Title Research: Napoleon Dynamite

 How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film? Which Ones?

In total there were 21 different title cards in the title sequence. The first 3 were the production companies involved, Fox, Paramount and MTV. The next few were all of the main actors in the movie. Following them was the most important production crew members including the production composer, editor, and designer. Lastly, was the executive producer ending with the directors title card.

What connotations do the images carry?

The aesthetics of the title card give a very early 2000s feeling which is when the movie takes place. These include light colors that contrast with the background and stand out. And its simplicity is overall the biggest foreshadowing for the movie which quite literally is a simple high school movie.

How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?

The way the names were shown in this title sequence was by integrating them onto props that the main character would hold. Many of the props used in the title sequence are thing you would find at a school. Those include a school lunch, a notebook, a pencil, and an eraser. All of these show clearly that its a coming of age movie because it takes place in high school.

What conventions are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience.

As mentioned earlier, the movie, Napoleon Dynamite, was marketed as a simple high school movie. So by keeping a simple aesthetic, you ensure the audience that they are here to see the movie they thought they were. Adding on to that by having the names of the people involved integrated into these common school props, the audience is even further ensured that this is the movie that was marketed to them.