If you thought the first two installments of The Hunger Games story were serious business, the third book and last two films go way over the edge. Mockingjay presents Panem in turmoil. The Districts are opening their eyes and stepping up against the Capitol and President Snow. Katniss Everdeen, known as the Mockingjay, becomes the symbol of the revolution. The weight of the world is on her shoulders as people fight and die for the cause. It’s bleak, but there is hope.
Anne Winkler weaves those heavy themes and propaganda messages into her opening titles for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay. She created the sequence for a design graduation project, and I hope she receives the highest grade possible. She’s stripped the story down to its most meaningful symbols and set the graphics to Lorde’s cover of “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” The titles have a James Bond vibe, and they’re positively chilling.
The trailers that have been released for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 so far have been spine-tingling because they revealed that President Snow has Peeta and Johanna and isn’t afraid to use them for his purposes. It paints a frightening picture. But Winkler’s titles get under my skin in a different way. The stark images of mockingjays getting killed convey the harsh realities of the rebellion and gives you the impression that no one is safe from the consequences. Maybe not even Katniss.
What do you think of these fan made opening titles? Did anyone else get goose bumps? Sound off in the comments.
HT: io9
This is freaking awesome.
You have to also give credit to Ms. Winkler’s most obvious influence: Saul Bass. Perhaps one of the most influential graphic designers to ever work in motion pictures. Psycho. Ocean’s Eleven. (the original) It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. The Man with the Golden Arm. She owes a great debt to that guy.