Category Four: shotsize/angle + camera movement

In the opening scene of "The Pink Panther" there is no change of shot angles and size only camera movement. I think this is because the entire opening scene is very simple and because it is a cartoon does not require the use of different angles.

At the very beginning of the scene the camera zooms into and through the pink jewel, a.k.a the pink panther, the shot shows the allusion and personalisation of the jewel to the pink panther. This is shown by the way that the camera zooms into the flaw in the centre of the gem, it has been said to look like a leaping panther, therefore resulting in the name.

This links into the film as a whole because the jewel that Inspector Clouseau is searching for is often referred to as the 'pink panther' and if not for the opeing the viewer could get confusing as to if they are looking for a jewel or a panther.

Blackout is used once at the beginning after the jewel and panther are shown and at the very end and both occur the same way, the pink panther snaps his fingers. This is called repetition. The way that they have used blackout makes it appear that the panther is incharge, or that he controls what happens. Also, the snapping of the fingers symbolises the beginning and the end of the opening.

 The camera then tracks a sheet of music as it travels through the air, this suggests that we are a part of the music as we follow its journey from the music stand to the inspector where he gets tangled up in the music. This movement of the camera is effective because it includes the viewer and makes it seem as one with the viewer. Also the camera follows the pink panther as he walks from one door to another in the inspectors suit showing the viewer that he can do what he wants and get away with it, and also tells the audience that he wants us included as he escapes the inspector every time, to create a feeling that we are helping the panther to elude the inspector's waiting hands.

These camera movements appeal to the target audience because it includes them in the film, makes them feel like they are in the screen with the characters rather than watching a movie from their couch. The fog and torch hint at themes of being hidden or obscured (fog) and finding or searching for something that has been lost or taken (torch/magnifying glass).

Category Three: Mis-en-scene/Composition

The pink panther himself is an allusion to the diamond, pink in colour and has an unusual flaw that looks like a leaping panther. This allusion makes the opening much more interesting to watch because it wouldn't be funny and mysterious watching an inspector search for a jewel.
The personification of the jewel as a panther creates a more entertaining and amusing atmosphere, which captivates the viewer ensuring that they want to watch the rest of the film.

Some of the props have a meaning behind them, such as the magnifying glass and torch which both appear at least twice. The torch is a symbol of searching for something that is hiding, in the shadows or somewhere dark and secluded. The magnifying glass is a symbol that you are seeking for something that is small and in an unknown location. It may be under a floorboard or hiding behind the mirror, the magnifying glass shows that what is being searched for is small.

The use of the smoke machine, used by the pink panther shows that he is covering his tracks from Inspector Clouseau. This is shown by the way that the panther looks cautiously behind him as he walks acros the screen with the fog machine in tow. And then the inspector comes through the fog as just a silhouette at first, with a torch searching for the jewel (image above). Fog often symbolises obscuring what people see, so the use of the machine symbolises just that, the panther is obscuring what the inspector sees, he shows him what he wants to see, that he has nearly caught the jewel.

The use of the long sheet of music that Inspector Clouseau gets all tangled up in is a symbol that the inspector is trapped and muddled when it can to the jewel. He isn't sure which way to go, where it will be or who will be guarding it if at all. He is just getting more and more trapped as he goes his own way searching for the jewel. The jewel is very valuble, priceless even and if he continues to get trapped and tangled then he will never get free and find the precious jewel.



And finally the poster is a symbol of the end of the search as it floats away in the breeze, that Inspector Clouseau never finds the jewel and just gives up in the end. The poster shows that not only is the pink panther missing but Inspector Clouseau is also when he "falls" into the poster, he is missing because he is continually avoiding assassins and being caught although it is unintentionally.

These allusions and symbols prepare and set the viewer up for the ideas used during this film. The magnifying glass shows or hints to the viewer that one of the main ideas is searching for something. This is shown by the way the inspector peers into the glass closely showing what he is looking for is small.

Category Two: Colour

The way that colour is used in this opening sequence is simple and bold. Colour is used to show different settings throughout the opening. The colours are simple with a darker shade at the top of the screen lightening down to a paler shade at the bottom. The use of simple colours adds to the simple music effects and camera movements. 

The main colour scheme is blue and pink with yellow and white. Inspector Clouseau wears a blue suit, sort like a train conductors uniform, with yellow trim and matching hat. The pink panther is pink and also has yellow eyes. This gives the viewer something that is  distinguishable about the character, the blue suit of the inspector and the pink panther and blue sunnies (if he is disguised). This choice of colour scheme shows the audience that the look they are trying to achieve is simple and not too "in your face".

The background colours is blue for the majority of the scene but it does change to pink when the title appears and yellow/orange when Inspector Clouseau and the panther dance together. I think the director has made all the colours block and simple because it is a cartoon and because it is a remake of the original 'Pink Panther' made in 1963, he couldn't add new colours or make it too different from the original movie. I think the director didn't want to stray too far from the original coour scheme because then the movie wouldn't be a remake it would be almost a new film because it is not that similar to the original already so to keep it a remake he included and used the same colour scheme.

The colours used in the opening scene are similar to those used throughout the film. Inspector Clouseau wears a similar costume in the movie (although it looks more like a navy suit than a train conductors uniform and is not worn for the entire film)  and there is a lot of blues, whites and yellows and a little pink used during the film.