I designed a title sequence for the 1983 sci-fi comedy, The Man With Two Brains. The movie features lots of slapstick science, unconventional brain surgery, and brain transferences. Using the movie's synthy 80s soundtrack, I wanted to design a sequence that really feels like it's a product of its time.
The concept is that the first part of the sequence is a 'conventional' brain extraction instruction guide. It seemed like the best way to naturally fit in some comedic gags while keeping with the movie's bizarre mad science. When the soundtrack shifts to a more sinister tone, I showed the mad science experimentation with the brain transfers like it is explored in the film. The last part of the soundtrack is a zany upbeat dance sequence and that's when the sequence goes wild with bizarre brain shenanigans.
The design of the sequence is based on an old computer from the 80s to reflect the technology of the time. When thinking through my approach, I made sure that every element would be convincing when it was fit into the pixel grid generated in After Effects.
My process was that I animated in Cinema 4D and made it so it rendered in 2D outlines. I chose a pixelated font inspired by the font from the Apple II computer from the 80s to make it look like it was part of the pixel grid. Finally, I created the pixel grid effect in After Effects and put a retro filter on top to make it look like it's on an actual computer screen from the 1980s.
Outlines
Pixel Grid
