Concept and creative process
Inspired to some extent by the aesthetic of Japanese wood-block prints, Ray Ogden’s title sequence set up the beginning of the true story narrative, as the women were taken from their colonial lifestyle and forced into captivity. The flight of the crane motivated the camera move, picking out details of the aftermath of the women’s capture. The inclusion of the animated creatures was designed to underscore the lack of human presence, as well as helping to locate the far-eastern setting. Midway, the beetle caught in a spider’s web aimed to serve as an edgy metaphor for the women’s fate. The artwork was drawn primarily by designer Ray Ogden, with additional animated cel overlays by freelance contributors, and was shot at Caravel Films.