1. Use Of Motion Graphics
and Compositing in
DVD Menus
Raymond Arandia

2. • Builds Suspense into the movie
DVD menus can bring the audience into the movie. Creating
suspense and excitement. It
• Gives the user a number of options.
• The DVD menu is important as it gives the user the chance to
navigate through the many options that the DVD offers. Such
scene selection, play movie, language, extras/bonus.
• Gives a feel of the movie
The DVD menu gives the audience a first impression and feel of
the film. It introduces the mood of the film and generally what
the to expect of the film.
Why are DVD Menus
Important?

3. Motion Graphics
DVD menus without motion graphics can be dull and
boring . Motion graphics can build excitement in a DVD
Menu as animation, movement, or video footage is used. It
is more eye appealing than still images and text. It is used to
attract the audience with movement rather than being
stationary.
How are DVD Menus
enhanced by motion
graphics/compositing?

4. Compositing
Compositing in DVD menu creates movement and layers.
This is much more interesting than something still. Also it
gives a slight 3D effect as the images are layered. This
enhances the DVD menu as it gives the audience a kind of
surreal look to it.
How are DVD Menus
enhanced by motion
graphics/compositing?

5. • Colour
• Typography
• Graphics
• Movement
• Visual Effects
What design choices
must be considered?

6. The appropriate colour should be used in a DVD menu to
suit the genre, theme and mood of the film. For e.g. a horror
film should have dark colours(red, black, grey etc.) and a
comedy film for children may have bright vibrant
colours(blue, yellow, pink etc.).
Colour

7. The correct size and font should be considered when
designing typography for a DVD menu. Choosing the right
font is important as it must relate to the theme and mood. A
standard or custom font may be used. Whether an effect
should be used such as shadow, the shape of the text( zig –
zagged, straight etc.) colour outlines, or glows.
Typography

8. The graphics in a DVD menu must be considered. Such as
if there will be any in the foreground or background of the
DVD menu in the form of a 2D or 3D object, background
design, typography etc. The colour, size and placing of the
graphics are important factors that must considered so that
it can relate the theme and genre.
Graphics

9. The type of movement that the multi-media, motion
graphics and typography should be considered. Whether it
should be moving fast or slow, if it will be looped, timings
etc. Movement is key in a DVD menu as it keeps the
audiences interested and creates an excitement and suspense
of the film.
Movement

10. Visual effects can greatly enhance a DVD menu. Various
types of animation or compositing may be used. The choice
is down to the genre and theme. Visual effects such as
particle effects, 3D images, flares etc. Visual effects is a
particular design choice that must be considered as it does a
great job of creating excitement.
Visual Effects

11. • Finding Nemo
• Sin City
• Silent Hill
• Rush Hour 3
Key/Pivotal DVD Menus

12. Finding Nemo

13. Motion Graphics and Compositing is used effectively in the DVD
Menu of Finding Nemo. There is a clear composition between the
moving background and the Menu options and title. The colours
used in DVD Menu are well done as they reflect the theme, genre
and target audience. The typography for the title is custom made
that is suited to the theme of the sea it is a blue colour with a
white glare effect, the text in the menu options is also in a similar
font and colour to the title. Another feature is the movement of
the camera and the animated coral reef in the background. It is
shown in a point of view shot from over the water going under
which is used to draw the audience into the scene. The coral reef
in the background makes a slow, calm side to side movement.
Finding Nemo DVD Menu

14. Sin City

15. The DVD Menu for Sin City uses a lot of motion graphics and
compositing. They use a mixture of multi-media and animation.
Firstly few colours are used in (red, black and white) that do a
perfect job of reflecting on the crime thriller genre. The
typography uses a comic type font in black and white(also reflect
on genre) for the options. The title uses the original font and
colour used in the graphic novel. A lot of compositing is used for
the graphics and animations for e.g. the images on the comic
pages. A lot of fast paced movement is used with the camera and
animations. For e.g. the camera gives a journey through the scenes
and characters and objects flying through the scene such as the
animated bullets. The use of multi-media being the live video
footage of the movie is used well as it comes to life by
transitioning from animation to live footage. Overall the motion
graphics and compositing bring the characters and scenery from
the comic book to life.
Sin City DVD Menu

16. Silent Hill

17. Being a horror film, the Silent Hill film is targeted at adults and its
purpose is to scare. The DVD menu uses some motion graphics and
compositing to enhance its elements of fear and terror. For instance the
colours used in the DVD menu are black and green. These colours are
dark and give a mysterious vibe to it. The typography is cleverly done
as it uses a stencil based font like chalk and charcoal. It is quite faded in
some areas of the letters. The colour of white for the title and black for
the options is used to clearly differentiate from one another. The
graphics used in the DVD menu are still images that are used in the
background on the right and left side. Which consist of half a face and
an outline of a person. Again the mysterious vibe is given as from the
images. The movement in the DVD Menu is mainly slow paced coming
from the animated black barbed wires that move slowly in a straight
line. These barbed wires are composited in and are placed all of the
screen from the foreground to the background. The last thing that is
used is live video footage of the film that loops in the centre of the
background.
Silent Hill DVD Menu

18. Rush Hour 3

19. Rush hour is a action/comedy film that uses few motion
graphics and compositing elements in the DVD menu. The
DVD menu uses sepia colours. A bright red and orange is
mainly used with a tint of green in some areas of scenes.
The typography is very plain and is in a basic white. Also
the title of the film does not appear. The main excitement in
the DVD menu is the use of multi-media. Live video
footage is used and lopped and some still images.
Compositing is used in the still images and text. The text is
always in front of everything else. The red glaring lights
that underline the text is the only visual effect that is present
throughout the whole DVD menu.
Rush Hour DVD Menu