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A '''production logo''', '''vanity card''', '''vanity plate''', or '''vanity logo''' is a [[logo]] used by [[movie studio]]s and [[television]] [[production company|production companies]] to [[brand]] what they produce and to determine the production company and the distributor of a television show or film. Production logos are usually seen at the beginning of a theatrical movie or video game (an "'''opening logo'''"), or at the end of a [[television program]] or [[Television movie|TV movie]] (a "'''closing logo'''"). Many production logos have become famous over the years, such as <!-- Don't add any more examples. -->the [[20th Century Fox]]'s [[20th Century Fox |
A '''production logo''', '''vanity card''', '''vanity plate''', or '''vanity logo''' is a [[logo]] used by [[movie studio]]s and [[television]] [[production company|production companies]] to [[brand]] what they produce and to determine the production company and the distributor of a television show or film. Production logos are usually seen at the beginning of a theatrical movie or video game (an "'''opening logo'''"), or at the end of a [[television program]] or [[Television movie|TV movie]] (a "'''closing logo'''"). Many production logos have become famous over the years, such as <!-- Don't add any more examples. -->the [[20th Century Fox]]'s [[20th Century Fox Fanfare|monument and searchlights]] and [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]]'s [[Leo the Lion (MGM)|Leo the Lion]].<!-- Don't add any more examples. --> Unlike logos for other media, production logos can take advantage of [[Motion (physics)|motion]] and [[synchronized sound]], and almost always do.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ambletondelight.blogspot.in/2011/09/tip-81-design-film-logo.html |title=Tip #81: Design a film logo |website=ambletondelight.blogspot.in |access-date=October 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013222421/http://ambletondelight.blogspot.in/2011/09/tip-81-design-film-logo.html |archive-date=October 13, 2016 |dead-url=no |df=}}</ref> |
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==History== |
== History == |
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In the early days of [[Hollywood, Los Angeles, California|Hollywood]], production logos and brands were simple and very much like their |
In the early days of [[Hollywood, Los Angeles, California|Hollywood]], production logos and brands were simple and very much like their print counterparts, usually appearing on [[title card]]s and in the opening [[Credit (creative arts)|credits]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://scoopwhoop.com/Hollywood-Movie-Studios-Logos |title=It's Surprising To See How Much The Logos Of Hollywood Movie Studios Have Changed |date=October 4, 2016 |accessdate=June 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613084756/https://www.scoopwhoop.com/Hollywood-Movie-Studios-Logos |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |dead-url=no}}</ref> The [[Paramount Pictures]] mountain logo hails from this era and originally featured no special effects. As the studios grew, more effort was put into their identities, and motion and sound began to be used. MGM and Universal were the first studios to take advantage of the new medium's possibilities, MGM first using Leo the Lion in 1924 and Universal debuting their globe around the same time. [[RKO Radio Pictures]] used their rotating globe and radio transmission tower with a [[Morse code]]-beeping soundtrack as early as 1929.<ref name="Heldt 2013 p. 29">{{cite book |last=Heldt |first=G. |title=Music and Levels of Narration in Film: Steps Across the Border |publisher=Intellect |series=Knowledge Unlatched |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-78320-209-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1QS4fpmebVkC |access-date=May 6, 2019 |page=29 |quote=The visual logo had been used since 1929; a spinning globe with a radio transmitter on top, with letters spelling out A Radio Picture (until 1936) or An RKO Radio Picture (1936–56), and Morse code on the soundtrack.}}</ref> In the 1930s, [[Twentieth Century Pictures]] introduced their futuristic "tower" logo, which had moving searchlights; it was carried over when they merged with [[Fox Film Corporation]] and became 20th Century Fox. The first version of Columbia's mascot used a sparkler to represent her torch, and Universal's globes could rotate. |
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The advent of television in the 1950s also opened the door to [[cel animation]] in production logos. Most studios had used cels for their animation departments' logos for some time by this point, but the demand for animation on TV, both as programming and for advertising, made more effects available for less money. TV itself started using logos on its programming: [[Desilu]], [[Mark VII Limited|Mark VII Productions]] and [[Universal Media Studios|Revue Studios]] all had distinctive logotypes by the end of the decade, and Desilu's and Revue's were animated. By 1976, all of the major studios except Universal had switched their logos over to cel animation, and logos for smaller concerns and [[Broadcasting|broadcasters]] were beginning to enter the computer age, using machines like [[Scanimate]]. |
The advent of television in the 1950s also opened the door to [[cel animation]] in production logos. Most studios had used cels for their animation departments' logos for some time by this point, but the demand for animation on TV, both as programming and for advertising, made more effects available for less money. TV itself started using logos on its programming: [[Desilu]], [[Mark VII Limited|Mark VII Productions]] and [[Universal Media Studios|Revue Studios]] all had distinctive logotypes by the end of the decade, and Desilu's and Revue's were animated. By 1976, all of the major studios except Universal had switched their logos over to cel animation, and logos for smaller concerns and [[Broadcasting|broadcasters]] were beginning to enter the computer age, using machines like [[Scanimate]]. |
