A highlight of the holiday hit film CATCH ME
IF YOU CAN, which opened in theaters nationwide on December 25, 2002, is the distinctive opening credits created by
London's Nexus Productions. Nexus was called upon by DreamWorks to
create an opening sequence for the film, which stars Leonardo
DiCaprio and Tom Hanks and is directed by Steven Spielberg. In CATCH
ME IF YOU CAN, DiCaprio plays Frank Abagnale, Jr., who at the age of
17 became the most successful bank robber in the history of the
United States and the youngest man ever on the FBI's Most Wanted
List. Federal agent Carl Hanratty (Hanks), who makes it his mission
to capture the thief, pursues Frank, who is always one step ahead.
Set to music by composer John Williams, the three-minute opening
sequence was designed as a cat and mouse chase mirroring the DiCaprio
and Hanks roles. Animators Florence Deygas and Olivier Kuntzel's
utilized the distinctive style of the '60s and early '70s for the
sequence, using stamp animation for all the characters. France's directing duo Deygas and
Kuntzel's work includes animated films such as "Stylish Girl" and
"Sacre Francais;" the Yves Saint Laurent
campaign; the Bourgeois campaign; and art exhibitions for the Winney
art project. Owned and operated by producers Chris O'Reilly and
Charlotte Bavasso, Nexus Productions makes animation for television,
commercials, music videos and film. Recent animation work includes
U2's Pop Mart world tour and the animated comedy sketch show MONKEY
DUST.