What is the secret to a great TV Title Sequence Design?
We are blessed to be living in the Golden Age of television, with thousands upon thousands of brilliant modern TV shows out there for us to binge to our heart’s desire.
And with every great TV show comes a great TV title sequence – sometimes, a show’s opening is what makes it so recognisable amongst the sea of TV series.
Think about just how iconic the opening of Game of Thrones is; play just the intro music for any person and they’ll recognise where it’s from within the first three seconds.
Title sequences prepare you for the show to come; they are the modern-day version of the dimming of lights and the slow opening of curtains.
When designing your own TV show title sequence, you want to prepare your audience for the ride you’re about to take them, and you want something that will capture you viewer’s eye – but it’s a lot easier said than done.
You may have many questions, such as ‘how much should a title sequence cost?’ and ‘how do I make an opening title sequence?’
However, the most important question to ask is:
What makes a good title sequence?
There are many things that go into making a truly engaging and eye-catching TV show title sequence, ranging from the obvious to the subliminal.
You have one main goal, however, and that is to evoke a feeling from your audience and get them ready for whatever you have in store for them.
There are several ways you can do this:
Music that evokes a feeling
Many say that music is the language of the soul, and this has been proven to be true time and time again.
Music can instil a certain emotion or feeling inside of you in the most subtle of ways: it can leave you with a feeling of melancholy, or it can get your heart pumping.
Some of the best TV title sequences come from TV shows using music in their title sequence to evoke a certain reaction from the audience and prepare them for what’s to come.
For instance, take the Hannibal intro – though it is a rather simple sound, the music featured in the title sequence of Hannibal is bone-chilling, and matches the ominous and almost horror-like tone of the series perfectly.
Similarly, the Friends title sequence accomplishes the same goal – its cheery, upbeat theme song, focused on the theme of friends sticking with you through difficult times, captures the message of the show accurately, piquing your interest for the show ahead.
Music that is recognisable
In addition to bringing out a certain feeling in its audience, it is almost just as important that your title sequence features music that is recognisable, too.
We mentioned previously the intro sequence of Game of Thrones, which uses a score that people can pin to the popular TV show right off the bat.
The theme tune for BBC’s Match of the Day is an excellent example too, featuring some of the best sport title sequence design in the UK.
Its intro jingle is renowned all over the nation, and the moment anyone hears it they know exactly where it’s from (and may rush to the TV straight away!)
Feature film title sequence design works in the same way; for example, think of the classic theme song from the James Bond films which, once again, people are able to recognise immediately thanks to its distinct sound.
Captivating visuals
Another aspect of title sequence production to consider when creating a TV show title sequence or a title sequence for movies is the visuals, which are just as important, if not more so, than the music.
Visuals can often make or break a TV title sequence, and your goal with what you choose to show to your audience is to pull them into the show’s world and set the tone, much like you should with the music.
In fact, you should look to have the music and visuals act in a synergy to generate an overall tone that is accurate to the show or movie’s themes.
This will make the overall product of both the title sequence and the content more cohesive, with a certain appealing flow to it.
Probably the only time you should take a serial killer as an example…
Dexter, for instance, achieves this brilliantly, making it one of the best TV title sequences out there.
How does it achieve this? Well, simply put, its title sequence matches the themes that the TV show explores wonderfully, easing you into a mindset that will prepare you for what’s to come
For those of you who don’t know, Dexter follows a serial killer that hides in plain sight, living a typical everyday life.
Its title sequence captures this same idea brilliantly, showcasing how a typical morning routine can also be seen as incredibly violent upon further inspection, with shots such as a piece of ham being cut open as if it were a human.
This idea is what you should be aiming to achieve if you really want to reel in your audience and hook them onto the content that you are showing them.
Mix and match!
When it comes to video, the world is your oyster, and you can execute the visuals however you wish.
From 2D animation to live action, there are a multitude of different mediums through which you can tell your mini story.
You can even combine elements of each style into one video, for example! This can help to keep your TV show title sequencediverse and visually engaging.
This also segues beautifully into our next point…
Be creative!
The most important thing, of course, is to be creative with your TV show title sequence – you don’t always have to follow the rulebook to a T, and sometimes it can even enhance your TV opening to play with different creative aspects in unorthodox ways.
Using your own imagination and thinking outside the box will allow you to create a TV show title sequence that stands out from all the rest, which is important if you want your content to stand out, too.
Going back full circle to shows such as Game of Thrones and Dexter, think about whether you know of any other TV shows that feature even remotely similar intros – there probably isn’t much that comes to mind, right?
If you want your TV show title sequence to be one of the best TV title sequences out there, then striving to create an intro that is unique is one of the best ways of going about doing so.
As long as it’s done in a way that is engaging, relevant, and, above all, entertaining, you can honestly have full creative liberty and go wild with your TV show title sequence – we won’t judge!
Title sequence design
Knowing what makes a good title sequence is all well and good, but how exactly do you design one, from conception to the final product?
The answer to this question is a little bit tricky to answer because, truth be told, there is so much that goes into designing a good TV title sequence!
Thankfully for you, there are professionals out there that have all the expertise, creativity, and technical know-how to make your title sequence truly come to life – and this professional is called a title sequence designer.
Hiring a title sequence production company in London
A title sequence production company is your ticket to creating the best TV title sequence design in the UK – all you need to do is hire one!
They can help you with all sorts of projects, from TV title sequence design to feature film title sequence design, and everything in between!
These production companies are filled with creative experts bursting with imagination and ideas to bring you title sequence to life, thanks to their broad experience and knowledge of the industry.
We previously discussed what makes a good title sequence and all of the elements that need to go into one, and some of it may be new knowledge to you, but to a title sequence designer it’s stuff that they’ve studied and worked on for years upon years, so they know these creative elements inside and out.
You may want to know several things, namely ‘how much should a title sequence cost?’, but this all depends on what you are looking for and what title sequence production company you choose to go for, so be sure browse through many agencies to choose your ideal one!
Whether you want to have the best sport title design in the UK, or want to create a title sequence for movies, a title sequence production company in London is the way to go for expert advice, guidance, and production.
What makes a good title sequence? – Conclusion
So, to summarise, what makes a good TV show title sequence? There are a few main guidelines:
- Use music that evokes a certain feeling in your audience
- Use music that is unique and quickly recognisable
- Make use of captivating visuals that are relevant to your content
- Let your creative juices flow!
The best way to make sure you have all of these creative elements down pat is by hiring a title sequence production company in London, who will work with you day and night to deliver the best TV title sequence design in the UK.
So go forth, and good luck designing your very own TV title sequence!
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