I have decided to analyse the opening sequence of an animated film to see how this differs from the opening sequence of a live action film.
1. Production Company
The opening sequence of the 2009 American stop-motion 3D horror/fantasy film begins with the name of it's production companies; 'Focus Features', 'Laika Productions', and 'Pandemonium Productions', which meets the key conventions of an opening sequence. The company logos are edited, as the font outline, basic shapes and coloured areas of the logos still the same, but with gothic and eerie sewed style, and the colour scheme of the opening titles. This is unconventional of production company logos for film opening sequences, however the house style makes the opening titles more artistic and sophisticated. The transitioning between them are fades.
2. Film Title
Next the film title is shown, in keeping with the house style but with it's own larger font outline and button graphic to make it distinguishable as the title by standing out from the rest of the opening sequence. It meets the convention of the film title being presented at the beginning of the opening sequence. It is also transitioned by a fading.
3. Main Voice Actors
The main voice actors are next to be presented in the opening sequence. They are not introduced by their role which challenges traditional conventions, but as the first voice actress is well known for her role, this is not necessary for the audience to recognise her. These are also transitioned by fading.
The voice actors with less major roles but still main characters in the film are shared between 1 frame so that the opening sequence does not being uninteresting by prolonging it's length, which meets the conventions of opening sequences.
4. Lead Animators
The lead animators are presented alongside the start of an animation of a doll being transformed into a new doll by the spindly, eerie antagonist of 'Coraline', foreshadowing the plot of the film. They are presented alongside this animation to link them to their work. This meets the conventions as this is one of the most major roles in animated films and should therefore be credited at the beginning of the opening sequence.
5. Concept Artist
This is a typical convention of opening sequences as the concept artist is a major role in animated films. The background of the case of cutting tools is the same leathery, vintage and wine coloured lining used for the production companies, film title and main voice actors backgrounds, which revisits the house style and explains why that background was chosen. The close up of the thin, spindly metal hands and rusted cutting tools make the audience uncomfortable and spooked, and the fact that we don't see who or what is operating the hands makes the opening sequence suitable for it's horror genre.
6. Art Directors and Storyboard Supervisor
These meet the key conventions of an opening sequence, as they are important roles within the making of the animated film. The audience establishes the doll being undone and the stitching ripped with close ups and extreme close ups, which helps them to begin to understand what the metal hands are doing. However the plot of the film is not obviously revealed and or begun, therefore the conventions of not giving too much of the film away are still met.
7. Editors
This is a typical convention of opening sequences as editing is a major role within all films. The presentation of this role is the most spooky of all, as the human doll shape is emptied of it's stuffing with a low angle shot, and turned inside out, which leaves a shadow of this on the gothic torn and spiderweb full wallpaper. As shadows and run down houses are associated with horror films, the mise en scene presents the film's genre well, which is conventional of opening sequences as it makes the audience uncomfortable in order to prepare them to be scared.
8. Visual Effects Supervisor, Music, Supervising Animator, Director of Photography, Producers, Author Based On
For the rest of the opening title sequence, we see the doll being pieced together, with new button eyes, sand grain/wood chipping stuffing, a new dress etc. The music becomes lighter with soft vocals, and the tools switch from harsh metal to gentler, less dangerous wood, which makes the audience feel more at ease and with what the metal hands are doing. All of the conventions are typical of an opening sequence of an animated film, as they are all main roles, which is why they are credited.
9. Writer/Director
The final convention of the opening sequence of 'Coraline' is the credit to the writer/director, Henry Selick. This is the last convention as the director is seen as the most important role of film making, and therefore should be the last name that the audience remembers. The opening sequence ends as it started, with the completely renovated doll exited the window it entered. The newly decorated doll foreshadows when the doll appears late in the film, and the style of the main character 'Coraline' who they will shortly meet. The original doll is also a character which they will come encounter. This is so the audience will recognise the doll from the opening title sequence, and also be aware of how the dolls are changed to manipulate the characters, helping them to understand the plot and make the opening sequence memorable.
Summary
In conclusion, the opening sequence of 'Coraline' is used to foreshadow the plot and characters of the film, prepare the audience to be spooked by making them uncomfortable with the gothic mise en scene and spindly, mysterious metal hands, cutting and stitching of the doll, and of course give credit to the makers of the film. This is achieved by the use of shadows and close ups/extreme close ups of the painful renovating done to a doll resembling a human, which the audience can feel empathy for.
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