Horns | Title Sequence

After working on the Title sequence course offered by Paul McDonnell, I couldn't wait to make another one! This time I wanted to explore the concept of the beast within. I started getting inspiration from eerie movies and title sequences related to horror or medicine, creating a mood board on Pinterest.

The inspiration for this sequence came from the eerie blend of psychological thrillers and supernatural themes seen in films like The Exorcism of Emily Rose or The Craft. I was aiming to evoke the feeling of descending into a dark, beast like, unknown force, with visuals that balance both beauty and dread. The textures and occult symbols shows the hidden layers of the narrative, mirroring the story’s theme. This title sequence is designed for a world of mystery and suspense.

I hope you like it!

The project was created using After Effects, Cinema 4D for animating dynamic objects, and Red Giant plugins to add cinematic glows. For the surreal transitions, masks and the Roto Brush tool were essential, allowing seamless integration of live-action elements with abstract backgrounds.

To achieve the layered, ghostly textures, I used a combination of blend modes, allowing elements to overlap without overwhelming the frame. The final color grade was completed with looks to achieve a cinematic palette, with subtle grain added for a vintage feel.

Materials

• After Effects – Main software for composition and post-production. Used to integrate 3D elements, adjust colors, add effects, and enhance the overall atmosphere of the project.

• Cinema 4D – Essential tool for creating and modeling 3D elements. Used to build the main structures, including the skulls and the fusion of two stag models to form the horns.

• Redshift – Render engine used to generate realistic images with precise lighting and shadows. Helped define the final look of the 3D elements before compositing in After Effects.

• Red Giant – A set of plugins used for additional post-production effects, such as color adjustments, stylized blurs, and cinematic details that reinforce the project’s aesthetic.

• 3D models of skulls and stags – 3D assets used as the foundation for the design. The stags were modified and combined to create the horns sequence.

• Stock footage of falling ink – Used for the background, adding texture and a fluid effect that complements the project's dark aesthetic.

• Dust and grain overlays – Added in post-production to give a more organic and cinematic finish, enhancing the subtle depth of the final image.

I used Redshift environment for this because I wanted the light to pass through a filter before hitting the object, and it foes well with the background too. Also, you can change the settings of the environment and get an inverted version of the asset, which is what I aimed for at the beginning, before settling for the dark theme. Here's the comparison:

I rendered the spine with a background because I needed a bit of a color variance that's a little more natural than a gradient ramp or a radial, then the bubbles and light leak are stock footage and on the adjustment layers I added the grain, curves, Looks and vignette.

I keyed out the deer by adjusting the color channels until I had a nice green grass behind him and then keyed it out. There's still some leaks behind, but you can't notice it with the ink on top and it adds a little texture to the overall, so I wasn't too fuss about it.

I have several blots of ink as assets in my library and I used them as luma mattes in some of the transitions, blending the images together. I recurred to them often during the creation process but after 3 revisions I ditched them and I preserved just 2. The other transitions are simply changes of camera or opacity.

And here is the final product. Storytelling along my title sequences is something that's still hovering over me, but with practice I think I am getting better at it! I can't wait for you to see it and get your opinion!