Film opening research

The Lion King (childrens)


Straight away you can tell that this film is an animation which is a theme usually linked with childrens films. The fact that all the characters we see are animals give the impression that the narrative will be animal based, also the animals have human characteristics and seem to be comunicating with each other which tells the audience that the animals are the main characters and will be taking the emotional roles of humans, this further assumes the childrens genre as animals are often seen as childrens characters and the fact its set in Africa makes it seem exciting.

We can tell the setting from the start, the image of the sun rising over the savanna is an iconic one, its also something we dont see in our culture so it makes it seem for the children its aimed at like an adventure which draws the audience in because its something new that they wouldn't usually experience. The musica adds to the cultural change and the exotic feel, the loud call and response at the start is a very common convention of African music and is very regognizable. This call and response is also in a different language which automatically transports the audience to a different culture. Not much happens in this opening but the narrative is hinted at and it draws the audience in as they are left asking questions like why are all the animals there and what is the significance of that one lion.