This document discusses logos of popular film production companies and what makes their logos memorable. It analyzes logos of Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros., and DreamWorks, noting elements like simplicity, recognizable imagery, use of animation and audio, and symbolism that represent the company globally. Common traits that make logos famous are their ability to attract attention, be easily recognizable, and excite audiences. The document also provides some initial logo ideas for other fictional production companies.

1. Logo research and ideas

2. Popular logos: Why are they so famous?
• Simple/basic.
• Clear.
• Not many different colours used.
• Use of character (e.g. Michelin) allows
logo to be recognisable and memorable.
• Type of font used (e.g. Disney, Coca
Cola).
• One image used to represent the
company (e.g. Apple).
• Slogan or tag line associated with the
logo (e.g. Subway, McDonald’s).
• Unique shape that stands out (e.g.
Olympics/2012).
• Background in the logo (e.g. Disney).
• Shadows, highlights made to create
texture to the image – making it look
professional.

3. Film Production Logos: Universal
• Founded in New York, US
April 30, 1912 (as Universal Film
Manufacturing Company)
June 8, 1912 (as Universal Pictures).
• Serves a worldwide area.
• Other divisions and brands; Universal
Animation Studios, Illumination
Entertainment, Working Title Films.
Logo:
• Image of the global suggests that the
company has an international audience.
• Is recognisable through its font and
imagery.
• The background is simple and the central
positioning of the logo attracts attention.
• Is animate with audio which can increase
audience’s excitement before a film
begins.

4. Film Production Logos: Paramount
• Founded May 8, 1912 (as Famous
Players Studios) (99 years, 285 days)
1914 (as Paramount Pictures).
• Serves a worldwide area.
• Other divisions and brands;
Insurge Pictures, Nickelodeon
Movies, MTV Films.
• Has the oldest surviving Hollywood logo.
Logo:
• Began as a charcoal rendering, originally
with 24 stars - symbolising the signed
stars.
• Redesigned as a matte painting by Jan
Domela in 1945 and was computer
generated in 1987.
• The number of stars visible varied until
1974 when it was reduced to 22.
• In 2002 animation was added to the logo
which has helped to enhance it and in
2011 the audio was changed to signify its
100 year anniversary.

5. Film Production Logos: Warner
Bros.
• Founded 1918 (as Warner Bros.
Studios)
1923 (as Warner Bros. Pictures).
• Other divisions and brands; New Line
Cinema, HBO Films, Castle Rock
Entertainment, Turner
Entertainment, Warner Bros.
Animation.
Logo:
• Image of the shield/crest has gone
through variations.
• Today’s image shows the shield in the
sky which is easily recognisable.
• The image is central so the audience
focus on the company logo rather than
the background.
• Attention is drawn to the logo as it is in
gold font and is brightly lit from the top
left of the frame.

6. Film Production Logos:
DreamWorks
• Founded October 12, 1994 by Steven
Spielberg Jeffrey Katzenberg David
Geffen.
• Other divisions; DreamWorks
Animation (former) DreamWorks Live
Theatrical Productions (current)
DreamWorks Movie Network (current)
DWKids.com (current).
Logo:
• Features a young boy sitting on
a crescent moon while fishing.
• Is computer generated.
• Accompanying music was specially
composed by John Williams yet the
animation logo has music from the score
for Shrek.
• The coloured letters associate the
company with films targeted at children
although this isn’t always the case.
• The animation and audio gain audience
interest and encourage excitement
before the film is shown.

7. Logo ideas

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