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With the 1980s came a return to the older style of logos. Warner Bros., one of the first studios to switch to a cel-animated abstract logo, brought back their WB shield logo as a [[matte painting]] in 1984. TV logos began switching from cels and [[2D computer graphics]] to [[3D computer graphics]] around the same time, and by the end of the decade, the quality of 3D animation had improved to the point that cinema quality was possible. Paramount had introduced a digital-looking logo in late 1986, but only the foreground animation in their logo was computerised (the mountain backdrop was commissioned as a painting by the company). Universal's 1990 logo, introduced for its 75th anniversary, was pre-visualized with CG, but the actual logo was created using motion-control models. Throughout the 1990s, fully computer-generated logos increased in frequency. [[Walt Disney Pictures|Disney]] was the last of the "Big Six" studios to re-design their logo with computer animation, debuting their logo with the release of ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest]]'' in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002802054|title=Old Disney magic in new animated logo| |
With the 1980s came a return to the older style of logos. Warner Bros., one of the first studios to switch to a cel-animated abstract logo, brought back their WB shield logo as a [[matte painting]] in 1984. TV logos began switching from cels and [[2D computer graphics]] to [[3D computer graphics]] around the same time, and by the end of the decade, the quality of 3D animation had improved to the point that cinema quality was possible. Paramount had introduced a digital-looking logo in late 1986, but only the foreground animation in their logo was computerised (the mountain backdrop was commissioned as a painting by the company). Universal's 1990 logo, introduced for its 75th anniversary, was pre-visualized with CG, but the actual logo was created using motion-control models. Throughout the 1990s, fully computer-generated logos increased in frequency. [[Walt Disney Pictures|Disney]] was the last of the "Big Six" studios to re-design their logo with computer animation, debuting their logo with the release of ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest]]'' in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002802054 |title=Old Disney magic in new animated logo |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | accessdate=July 10, 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718065547/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002802054 |archivedate=July 18, 2006}}</ref> |
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By 2007, almost all production logos have become produced (or edited) on computers, and have reached a level of sophistication equivalent to that of the best special effects. There are some exceptions; the [[Mutant Enemy Productions|Mutant Enemy]] "grr, argh" ID was shot using a [[camcorder]] and |
By 2007, almost all production logos have become produced (or edited) on computers, and have reached a level of sophistication equivalent to that of the best special effects. There are some exceptions; the [[Mutant Enemy Productions|Mutant Enemy]] "grr, argh" ID was shot using a [[camcorder]] and paper models, and the producers of ''[[South Park]]'' even recycled footage from an old [[Braniff Airlines]] ad for their "vanity" logo. Producer [[Chuck Lorre]] uses his production card to post a long and unrestricted essay or observation in small type which changes each week and requires pausing with a recording device to read.<ref>{{cite news |title=Vanity cards let Lorre sound off |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118001051?refCatId=3567 |work=Variety |first=Shawna |last=Malcom |date=March 10, 2009 |access-date=January 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519164904/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118001051?refCatId=3567 |archive-date=May 19, 2012 |dead-url=no}}</ref> |
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[[Video game]]s have taken on production logos as their capabilities have increased, and most modern [[game console]]s have startup logos in their [[firmware]]. In addition, games themselves now feature (sometimes elaborate) startup logos of both the companies that produce the games as well as the ones who develop them. Video game startup logos also frequently feature the logos of [[game engine]]s or other [[middleware]] used in the games. As with films, the production logos are also used in trailers and commercials for the video games. |
[[Video game]]s have taken on production logos as their capabilities have increased, and most modern [[game console]]s have startup logos in their [[firmware]]. In addition, games themselves now feature (sometimes elaborate) startup logos of both the companies that produce the games as well as the ones who develop them. Video game startup logos also frequently feature the logos of [[game engine]]s or other [[middleware]] used in the games. As with films, the production logos are also used in trailers and commercials for the video games. |
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Many [[automobile manufacturer]]s also use startup logos for their [[in car entertainment]] systems. |
Many [[automobile manufacturer]]s also use startup logos for their [[in car entertainment]] systems. |
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==See also== |
== See also == |
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*[[Opening credits]] |
* [[Opening credits]] |
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*[[Closing credits]] |
* [[Closing credits]] |
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*[[Billing (filmmaking)|Billing]] |
* [[Billing (filmmaking)|Billing]] |
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*[[Motion trademark]] |
* [[Motion trademark]] |
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==References== |
== References == |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6746832/ You’re so vain: TV vanity cards] ([[MSNBC]]) |
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{{Film Studio}} |
{{Film Studio}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Production Logo}} |
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[[Category:Logos]] |
[[Category:Logos]] |
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[[Category:Television terminology]] |
[[Category:Television terminology]] |