Disney has released a clip of Oz The Great and Powerful — the mesmerizing opening credits.
The visuals in Disney’s hit film are certainly a selling point, already launching clothing and nail polish lines that emulate the rich colors and magical environment that director Sam Raimi created for the movie. But the first few minutes, like the original Wizard of Oz, are in black and white. Created by designer Garson Yu and his Yu + Co, the opening of the film was inspired by the arc of the story.
“Our goal with the opening title sequence was to set the tone for the audience to enter the unique, imaginative world that Sam Raimi created,” Yu’s web site says of the sequence. “The black and white, stereo 4×3 sequence was designed to flow seamlessly into the film’s first scenes which are set in Kansas in 1905.”
Inspiration for the credits came from the films of George Melis, according to an interview with Cinemablend, and his multi-layered approach to the flowing, moving title sequence.
The title sequence looks better on the big screen in 3-D, but you can still appreciate the artistry in the clip below.
(And the entire Internet will be quick to point out that there is a bit of a spoiler at about 23 seconds. So in case you didn’t already know what the big “twist” is in Oz, the credits might inform you.)
