Art of the Title

Se7en (Director David Fincher, 1995) is an American thriller film, which also contains horror and neo-noir elements. The classic opening sequence to Se7en has brought a new style in title design for blockbuster films. There is a natural style to the credits with the text font styled in very original handwriting this contributes to the criminal mind of the 'serial killer'. There are a number of aspects in the opening which suggest its genre (crime/thriller) with the Mise en Scene including a small, fine blade being used to cut the skin off the serial killer's finger tips, this suggests that he is a ruthless mentally disturbed serial killer. The music during the opening, provides suspense within the scenes of the title opening. The text has a spooky feel as it moves around shaking and jerking forward at times. The text appears very clear in white on a black background  Although the titles appear very suddenly you pick up the cast because the titles snap off and on reiterating to the audience. Title Designer: Kyle Cooper

Se7en opening sequence analysed on The Art of the Title

Catch Me If You Can (Director Steven Spielberg, 2002) is a American biographical comedy-drama film based on the life of Frank Abagnale Jr, successfully conning million of dollars. The opening sequence is the highly stylised and composed of Graphic Design. It is very much in the style of 'Soul Bass' who is one of the greatest designers of title sequences such as the Bond series. 

The whole sequence has a period feel suggesting the 1950's feel, with its gentlemen dressed in lounge suits and the women in pencil skirts with long legs almost elongated limbs almost like Giacometti figures, elegant and suave.The animation includes a lot of vertical lines, which suggest the kind of public spaces in an airport with the pillars and high ceilings. To be a pilot and to fly in the 1950's was a very 'glamorous' activity, reserved for the wealthy and the film captures the dream life lived by the pilot played by 'Leonardo Di Caprio' in the film. 

One of the design features is the way the vertical lines is incorporated individual letters of the fonts and become part of both the text and the picture.The lines create an order and symmetry which contributes to the elegance which fits well because he is a successful conman who is a smooth operator. The vertical lines also represent the props in the film such as when DiCaprio walks in and out changed into a pilots wear.

The palette of colours used are candy shades which perhaps contributes to the light touch, suitable to comedy and most composed of blue, pink, green and white.against which the moving figures are silhouetted in either black or white. 

The one accent colour used is the neon yellow used on the information signs pointing to the actor which situates both the mise en scene of the airport and the genre (comedy). It reminded me very much of the opening sequence to the 'Pink Panther (1963)' in the sense with the graphical opening and the sequence of the Pink Panther running from the detective. 
Catch Me If You Can Opening Sequence analysed from Art of the Title