Create a Sci-Fi Movie Title Sequence

on Jun 8th 2009 with 86 comments
Tutorial Details
  • Requirements: After Effects
  • Difficulty: Intermediate
  • Run Time: 36:18 min

Final Product What You'll Be Creating

This entry is part 29 of 33 in the Logo Reveals Session
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This tutorial covers the creation of a space-like si-fi title sequence from scratch. Michael shows us how you can easily create a visually interesting and impressive title animation with some simple title cards and text animation. The tutorial uses the Twitch plugin from Video Copilot, though a similar effect could be obtained by manual keyframing.

Tutorial

Requirement: Video Copilot Twitch Plugin (download here)
The effect can also be achieved without this plugin by manually keyframing the effect.

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By

Rollover to read this author's bio or click through to see a full list of posts by this author.

Michael Park is a motion graphics artist and (aspiring) film-maker based in Glasgow, Scotland. He has just graduated with a Computing Science degree but doesn't plan on using it. He's always looking for freelance work.  

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  • resh

    great tuts, but please add html page for those with slow connections

  • http://www.arnodotcom.com dotcom

    Hi Michael,
    this is just exatly what i was looking for… Thank you so,
    we feel the Kramer’s touch, and it pleases.

    Concerning the sound of the DVD package,
    I guess it’s ProScore, how are the 500 sound files like for sale ?
    do they make the deal ? what you thinck?
    Thanks again,
    A°.

    • http://www.arnodotcom.com dotcom

      Had yo buy Pro Scrore for a jobanyway.
      So i recommend… this is not vegetables really (as it meant to be).
      And gives some theatrical atmosphere to my next to come.
      Good investment.

  • kevin

    Nice one. Very interesting.

  • http://www.dancingchickenproductions.com/ Max

    Loving the Video Copilot Music!
    Pro Scores FTW!

  • Sal

    Thanks for sharing, Michael. Nice job and a very good tut.

    Cheers.

  • http://giezkaluvorsky.wordpress.com/ giezkaluvorsky

    awsome tut
    thanks for sharing..

  • Billy

    ProScore and Twitch….a Videocopilot.net advertisement! LOL!

    Don’t have ProScore….but I just purchased twitch so it’s all good. Looks like a great effect. Gonna have to try this soon!

    Thanks Michael

  • Kevin

    Michael,

    Can you please mention which music you used of Pro Scores? As in, how is this music called, and in which subfolder is it located? I have Pro Scores.

    Thank you for a great tutorial,

    Kevin

    • tony

      i also want to know it!

      • Ashley Staggs

        Its called The Dark Side and it is in the massive folder located in the epic music folder.

  • vasu

    “Faster speeds, helps us save bandwidth. File size is 260mb.”

    but the video size only 121 MB anything missing in this ?

    btw nice tutorials dude

    • http://aescripts.com Lloyd

      Oops, that was a typo. I’ve corrected it.

  • MDTY

    The outcome is weak, it lacks depth and seems flat (stars & planets), the only element that saves the final animation, is the music.

    • http://www.arnodotcom.com dotcom

      You should see the titles of ” furtiv” the movie about an army jet that think by itself… the 2d flat result in intro is just a shame … So this one is good !
      As AE users are concerned.
      Use some 3d package and you’ll have it rocking !
      but render times will make you think.

    • greenfire

      I love these complaint comments, ITS A FREE TUTORIAL! And they are meant to inspire you to use your creativity to make them your own not copy it, so how about thanking they author for taking the time to post this and keep your negative comments to yourself, if your such an expert at AE how bout doing you own tutorial and show us how to do it better.

      • MDTY

        It’s a critique, not a complaint, next time get it right, then post your “complaint on people who complain” lol.

    • http://www.arnodotcom.com dotcom

      It’s a critique, not a complaint, next time get it right, then post your “complaint on people who complain” lol.

      What about taking the time to do it your way and making things better as you want them to be !
      wow !
      lol !

      • MichaelDTY

        what is it that you don’t understand? don’t get so defensive, it’s a good thing YOU’RE not writing tutorials, because YOU can’t take criticism.

      • MichaelDTY

        oops forget previous post i thought you were greenfire, btw, i love your website and artwork, dotcom

      • http://www.arnodotcom.com dotcom

        thks for the website M.DTY !
        I ‘m not greenfire, copy / confirmed,
        fact is that when a critic ( or call that whatever you want) is made,
        it can be a good thing as soon as you mention a new idea or way to explore,
        or a stuff that can be added, the things you mentioned in your post, could have been a bit deeper explained so that one can follow your thought and path.

        By the way, concerning the second part of your first input :
        ” the only thing that saves… ”
        come on… this was not a fair language !
        the positive feedback approach is a must, weither professional or hobby things are concerned. Negative state of mind won’t give you back anything.
        so stay open and positive.
        cheers.

  • http://pandukom.blogspot.com Ei_b3low

    wow,really2 great tuts..

  • DAN

    the only good thing about this is the music.
    the animation is just horrible amateurish. sorry.

  • Shadowzproductions

    Looking really nice. We’ve been missing out on tutorials for the last few days!
    I need more to keep going!
    :P

  • Rev65

    Nicely done and cleanly presented. Good example of how the ‘devil is in the details’ of bringing a simple animation sequence to life.

    I would suggest pushing the stars and planets back in Z space to take advantage of some parallax with the camera moves.

