Read This: The Story Behind Hollywood Studio Logos
Filed under: Fandom, Newsstand
Have you ever wondered how, exactly, the Hollywood studios came up with their logos? No, not really? It's cool, I've never given much thought to it either, but the folks over at Neatorama did, and they tracked down the stories behind the logos for Dreamworks SKG (boy fishing on a moon), MGM (which was your favorite lion?), 20th Century Fox, Paramount (are those real mountains?), Warner Brothers and Columbia Pictures (who's that torch lady again?). It's a rather fascinating read, if only to learn the names behind the artists who created some of the more recognizable images in film history.
From the Dreamworks SKG description: "Spielberg wanted the logo for DreamWorks to be reminiscent of Hollywood's golden age. The logo was to be a computer generated image of a man on the moon, fishing, but Visual Effects Supervisor Dennis Muren of Industrial Light and Magic, who has worked on many of Spielberg's films, suggested that a hand-painted logo might look better. Muren asked his friend, artist Robert Hunt to paint it. Hunt also sent along an alternative version of the logo, which included a young boy on a crescent moon, fishing. Spielberg liked this version better, and the rest is history. Oh, and that boy? It was Hunt's son, William."
Check out the rest over on Neatorama. Which logo is your personal favorite? (And is it weird to have a favorite Hollywood studio logo?)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-03-2008 @ 3:39PM
jb said...
I for one like Lionsgate but they werent an option.
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12-03-2008 @ 3:54PM
MCW said...
I like that one too, because it's so different from the others. I don't care for Lionsgate the company, but it's not a bad logo. I just used to associate it with their marquee horror films, not it's sadly getting thrown in front of ALL of their releases, so spinning gears is no longer threatening (Like it was before watching SAW)... now it's just commonplace to me.
If there was a poll choice for it, I would have voted for the one I've always loved: the "New Line Cinema" film logo. Sad that I might not ever get to see it again (Who knows what goes through Warner Brothers heads... they probably have ditched it all together).
I don't think it's weird to like a movie studio's logo. Because I associate logos with things I like, when I go to watch a movie whose studio I wasn't aware of beforehand, if a logo like the now defunct "New Line Cinema" comes up, I know I am in for a real treat. Also, for the most part, the Fox Searchlight logo has been synonymous with quality "Independent" film. When I see that logo too, I am less concerned about what I am about to watch.
(New Line Logo: http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/new-line.jpg )
http://UncoveredFilms.blogspot.com
12-03-2008 @ 4:04PM
Gary said...
I love it when settling down to watch a movie and Leo pops up. I always roar along with him.
I am probably a bit old for that now however, I get plenty of weird looks in the cinema.
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12-03-2008 @ 11:22PM
Bill Dunmyer said...
It's clear from the poll results that all the logos are popular. That shows that Hollywood has a good approach to branding. That's good to see. I remember loving the Miramax logo when it debuted. Was that back in about 1988?
Wasn't that a great time, when Miramax burst on the scene? Now they are flat as dishwater. And the poor Weinsteins have had no luck with The Weinstein Co., despite backing great films these past few years. I hope they don't go under.
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12-04-2008 @ 1:47AM
Chromey said...
20th Century Fox. But the one from the 70's and 80's. Not the new one. I also love the 80's UA logo screen.
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12-04-2008 @ 9:46AM
Kevin said...
I dig the WB shield just because they've started introducing it in cool little ways. Like having the studio lot be all green before the opening of the matrix movies, or in that weird/gritty orangish hue for 300. Also, I dug the way they had the music correspond to the ripples when they brought it up for TDK, and also had it all in silver. If I can remember the intro to those movies then it says something about the way they brought up the logo (or that I just love those movies).
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12-04-2008 @ 10:59AM
Water said...
I think New Line Cinema and Miramax/Weinstein Company are glaring omissions here.
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12-04-2008 @ 8:53PM
Scott Weinberg said...
Nothing beats the Fox fanfare.
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