Why the fuss about AI?

The internet is still fussing over the Secret Invasion title sequence. Although I don’t think people care as much as entertainment pundits suggest. The internet tends to exaggerate these tiny stories.

If you have not heard, Disney made headlines after revealing that Artificial Intelligence made the opening title sequence for the latest MCU TV show. People immediately lost their minds.

Some of them accused Disney of being creatively bankrupt, having stolen vital opportunities from struggling artistes by leaving the show’s opening sequence in the hands of a computer.

People on the internet are always looking for an excuse to throw a tantrum. First of all, Disney clarified that human graphic designers made the Secret Invasion opening sequence. AI was merely one of several tools they used in the process.

Secondly, let’s be honest; most of the people complaining about that opening title sequence did not watch it. They saw an opportunity to express their disdain for AI and took it. When was the last time you watched an opening title sequence?

I actually thought they would have died out by now. We had a period of a few years during which every show began with the title in giant letters and nothing else. No catchy tune. No flashy visuals. Just the title card to let you know what you were about to watch. I first noticed it with Lost and 24. And then, more shows followed. But these days, you get a mixture of the two.

Some shows throw hefty budgets at the opening title sequence. Don’t forget: you need a decent opening score, an earworm that reminds viewers of your show whenever they hear it. I was walking through a crowded parking lot months ago when someone’s phone rang, and I immediately turned.

The ringtone was Game of Thrones’ opening theme, and I felt compelled to find the source. But such high-quality music comes at a price, and the best composers are not cheap.

The visuals are less of a hassle. Combining the two to create a memorable sequence is easier said than done. Someone once told me that opening title sequences set the tone for the show, which is somewhat true. Even with Lost, which does not use opening title sequences, the eerie sound accompanying that title card gives you a sense of foreboding.

Many artists litter the opening sequence with clues about the upcoming episode, which is clever because it pushes you to pay close attention.

But how many of you care? Older shows would irritate me because the opening title sequence would include spoilers for future episodes. Anime does this today, particularly Shonen. They provide glimpses of upcoming transformations and upgrades, so naturally, I avoid them. And I know I’m not alone.

Once you see it in the first episode, why would you watch it again? The only exceptions are those opening with what the kids call banging scores. Take Wig Wam’s Do You Wanna Taste It from Peacemaker.

I watched that show’s opening sequence every single time because I like the song and listen to it randomly every few days. I also do that with anime. If you love Naruto, you probably feel a rush of nostalgia the moment you hear ‘I realize the screaming pain.’

Sign by Flow is the best anime soundtrack I’ve ever heard, followed closely by Far Away from Asian Kung-Fu Generation. Watching that spinning shot with the different Shinobi teams takes me back to a simpler time.

Now I’m changing my mind. I can see the purpose in opening title sequences if they really strike a chord with you. But again, many of you skip them. I would not care if studios did away with them altogether.

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