101 Dalmations
I selected Disney’s 101 Dalmatians (1961 version) because I enjoy watching animation, and Disney is famous for its creativity. Stephen Frankfurt designed Disney’s sequence. His design and aesthetics used are what was expected in the 1961 period. The used topography gives the viewer a sense of nostalgia for the old days. The illustrations are beautiful in their simplicity. The use of colors and contrast grasps the viewer’s attention. The music accompanying the sequences is happy and moves with the sequences’ rhythm or font writing. And of course, the animation motion complements the musical sound.
The title sequence starts with Walt Disney’s logo and that recognizable soundtrack. Then it shows the distributor’s name and “Walt Disney Presents.” The latter is erased as the drawing of Dalmatians appears in black and white (contrast effect truthful to a Dalmatian’s colors) on a grey background. Next, the Dalmatians are multiplied and the barking sound is heard.
The movie’s title is written in a nice and effective red and bold font superimposed on the Dalmatians as a background layer of black and white. Here too we note the use of contrast.
Next, one of the Dalmatians is selected (“remember the title”) and appears wagging his tail. This is followed by a close-up of a Dalmatian’s black spot. On that spot appears “With the talents of” in a small, blue font. Other black spots are added to name the talents in blue and green colors within the spots. There is an interplay of large and smaller fonts within the black spots. But that changes when the listing of talents starts to appear outside (not on) the black spots.
The next scene is a black spot in the shape of a Dalmatian’s head. Additional “talents’ names” are written on it in green with a font that is whimsical. Then the shape is made smaller and emptied out to make room for additional talents’ names.
With the use of a paintbrush, the grey background turns into yellow, pink, and blue. Then a big black spot gives credit to Production Supervisor, Sound Supervisor, Film Editors, Music Editor, Special Processes (with symbols appearing in the lower field). Then an “orange eraser” appears on the written names to make way for a white background (a clean slide).
The next sequence is about the music. The clever action taken above sets the white and black background for the musical notices. A Dalmatian black paw is turned into the lines on a note sheet as well as the black musical notes. White musical notes appear in that musical composition. Credit is given to “Music” by George Burns (with his name written in blue). The font used creates the feeling of a melodious style. Then there is a panning right to left as musical notes expand on the musical sheet. Dividing lines appear between different notes, making a separation effect. Notes are animated by moving up and down on the musical sheet, emphasizing music.
An electric lighting symbol in blue turns into credits for Orchestration and Song. Its movement reminds viewers of the orchestra director leading his musicians with his stick.
A credit for the story is written in a large, italic, blue font for “Bill Peet.” The name is then rotated in an upward fashion. With a much smaller white font, credit is given to the original book author (“Based on the book…”)
Credit for the Directing Animators is in orange color on a grey background, with a Dalmatian’s head in black and white. The dog’s face is made to move right and then left as if he is showing us his point of view while reading the animators’ names. And then the viewer hears the dog’s barking as if he is introducing those animators.
Credit for Character Animation is made with a pattern of multiple Dalmatian dogs (to represent 101 Dalmations) in black and white, on white blocks. These dogs are animated to move, itch their heads, etc. as if they were dancing to the music. For the black blocks, the animators’ names are written in green. For the white blocks, the animators’ names appear in blue. Then there is a zoom on “Effects Animation” with names appearing in a much larger font.
Next is a light grey background with a full-shot of a Dalmatian dog looking at an angle at a face shot of another Dalmatian separated by a soft line. The dogs are in black and white. This is followed by credit for “Layout” written in a red font. That line the viewer saw turned into a wall with the face dog looking at a dog on the street. So, viewers know the location is a city. Trees and textured stones appear around the house. With a blue strike, the next scene is that full-bodied Dalmatian moving right to left (panning) and looking at another full-bodied Dalmation tied to a post.
As credit is introduced for “Color Styling and Background,” the previous scene becomes colorful: post becomes red, the arched areas of the windows have blue lights, trees are covered in green, etc.) Names are written using yellow, orange, and blue. Then a red bus moves into the city landscape from left to right and then right to left (panning). The bus has orange and black colors – a contrast. Next, a Dalmatian head in one of the bus’s windows. This part is seen in contrast to the city’s huge, grey/white/black colored clock and the negative space of the open light-blue sky. (The exact location would be London as that clock is drawn like Big Ben.) And of course, there is symmetry in the structures of the buildings, windows, etc. with the use of lines, shapes (rectangles for the bricks and larger stones, arches for windows, etc.), reflection (water/bridge), big v. small stones.
Credit for the Art Director and Production Design is written in orange, with the city’s bridge and structures in a black and white contrasting background. Dogs’ paws appear as black spots in the sky’s negative space. These black spots transition into “Director” credit using a blue font, the name of the director in pink, with additional directors’ names zoomed on before being placed on the slide.
Opening title sequences aren’t just opening credits broken down into a hierarchy for the production company, filmmaker, film title, cast (lead and supporting ), music composer, and way down to producers, writers, and directors. They are setting the tone, theme, characters, and story plot for the viewers.
Thanks to youtube for the 101 Dalmations’ title sequence video.
Philippe Abizeid's Visual Literacy 