Case Study: Broad City
Challenge:
Mike Perry was approached by Broad City's creators early in the production process. They wanted him to design the opening titles that would begin every episode, creating a visual shorthand that would showcase Broad City's signature comedic take on life in New York City.
During the design process, his goal was to capture the show's cheeky and playfully cerebral spirit, while also pushing himself to make each title extra special. He drew inspiration from abstract and playful imagery, incorporating bold colors, hand-drawn linework, and ink-blot patterns into his designs to create a memorable title sequence that meshed perfectly with the show's comic spirit.
Strategy:
He began the design process by researching the show and its audience, studying the characters and themes to gain a better understanding of Broad City's tone and style. He then created a series of sketches and storyboards, experimenting with different visual motifs and color palettes until arriving at a final design concept.
Throughout the design process, he worked closely with Comedy Central's team led by Chris Scarlata and Julie Verardi to ensure that the opening titles reflected Glazer and Jacobson's vision for the show.
Execution:
The final opening titles for Broad City are a series of short animated sequences, each one featuring a different visual motif and color palette. Mike Perry's hand-drawn linework and playful imagery are prominent throughout, with spinning breasts, exploding geometry, and other abstract shapes flashing across the screen in a dizzying array of color and motion.
Results:
The opening titles for Broad City quickly became a defining feature of the show, establishing its unique style and tone and setting it apart from other comedies on television. Viewers and critics alike praised the opening titles for their creativity, energy, and ability to capture the show's irreverent spirit.
In 2016, Mike Perry was awarded an Emmy for his outstanding main title design work on Broad City, bringing increased recognition and visibility to the opening titles and cementing their place in television history. He's proud to say that Broad City's opening titles are a testament to the power of design in establishing the tone and style of a television show.
Mike Perry was part of the team that developed the visual language for Broad City, the popular and critically acclaimed American comedy television series created by Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson that ran from 2014-2019. He designed the show's opening title sequence, establishing the vibrant, upbeat, and energetic tone of the episodes to follow.
