Cars - film analysis

Institutional information

Cars is a children's animation film that was released in 2006, and was directed by John Lasseter and Joe Ranft. The film is rated 7.2 stars out of 10 on the IMDB website and made $60,119,509 in the opening weekend; taking a gross of $244,052,711. Cars was produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Ambition Studios and runs for 117 minutes. 

Narrative

The animation film Cars follows a very famous racing car, Lightning McQueen as he loses his way when travelling to a race, and watches him as he discovers the true meaning of friendship in a small town Radiator Springs. Automatically, it is clear that the film doesn't present any realism, something that often appeal to young children as it allows them to use their imagination. The film uses a linear narrative.

Mise en scene

The introduction of Cars begins with a black screen and a voice over the top of the shot. Dark screen signifies a possible element of danger to the film, representing a disruption in film which engages the audience. A visual of racing cars on what looks like a racing track connotes a fast paced film; and the bright colours used signifies youthfulness, appealing to children as it is an animation film. However, there is a contrast between the cuts to black screens and the bright colours suggesting there are both positive and negative aspects to the film. This shot introduces the main character in film, which allows the audience, primarily children, to form a bond with the character. The focus on the wheel also suggests that the film is based around cars; the colour red represents a passion as well as danger. It could also signify a romantic element in the film. One of the opening shots shows a name on the side of the car 'Lightning McQueen' again reinforcing the main character, as the audience is children it helps to make it memorable for them. 

The lighting is a mixture of low key and high key lighting, which represents happiness as well as

seriousness; it confuses the audience as it builds tension because they don't know what is going to happen in the film. We finally learn where the opening is based through this establishing shot. There are a lot of flashing lights which would signify that the character is of importance; and the expression on his face suggests arrogance and confidence.

Editing/camera angles

Cars is an entirely animated film so the voices of each of the characters is recorded pre production of the animation.

The beginning of the sequence starts with a series of jump cuts between a black screen and a whip pan showing cars racing on a track. The quick cuts between the shots creates tension for the audience as they don't know what will appear next. A canted frame low angle shot is used to introduce the main character, and by using this shot it represents him as dominant and powerful; like he is superior to others, it also creates an interesting angle to appeal to the audience. This shot also has a shallow focus, which could connote that the character is important and possibly better than others.

The camera pans around to create a moving establishing shot so that the audience are aware of the setting as it isn't made totally clear right at the start. Occasionally the camera tilts to show high and low angle. An arc shot circles the video screens on the opening signifying the importance of what is on the screens - the main character. Towards the end of the sequence an extreme long shot makes a rapid zoom into Lightning McQueen, which adds drama to the film.

Sound

The opening scene includes a voice over that introduces the character to the audience. It is effective because it used when the screen is black so it becomes intriguing to the audience as they don't have a visual on the character; it also gives a sense of subjectivity. There is also use of a diegetic sound effect that is added post production of car engines revving, which signifies the theme of the movie. A sound bridge begins when the audience is first visually introduced to the main character, and the tempo of the music builds; this presents slight tension, and it become loudest when the character is fully introduced. Underneath the sound bridge, there is non diegetic music of cheering in the stadium, signifying that the character is involved in a type of competition - providing the audience with a hint of the narrative. Dialogue comes into play at some points in the opening sequence which represents relationships between the different characters.

Conclusion

Generally, I think that the Cars opening sequence is reasonably effective because it follows typical conventions of children's animation films, and also gives a clear insight as to the narrative of the film.