Not so long ago, the opening credits of a show were indispensable. Can you imagine The Simpsons or The Office without the songs that open practically every episode? These jaunty themes helped rev us up for the comedic pleasures to follow. Yet the legacy of opening credits is very much in danger, thanks to the “Skip Intro” button. It appears on practically every streamer, and with the click of a button, the intro is no more. Which is why we want to warn you: Don’t miss out on the joys of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off‘s intro.
Based on the comic book series by Bryan Lee O’Malley, which also became the fan-adored live-action movie Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Netflix’s hotly anticipated anime makes a fantastic case for why we need to give intros their screen time. This one is a cleverly conceived celebration of all that makes Scott Pilgrim beloved — a joyful flurry of great music, gorgeous animation, and ingenious detail, packing an infinite amount of charm into less than two minutes. Plus, it helps you get hyped for what’s to come!
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off’s opening music will rock your world.
Credit: Screenshot courtesy of YouTube
The opening credits start with a big part of Scott Pilgrim’s identity: music. Of course, Scott is in a band, the bombastic Sex Bob-Omb. And his is the world that gave us Envy Adams’s banger “Black Sheep,” perhaps the finest song from a movie. A glimpse of some Sex Bob-Omb iconography makes way for a thrumming bassline, visualized on the screen in 8-bit glory.
Music is to be expected in opening credits, but what makes the Takes Off credits so much fun is that the music isn’t just playing alongside some disparate animation; the rhythm of the entire sequence matches the music. When the title of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off appears on screen, the words thrum to the beat of the song, pulsing as if it’s a heartbeat. It’s a delightfully sly recognition that music is the beating heart of Scott Pilgrim and a nod that Takes Off plans to follow on with that legacy.
Then there’s the music itself. The song that appears in the opening credits is “bloom” from Japanese rock band Necry Talkie. It’s an infectiously catchy banger, but more importantly, it feels like a believable part of the story’s universe. It’s got enough of an indie vibe to imagine Scott’s girlfriend Ramona Flowers listening to it, and Scott wanting to make a similar song with Sex Bob-Omb to try and impress her. The song also has that propulsive rock energy that could have fit easily into the soundtrack of the live-action film. It’s a clever pick for synergy’s sake, but also one to let the new show, well… take off in its Japanese anime direction.
The intro is a beautiful visual treat packed with great references.
Credit: Screenshot courtesy of YouTube
Aesthetically, the sequence is tremendously satisfying, synthesizing the look of the video game and the original comics, all while embracing its new style as an anime. The style feels both familiar and new, with every character instantly recognizable but also just different enough for Takes Off to feel like a brand new project. There’s enough of the essence of the characters from the comics to be recognizable, but in Takes Off, they’re more compact and cartoonish, heightening the feeling of fantasy. There are also many excellent 8-bit visual references to not only the Scott Pilgrim video game, the aptly titled Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game, but also the plentiful video game iconography within the comics, like graphics that spell out sound effects and health bars.
Of course, the core of the franchise is Scott and Ramona, which is reflected in the visuals. In gorgeous bursts of color, we see Scott seeing Ramona for the first time and being instantly smitten. Scott’s attraction is clear as he’s overwhelmed by heart icons and a pink star coin. The pair fall from the sky holding hands, swirling around in vibrant block colors. And the sequence ends in chibi 8-bit versions of their characters coming together for a swift kiss.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off shows off its all-star cast.
Credit: Screenshot courtesy of YouTube
One of the biggest surprises that came with the announcement of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off was that Netflix pulled off an incredible coup in getting the entire movie cast to reprise their roles. That’s remarkable, not only because the film came out 13 years ago, but also many cast members — including Michael Cera, Brie Larson, Chris Evans, Aubrey Plaza, and Anna Kendrick — are now some of the biggest stars around.
This is something that the opening credits of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is keenly aware of. While the norm these days is to have the lead cast names in small text so as to not overwhelm the visuals of the sequence (think The White Lotus, The Last of Us, or Succession), Scott Pilgrim says to hell with all that. Each of the principal cast — all 15 of them — gets their own title card with equal time on screen, their names in bright, bold colors, taking over a quarter of the screen.
It’s a smart move, because while the show is an adaptation of O’Malley’s comic, the film and its cast are a huge reason why the fandom for anything Scott Pilgrim is so strong. This devotion to the cast is a cheery slice of fan service; those fans who stumble upon the series organically are going to be blown away that all the voices they know and love are back in full force.
The opening credits of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off bring joy and vibrancy back to a frequently ignored art form. It establishes the show effectively, clearly signaling immense respect for everything Scott Pilgrim that came before it, while ushering in a whole new universe for fans to get obsessed over. If these credits are any indication, we’re in for one of the most exciting shows of 2023.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off premieres on Netflix Nov. 17.
