Design directed by Allison Brownmoore with studio, Blue Spill, we created the title sequence for We Are X, which premiered Sundance 2016. The sequence won the SXSW Excellence in Title Design Audience Award.

The film explored the eclectic world of Japanese band, X Japan.

Our brief, from director Stephen Kijak, was to respond to the band’s early slogan, “Psychedelic Violence Crime of Visual Shock.” We dove headfirst into the incredible world of the band, with their exceptionally rich range of archive they had documented throughout the years. 

We knew from the early stages that the title sequence needed to be beautiful, whilst playing with the balance between the hard exterior and the soft interior. Whilst the images needed to resonate, there needed to be an element of vulnerability to it. There had to be beauty because it wasn’t gratuitous shock, it was supposed to be quite meaningful. And it wasn’t a masculine energy, it felt more feminine. 

Using a combination of archive, purposefully shot material and stock, we created the sequence in AFX and Flame over a period of a few months and delivered to the LA based edit. 

 We were also interviewed by the lovely folk over at Art of Title, which you can read here. 

Studio: Blue Spill

Design Director: Allison Brownmoore

Flame Artist: Anthony Brownmoore

Designers: Joe Nowacki Sylvain Doussa