The History of the Title Sequence

Seeing as our next and final project is to create or recreate a title sequence for a film I thought it would be appropriate to learn about the history of how the title sequence evolved. The main function of a title sequence is to display the movies's title and to credit the director, producer, actors and other people who were involved in the making of the film. However, the title sequence is also suppose to prepare the viewer for the viewing of the film.

The original title sequence started off as simple title cards, they were used to top and tail silent film presentations in order to identify both the film and the production company and to act as a signal to show that the film has finished and started.

J. Stuart Blackton directed "Humorous Phases of Funny Faces" (1906), they had one of the first animated opening title sequences.

Graphic designs were created by lettering artists' who created compositions of typeface and some minimum decorative patterns until about the 1960's. Throughout the 1930-50's the title sequences were considered to be conservative and unimaginative. During the 1960's a preference emerged among the avant garde filmmakers, this stye became a kind of prestige symbol for of all the movies

One title sequence that really stuck out to me when I was growing up was the one for North By North West which was created by Saul Bass in 1959.

As the years have gone on technology has improved allowing the artist to create even more amazing title sequences. One of my most favorite ones is Monster Inc. created by Susan Bradley in 200.