Title Sequence

Since the invention of the cinematograph, simple title cards were used to begin and end silent film presentations in order to identify both the film and the production company involved, and to act as a signal to viewers that the film had started and then finished. In silent cinema, title cards or intertitles were used throughout to convey dialogue and plot, and it is in some of these early short films that we see the first examples of title sequences themselves, being quite literally a series of title cards shown at the beginning of a film. With the arrival of sound, the sequence was usually accompanied by a musical prelude or overture. (Wikipedia)

Inspiration

Script

Creative Brief

Specifications
- Format: 1920 x 1080 HD (16:9) or 1998 x 1080 Widescreen Cinematic (1.85:1)
- Frame Rate: 24 fps (frames per second)
- Length: :60 seconds
Summary
- Create a :60 second opening title sequence for a film
  - Choose a film that does not have an appropriate or particularly well-developed title sequence
  - Research, gather inspiration, and formulate a strong concept for your title sequence
  - Build a storyboard
  - Build an animatic draft
  - Include a musical score
  - Deliver a full :60 second title sequence that introduces your chosen film
Download folder structure for this project

Assignment 1 – Title Sequence Examples
- Select three examples of opening title sequences from this site – Art of the Title
  - Include the name of the designer/design studio that produced the title sequence
  - Include a brief description (1-2 sentences) about why each opening title sequence speaks to you
- Select two examples of opening title sequences from films of your own choosing
  - Include the name of the designer/design studio that produced the title sequence
  - Include a brief description (1-2 sentences) about why each opening title sequence speaks to you
- MAKE A POST
  - Category: 05 Title Sequence Examples
    - List your five examples, including the info and descriptions mentioned above
    - Include links to view to each example
    - We will present/review these examples in class
Assignment 2 – Research and Select 3 Potential Films
- MAKE A POST
  - Category: 05 Title Sequence Selects
- Feature three films that you are considering for your title sequence animation
  - These films must NOT have a particularly well-developed title sequence. You are to provide a service to the film by making the title sequence more exciting and captivating.
  - Include the following for all three films:
    - Name of Film
    - Year Created
    - Director
    - Genre (comedy, drama, sci-fi, horror, documentary, etc)
    - Link to Film Trailer
    - Link to current opening title sequence
    - Plot Synopsis:
      - Paragraph written by you that summarizes the plot of the film
    - Reason for selection:
      - Paragraph that outlines why your services are needed on each film’s title sequence
        
        What do the current titles lack?
        
        What specifically do you feel needs to be emphasized about the film?
    - Additional Links:
      - 3-5 links to websites about the film that provide greater context for it
Assignment 3 – Inspirations
- Select the film for which you’re going to build a new title sequence
- MAKE A POST
  - Category: 05 Title Sequence Inpirations
  - Title of the film you selected
  - Create a gallery of 10-12 images of typography, illustration, and imagery that inspire you for this project.
    - These do not have to be film stills (although some can be) but can also be posters, album covers, book covers, logotypes (for movie title type), and other visual examples.
  - Film Title Examples
    - Links to at least 3 film titles that have elements you would like to use.
    - Briefly describe which elements you want to implement in your title sequence.
  - Vision
    - Write a paragraph about your general visual approach to this film title sequence project.
Assignment 4 – Storyboards
- Create a comprehensive storyboard for TWO DIFFERENT concepts
- See THIS STORYBOARDS PAGE for detailed information on this assignment
- Deliver an active PDF of your storyboards for both concepts
- Upload your Storyboards PDF to Class Dropbox – Storyboards PDF
Assignment 5 – Type & Image Investigations
- Design several backgrounds and stills of the scenes you want to animate.
  - These should be from significant key frames in the animation that indicate change in the design.
  - These should be tightly comped (type, illustration, layout, color, graphic elements).
- Create a PDF:
  - Dimension = 8.5 x 14″
  - Include the following in your visual study
    - Type – one or two pages that include at least 3 different typography font examples
      - Include real names from the credits (director, producer, etc – see SCRIPT PAGE for info)
    - Film Title – one or two pages that include at least 3 different compositions of the film title
      - Consider word groups, stacking, type manipulations, etc.
    - Still Images – at least 3 different images of your background and animated elements. These do not have to move.
      - These still images should be in 16:9 aspect ratio (or 1.85:1 aspect ratio – depending on what you chose for your final animation)
      - You can size however you see fit – as long as they’re in the correct aspect ratio
        
