The opening scene of any show is often its hallmark. A sequence that will be played before every episode, it’s often the most memorable and recallable moment for die-hard fans. So, no wonder the creators of Game of Thrones wanted one that would leave its fans intrigued, stunned and gasping for more.  

A map explaining the various houses, sigils and locations of the show made a lot of sense, but who wants a boring, flat map?

“If we’re going to do a map then why not do the coolest map that anyone’s ever seen?” says designer Hameed Shaukat.

And the people behind the idea found inspiration in the mechanical designs of renaissance artist Leonardo Da Vinci, who lived in the 16th century.  

Watch how even the smallest thing in the opening scene has a story behind it: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ntgzgWoPVI