For decades Halloween was the most important event in the month of October.
For many, the annual release of "Stranger Things" has taken its place.
Last week "Stranger Things 2" was released on Netflix. Its format, conducive to binge-watching, allows fans to take in roughly nine hours of content with no weekly wait.
The series, which was launched in July of 2016 has built a cult following. Overnight, the show developed a fan base much larger than Netflix or the Duffer Brothers, its creators, could have ever imagined.
The show’s main cast was propelled into the small screen spotlight, gaining a newfound level of Hollywood fame.
In a matter of weeks, the whole world had heard of "Stranger Things", and specifically its ominous credit sequence.
So why did everyone latch on to the show’s introduction?
The credit sequence, which was heavily contemplated by the Duffer Brothers, integrates both audio and visual elements seamlessly.
The Duffer Brothers wanted the title sequence to be unique, while also emulating the general feeling of 80’s horror. To do this, they implemented a specific typeface, one used in various 80s novels. While the font itself, has since become recognizable, it isn’t solely responsible for the visual’s greatness. The animation, while subtle, implemented intentional flaws, giving the sequence an authentic retro feel. When watching the credits, one can see these imperfections such as the shaky text and the uneven colorization of the words.
While the letters slowly come together the audience finds itself in a trance, a state that could not be possible without the show’s eerie music.
The background audio, entitled “Stranger Things” on the soundtrack, was produced by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein. The sequence, composed of various synths, is integrated flawlessly with the bold, glowing visuals. In the podcast, Song Exploder, Stein and Dixon break down the main title theme. The two mention how the current title track was based on a simple set of synths that they had sent to the Duffer Brothers. They highlight that the Duffer Brother’s involvement was critical, a privilege that had been granted to them by Netflix in the very beginning.
Stein and Dixon also mention another anomaly, the fact that they produced the title track last. The two were originally tasked with scoring each individual episode first. In doing this, they were able to pinpoint which sound would resonate the best with the season’s plot.
But how did that sound become so recognizable?
The creators cite the Roland SH-2, a retro bass synthesizer commonly used in 80’s pop as well as movie soundtracks. By “opening the filter” each bassline becomes progressively deeper, making it appear as though the instrument is being played with more force.
A combination of creative freedom, individuality and retro inspiration turned what could have been an average introduction into one of the most iconic title sequences of all time.
