Kyle Cooper is an American graphic designer known for his innovative title sequences in films and television. He studied interior design and received his MFA from Yale University. Some of his most famous title sequences include those for the films Seven and Fight Club. He co-founded the design firm Imaginary Forces before starting his own company, Prologue. Cooper is inspired by the work of graphic designer Paul Rand and seeks to creatively set the tone and mood for films through intriguing title sequences that leave viewers with questions. His work often features dark imagery and mysterious snippets to immerse audiences in the story.

1. Kyle CooperConnor Wake

2. History
Kyle Cooper was born in 1962 in Salem Massachusetts. Growing up Kyle studied interior designs at
University of Massachusetts Amherst. After he graduated he went on to study further but this time with
Paul rand at Yale university. He later achieved his master of fine arts from Yale in 1988. After getting his
degree Kyle moved on to be a creative director at R/GA what was a agency with offices in New York City.
While working at this agency Kyle made the opening credits with the hit horror film Seven. This opening
sequence is now known worldwide and has inspired many youngsters all over the world, by many this is
know as his best work. While Kyle was working on the movie credits for Seven he wanted to raise the bar
of creatively especially in the movie industry as he thought at that time music videos and commercials was
taking over and progressing more than he wanted the movie industry to be progressing. In 1996 Kyle co-
founded Imaginary Forces with Peter Frankfurt and Chip Houghton. This was one of the most successful
agencies that came out of Hollywood’s west division of R/GA. In 2003 Kyle left Imaginary Forces and
founded Prologue. Prologue was a small team workforce that focused on creating title sequences.
Prologue initially located at Malibu but in 2008 they then moved to Venice Beach in California.Cooper has
also co-directed a feature film in 2001 that was called New Port South. In 2014 Cooper received an AIGA
medal. In 2008, he was a finalist in the National Design Awards. He has earned five Emmy Award
nominations and one win for his work on the 81st Annual Academy Awards. He also holds the title of
Honorary Royal Designer for Industry from the Royal Society of Arts in London.

3. Opening sequences he has made
The Laser Man (1988), She-Devil (1989), Bird on a Wire (1990), Home Alone (1990), Narrow Margin (1990), Men of Respect (1990), The Bonfire of
the Vanities (1990), The Hard Way (1991), Curly Sue (1991), Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991), McBain (1991), Passenger 57 (1992),
Newsies (1992), Zebrahead (1992), Home Alone 2 (1992), Used People (1992), The Joy Luck Club (1993), Body Snatchers (1993), Indecent
Proposal (1993), Rising Sun (1993), Matinee (1993), Amos & Andrew (1993), Last Action Hero (1993), Sister Act 2 (1993), Carlito's Way (1993),
Homicide: Life on the Street (1993), True Lies (1994), Angels in the Outfield (1994), Immortal Beloved (1994), The Getaway (1994), When a Man
Loves a Woman (1994), Wolf (1994), North (1994), Richie Rich (1994), Quiz Show (1994), Braveheart (1995), Seven (1995), Nixon (1995), The
American President (1995), Dead Presidents (1995), The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996), Mission: Impossible (1996), Twister (1996), Eraser (1996),
Gotti (1996), The Fan (1996), White Squall (1996), Ghosts of Mississippi (1996), Bogus (1996), The Juror (1996), Celtic Pride (1996), Flubber (1997),
Mimic (1997), Donnie Brasco (1997), Men in Black (1997), Gattaca (1997), George Wallace (1997), Mousehunt (1997), Metro (1997), Nightwatch
(1997), Volcano (1997), Men with Guns (1997), Red Corner (1997), G.I. Jane (1997), The Practice (1997), The Mask of Zorro (1998), Fallen (1998),
The Horse Whisperer (1998), Sphere (1998), The Avengers (1998), The Negotiator (1998), The Rat Pack (1998), Lost in Space (1998), Without
Limits (1998), Might Joe Young (1998), The Parent Trap (1998), Arlington Road (1999), The Mummy (1999), Three Kings (1999), Pushing Tin
(1999), Wild Wild West (1999), The General's Daughter (1999), Forces of Nature (1999), The Story of Us (1999), Reindeer Games (2000), The
Crossing (2000), Along Came a Spider (2001), The Mummy Returns (2001), K-Pax (2001), Zoolander (2001), Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
(2001), Spider-Man (2002), Minority Report (2002), One Hour Photo (2002), Path to War (2002), Boomtown (2002), Dreamcatcher (2003), Darkness
Falls (2003), Identity (2003), Angels in America (2003), The Rundown (2003), Dawn of the Dead (2004), Spider-Man 2 (2004), Godzilla: Final Wars
(2004), Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004), The New World (2005), Superman Returns (2006), Spider-Man 3 (2007), Across the Universe
(2007), Iron Man (2008), The Incredible Hulk (2008), Tropic Thunder (2008), Orphan (2009), Sherlock Holmes (2009), Tron: Legacy (2010), A
Nightmare on Elm Street (2010), The Walking Dead (2010), Arthur (2011), American Horror Story (2011), The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty (2013),
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015), Scream Queens (2015), Limitless (2015), Death Stranding (TBA)

