct elements relating to the different aspects of the movie. The interconnected visuals jump between the more stylized comic book look to the neat motion graphics of curves, lines, cityscapes, streets, party interiors, and text pages.
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