Analysis of Opening Title

This clip is taken from TV drama 'Primeval' Series 4.
It's subgenre is 'Sci-fi' and it is about a group of people from different backgrounds, who travel through time dimensions to save humankind from prehistoric creatures.

When I watched these opening titles in silence, I felt that the producers still managed to get across the general theme of the show.
   These titles show short clips of different animals (mostly prehistoric, e.g. a mammoth) and so the audience gets the idea that the show will have something to do with prehistoric times. However, some short clips show creatures that do not exist, e.g. at 0:17 and this implies the Science-Fiction genre of the show.

Techniques used in this opening title are...
- A song/tune
-  Stylistic camera editing
- Graphics
- Camera shots/angles

Use of song/sound
No voice over.
The music is used is quite fast-paced, which would allow the audience to expect a dramatic and action-packed TV show (which is one of the aims of the producers.) The plots are often highly action-packed, as the main characters travel through time, battle creatures and go on many adventures. In this way, the music used symbolises the action that is to come later on.
   If you listen closely, each animal that is shown has their own own distinctive 'noise' such as a roar or growl. Not only does this set the theme, but it adds to the authenticity of the programme.

Stylistic Camera Editing
The use of camera in these titles are really interesting. Each of the mini videos are flown in on an 'anomaly.' (The anomalies are the fast flying objects that resemble shards of glass and are present throughout the entire title.) The 'anomaly' is an important feature to the show. Primeval is considered to be a Doctor Who spin-off, and in this respect, the anomalies are what the Tardis is to Doctor Who. It allows the characters to travel through time. A regular viewer of this show would understand this, and therefore the anomalies would become iconic symbol and would identify with them.
   The different clips are flown in and out through these 'anomalies' very quickly, and this accompanid by the fast-paced music adds to the action of the titles.

Also, at the very end, there is a clever use of camera to make it look as if the word 'Primeval' has shattered, and this opens up into the first scene, (left) as opposed to a simple 'fade-out' or cutting straight to the first scene.

Graphics
The names of the actors and actresses are in white, bold and all in capital letters to make them stand out. They fly in with the 'anomaly' and then are faded out soon after.
The word 'PRIMEVAL' at the end is also in capital letters, but is shown on the screen as bright red. This red can be used to capture the audience's attention, also it could be used to symbolise danger and adventure. The word is also made by fragments of the 'anomaly' which obviously ties in with the whole theme of the TV drama.

Camera Shots/Angles

The shots of the animals are often close up or even extreme close-ups.
   On the left, an extreme close-up of an animal roaring is shown. This is used for maximised effect; it makes the creature seem a lot more scary and adds to the excitement in the credits.

However, these aren't the only angles the camera uses on the animals. On the dinosaur, the camera shows the full length of the animal, to show it's size, and at 0:33 seconds, the camera is placed underneath the mammoth. This is a Low Angle Shot and gives the impression of an audience member being below the creature, and about to be trampled by it. (Below) Again, this all adds to the tension and excitement that needs to be portrayed with this specific sub-genre.

Lastly, only the names of the actresses/actors are used in the opening credits, not the names of the characters. The names are also shown randomly (i.e. not accompanied by a picture of their character.) This is very different to the Primeval series 2 Opening Titles.
   This is because by the fourth series, regular viewers are now familiar with the characters, their names, and the actors that play them, so there is no need to show this before the show starts.
   The music, the use of animal sounds, and the swift way in which the anomaly flies in an out, sets of a tone of excitement and adventure, as well as a little 'taster' of what is to come.