opening credit sequence assignment

For the opening credit sequence assignment, we must present an analysis of the opening credit sequence of a film or television show of our choosing. We are to analyze the sequence's usage of typography, spacing, color, visual effects and audio to determine its meaning and overall effectiveness.

The opening sequence I have chosen is from a short, Japanese, animated film called Cat Soup (Nekojiru-so). The sequence effectively uses a simplified color palette and visual style as it follows a trail of kitten's footprints from a straight aerial shot, with the credits interspersed along the trail. The footprints and the credits are black on an off-white background, giving the impression of ink on rice paper, the credits distinctly stylized, appearing handwritten with a brush. The use of audio is also interesting and effective. Over a light, optimistic theme song, sound effects are used to evoke the journey of the footprints' source. For example, at one point the trail of kitten's footprints is joined by that of a chicken; here we are able to hear the chicken clucking and strutting. The clucking becomes frantic and frenzied and the trail of footprints is suddenly littered with chicken feathers. From here, the kitten's footprints continue, the chicken's do not.