  • http://www.larishteriastudio.com rishteria

    Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah, torreeenteando ^^

  • Lyndon

    awesome

  • http://www.sacnow.net Loay

    Very nice !!!
    Thanks

  • http://www.dsaportfolio.com.br Diego SA

    Who is using Safari? I can’t watch the videos! Is it just me?

    • JohnM.

      I’m using Safari & can see the video. Just give it time to load. Blip is a little slow.

      I’m using Safari 4 BTW…

      • http://www.dsaportfolio.com.br/ Diego SA

        Uhn… OK, thanks!
        I gave up. Waited to go home to watch it using Firefox.

  • Deniz

    Thanks gerat tutorial :)

  • http://vimeo.com/user1038693 ninjtso

    great tutorial … i really like it

  • http://chchln.deviantart.com chchln

    Please change to other video server.. this is soo slow
    I LOVE YOUR WEBS!! tuts+ ROCKS! XD

  • Mike

    I agree that this looks amateur. You have a whole pile of 2D elements trying to pass as 3D and falling flat. The lens flare is a focal point. The camera is uninspired and jerky. The typeface is even boring and weak.

    Its redeemable qualities include to some extent its soundtrack and your choice to use the twitch filter instead of trying to teach something about the keyframing you passively reference as an alternative. Even twitch though was poorly implemented in your final composition.

    • Richard

      I agree… : ((

      • Jason

        Less presets please.

        on a side note…
        the Andrew Kramer disciples have risen!

  • ashish

    gr8 thanx a lot but yes plz i do agree plz do add html or the text tutz along for guyz wd slow connection

  • http://www.l4u.dk Lau

    Holy **** this is teh ****! :D

  • http://www.gutsblow.com/ Satya Meka

    Clever use of presets. Nice out come, but I would suggest you something like CC Starburst to create the background stars, so you can animate them better. Also, the flares are an important part of the animation so if you can, try using Knoll Light Factory as you can have wide variety of flares. Cheers!

  • DonnnyFXguy

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jwuj0QdlUB0&feature=channel_page

    Same title but i like this version better… the thing about the AEtuts is that it looks a bit flat..

  • Toweleeiee

    I looked at the demo and now I’m hooked on this. That was the PERFECT thing I have been looking how to do.

  • http://www.saroverhees.be Saro

    Wooooaaaah! Nice!

  • Klas

    Thanks for sharing!

  • wynboost

    where do you find that sound effects in 00:12… is it in pro scores? can someone please tell me

  • http://graphicriver.net/user/jaanunlimited himangshu

    aetuts this is the greatest initiative u have taken ever(TORRENTING d work)

  • http://www.liurongxing.com JavasBoy

    Nice one. I Like!

  • CG

    hehe he says where and which with emphasis on the ‘h’ xD reminds me of family guy =P

  • mike

    DUDE that under water Scene is like Kramers Underwater scene??

  • olushola

    this is awesome men.

  • http://tuts.cgbaran.com CgBaran Tuts

    Excellent work

  • Noar

    Hey it looks like an Andrew Kramer effect for the StarTrek title!!!!

    Credits : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-kxKRrpdgA&feature=related (“Main title designed by : Anrew Kramer”)

    Main title : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y8Iv_x_8DQ&feature=related

    He’s a GOD!!!!! :D

    • http://aescripts.com Lloyd

      FYI, those are not the real Star Trek main titles, those were create by Michael which this tutorial is based on.

  • Salmon Kaw

    Hey guys, really cool. I created something like this using this tut, but added my own elements haha.

    By the way, how do I export it to a file, like mov etc. I managed to export to mov but it takes up a whooping 1.6GB. While the video from the preview is only like 9mb but looks great. I managed to churn out a 20mb file but it looks like crap with like 8bit color scheme? May I know how you guys make export?

    • http://otagostreet.com Michael
      Author

      Hey, thanks! The preview video is in .mp4 format – if you choose the H.264 format in the output module of After Effects you should get a nice render – if not then play around with the bitrate settings – the higher the bitrate, the better the quality of the video. Hope that helps!

  • http://www.myminisitegraphic.com minisite design

    Hello Michael,

    thank you very much for your tutorial! this is what I’m looking for! thank you

  • http://www.youtube.com/chooetfireworks ChooetFireworks

    This is THE shit man! Awesome!

  • http://www.scriptplazza.com ScriptPlazza

    nice i lik gj

  • Mehboob

    great great tutorial !!!!

  • Steve

    really nice tutorial!!!

    Too bad you didn’t upload the photoshop files of the planets. Could have used those… :(

  • aleek

    This is an excellent tutorial for those who are in the learning phases as it shows how easy it can be to make fairly complex-looking effects. I think this is merely a stepping stone for your own creativity and while critiques are extremely helpful in all aspects of design, they are only advantageous when used constructively. I would challenge those who only offer negative feedback to take this, add their own unique perspective whether it is a small tweak or a major overhaul, and share their result with the community. It will not only add to the community, but provide an even better resource for those looking build their own skills and inspire their own creativity.

  • http://google.nl Martijn

    Well hi Micheal, i loved the tutorial that you made right here.. it helped me a lot! But there is one little problem, I can’t find your font anywere, could you please reply on this message with the download link or something like that? Already thanks!

    Greatings! ( Sorry for my bad English! )

  • Owca
  • Russell

    @steve

    dude just do a google image search on planets .. use the advance search button to look for just .png files .. i find one that exactly matches ..

    this is one excellent tutorial btw !!

  • Lache

    Please teach the music name of preview.

  • David Filipe

    thank you for the tutorial!! :D

    all the way from london (y)

  • Николай

    This great! Thank you very much for this tutorial!

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