Title Sequence Analysis - Doctor Who

Here I have analysed the famous Doctor Who title sequence, Doctor Who is very popular amongst the target audience I am making my title sequence for. I hope that this will inspire and, help me when making the title sequence for my children TV drama. The ‘Doctor Who’ title sequence is a very simple sequence compared to the others I have researched however, it is still highly effective. The sequence opens with the iconic Doctor Who Tardis being thrown into the world of time travel, the camera then continues to follows the Tardis in a time tunnel throughout the sequence. The use of the camera following the Doctor’s Tardis suggests that we as the audience follow the doctor in his different time travels just like the camera is following him through the tunnel.

Furthermore, the use of the time tunnel and Tardis highlights to the audience the Sci-fi theme and the time travelling plot throughout. As the sequence develops the camera then pans out of the tunnel to reveal the famous and well-known actors names. Unlike, other title sequences there are no corresponding images or character names shown with the actors names, this may be because the actors and actresses are constantly changing and the program may have regular guest stars. As the sequence continues the Doctor Who logo makes a dramatic entrance in time with the intense background music, the large typeface is easy to read but it also looks intimidating

suggesting that Doctor Who is an intimidating and the dominating figure to the villains in the show. As the Doctor Who logo fades into the background of the sequence the Doctor’s face is mysteriously revealed, this again suggests to the audience that the Doctor is a strange and mystifying character. Finally, as the sequence ends the title of the program is revealed, ‘Dawn of the Doctor’, this gives the audience an insight into what the program may be about and makes them excited and anxious to watch more. Moreover, the music used throughout the sequence ties it all together and clearly conveys the sci-fi theme; the space like sound track builds intensity throughout the sequence and dramatizes the time travelling element in the program.

Overall, this title sequence from the children’s TV drama ‘Doctor Who’ does not follow all typical media conventions related to title sequences as unlike Tracy Beaker and, MI high it does not introduce its characters except when the Doctor is briefly shown at the end. However, it does follow some conventions as it ends the sequence with the programs well known logos fading in to the first scene; it also uses music to reinforce the theme of the program to its audience like Tracy Beaker and MI High.