        In other words, the still images do not necessarily need to fill a full page – you can have more than one (in the appropriate aspect ratio) on a page.
  - Add this Type & Image Investigations to your Storyboards PDF (see STORYBOARDS PAGE for info)
    - Revise the PDF you created for your Storyboards to add this Type & Image Investigations
    - Should come after your thumbnails and before your closing page
  - Label PDF filename clearly as revised with date completed
    - Example filenames:
      - ART466_05-TitleSeq_Storyboard_REV-01_YYMMDD
      - ART466_05-TitleSeq_Storyboard_V2_YYMMDD
- Upload your revised PDF to the Class Dropbox – Type & Image Investigations PDF
  - Reminder: this revised PDF should now include the following in this order:
    - Cover Page
    - Title Page
    - Thumbnails (storyboards)
    - Type & Image Investigations
    - Closing Page
Assignment 6 – Animatic
- See THIS ANIMATIC PAGE for more info about Animatics
- Create an animatic video – :60 seconds
  - Should be the full length of the final animation with elements placed where they will appear in time
  - Take stills from the film if appropriate or use drawings/sketches.
  - Should be in the format of the final animation (16:9 or 1:85:1 aspect ration)
  - 24 fps (frames per second)
- Animatic includes the following:
  - MUSIC
    - The music/score you wish to use in your final title sequence
  - CREDITS
    - Director, producer, actors, etc. – see SCRIPT PAGE for info
  - FILM TITLE
    - Consider word groups, stacking, type manipulations, animation, etc.
  - TITLE ANIMATION EXAMPLES
    - Animated credits/film titles
    - These do not have to be the whole title sequence
      - Choose a few titles to animate to show examples
      - You may experiment with different techniques to show options
  - THUMBNAILS
    - Use the thumbnails from your storyboard for each scene
  - STILL IMAGES
    - Backgrounds or drawings/sketches of each scene
  - LIVE FOOTAGE
    - Video from the film that you may include
      - Reach out to me if you need help capturing video from the film – I can help.
- Upload your :60 second animatic to the Class Dropbox – Title Sequence Animatic
- Be ready to present your animatic to the class and describe the details of your animatic
  - Think of this like a pitch to a studio who may want to hire you for their film
- Email me if you have questions!
  - chris.meidell@keene.edu
Assignment 7 – V1 Draft of Title Sequence Animation
- Building off your animatic, create a V1 draft working toward your final animation.
  - Make sure you save your animatic composition in After Effects – duplicate your animatic composition to build your V1 draft in a separate composition
- These will be reviewed and critiqued in class on Thursday 4/23/26
- Upload :60 second V1 Draft to the Class Dropbox – Title Sequence V1
- The final draft will be due on our final class 4/30/26
Assignment 8 – V2 Draft of Title Sequence Animation
- This draft should be close to final with all elements in place (titles, music, backgrounds, etc.)
  - Animations don’t need to be complete but should be close to completion
- We will review in class on Tuesday, April 28, and give last round of notes.
- Upload :60 second V2 Draft to the Class Dropbox – Title Sequence V2
- The final draft will be due on our final class 4/30/26

March 31, 2026 – Tuesday

Introduction to the Title Sequence project

Due before class on Thursday, April 2

Assignment 1 – Title Sequence Examples
- See Creative Brief (above)
- We will present/review these examples in class on Thursday

April 2, 2026 – Thursday

Review Assignment 1 – Title Sequence Examples

Due before class on Tuesday, April 7

Assignment 2 – Research and Select 3 Potential Films
- See Creative Brief (above)
Assignment 3 – Inspirations
- See Creative Brief (above)
Assignment 4 – Storyboards
- See Creative Brief (above)

April 7, 2026 – Tuesday

Review Assignment 2, 3, and 4 in class
Discuss next steps in the creative brief
- Work in class on next steps
- Check-ins – reach out if you have questions!

Due before class on Thursday, April 9

Assignment 5 – Type & Image Investigations
- See Creative Brief (above)

April 9, 2026 – Thursday

Review Assignment 5 in class
Discuss next assignment – Animatic
- See Creative Brief (above)

Due before class on Tuesday, April 14

Assignment 6 – Animatic
- See Creative Brief (above)

April 14, 2026 – Tuesday

Review Assignment 6 in class
- If it’s a WIP, that’s fine. Please label your filename as WIP if it’s not complete.
- Upload your animatic here
Continue work on animatics and V1 draft of title sequence animations

Due before class on Thursday, April 16

Complete Assignment 6 – Animatic

April 16, 2026 – Thursday

Review Assignment 6 in class
- Critique using Frame.io
Work on V1 draft of title sequence animations

NO CLASS ON TUESDAY APRIL 21

Continue working on V1 Draft of Title Sequence animation
- Email me if you have questions or hit any snags
  - chris.meidell@keene.edu

Due before class on Thursday, April 23

Complete Assignment 7 – V1 Draft of Title Sequence animation

April 23, 2026 – Thursday

Review Assignment 7 – V1 Draft of Title Sequence animation
- Present in class
  - Describe your next steps
- Critique using Frame.io

Due before class on Tuesday, April 28

Complete Assignment 8 – V2 Draft of Title Sequence animation
- See Creative Brief
- Upload to the Class Dropbox – Title Sequence V2

April 28, 2026 – Tuesday

Review Assignment 8 – V2 Draft of Title Sequence animation
- Present in class
  - Describe your next steps to finish by Thursday 4/30
- Critique using Frame.io
Missing Assignments
- I will reach out to students who are missing assignments individually.
  - The goal is to have no zeros on any assignments, as it will heavily impact your final grade.
  - All missing assignments must be submitted by our final class on 5/5/26.

Final Cut of Title Sequence is due on Thursday, April 30

FINAL CLASS PRESENTATIONS will be on Tuesday, May 5, from 3:30-5:30p

April 30, 2026 – Thursday

Continue work on V3 Final Draft of Title Sequence – Due Today!
- Please post a YouTube or Dropbox link to the class site
  - Category: 05 Title Sequence FINAL
- Upload to the class dropbox – Title Sequence V3 Final
- Be prepared to speak on your final Title Sequence animation on Tuesday 5/5
  - Name and background of the Film
  - Creative Direction/Decisions
  - Obstacles/Challenges
  - Exciting Discoveries
  - Sound Design (Music/SFX)
  - Pacing and Flow