Pearl Title Sequence
A title sequence capturing the spirit of Pearl—both the film’s charm and the main character’s twisted, murderous edge.
Timeline
March 2025 - April 2025
Collaborators
N/A
Project Type
Motion Design
Role
Motion Designer
OVERVIEW
This title sequence for Pearl captures Mia Goth’s unsettling yet magnetic character through bold imagery, fragmented visuals, and a stark palette of black, red, and white. Contrasting Fiona Apple’s Criminal with rough textures and bloody cues, the design balances playful rhythm with horror undertones—drawing viewers into Pearl’s fractured psyche without revealing the plot.
Good ol’ moving pictures
The challenge was crafting a sequence that felt stylish and modern while still honoring the film’s period-inspired horror aesthetic. I had to balance irony and menace, ensuring the playful music choice complemented rather than diminished the tension, while using abstract visuals to suggest Pearl’s inner turmoil without relying on literal storytelling.
Challenge
FINAL VIDEO
STORYBOARDING
Blood of the sequence
At the start, I built a rough storyboard around Pearl’s dancing—imagining her moving gracefully, almost innocently, while flashes of horror imagery cut in to disrupt the rhythm. The sequence was meant to mirror her slide into obsession and violence. As the project went on, though, time constraints made it clear I couldn’t fully execute such an elaborate idea. I simplified, distilling the concept into more direct, symbolic visuals that still carried the same unsettling energy.
STYLEFRAMING
Finding the aesthetic
To shape the look and tone of the sequence, I built a series of styleframes around bold contrasts of red, black, and white. They established the visual language—balancing stark, bloody textures with fragile moments of beauty—and created a roadmap for how the final sequence would move and feel.
EARLY RENDERS
Rough opening scenes
I created early rough motion tests to quickly imagine how the sequence might flow. These experiments weren’t polished, but they helped me explore pacing, transitions, and overall direction before committing to the final edit.