opening credits / team of extra draft animals
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opening credits
The introductory sequence of a film or television show, in which the title, main actors, and most important contributors are typically named.
Ich überspringe nie den Vorspann meiner Lieblingsserie, weil die Musik so gut ist.
I never skip the opening credits of my favorite series because the music is so good.
extra draft team
A group of additional draft animals, usually horses or oxen, that are hitched in front of a wagon or plow to help on inclines or on heavy soil.
An der steilen Passstraße benötigte der schwere Postwagen einen Vorspann mit zwei weiteren Pferden.
On the steep mountain pass road, the heavy mail coach needed an extra draft team with two more horses.
'Vorspann' is made up of 'vor-' (in front/before) and the verb 'spannen' (to hitch/stretch). The logic is that something is 'hitched' or placed before the main thing: the titles before the film, or additional draft animals in front of the wagon.
Der Vorspann des Films war künstlerisch sehr aufwendig gestaltet.
The opening credits of the film were designed in a very elaborate artistic way.
The two meanings are easy to distinguish by context. In connection with film, television, or series, it always means the introductory sequence. If people are talking about historical vehicles, agriculture, or draft animals, it means the additional animals.
Im Vorspann wurde der Name des Regisseurs falsch geschrieben.
The director's name was spelled incorrectly in the opening credits.
In the context of films, 'Vorspann' (opening credits) is often combined with the verbs 'ansehen' (to watch), 'überspringen' (to skip), or 'laufen' (to run/be playing).
Viele Leute überspringen den Vorspann, wenn sie eine Serie am Stück schauen.
Many people skip the opening credits when they binge-watch a series.
The meaning of 'Vorspann' as additional draft animals is rare today and is mainly used in historical texts or descriptions. The meaning in a film context, by contrast, is everyday language.
Im Museum gab es eine alte Darstellung eines Fuhrwerks mit Vorspann.
In the museum, there was an old depiction of a wagon with an extra draft team.
intro
Intro and Vorspann can both refer to the beginning of a film or show. Intro is the broader term and can refer to any introductory section. Vorspann specifically refers to the opening sequence, which typically gives the title and names the people involved.
Der kurze Vorspann stimmt die Zuschauer mit dem Titel und den Namen der Mitwirkenden auf die Serie ein.
The short opening credits get viewers ready for the series with its title and the names of the people involved.
Das kurze Intro stimmt die Zuschauer ohne Angaben zu den Mitwirkenden auf die Serie ein.
The short intro gets viewers ready for the series without naming the people involved.
