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BBC Blocks

Opening Title Sequences (February 2011)

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TM
Telly Media
Sorry - I feel like I'm asking really boring questions at the moment ...

But is there an official term for the animated BBC blocks that appear in the opening titles of most BBC programmes nowadays (like EastEnders below)?

http://www.skynetworks.f2s.com/eastenders.jpg

I'm tempted to think 'Frontcap' although that seems more appropriate to the old ITV regional idents that appeared before (rather than during) programme titles back in the day. Or maybe 'Tag' perhaps?

Again, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.
ST
steddenm
AFAIK it's called a TARGA sequence, something like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g7WlXbO39c.
DE
deejay
A TARGA sequence is litterally a sequence of stills saved as TARGA files. Played in sequence, they create an animation. Sequences are often used to import things like animating DOGs and logos such as this example into editing kit. TARGA files often have key signals (alpha channels) built into them so they will key correctly over the output (although it's amazing how many editors don't appear to know the difference between multiplicative and additive keying).

As for what people in the BBC call this device - it's still referred to by a lot of old timers as the BBC Losenge - although that actually referred to the previous / B / B / C / logo. Increasingly, it's becoming called the BBC Blocks but I think officially it's known as the BBC Logo or BBC Core Brand. There's also the animating BBC Productions endcap. A few people in marketing seem to like calling these items a 'property'.
MW
Mike W
(although it's amazing how many editors don't appear to know the difference between multiplicative and additive keying).


BBC Birmingham take note.
TM
Telly Media
Thanks for all the info guys. Really appreciate it.

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