ART OF THE TITLE 2 - SHERLOCK HOLMES

9/10/14 | RESEARCH | ART OF THE TITLE 2 

For our research today we accessed the Art of the Title website and then looked into the opening title sequence of the movie, Sherlock Holmes. We analysed the title sequence and picked out key details. The opening clearly establishes the genre of the film and allows the audience to determine the type of film they are watching; in this case it is a historical detective actiondrama. 

The font used mimics Victorian handwriting, which indicates the period in history in which the film is set. This, along with the transitions between moving image, to still image, to digital sketch gives an authentic feel to the titles. The graphics morph fluidly using CGI, which enhances the excitement and tension before the film. When the moving image pauses making a still image it gradually filters into a sepia image (sepia images are associated with the Victorian era). They have a foxed look on the photos by using an effect which makes them look like they’ve been splattered by ink; this also authenticates and ages the images. The sketched effect images then reanimate and turn back into another moving image. Each of these elements is used to age the overall look of the opening title sequence and let it reflect the genre of the film. The music is light-hearted and instrumental which contrasts against the dark and melodramatic looking images.