Art of the Title

  • Title Sequences
  • Designers + Studios

MirrorMask (2005)

MirrorMask
Rocks and logs may bite like dogs but words will never harm me.
—Valentine
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Post
  • More

Artist/Director Dave McKean and old friend author Neil Gaiman make like the creative trellis and vine team on the opening credit sequence to MirrorMask featuring the unadulterated sock puppetry of a boxed-in, 15 year old Helena who "wishes she could run away from the circus and join real life."

Illustration, 3D and live action meld in a phantasmagoric menagerie with a big budget scope in a small budget reality. The depth and graphic style help to usher in The Dark Crystal & Alice in Wonderland sensibilities.

When asked about the opening McKean told Art of the Title, "I can tell you that it was not planned. The beginning of the film I intended didn't work, so I had to improvise."

Well done, sir.

SUPPLEMENTAL: The beautifully designed end credit crawl

  • Credits

Director: Dave McKean
Lead Animator and Effects Artist: Alexis Hall

Support Art of the TItle

Related

  • ParaNorman

    ParaNorman

    interview

  • Coraline

    Coraline

    summary

  • The Boxtrolls

    The Boxtrolls

    interview

  • Orphan Black

    Orphan Black

    summary

  • Dead Ringers

    Dead Ringers

    interview

  • Black Mirror

    Black Mirror

    summary

Title sequence

  • Category

    Film
  • Styles

    2D, 3D, animation, end crawl, graphic, hand drawn, illustration, live action, main title, mixed-media, montage, situational type, typographic
MirrorMask
  • Film Director

    Dave McKean
  • Release Date

    March 3, 2006
  • Aspect Ratio

    1.85:1
  • Studio

    Samuel Goldwyn Films
  • Country

    UK
  • Language

    English
  • Reviews

    Reviews on Letterboxd
  • IMDb has full details

Article

  • Writer

    Alexander Ulloa
  • Published

    April 13, 2009

Subscribe to Art of the Title

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS

Support the site

  • About
  • News
  • Titles
  • Features
  • Designers
  • Studios
  • Sponsorship

Art of the Title is made with ❤ in Toronto and is supported by readers like you.

© 2007–2025 Art of the Title, LLC. All rights reserved.
Works appearing on Art of the Title are the property of their respective owners.

  • Gold Sponsor

    NOW OPEN! LET’S TALK

  • Silver Sponsor

    NOW OPEN! LET’S TALK