Research And Planning - Analysis of Tracy Beaker Series 5 Opening Titles.

Tracy Beaker was a children's TV drama adapted from a novel written by Jacqueline Wilson.
The show ran from 2002 - 2006 over 5 series on both BBC1 and the CBBC Channel, followed in 2010 by Tracy Beaker Returns.

The titles are produced mainly using animation interacting with real life characters.This represents the style of the programme which in each episode shows a combination of real life action and animated segments for Tracy's dreams and made up stories. It is an unusual format but one that I feel is very effective for the genre and audience.
The colours used are extremely bright and vibrant constantly changing on screen and giving a wide range of intense colour. This would appeal directly to children watching and would draw them into the programme.

The music is up beat and modern but unlike Grange Hill it uses a song from half way through to the end of the sequence. It is sung and written by Keisha White and is catchy and would `stick` in your head.

The two main characters ( Tracy and Justine) are shown in real life doodling on cardboard cut outs of each other,using a mixture of close ups and mid shots.This represents the rivalry between them throughout the series.
Similarly, the other characters are seen in animated form playing around the children's home where the series is set. They are later seen in real life in a boys Vs girls tug of war. They are shown in mid shots and are all in focus so are easily recognised.
The camera shots and editing techniques are very quick and sharp but this doesn't distract from the flow of the sequence.
The last shot of all the characters finds them in an animated heap with Tracy in the middle, depicting her as the central character.
The shows title drops down over the heap and is constructed in bold bubble writting, of varying colours, which would appeal strongly to the intended audience. This is followed by the authors name and that of the illustrator, which does infact correspond to the 1978 Grange Hill titles which showed the programmes creator.