Up Opening Scene Analysis/Lion King Opening Scene Analysis

Up Opening Scene Analysis

 

Pixar’s Up has a very special opening in that it outlines the entire background of the main character before the story even begins. It very cleverly introduces the audience to the main character, but also creates a relationship between the two, making the audience feel like they’ve known him for years. This is effective as the audience can’t help but empathise with Carl– the main character, taking them too, on his emotional journey. Due to its animated nature and its unusual opening sequence it is difficult to analyse as it does not have a specific location or plot. Despite the premise of the film appearing to be targeted solely towards children, its life values and heart wrenching relationships also gives a much wider range of audiences including the parent, pleasure.

The lighting plays a large role in the opening scene as it dictates the mood of the characters to the audience. As there is no dialogue for the first five minutes, it is important that the audience are kept focused by the mise en scene, music and camera/editing techniques. On the surface, Up seems like a very simplistic film aimed at young children and easily understood, shown by the slow paced editing and the everyday situations that take place in chronological order. A very basic colour coordination scheme is used, as shown by the bright colours when the characters are happy, and oppositely, the dark colours when the characters are sad. The story of Carl and Ellie to children may just come across as a fun story with a sad ending, however to the older audience their story is more significant as it allows them to immediately connect and understand him, evoking emotion for his great loss.

A very light hearted, upbeat non-diegetic sound track is played in the background, creating a positive, cheery atmosphere making the film enjoyable and causing the audience to warm to the characters. The fast paced music obviously represents the happiness of the couple and like the lighting; the slower paced music represents their unhappiness. Again this appeals to children as they are easily able to read the characters emotions; however it also helps to set the scene and the mood, evoking emotion from the range of audience audiences. The lighting also helps to show the passing of time and the different environments they are in.

The editing is also very simple, shown by the way the number of different shot types slows down during the devastation to emphasise the drastic effect it has had on the main character. The fast paced editing towards the beginning suggests that the couple are happy and that time goes quickly when they are together, creating a noticeable contrast after Ellie dies. Many different camera angles are used for different effects, allowing the audience to see the surroundings and the character’s emotions. Objective shots are used in important locations to the characters, such as under the tree, and this is made obvious to the audience as the editing pace slows down and so more time is spent in those certain locations. Close up shots are used effectively in order to clearly portray the characters emotions to the younger audience, evoking emotion from them too.

The Lion King Opening Scene

Walt Disney is shown to represent The Lion King which would attract the younger audience as it is a very well known, highly thought of company respected for its ability to make successful children’s films. In the opening scene, unlike Up, an establishing shot clearly sets up the location for the film, and makes it obvious to children that this is where the characters will be introduced. Similarly, all the different characters are quickly introduced, enticing the targeted audience as this animals may be something new or unusual to them. The use of animation makes it more friendly to young children, and also makes it more relatable is it is probably something they would be used to.

The editing in The Lion King is very slow, allowing the beauty of the locations to be admired, as well as going slowly allowing the young targeted audience to be able to notice all the different aspects as well. The slow editing pace further helps the children to learn about the different relationships between the different characters, and it also helps to educate them as it would teach them about the natural surroundings for these types of animals. The main characters, such as the lion are clearly given more prevalence, introducing them to the audience as the main/most important characters. The music is fast paced, upbeat and enjoyable, helping to set the scene and the mood as well as being enjoyable to listen to. The build-up of music as it comes towards the end helps to shows that it is the end of a big introduction and the beginning of the film. The colours used are also very bright, suggesting happiness and friendliness towards each of the characters, allowing the audience to determine the genre of the film as an animated adventure.

There are many similarities in these two animated adventure films, such as the uses of bright colours and music. It is clear that they are editing techniques which point out the obvious, which is why they are used and appeal to the younger audience. I have learnt that the speed of music and editing helps to set the scene and helps the audience to relate and understand the characters and their emotions. Both The Lion King and Up have long opening scenes before the plot actually begins, which is effective at introducing the location and characters before the adventure starts, which helps to create a bond between the audience and the characters.