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2.2.9.2 The Kingdom Title Sequence (2007)
The opening title sequence for the film The Kingdom (2007) explains to the viewer the long
history of complex relationship between the United States and the Middle East, with the
nation of Saudi Arabia being the center focus. Intercut with the montage of archive footages
from the time, the opening sequence is an animated timeline that plays with typography,
maps, and symbols. It illustrates history in a very entertaining and exciting way. The opening
title has become very popular in the onlinemotion graphic community; in fact, more so than
the actual movie. From the date of its released, the Kingdom (2007) title sequence, along
with The Story of Stuff, has become one of the first Motion Infographic, to resurface in the
modern social-media era.
Figure 2.6: Still from
the Kingdom
Title Sequence (2007)
After the event of September 11
th
, many Americans are left with questions in regard towhich
country is their enemy and which country is their friend. Osama Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda is an
enemy that has no country. His nationality is Saudi Arabian, along with almost all of the
hijackers, yet the US government keeps telling the American people that Saudi Arabia is their
friend. The complexity of the history of Saudi Arabia’s relations with America come from the
fact that Americans know very little of the past dealings of their own government. The
Kingdom (2007) title sequence referred to September 11
th
(as it also explains the origin of
Osama Bin Laden) not to assign any specific blame to anyone other than Al Qaeda, but
instead to enhance the importance and increase the urgency of their own message. They
might not have stated outright about their message regarding the Saudi Arabians, but instead
just told that the events depicted in the animated timeline with ominous music is what put
America as a country where they are today.
