LogFAQs > #942009643

23. Cheers - Anagram
https://youtu.be/WB0nC3BkzPk

Unique: 6.25
Story: 5
Music: 9.25
Animation: N/A
Personal: 7.5
Average: 7

I confess Im puzzled by Anagrams statement that he nominated this intro as a joke. Its actually really good!

Anyway, I found it interesting to go back and watch this intro for the first time in many years. As the song lyrics make clear, its all about escaping from the stress and turmoil of the real world to a place where you can be at ease among friends. Of course, the world has gotten considerably more complicated and difficult than it was when this show aired. So this intro evokes an even greater sense of comfort and escapism than it did before. Really, couldnt we all use a Cheers of our own right about now? Actually thats pretty much why I came back to this board after a long hiatus, but Im getting off topic now.

In my view, this is a magical theme song. Theres simply no other way to describe it. From those opening piano notes, it just seems special. And it makes you feel like youre part of the crowd hanging out at Cheers just listening to it.

The intro is a bit more innovative than it might at first appear. Most interesting to me is the way the picture seamlessly transforms from the then modern day with cars driving by in live action to an old timey drawing of the bar. Then after having traveled back in time in a manner of speaking, were treated to a series of drawings and photographs of people having a grand time just living their lives. No pictures of the actual cast, but the types of people you might find frequenting the bar over the years. And although it was a daring choice to go with still pictures, this is a rare instance where it works without ever getting dull, perhaps because the images have so much of a sense of life to them.

That takes me into the story. You wouldnt think theres much here. On the surface, its just a show about a bar. But each of the pictures has a story to tell if you stop to really look at them as the intro encourages us to do, and they remind us theres meaning in even the little moments that pass us by. The sense of camaraderie of the people sharing drinks together, the genuine expressions on their faces, thats the story. And I think its a refreshing story, now more than ever.