4. Examples of his opening credits

5. Reason why I chose his work
I picked Kyle Cooper’s work as i thought it was intense and i also know his work well. I know his work from
well known movies and TV series such as The Walking Dead, American Horror Story, Tropic Thunder and
others. I think his work is effective and only uses necessary things and doesn’t overdo his text, for
example he only uses a little bit of decoration on most fonts what makes it stand out but doesn’t add too
much to make it cluttered and less effective. I like the colours he uses on the title screens as they are
simple and effective for example he mainly only uses black, white and gold but does add more colours in
title screens that need it in movies such as spiderman but even then he uses mainly dark colours what i
like and it also contrasts well with the background that is mainly black. I also like the title screens he
makes as it is little snippets of random things that only last a couple of seconds that leave you thinking
what was going on there making you want to watch more an example of this is on American Horror Story
Coven he uses images what is appropriate to the series that still has the mysterious factor, in this series
he uses images of witches, voodoo dolls and fire in little snippets to resemble what the series is about
what is witches in this case, as well as this Kyle uses appropriate music for example in American Horror
Story he uses the same music in every series what is mysterious and make you think what is going to
happen and also makes you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what will happen in this episode.
The song that he uses for this is called the La La La melody.

6. Social/cultural influences on the work
Kyle Cooper uses some social and cultural influences on his work. He does this mainly on the American
Horror Story series as he is portraying events that has gone on and what he thinks it would be like, this is
stereotypical in a way as he is using views of others and what others say to portray pictures of what
occurs in this set time he does the credits about. He mainly does this because it is what the TV series is
about but he uses and creates some images that aren’t in the TV show itself creating some social and
cultural influences. He does these on ghosts in series one of American Horror Story, What it would be like
in an asylum in series 2, witches and racism in series 3, circus crossed into what it would be like to be
different in series 4, a hint of sexism in series 5, and racism yet again and America in general in the 1950s
with hillbillies and cowboys etc in series 6. These all create the opening credits to give a spooky and
mysterious feel to the series what makes you wanting more and trying to figure out what comes next what
he does fantastically.

7. Political influences on the work
There is no real political influences on kyle cooper’s work as it doesn’t impact on
his title screens. This is mainly because he is a title editor and creator what means
he only is given a subject to do his work on so it is linked to what the TV
series/movie is about what means the public don’t have confusion going into the
movie. However if he was given the freedom to do a title screen however he
chooses he may of chose to have political factors influencing his work but only he
would know that as he does work purely off subjects handed to him.

8. Specific styles I can use in my work
There is many specific styles i could take from Kyle Cooper’s work, these could range from the colour scheme mainly used
what is darker colours to add the warmth or coldness to the title to make the audience anticipate what the credits are
foreshadowing and representing. I could also show the neutral colours that are the white and black what are used to be bold
and to also bring the other colours out, this makes the titles pop out and bring the attention to the title menus/credits. I could
also take the decorative block text that Kyle usually uses. This makes the title visible and easily readable so you can read
them at the fast pace the credits go at, I also like this style and use it in my work as it is a decorative font what means there
is endless possibilities on what the text can look out, it is unique and also a unique style to you and not as boring as the
serif, sans-serif or script fonts. I could also take the decorative text but make sure it isn’t too crowded like the style Kyle
uses. I could also take the mysterious Images and the mist effect Kyle usually uses. I could take this to make my work
mysterious and make the audience be on the edge of their seat trying to figure out what is going to happen. If i create my
own title sequence i could add many still images that look like they are moving with a stuttering effect or to have them
moving but if i only make a still image of part of the title credits i would produce i would make them have a simple decorative
font that adds effect, i would have a misty outline all over the image to make a spooky and mysterious scene, i would have
dark colours and gold on top to make it stand out and finally i would have still images that are spooky and not so clear so
you are left wanting to know what they are to make the audience hooked and wanting to know what it is. These are the main
Kyle cooper effects i am going to use to influence my work.

9. Artistic and other designers influences on the work
Paul Rand is the main influence on Kyle’s work. Paul Rand was the teacher and inspiration of Kyle’s work
from 1985 onwards. Paul was Kyle’s teacher when Kyle was in education at Yale. Paul was the only other
well known title credit producer what made him a great role model for Kyle and he is the reason Kyle who
he is today as he taught Kyle everything he knows about opening credits and Paul made Kyle excel in his
field of design. Paul was a great teacher for Kyle and a true role model helping Kyle graduate in 1988 with
a fine arts degree. Peter Frankfurt and Chip Houghton was also big influences on Kyle as they teamed up
with Kyle as they all co-founded the agency imaginary forces before leaving in 2003, However before
leaving Kyle and co led imaginary forces to become one of the most successful agencies to come out of
Hollywood's west division R/GA what is a huge achievement and Kyle couldn't do it without them.

