Title Sequence Research

 Hello again! After a little break, I’m back and more ready than ever. Today, I will review and analyze the title sequences of some of my favorite shows and movies.

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Avatar: The Last Airbender

Avatar is what I consider to be a perfect show. It's among some of the most creative pieces of media that I've ever seen.  The show itself is very story-driven; with that in mind, the creators use the title sequence as a way to explain the critical information needed to watch the show in case some watchers are tuning in for the first time. 

Although it aired on Nickelodeon, the show had a much darker and more serious tone when compared to the other shows that aired on the same channel. To convey this, the title sequence uses dramatic music alongside the severe tone of voice of one of the protagonists, showcasing the dire circumstances that are being had in the world of the show. 

Lastly, even though the tone and mood of the show are more pressing and severe than other shows from Nickelodeon, it still is a kid's show at its core. The title sequence showcases this side of the show by displaying the light-hearted nature of Aang, the show's main protagonist, near the end of the sequence as a way to showcase the show's giddy nature that is layered beneath the seriousness of the plot.

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Arcane

You know how I said that Avatar is a perfect show? Well, Arcane is THE ideal show. With its second season just rapping up its story, I decided that it was a necessity for me to include Arcane as one of my in-depth analyses. Arcane is the TV adaptation of the world-renowned video game League of Legends, a game that I myself have not played much of but many worldwide have enjoyed for years on end. 

The title sequence is iconic, and its success is largely due to the music that plays as it goes on.  The song 'Enemy' by  Imagine Dragons not only sets up the tone of the show's narrative as well as the mentality of the characters being displayed believing that everyone is out to get them, but it also pays homage to the game the show is based on. League of Legends and Imagine Dragons have collaborated on many past occasions, with the pop band making one of their most famous songs, 'Warriors,' for the World Championship of the Esports Tournament back in 2014. With that in mind, it's easy to see how another song from the band being made, specifically for the show's title sequence, ties the knot on the band's and game's relationship.

A vital aspect of the title sequence is its foreshadowing of future events and important details for the show and its characters. An excellent example of this is when Ekko is first shown in the title sequence; it teases him, gaining the ability to travel backward near the end of the show, with his shadows in the sequence mimicking a clock ticking backward.

Another great example is this shot of Caitlyn covering her face, showcasing her having a panic attack. This is due to all the stress that is being piled onto her, from the attack that caused the tragic death of her mother to her now leading an army opposing the nation and people she once tried to protect and fight for. The giant shadow being cast in the background takes this a step further, directly mimicking the famous illustration of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', a story about how power can change a person and how guilt can overpower someone. This is seen in Caitlyn's character as she drastically changes after being put into power, and also reinforces the fact that Caitlyn, in fact, blames herself for her mother's death, thinking that she could have stopped it from ever happening. 

One last perfect example of the foreshadowing in the title sequence is when Jinx is shown waving a giant flag around, symbolizing and foreshadowing how she will eventually become a symbol of hope and idol for the people of Zaun, inspiring them to revolt against the corrupt system that has been placed against them. This is something that she must own up to and learn to use correctly to lead the people who are willing to fight for her.

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Deadpool & Wolverine

Ah yes! Deadpool & Wolverine, a film that many consider to be one of the best movies to release in 2024. With the Deadpool films famously having excellent and eye-opening title sequences, this movie was an obvious pick for which piece of media I should analyze last. 

Many were worried that the film would lack the explicit charm seen in the previous Deadpool movies. It is the first one to be made by Disney instead of the usual 20th Century Fox due to Disney acquiring the company a couple of years earlier in 2019. On top of all this, the announcement that the character of Wolverine would play a lead role in the film only added fuel to the fire.

With Wolverine's emotional death, finally being at peace with himself, and marking the end of his story in the film Logan, it's clear why many were worried that his appearance in this new film would stain this previous film's legacy. 

However, some of you may be wondering, what does all of this have to do with the title sequence? Well, that's simple: It acted as the film's way of putting all of those worries to rest. The title sequence dives right into Deadpool's silly and inappropriate personality, which audiences grew to love in his past films. It demonstrates to the audience that although this was a Disney production, it was still a Deadpool film through and through. 

The title sequence only adds to this by showcasing Deadpool using Wolverine's dead metal bones from the previously mentioned Logan movie as his weapon during the fight. Some may say that this disrespects the ending of that legendary film, but in reality, it's this film's way of addressing and honoring the movie in its own twisted and demented way.

Additionally, instead of fading in and out of the screen like other films, the names of the people behind the film's making are actually implemented in the fight scene being shown, with some of the names engraved into the bones being used during the fight, showcasing the massive amount of creativity that went into the narrative of this film, setting up for the rest of the film to have even more jaw-dropping moments such as this. 

Lastly, the song 'Bye Bye Bye' created by NSYNC perfectly encapsulates the comedic and humorous tone of the film, with the upbeat music acting as a juxtaposition to the gory scene being played out in front of the audience.