Chuck TV Series Opening Sequence

So as things are winding down into Thanksgiving break I've come to the realization that I'm just about creatively tapped. I don't know about you guys, but this past month or so, I've been running around non-stop. This break is about to be so wonderful for my sanity.

ANYWAYS. My point is that I've spent the last hour sitting here trying to think of something interesting to post about- and I've got nothing.

All I have for you this week is the rather interesting opening sequence to one of my favorite NBC shows, Chuck. Sadly, Chuck was cancelled last year after five years on the air, but it was a great show, and the intro credits are kind of cool (as is the Cake song...)

SO. Enjoy some Chuck. Enjoy your turkey (or tofurkey, if that's what you're into) and I'll see you later!

Supernatural Opening

Something that is unique about the show Supernatural, is that every season they change the graphics of their opening theme and they match it to the running plot of that season. The show is about two brothers who dedicated their lives to hunting down demons and monsters, and the atmosphere of the show is captured in just a few seconds of their opener. I'm sure very similar aspects of these can be achieved using after effects, but some of them are things we have talked about or gone over. Season 3 is set over fog and clouds, which we have done very basics forms of with the smoke. Another one that involved particles could be season 7 where the name of the show emerges from black material that dissipates into smaller pieces. Similar to season 5, where there is a red liquid that looks like many of the examples from Video Copilots riot gear expansion. It is also really similar to the end credits of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

We're definitely seeing a lot more opening credits that rely heavily on motion graphics rather then rolling text over live action. Especially the opening for Chuck, shown below.

This is a really interesting article on fanboy.com that chronicles animated opening sequences in television from the 50's through the 70's (it also mentions how Saul Bass played a large part in this television revolution that brought animation to the audiences at home). It says that in the late 1970's, credits began to switch back to live action or just straight animation.

An article in smashing magazine showcases many of the impressive animated credits that have been playing in the last couple of years. Everything from the minimalist title of Lost, to the pop-up book in United States of Tara. While live action seems to work better with comedy, dramas are better paired with animation because it can create a certain mood for the audience and prepare them better for the show without getting distracted.

Ideas for the first project

So I'm stuck between a bunch of ideas for my first project! My top three ideas (which seem wayyy too complicated) are:

Option One:
The opening title scene of Chuck but I found something really cool on youtube that someone did using supernatural within Chuck's title sequence!

Original:


Supernatural Version:


Option Two:
Community:


Option Three:
Skins:
Skins (British version of course)(can't be embedded)

This is Harry Potter version someone did of the opening!


Then simpler ideas (but really short openings) I was thinking about were Lost or Gossip Girl!

After seeing Ally's post about the opening of Entourage I did a search of the best title sequences that have been used on television. In a list titled "26 Awe-Inspiring Television Show Opens and Title Sequences" one of the opening credits that caught my eye was that of the HBO miniseries 'The Pacific.' I only watched a few episodes but I remember really loving the opening and the way it combines charcoal drawn images with moving images.




The company behind this Emmy nominated title sequence was Imaginary Forces. In order to create this opener the company utilized the history of battlefield sketchers as inspiration, and hand drew the likeness of the actors in the film. This company also designed and animated the maps seen within the miniseries. This company is also behind the title sequences for Mad Men and Chuck.