Ask John: Why Are Opening Sequences Animated So Well?
Question:
Why do the opening credits sequences for many anime series feel like they have better quality animation than the actual episodes themselves? Many openers contain animation that is more fluid, drawn better, and seems more like the quality of a theatrical film budget rather than an aired-on-TV or an OVA series.
Answer:
Appearances aside, many TV anime series, in fact, do have better animation during their opening credits sequences than within the body of the episode. What’s more, in certain instances, for example, the opening animation for the Weiss Kreuz anime series, the opening animation is produced by an entirely different team of animators and looks completely different from the interior animation of the regular weekly episodes. There are a number of important, practical reasons behind devoting a lot of effort to a series’ opening animation.
An anime series’ opening animation is often its introduction and calling card. The opening animation sequence does more than just provide an opportunity for the show to credit its creators. The opening animation sequence captures television viewers’ attention and convinces them to continue watching the episode by promising certain tonal content. A fast paced, action-filled opening animation promises an exciting show. A sedate and charming opening promises a sweet, romantic series. A stylish opening promises a unique and captivating series to follow. Furthermore, opening animation sequences can be used as promotional videos to introduce new viewers and consumers to the program. Mother always said that first impressions are important. In many cases, an anime series’ opening animation sequence is its first impression.
Unlike interior episode animation, an opening credits sequence appears prominently every week. Anime episodes may re-use backgrounds or full animated sequences, but typical viewers infrequently or never notice this production technique. It’s not natural for a viewer to notice that the street scene in episode 2 is the same street passing by in episode 4. That’s a cost and time saving technique anime uses, not something which viewers are supposed to notice. However, viewers will see the same opening animation every week for several months or even years. For something that’s going to be used repeatedly so many times, and seen by so many viewers, it’s worthwhile to spend extra time, money, and effort to make it especially good.
Related Posts
About The Author
john
Add a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Additionally, there are a few occasions where series directors or episode directors who aren’t involved in the daily production of the program itself who are specifically chosen to be the animation director or concept artist for the opening sequence.
I remember Satoshi Kon saying about PARANOIA AGENT that he specifically instructed composer Susumu Hirasawa to create something loud, jarring, and unexpected for the series’ opening sequence… partly because the series aired late at night (to “wake up” the audience), and partly, as John mentioned, it gets you into the spirit of the program as well. The ending sequence, Kon too argued, put audiences back to sleep.
*faints and regains consciousness*
A reply that wasn’t a book to read. I never thought I’d live to see the day.
Sorry, John. Just had to remark about it.
😉
And then there’s Aria, which blows the whole opening animation sequence out of the water.
I like this type of opening as opposed to the current. It just seems like we get more “show” than the 4 minutes wasted on “beauty”. I wish more series took this approach.
Heh. This reminds me of FMVs in the video games of old, where they were much better than the game’s rendering system (well, still true but much better).
Mama always said never judge a book by its cover and this is why I can’t stand previews. They’re so misleading as most today *are* the series opening.