Bodacious Space Pirates

I was watching the outro of Moretsu Space Pirates which translates as Bodacious Space Pirates, is probably the best Japanese animation (Anime) this season (winter). Before you ask its on www.crunchyroll.com and is not pirated heh for the pun. Anyway as I was saying I was watching the outro and it occurred to me that Intro and outro are something that Directors and the entire production crew by extension need to take into consideration. The other thought I had is the difference between specifically Japanese animation (anime) and western counterparts (from which ever country) and western TV in general.  

First I’d like to discuss the intro. The intro is the first snippet of the show and the initial credits, to make the credits more interesting there are normally images or graphics with a theme tune. With the advent of computer graphics the imagery has gotten more interesting or rather can be, such as in the opening of Battlestar Galactica (BSG) there are shots from the show and the shock and awe inspiring multiple large thermonuclear detonations across a planetary surface. Along with the haunting piece of music creates an impression.

A good and deep impression is what you need to keep the audience watching for your programs intro.

The main differences in the intro and outro from anime to western TV is that the anime seems to put a lot more work into them especially the outro as they run flashy animated sequences and catchy music as opposed to the Western where if you’re lucky you get an edited sequence of what happened in the episode and the credits if not a matt black background and the credits. In Japan the music for each season of any one anime show (if they are lucky enough to have multiple seasons much like their western counterparts) is different unlike the western counterparts because they generate income through CD Sales. They can create such an impression hit the number one on the national Japanese music charts such as Macross Frontier. As an example NCIS who has had a successful nine seasons but the same intro and outro music for that entire time. Of course there is something to be said for brand recognition too. Only two western Dramas have been able to do something similiar the theme from Friends, with Closer to free by the Bodeans although from memory that was extended into a full song after enough hype was generated and I dont remember the TV drama but the song was How do you talk to an angel? That also hit number one on the US charts. Oh wait the Sienfeld last episode have Greenday's Time of our lives, and Im pretty sure that hit the top of the charts as well.

This year we only have three minutes to make an impression, and so the first say thirty seconds as the intro needs to grab the audience so that they will continue to watch the program in a favourable light. Whilst script, editing, music play a part in it, it is up the director, his vision and his direction of the actors (and the actors themselves) to capture the audiences hearts.