American Horror Story - All Seasons Opening Credits (Season 1 to 5)
I love watching the opening credits to all 5 Seasons of American Horror Story.
I analyzed them and there are definitely some similar themes and characters running through each, referencing each different season.
First there is an overall theme of red, black and white. The characters wear black and white, "Coven's" opening sequence is all in black & white, and there is a white dress in many of the opening sequences. There is red, appearing as either as blood or fire. There are children in various forms, signifying birth. Skeletons appear often, signifying death. There are sexual images and women in high heels, signifying fornication. The appearance of children in every opening sequence (with the exception of "Coven" and "Freak Show"), I believe touches on the overall theme of the show, as the beginning of life, creation, and the essence of innocence being corrupted by evil. Each season shows how everyone, no matter how "innocent," has a dark side, some darker than others, and that this is human nature.
There is also a lot of religious imagery, especially in the opening sequences to "Murder House," "Asylum," and "Hotel," which definitely have similar tones. These seasons are also about specific places and the people who inhabit them, a house, an insane asylum, and a hotel. All are places that are haunted by negative energies and dark spirits. All three of these opening sequences have a lot of blood, feature very dark images of people mixed in with images of innocence, like the white dress and the children. "Freak Show" and "Coven" are a little different as they are more about certain "subcultures," such as that of witches and freaks, although "Freak Show" has a lot of red with the clowns, and "Coven" with the fire.
Some specific references to other seasons I noticed were: In "Coven's" opening sequence there is an alien looking creature, which I believe is a tie-in to the "alien" that abducts Kit in "Asylum." There is a carousel in "Freak Show" which references "Hotel," because that's where Holden is abducted from. The children in "Hotel" reference the children in "Murder House." The nun in "Hotel" references "Asylum." So they all tie in somehow.
I also noticed how "Asylum" has the girl walking up the stairs backwards, which references "The Exorcist." And the killer clowns in "Freak Show," reference, Stephen King's "It." "Hotel," with its ten commandments, references "Seven," and the show itself is eerily similar to "The Shining." This all ties in to the overall theme of "American horror stories." Also every show references several different horrific true events in history that have happened, which is probably my favorite part of the show. Life is all one big "Horror Story."
That's all I have so far.