Analysisng Fantasy genre

Alice in Wonderland opening sequence


this clip contains the generic conventions of an opening sequence, such as:
a title sequence which also introduces the main characters of the film...

This shows Alice along with the title of the film...



here we can see more main characters being introduced before the start of the film along with the opening credits.


This shows the media company along with another character of the film.


It also contains a non diagetic sound track with lots of strings and choral voices, introducing the narrative and reinforcing the fantasy genre.

As the film begins we are introduced to one location, however this quickly changes..

...this shows Alice's reality world all be it animation

while this shot shows her traveling through to her 'wonderland' showing how it is a fantasy film.

The target audience for this film would be younger children probably aged 4+ as it is an animation with the fantasy becoming a contributing factor to the horror which later occurs. All content is appropriate for the target audience however some may still find it to scary.

Mise en scene:
The bright colours, upbeat music and the setting within the field and flowers all suggest a light heartedness of the fantasy. This then changes when Alice enters the 'Wonderland' as all becomes much darker, hinting at the sinister nature of the narrative.

Camera work:
There is an establishing shot of the field to show the current location of Alice and her mother. During their conversation there are many mid shots of Alice, to emphasise her importance to the story. The camera always tracks Alice to force the audience to follow her adventure.

Editing:
Alice gets the most screen time, showing her importance as the main character in the film. It is continuity editing to give a realistic feel to the start of the film and attempt to make it realistic in amongst the fantasy bring out the dramatic irony.

Sound:
The beginning sound track gives us an introduction to the narrative and sets the atmosphere for the film. This then goes into diagetic sound of bees and the voice of her mother reading to Alice. Throughout the whole sequence there is non diagetic music which changes to fit the changing emotions Alice is experiencing and communicating to the audience.