Humans Opening Analysis

0:00 - The opening begins with images of cells, provoking thoughts of humans and living, biological life, as well as showing the audience the sci-fi genre of the film.



0:03 - The shot transitions using a fade effect to another shot connoting more electrical themes, showing how the Synths are indistinguishable from humans and possibly even replacing them.



0:04 - A jump cut to a presentation of early robotics, showing the first steps towards realistic robots. This becomes a montage showing the evolution of robotics.



0:10 - The montage is replaced with static, possibly to show the uncertainty and anxiety people possess about the advancement of robotics. This then transitions to an x-ray of the human arm, and then a skeletal robotic arm with exposed wires, appearing as an almost grotesquely unnatural imitation of humanity.



0:13 - The scene is then replaced with ones of robots playing music, which look almost serene but the harsh, blue, unnatural lighting coupled with the tinny, tense music makes the scenes uneasy.



0:20 - After another montage of robot evolution, a news headline appears, with inverted colours that make the shot unnatural and uncomfortable. Immediately after, it cuts to a robot turning to look directly at the viewer, which combines with the headline before to appear threatening.



0:25 - Another montage begins, demonstrating how similar to humans the robots are becoming; while at first they are obviously fake and more "uncanny valley" than realistic, this is soon replaced with the creation of artificial skin cells and the first "synthetic man". There is an article highlighting how Synths are now near-identical to humans (again inverted).



0:42 - Two identical women smile and turn to each other simultaneously, causing unnerve as the movement and facial expressions appear unnatural and not human.



0:44 - The title card appears: the a is upside down, indicating that something is wrong within the show.