Titles & Fonts in Film

 In researching both credit sequences and movie openings, I've noticed a variety of fonts used in the title and the credits. In this post, I'll be discussing different fonts and how they reflect the films they are used in.

    Both Rocky (1976) and Warrior (2011)'s title fonts are nearly identical, boasting large, white text, occupying most of an otherwise black screen. Rocky's title is especially interesting, as the text is (in a somewhat literal sense) larger than life; the text slowly scrolls across the screen. 

    Both of these movies are similar in premise, showcasing the story of an underdog who looks for success in the fighting ring. While there are similar, overarching concepts, the introduction of each character are nearly opposite. Rocky Balboa is first shown in the middle of a fight, living in an urban city. In Warrior, however, a quieter life is initially depicted, without the protagonist at first. Once Tommy appears on screen, he is introduced without any action or dialogue.

    In my personal interpretation, I believe the assertion of the font help symbolizes the ambition of the character themselves. As I mentioned before, both Rocky and Tommy start from humble beginnings; the scale of the text is contrasting to their initial lives outside of the limelight.

From what I've seen, the most common approach to the title's appearance is through white text against a black screen. This allows the film's title to be the focal point for the viewer. It's an obvious pick, as the choice of color is the most severe contrast. One film that plays around this concept is Alien (1979), which uses the darkness of space to make the title stand out. The title begins to slowly appear, line-by-line, as the credits begin to play out. By allowing the title to develop separately, the word "Alien" is initially unrecognizable. By the film's opening, there is already a sense of mystery and tension as the title develops. Despite using a simple, white font, the title is utilized to set the tone of the film. This is, of course, done through the use of auditory and visual techniques as well, but my point still stands.