Create and animate titles

Create and animate the title card for the opening sequence. Use the project title LowerThirds_2026, set the type to Montserrat SemiBold at 72px, animate a five-frame fade-in with a 30-percent upward slide on cut, add a soft shadow, and deliver the sequence with handles to VFX by Wednesday morning.

Before I lock the opening title, make it scannable and tone-right. Put the episode name on top, surface the guest’s credit in a smaller weight beneath, slow the entrance to 12 frames so it reads without feeling sluggish, and flag any places where kerning or line breaks could confuse a quick viewer.

I just showed the animated opening title to Marco and he called it ‘cheap’ and said it distracts from the first shot. I’m worried the timing and font choice are the problem but don’t want to scrap type decisions late. What’s the most likely issue causing that reaction and what two quick changes will make the title feel more cinematic without redoing the whole sequence?

Across projects we end up re-animating opening titles multiple times because editors and directors disagree on tone. Where are we losing time and authority in title decisions, and what habit or pre-cut rule will keep titles aligned with directorial intent earlier in the process?