LogFAQs > #942150835

1. True Detective (season 1) - Pokewars
https://youtu.be/FxXRkqXfhYM

Unique: 9.5
Story: 8.5
Music: 9
Animation: 9
Personal: 9.75
Average: 9.15

This may seem like an unexpected choice for first place, but if you watch it a few times, it should become clear why it was chosen. It excels in every aspect I have considered that it takes to make a great intro.

Lets start with the extremely unique visual style. People and at times objects are used like movie screens to superimpose imagery onto them so that youre hardly ever looking at a character or place in isolation, but rather some complex hybrid that forces you to see, for instance, a character in a different light. And although this visual theme prevails throughout the entire intro, it is constantly used in new and clever ways, avoiding the trap that so many intros do of taking a great visual gimmick and running it into the ground.

On the subject of the visual style, I struggled to decide whether to score this one on Animation. Clearly the characters we see are live actors, with actual photographs of locations. But this intro falls into that exceptionally rare situation where the CGI is so heavily integrated with the presentation that its an essential component of the intro. And it would be doing this intro a great injustice not to consider the beautiful imagery created here, such as the bizarre telephone with a face or the way a body ripples like water. Its almost impossible to tell where real life ends and the visual effects begin.

Theres also a lot of story to this intro, although it is told entirely through imagery and symbolism, without any exposition. On the one hand, you couldnt possibly comprehend the plot from this sequence without having watched the show (and even then it takes some work to truly understand). On the other hand, the sequence does such an outstanding job of establishing the tone that you are left with a sense of understanding, even if you can barely put it into words. Theres plenty of imagery here of the bleak location, the desperate faith of those in the community for something better, and something horrifying beneath the surface (if you look closely, you can even see what looks like a monster starting at around 0:54). I also love the way they convey the personality of Woody Harrlesons character with the imagery cast on his face, particularly starting at around 1:18.

I couldnt possibly imagine a better theme song for this sequence, which so effectively enhances the intended mood. To me, this song conveys the struggle to hold onto what makes us human and keep going in a world of shit. It is both melancholy and uplifting all at once. The music is also timed perfectly with the visuals, as evidenced by moments such as starting at 0:31.

This intro is nothing short of a work of art, and I could watch it over and over. It proves an intro isnt just an introduction to a TV show, but a part of the show that isnt to be skipped. Because if you do, you might miss something special.