Drake & Josh
Opening Sequences
Hannah Montana
Grange Hill
We decided to analyse the Drake & Josh opening sequence, we did this as the main characters used within this children's TV show have similar characteristics to the characters that we are portraying within our product. Drake, being a stereotypical teenager is shown acting stupid and messing about with his brother and is exactly the type of behaviour that we will be including within one of the characters in our product. On the other hand, Josh is shown in a type of manner that is usually considered to be that of a 'geek/nerd's' mannerisms. An example of this is through the types of clothing that Josh is dressed in, he is wearing shirts and the each are usually bland colours to show that he's personality is much more closed. This blend of personalities is perfect for children's TV as it is easy for children to relate to the characters. This is the main reason for analysing this opening sequence as it captures the characters we will be using within our product. Clips from the show are put together to form the opening sequence which results in a fast pace which is exciting and entertaining to watch. The music used also suits the show as it is indie rock and would appeal to the target audience. The music is fun and has a fast beat which suits the personality of the characters.
We chose to analyse the Hannah Montana opening sequence as our product is similarly going to be targeted at an audience of both male and female. The main character 'Miley Cyrus' or 'Hannah Montana' is shown as the girl that any young girl idolises to be... A teen pop star! The idea behind this TV show is brilliant as it creates the idea that any girl or boy can become anything they'd like to be if they work hard enough. Similarly to the Drake and Josh opening sequence there are clips taken from the TV show used throughout which gives the viewer an insight into the characters. Although this a good technique I do not believe it captures fully the different and contrasting stereotypical characters that are actually included within in the show itself. However, it does clearly highlight which main characters are who as they have their own section of credits, for example "Starring - Miley Cyrus" - this gives the audience a chance to see each persona meaning they will want to watch on. The show represents very entertaining life with highs and lows with the undoubted thrills and spill which children of that age group can enjoy and relate to. The effects used are eye catching and striking and is the style which is associated with children's TV shows. The song 'Best of Both Worlds' clearly constitutes the main story line and fits in very well, plus it is a catchy song which means it will be memorable for the audience. Therefore we want to ensure that we use a similar exuberant song with bold fonts and buoyant effects.
Freaks & Geeks
Although this is an older children's TV show which was started in 1978 we knew it would till follow the same conventions of stereotypes. This children's TV show is based within the school environment also, which is what we would like to do in our product. There are different stereotypical characters shown within this intro that we would like to include in our piece. For example the sporty type or 'Jock' is shown playing football and swimming. This is a good role to include as it adds excitement to the product and will entice an audience of both male and female. The graphics that are used within the product are made to look like a comic strip, this is a good idea as it is showcasing almost, the different clips that will be within the TV show but with an animated side to it. This adds to the aesthetics of the intro and helps to draw the attention of the audience and make it stand out from the rest of the TV shows. The many different aspects of school life are shown which means the audience can understand and relate to how realistic and life like the extract is. The theme music is slower than what we want in our TV show as we will be looking for something with a faster pace and beat.
That's So Raven
This opening sequence perfectly captures the stereotypical characters that are used within children's TV. The show 'Freaks & Geeks' is American which means the characters are dressed in their own clothes but the show itself is set in a high school environment. Because of the characters costume it makes it easier for the audience to differentiate between the contrasting stereotypes as they demonstrate their own personality. The setting is clear to see and is highlighted through the establishing shot of the set where the school photos are being taken, so it doesn't leave the audience guessing.
The focus of this intro is based solely on the characters and their characteristics, the 'geek' is dressed in glasses, shirt and tie and a waist coat. Whereas the 'bad boy' character is dressed in a denim jacket and denim jeans with his hair looking greasy, his body language and facial expressions convey to the audience that he is not bothered about school or the pictures that are being taken in particular. Each character has a different action which defines their stereotype and place in the school rankings through their different traits. We agree that this is the best way to successfully portray each stereotype through their movement and appearance. The music that goes alongside the picture matches well with the characters and the pace of the shots. The music used is very recognisable which also means it will be memorable for the audience; this is something that we aim to achieve in our work.
Waterloo Road
We decided to analyse the Waterloo Road intro as we also would like our product to be based within a school environment. This is because of the audience that we are directing the product at, they will be around this age and - again - can relate to the characters involved. The establishing shot is an eagle eye view of a typical classroom where the tables spell out Waterloo Road. Within this intro you can clearly see a stereotypical character as a 'bad boy' throws a scrunched up piece of paper across the classroom. The shot clearly represents a stereotypical bully, which we are trying to depict in our own TV show. Again the same technique is used as the Drake and Josh intro as clips from the TV show have been used to introduce the characters to the audience and give them an insight in to the school etc. We would prefer to try and fully emphasise the different characters within our product so will use carefully crafted clips to do this. The song used for the theme tune doesn't have any lyrics which may also consider to do, but it isn't as catchy and memorable as other songs that we have looked at.
This children's TV show utilises one main character 'Raven' to portray many of the common stereotypes that are found in most kids TV shows. They show this well within the opening sequence, using clips from the episodes showing the characters personality well throughout. The graphics used within this intro are again vibrant and colourful, this is done to catch the viewer's eye and to be aesthetically pleasing for the consumer. The music that is used is also the products original music, recorded in the studio. It is the voice of the main character; this is done to create a good feel of the character from the onset and making the audience warm to the character of 'Raven'.