Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

        Another animated title sequence which has hints of Lotte Reiniger's cut out style is Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (Jamie Caliri, Benjamin Goldman and Todd Hemker). Unlike Enchanted the effect here is rather more sinister, with the villain of the piece, Count Olaf, represented as an imposing, omnipresent, shadow puppet style figure that the Baudelaire orphans are powerless to escape. 

        Olaf's only feature not disguised beneath the demonic, Victorian-esque silhouette is the eye; a recurring symbol within the novels on which this film is based, as well as in the title sequence, a metaphor to show that the children are constantly being watched. The eye acts as a transition and link between the numerous vignettes that comprise this unusually lengthy end credits sequences (it runs for more than 5 minutes), for example a close up of an eye sees the iris transform into a Ferris wheel on which the children ride

        The sequence seems to comprise various different animation techniques, at some points using a more graphic style and at others appearing like a puppet theater, with waves and hills moving in distinct and separate layers. This is echoed by the figures of the orphans, whose jilting movements almost suggest stop motion. These different techniques are blended seamlessly thanks to the unchanging designs of the children, and to the plethora of rich patterns and fabric textures which were scanned in and used throughout, adding welcome depth to the otherwise flat imagery, which the aforementioned multi plane scenery also helps to combat. The desaturated and monochromatic colour palette that runs throughout also helps to tie the various elements together, as well as matching the colours used in the film, which give a strong impression of the grim and cheerless mood of the piece.

        There is a pleasingly hand crafted feel to the whole sequence that fits in nicely with the indeterminate period and vintage/steampunk aesthetic.