That's the problem with theme songs anymore - for shows that still use theme songs, that is - they shorten them considerably (usually down to one verse like you said) to make room for more show.
Actually, it's to make room for more commercials if anything. It's a choice between a long theme song or decent enough show runtime. I'm mixed about TV theme songs. I like them, but if it comes down to more show, I feel that a fleshed out runtime is more important. But if the theme song is less than half a minute to begin with, I find it just... like, really? I never understood why Gumball's already short theme song needed 15 seconds cut from it. I mean, that's only
one extra short TV spot. Barely. We can't even have end credits now because they have to squish them at the end of a show during. While it makes sense for sitcoms, I despise that Nickelodeon does it at the end of their animated programming. Especially when it's something like TMNT, where you
don't need to know there's only 30 more seconds of plot. But that's a side rant.
I don't really mind it much, the slow-motion. The intro looks GORGEOUS despite it. The show itself won't look nearly as good by comparison. The arrangement is pretty good too; it's a shame it's only one verse, but ah well.
There's something really bright and sunny about this intro, and I really think that's what an intro should do, grab the audience's attention. I really like the staging and lighting here. But what really makes this opening unique is that it uses the
actual Sesame Street set. I may need to look at previous openings, but... is..is this the first time they actually
did that? I remember seeing kids and Muppets playing in fields and parks, or more recently, dancing around cartoonish backdrops, some only loosely representing the set. I never really understood the point of the original openings with kids playing in parks and playgrounds and stuff. There's no representation of anything actually
on Sesame Street until Big Bird pops up. This new opening at least shows you what you get. Sesame
Street. Not Sesame "the rural parts near the" Street or Sesame "Chalk Drawing of the" Street or Sesame "something that's a cartoon representation of
a street, but not specifically Sesame" Street. On that aspect alone, I find this a strangely overdue opening.