The Teachers' Animation Toolkit

Materials:
Data Projector, whiteboard or screen and sound
Resources:
Any short animation clip of 1–3 minutes (see 
A Brief History
for 
links, p. 9)
Publication: Mise-en-Scene: Film Style and Interpretation (Short 
Cuts) by John Gibbs, Wallfl ower Press 2001. Available on Amazon 
here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mise-en-Scene-Film-Style-
Interpretation-Short/dp/190336406X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=book
s&qid=1289815686&sr=8–1

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Cineliteracy
43
WORKSHEET: STUDYING A TITLE SEQUENCE
Teachers’ note:
A title sequence is more than just a list of credits. It can be a 
mini-movie which sets up the fi lm that it’s a part of. It can establish 
mood, period and style. A title sequence can take care of backstory. 
It can soothe the audience or get them agitated. Title sequences are 
an art form of their own
(Deborah Allison, ‘Promises in the Dark: 
Opening Title Sequences in American Feature 
Films of the Sound Period.’ Big Film Design)
In this activity students are encouraged to develop their analytical 
skills by deconstructing the title sequence from one of the feature 
fi lms listed below. Tell the students nothing about the fi lm before 
they view the sequence. Ask them to consider these questions and 
explain their reasoning.
What do you think this is a title sequence for? (feature fi lm, 
TV, short fi lm, etc.)
Can you tell what it is going to be about from the title 
sequence?
Who is the target audience? (children, teens, adults, 
specialist audience, etc.)
Does it follow a narrative or is it more visually driven?
What do you think is the purpose of a title sequence?
Does this title sequence work well?
An interesting variation on this exercise is to cover the video screen 
and ask students to listen carefully to the soundtrack. Ask them 
to describe what they hear. Next, ask them to analyse each of the 
different sonic elements in turn, by posing these questions: