Documentary: Motion Graphics Movie Opening Titles

A long time ago film titles, the graphic image or sequence at the opening of a movie, were simply hand-illustrated cards photographed and inserted into a film.

Today, they are much like a mini-movie showcases the art of graphic design with filmmaking. Although short and not-always sweet, film titles serve a number of purposes. Besides introducing the title of the film and the main players that brought it to screen, they raise audiences’ expectations, evoke the film’s overall mood and set up the story. Film titles are, indeed, the primary impression an audience will have a film. As they have become more integral to film and a genre of design all their own, a growing number of spectators have started to enjoy the opening of the films.