User:Sam4293/Titles

A title sequence is the method by which television programmes present their title, sometimes key production and cast members, utilising conceptual visuals and sound. It typically includes the text of the opening credits and helps establish the setting and tone of the program.

In all, there have been five main title sequences in EastEnders' history, with new versions debuting in 1985, 1991, 1993, 1999 and 2009. In most cases, the change has coincided with a change of the theme tune or production method (e.g. transferring to stereo, HD.). Each one follows the same formula of a zoom out shot of visual images taken from an aircraft flying over the East End of London at 1000 feet. Approximately 800 photographs were taken and then pieced together to create one big image representing the programme's setting of East End London. Details of each sequence, their variations, and associated end credits, are given below.

1985 sequence
The prestigious opening titles of EastEnders was designed by graphic designer Alan Jeapes. He was addressed by series creator Tony Holland after previously having served with Holland on a BBC drama named Cold Warrior, Holland was dazzled with his work on creating the titles for Cold Warrior so he thought he was the ideal man for the opening and closing titles of EastEnders and he was unquestionably accurate.

Jeapes had a particular fixation for maps on title sequences and concluded creating a map of the London's East End, the section where the river does a curve. Roughly 800 black and white aerial photographs were taken from an aircraft soaring over London's East End and then stitched together to make one big image.

Once the image was formed, Jeapes noticed that it was too evident that the picture was sutured together around and on the river part, so the river was then colourised into blue to mould out the fact that this image was a whole collection of separate pictures stitched together.

The titles were then shot on a digital motion control rig and added the sequence of a zoom out shot starting from the centre of the river and then zooming out to reveal the rest of the image with the title "EastEnders" fading up in the centre. Alan Jeapes' first set of artwork lasted on the show for six consecutive years until EastEnders went to stereo in 1991 and somewhat more of the London's East End was revealed on the image.

1991 sequence
In August 1991, the theme tune was branded with a slight tweak and the opening titles were given a little makeover with the river becoming a much more harder stain of blue and more of the 800 photographed pieced together image became visible.

The reason for this change is because EastEnders transferred to stereo, the slightly tweaked theme tune had been previously used before in both June and July 1988 but not on a regular basis.

1993 sequence
The third of the EastEnders' title sequences debuted on the 11th May 1993 to celebrate the eighth birthday of the programme and remained on our screens for six years last being used on Episode 1828 in 1999.

The design retained familiar to the previous EastEnders logo, but colour was added to the aerial view of London, and 3D amination was introduced to make the river appear more fluid. The birds-eye view map was a mosaic of 666 stills, with each still shot on roll film from an aircraft.

The complete map was then photographed, reduced and shot on a digital motion control rig at London Facility SVC. The image, along with a series of mattes, were shot on to A60 digital disk, and then collated with the water reflections, which were created using Infynity Software on an AT&T workstation, before being transferred to the A60.

In 1998, the BBC had demanded that every programme that runs through their software should have the BBC logo slated somewhere in the opening titles. This debuted on EastEnders on Episode 1555 firstly appearing in the rear left-hand corner in the middle of the opening sequence and then disappearing before the end. However, this proved to be very unpopular with the public who stated that it made the opening titles look "messy" so it was changed and the BBC logo appeared below the EastEnders at the end of the sequence to give the titles a somewhat more neater look.

1999 sequence
The fourth title sequence of EastEnders was the most prominent and long-standing one, lasting for a decade! The brand new titles were purposely revamped to coincide with the new Millenium Dome. This was the first time CGI was used. The dome was added in on a computerised motion control rig as now with moving water to give it a much more realistic look.

2009 sequence
With the programme's revamp of a new theme tune, a new title sequence was commissioned which made its debut on Episode 4066 on 7th September 2010. This sequence incoporated a three-dimensional coloured map, complete with a Thames boat and moving clouds. At the insistence of executive producer Diederick Santer, the EastEnders logo was changed to fading in at the end of the sequence rather than scrolling up.

Special title sequences

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End credits

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