I will use the 8 main areas of focus in order to analyse this opening successfully:
- Narrative
- Setting
- Sound
- Titles
- Atmosphere
- Genre
- Character
- Theme
The main purpose of an opening sequence is introduce the audience to the overall style of the film including the main themes, the genre, the main character and the setting. Within the first two and half minutes of the film Jason Reitman (Director) has managed to do just that. The opening itself is an open narrative, but when looked at along with the entire film it becomes a closed narrative. We can gather from the opening that this female character is the main character and she is simply walking along the street drinking her drink. The concept of the narrative is very simple is its essence which reflects the simple and naive character of Juno.
The setting of the opening is not directly given away, however judging by the style of houses and the mise of the 'Sunny D' we can assume it is an American setting. The animated style of the opening also alludes to the iconography of American comic strips. The non-diegetic background music by Bob Dylan further indicates the American setting and also gives a laid back feel. The lyrics seem to flow effortlessly and phrases such as 'All I want is you, will you stay with me, take me by the arms and sway me like the sea' portray Juno as innocent and signify the romance and coming of age plot to follow. The shops that are featured in the opening such as the drug store and the music store are all relevant in the plot line of the film and are featured later on in the narrative. These act as signifies to the audience and give them a hint of what is to come. The leaves falling from tress during the sequence are also important in indicating the time of year which becomes important to the progression of the story when Juno becomes pregnant. The guitar shop and retro TV that she passes also reinforce the interests and lifestyle of the teenager.
The main point of the opening is to bring in the opening titles. In Juno these are seen as block 3-D capital letters. They look as if they have been hand drawn - carrying on the animated theme throughout. They are not dissimilar to doodles typically found in teenagers notebooks etc. This is again a reminder of Juno's young as and what the film centres around. They are fully integrated into the sequence, which is pleasing to the eye. They after often seen appearing fro behind bit of set which balances them nicely in the frame. An example is the title that appears to be written on the fence using perspective. Juno also walks in front of a number of the titles which gives the sequence its playful, natural tone. These techniques help to integrate the titles effectively into the opening. The first titles introduce the production company and other institutions involved in the production of the film. The title appears quite early on in the sequence (within 25 seconds), which is conventional of opening titles. The next title to appear is the main actress (Ellen Page) which appears next to the character of Juno as she is featured in a close up walking towards the camera - this signifies that this is the character she plays and is the central character.
The atmosphere of the opening is very happy and laid back which suggests the rom-com genre of the film. The upbeat music and animation keeps up the pace of the sequence; while the hand drawn like cartoon animation emphasises the teen focus of the narrative. The playful edits and transitions also highlight the comedy genre. A lot of the time Juno is on the screen two different shots simultaneously, this signifies her central role in the film and alludes to her dominant personality.
Juno costume within the opening is very important. It would traditionally be viewed as a 'tom-boy' type outfit with the simple jeans, hoody and canvas shoes. Not only does this indicate the type of character she is but also reinforces that she is just a 'normal person' from a presumed middle class American family (common for films of this genre).
Many themes are suggested throughout. The iconography of the guitar connotes a musical element, whilst the drug store suggests themes of illness or, as we know, pregnancy. The male college running team that are seen running past Juno also indicate a love theme within the film.
Overall, I think the opening of Juno is successful its in portrayal of the main elements of the film. It is clear to the audience that the genre is romantic-comedy. The main character is introduced and the background music sets the audience up for the overall tone of the film.
The setting of the opening is not directly given away, however judging by the style of houses and the mise of the 'Sunny D' we can assume it is an American setting. The animated style of the opening also alludes to the iconography of American comic strips. The non-diegetic background music by Bob Dylan further indicates the American setting and also gives a laid back feel. The lyrics seem to flow effortlessly and phrases such as 'All I want is you, will you stay with me, take me by the arms and sway me like the sea' portray Juno as innocent and signify the romance and coming of age plot to follow. The shops that are featured in the opening such as the drug store and the music store are all relevant in the plot line of the film and are featured later on in the narrative. These act as signifies to the audience and give them a hint of what is to come. The leaves falling from tress during the sequence are also important in indicating the time of year which becomes important to the progression of the story when Juno becomes pregnant. The guitar shop and retro TV that she passes also reinforce the interests and lifestyle of the teenager.
The main point of the opening is to bring in the opening titles. In Juno these are seen as block 3-D capital letters. They look as if they have been hand drawn - carrying on the animated theme throughout. They are not dissimilar to doodles typically found in teenagers notebooks etc. This is again a reminder of Juno's young as and what the film centres around. They are fully integrated into the sequence, which is pleasing to the eye. They after often seen appearing fro behind bit of set which balances them nicely in the frame. An example is the title that appears to be written on the fence using perspective. Juno also walks in front of a number of the titles which gives the sequence its playful, natural tone. These techniques help to integrate the titles effectively into the opening. The first titles introduce the production company and other institutions involved in the production of the film. The title appears quite early on in the sequence (within 25 seconds), which is conventional of opening titles. The next title to appear is the main actress (Ellen Page) which appears next to the character of Juno as she is featured in a close up walking towards the camera - this signifies that this is the character she plays and is the central character.
The atmosphere of the opening is very happy and laid back which suggests the rom-com genre of the film. The upbeat music and animation keeps up the pace of the sequence; while the hand drawn like cartoon animation emphasises the teen focus of the narrative. The playful edits and transitions also highlight the comedy genre. A lot of the time Juno is on the screen two different shots simultaneously, this signifies her central role in the film and alludes to her dominant personality.
Juno costume within the opening is very important. It would traditionally be viewed as a 'tom-boy' type outfit with the simple jeans, hoody and canvas shoes. Not only does this indicate the type of character she is but also reinforces that she is just a 'normal person' from a presumed middle class American family (common for films of this genre).
Many themes are suggested throughout. The iconography of the guitar connotes a musical element, whilst the drug store suggests themes of illness or, as we know, pregnancy. The male college running team that are seen running past Juno also indicate a love theme within the film.
Overall, I think the opening of Juno is successful its in portrayal of the main elements of the film. It is clear to the audience that the genre is romantic-comedy. The main character is introduced and the background music sets the audience up for the overall tone of the film.
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