10. Quotations about the work by other writers and your opinions
of them
Paul rand once called Kyle a ‘Dark genius’ he called him this as he thinks he is
dark, mysterious and evil with his credits but he also does them geniusly and puts
a lot of thought into this. I think he is very dark and is like a sociopath. I think this
as he adds evil and murderous things in his titles without them being on the actual
show or movie showing he has a dark style. As well as this he makes mysterious
images to make the audience have their full attention to the TV throughout so they
can figure out what the credits was about and also to try and lik it all together and
it always starts with the credits. As well as this people don’t skip his opening
credits as they are so intense and great to watch, for me they set the scene and
the are the start of the movie. His work is truly great and is the best at what he
does in my opinion.

11. Visual analysis of the work
American Horror Story Coven
For the picture on the right it is a dark picture that uses many dark colours such as black and grey. This gives it a dark feel to it what it is meant to produce as it
makes the viewer question what is happening and leave them on a cliff hanger to know what is going on. As well as this the picture is also dark and creepy. The
picture is of a woman laughing at a voodoo doll, this on its own behalf is creepy and scary, but in the woman's left hand it looks like she is doing something to
the doll making somebody else be tortured through this what makes the image even more sick and twisted. The image also makes us think who is she trying to
torture? Who is the woman? Is it actually a voodoo doll? Why is she doing this? What has happened to her? This all makes the viewers question what is
happening and want answers so they get hooked to the program to find out what is actually happening.This is how he does all his work and it is genius as it
makes people hooked to the program just from the opening credits. The colour scheme used also matches the work as the whole series is dark and spooky so
the credits sets the scene perfectly for the whole series as the credits has different pictures from different episodes on the credits so the viewer is always left
wondering when will that bit come up and asking questions about it what is a great way to keep viewers up and Kyle does this brilliantly in his opening credits.
The title credits for the tv program is very simplistic but is still effective and still uses a dark and scary theme. This is done by the dark
colours in the background as it is dark what shows darkness and danger that produces a scary but yet exciting prospect. The
lettering is white what makes it stand out and make your attention go straight to that point on the screen. The lettering is also
decorative as they have little symbols hidden inside that this makes the text unique and also makes it stand out more to the audience
attracting there attention to the program as the text used for the title is used in adverts and posters etc.

12. Visual analysis of the work
This is text used in the film 7. It is in a serif font but also is decorative as it is like paint brushed over the
top as well. This makes it mysterious as the audience think why is this effect used is there a reason for it
and it leaves the audience asking so many questions about this wanting to watch the film to see if it does
link in with it. As well as this the paint brushed on looks like something crime investigators do when
checking for DnA from thumbprints etc. This links in with the film as it is a crime detective film with a lot of
gore what could also make the paint represent blood if it was in red what also sort of links in.
This image in the title credits is good as it leaves the audience on the edge of their seats wanting to see what
is happening on this still image. What we can see is a hand with a picture like the ones from photo booths and
a notebook what looks to be old. This is what is used when serial killers detain their victims what leaves us
wondering if that is what has happened here. Then that leads us to ask who it was, why he did it, how he did
it, was it his first victim, how many times he has killed, how long he has been doing it etc. The dark colour
scheme also represents something dark and evil what could suggest the murder and the old note book could
represent that he has been doing this for a long time. All of this suggests the film to be about murder what
leaves the audience with even more questions making this opening credits fantastic and making them do
what is needed to attract the audience of the viewers making them want to figure out their own questions and
also making them want to watch the movie, maybe a couple of times to figure out everything and also to
answer questions they may have.

13. Personal interpretation of the work
Overall i really like Kyles work as he has many effects he can use to attract the
audience's attention to the Tv, and he also has many styles from dark and
mysterious to happy and exciting. I like how he can take any movie and make
amazing opening credits no matter the movie type, for example he makes really
sinister and mysterious film credits on American Horror Story and Seven but then
makes family friendly, thrilling and exciting credits for the likes of Spiderman and
Fast and Furious. He can also use different animations and colours to make his
work pop out and then he keeps the viewer's attention throughout keeping them
on the edge of their seat that many others like him can't do so that shows that his
work is unique and the best.

14. Conclusion
To conclude Kyle Cooper has had a very successful career and is a big part of
many big movies and tv serieses across the world. He has won and also been
nominated for many awards for his work and is known worldwide for this. We
expect many more of amazing credits from him in the near future and for him to
win many more awards.

15. bibliography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyle_Cooper
http://jolowesgraphics.blogspot.co.uk
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/social-influence.html
http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-meaning.html
https://www.blurgroup.com/blogs/group/the-impact-of-colour-in-advertising-
marketing-and-design/
http://www.paul-rand.com
http://www.artofthetitle.com/designer/kyle-cooper/