Visual Eye Candy

One of the ways I get inspired is by watching movies—especially the opening title sequences of movies. Title sequences can be an art form (think Saul Bass), and the best directors know they are so much more than a way to tell the audience who worked on the film. They can excite, inspire, and inform. They can even be mini-movies in and of themselves (think Catch Me If You Can).

There has a been a lot of buzz recently about title sequences, including a recent post over at The Screengrab that ranks their Twelve Greatest Opening Credits in Movie History. The little-film-that-could Juno has the world abuzz not just for the movie but for Shadowplay's graphic opening. And with YouTube allowing anyone to post anything, so it's usually not hard to find an opening to just about any movie you're looking for—at least until the legal guys come calling. To check out a nice collection of legally obtained sequences, head on over to Submarine Channel's Forget the Film, Watch the Titles. You can also see stills of a master's at work and learn the background behind them at Titles Designed by Saul Bass.

As for me, two recent titles had my jaw dropping open:

The Kite Runner — beautiful typography that will amaze, inspire, and make you wonder: "How did they do that?" (You'll have to rent this one; the legal guys have already taken it off YouTube.)

The Kingdom— an incredible graphic history of the Middle East that sets the stage for the movie and makes you a bit smarter in the process

Catch 'em while you can . . .