8 Mile Title Sequence

Creating a 3D animated title sequence for 8 Mile was an opportunity to capture the raw, gritty energy of Detroit’s underground rap scene. I wanted the sequence to feel like it was built from the streets themselves, so I used detailed 3D models of graffiti-covered walls, cracked pavement, and dimly lit alleyways to bring the setting to life. The camera moves fluidly through the environment, weaving through abandoned buildings and under bridges, almost like a tracking shot in a handheld documentary.

To reinforce the graffiti culture, some of the text appears dynamically—spray-painted onto walls in real-time. The soundtrack is a key element too, syncing movements to the beat of an old-school hip-hop instrumental, giving the entire sequence rhythm and urgency. My goal was to create a title sequence that doesn’t just introduce the film but drops you straight into its world, immersing the viewer in the struggle, ambition, and raw energy of 8 Mile.