Delicatessen

Thursday, October 13th, 2011

From a high-pitched shirll emanating from two eyes gazing out, to the loud chop of a knife thus begins the titles to Delicatessen, a 1991 French black comedy film, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro. Not unlike Kyle Cooper’s Se7en title’s, the titles are most known for their clever use of typography as real in camera elements used in a pan over a collection of what only can be described as post-apocalyptic trash. The sequence has an intentional sickly yellow stained tint, due in part to the chemical process used to develop the films stock. Appropriate given the context of the film.

The titles would go on to inspire many imitators and title designers, including myself. Art of the Title Sequence has a great little write up on Delicatessen with an insightful opinion piece by Imaginary Forces (and personal hero of mine) Creative Director Karin Fong.