Why do cartoons and other American shows never change openings?

zexen_lowe

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zexen_lowe on 29 December 2009

I guess it is because Western shows don't sell thousands of singles with the opening theme, unlike Japanese ones, so they don't care in changing it

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Words Of Wisdom on 29 December 2009

Soriku said:

If anybody's watched any cartoons or other American shows (like Sesame Street, etc.) that use openings, they never change them. Most animes always change, but why never cartoons and such?

Just something I've always been thinking of.

Because it's classy. You're not going to remember that random J-Pop song in 10 years, but this?

Hell yeah.

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Dgc1808 on 29 December 2009

There are a few that do change but never completely different from the first.

4 ≈ One

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Kirameo on 29 December 2009

RolStoppable said:

Soriku said:

RolStoppable said:

So any changes in the opening count?

The openings have to be completely changed. So some new scenes in openings you've already seen don't count.

Okay, here are some I can think of:

Kim Possible - The season 4 opening still has the same song, but the scenes shown were all from season 2-4 (only season 1 before).
Two and a half men - Only had a jingle and the title at first, later on got a longer opening.
Will & Grace - At first only the title and short music, later on a full opening with a much longer version of the theme.
Married... with kids (I think that's how the Al Bundy show is called over there) - Updated the opening three or four times, although it always had the same acting and song.
That '70s show - Same music, but new opening.

That's five examples. Start watching some good shows for once, then you wouldn't have to made such a silly thread.

I'd like to add that most of the time (if not always), the songs don't change because they become like a part of the show. I'm sure if I ever listen to a song of that kind of show I would inmediately relate it to the show.

However, in anime it's not quite like that because as the plot evolves, it's necessary to change the opening to keep up with the current feeling of the show (introducing new characters, or simply different arcs).

In western shows there is actually little to no evolution in the plot (there are exceptions of course!) but those that you mentioned are just casual shows that revolve around a simple theme.

I'm no expert on the subject so don't take my word for it.

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Kirameo on 29 December 2009

RolStoppable said:

Kirameo said:

RolStoppable said:

Okay, here are some I can think of:

Kim Possible - The season 4 opening still has the same song, but the scenes shown were all from season 2-4 (only season 1 before).
Two and a half men - Only had a jingle and the title at first, later on got a longer opening.
Will & Grace - At first only the title and short music, later on a full opening with a much longer version of the theme.
Married... with kids (I think that's how the Al Bundy show is called over there) - Updated the opening three or four times, although it always had the same acting and song.
That '70s show - Same music, but new opening.

That's five examples. Start watching some good shows for once, then you wouldn't have to made such a silly thread.

I'd like to add that most of the time (if not always), the songs don't change because they become like a part of the show. I'm sure if I ever listen to a song of that kind of show I would inmediately relate it to the show.

However, in anime it's not quite like that because as the plot evolves, it's necessary to change the opening to keep up with the current feeling of the show (introducing new characters, or simply different arcs).

In western shows there is actually little to no evolution in the plot (there are exceptions of course!) but those that you mentioned are just casual shows that revolve around a simple theme.

I'm no expert on the subject so don't take my word for it.

I like casual shows, they are fun. I hate that hardcore garbage that Soriku watches.

I like to just relax on my bed and watch Two and a Half men and the like. It just makes my stress go away. But I also enjoy some animes, that I watch with more attention and interest. I love both kinds. Though I would not like being called an otaku, ugh.

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Mr Khan on 29 December 2009

Damn you, dgc, you beat me to it :P

The Simpsons changed opening sequences, though it took them 20 years to do it. Venture Bros axed its opening in the 4th season. A more memorable one might be The Flintstones, which originally had a very generic opening

Before they got the extraordinarily memorable

Courage the Cowardly Dog got updated images (new villains rosters with the new seasons). Rocko's Modern Life had two openings, both with the same theme song, but two different variations of it, iirc.

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Alasted on 29 December 2009

Soriku said:

If anybody's watched any cartoons or other American shows (like Sesame Street, etc.) that use openings, they never change them. Most animes always change, but why never cartoons and such?

Just something I've always been thinking of.

What's this nonsense about Sesame Street never changing its opening?