Thursday, April 18, 2013

Looking Back: Opening Titles

When the Walt Disney Classics Collection released a new scenemany collectors anticipated the release of an Opening Title.

The Opening Title featured actual artwork from the opening credits of each film and/or animated short. They are a three-dimensional representation of the opening title sequence (made to look like a film reel). The artwork was pulled from the Disney Archives and replicated to create the opening film title as pictured in some of the opening titles featured at right.

To date, with each animated short retired, the opening title was retired as well except for Trick or Treat, Silly Symphonies and Mickey's Christmas Carol (all suspended as of 12-31-12). Not so with the film releases. Song of the South and The Three Caballeros are the only film title opening titles that were retired.

Timeless Treasures and Modern Masterpieces films where an opening title had not been released included Saludos AmigosMake Mine Music, Fun and Fancy Free, Melody Time, Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, The Many Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh, The Fox and the Hound, The Great Mouse Detective, Pocahontas, The Emperor's New Groove, The Tigger Movie, Atlantis, Chicken Little and The Princess and The Frog.

Live Action Films included The Reluctant Dragon, Swiss Family Robinson, The Love Bug and Pete's Dragon. A Bug's Life and Up) are the only releases from Disney/Pixar Films that do not have an opening title. 

Cartoon Classics, not withstanding those shorts with a single sculpture release, Donald Gets Drafted, Good Scouts, Hawaiian Holiday, Mickey's Gala Premiere, Mickey's Orphans, Runaway Brain, Steamboat Willie and Thru the Mirror were the only animated shorts with more than one sculpt released that did not include an opening title as part of the release (or at a later date).

I personally like the Opening Titles and where I have a film or short represented in my collection, I have always picked up the opening title as well. I like them for both the beauty of the artwork depicted on the film reel and what they add to a scene. When I have multiple scenes from a film and they're displayed in various cabinets, I will pick up additional titles as they add something to a scene plus a helpful hint to family and friends not always familiar with the film.

Opening Titles seemed to become less popular in recent years, hence many of the releases over the past few years, an Opening Title was not made available.

No comments: