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Logo Descriptions by Eric S. and Others
Logo Pictures by Eric S.
Background: Renaissance Pictures is the production company founded by film director Sam Raimi (the controversial Evil Dead saga,Darkman,Spider-Man). Although the company started up in 1982, Raimi didn't use an animated logo until 1993. Renaissance Pictures' offices have been housed on the Universal Studios backlot since 1987, and most of their productions, beginning with Darkman, have been released by Universal. (Raimi is also involved with horror film producer Ghost House Pictures.)
1st logo
(1993-1994)
Nicknames: "The Earth and the Sun", "WHOOOSH!"
Logo: In space, the words "RENAISSANCE PICTURES" (stacked on top of each other, in blue) are suspended above the Earth. The sun rises behind the name, as it rotates upwards to face the viewers.
FX/SFX: All the animation in this logo.
Cheesy Factor: It's all computer animation from the 90's.
Music/Sounds: A high WHOOSH sound.
Avaliability: Very rare. Originally seen on the pilot episode of the M.A.N.T.I.S. series.
Scare Factor: Medium. The whoosh and the sudden animation may get some. At least it's better than the next one below…
2nd logo
(1994-)
Nicknames: "Thunder from Hell", "Evil Mona Lisa", "Mona Lisa from Hell", "Bad Weather in the Louvre", "Herc and Xena Logo", "AAAAAAAAAAH-IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!", "The reason I don't want to see the end of Xena", "Run-and-hide Pictures"
Logo: We zoom out on an engraving-like portrait (on what appears to be a piece of aging parchment at first glance) of a man in 16th century dress (though the head is about all that's seen, and it bears a striking resemblance to Da Vinci's Mona Lisa). A crack appears on the bottom right, and then the portrait then zooms in toward the viewer, ripping into two pieces in the process. As the ripped portrait's two pieces pull away, some lightning flashes are seen with crashing thunder. When the portrait's sections clear the screen, one more lightning flash occurs--this time revealing the company's name-- "Renaissance" in a script typeface (named Pepita), and "PICTURES" below it in spaced-out letters, in the Friz Quadrata typeface (best known for being used in the logos of the original six Fox stations and the "Law & Order" logo).
Short Version: There exists a short version starting with the company name appearing, glowing, and then dimming. This version is only known to exist on one show, "American Gothic". Only the sound of thunder is heard.
FX/SFX: All the animation in this logo.
Cheesy Factor: This one, above all 1990's-vintage logos, has something to unnerve nearly everyone: an extreme zoom-in, lightning, unholy-sounding music...
Music/Sounds: A sound bite of a Tibetan chant (described by one of the logo nicknames), a loud ripping noise, and the thunder. Tibetan monks are known for singing in a very low vocal register, sometimes as much as 9 octaves below normal, which makes this logo very ominous.
Avaliability: Was on "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys", "Xena: Warrior Princess" and "American Gothic", among other shows. The short version appeared on Chiller's reruns of "American Gothic" (that show no longer airs on Chiller). The long version can be seen on Xena reruns on Oxygen. It also appeared on the (short-lived) Jack of All Trades and Cleopatra 2525, as well as Young Hercules (which was last seen when Encore Wam reran it) Unfortunately for some, this logo lives again: it can be seen on "Legend of the Seeker" in syndication.
Scare Factor: High to NIGHTMARE: due to the thunder, lightning, ripping/tearing animation FX, and the Tibetan monk chant soundbite. This logo is no doubt one of the scariest ever made. Low to medium for the short version, due to lacking the lightning, chanting and ripping FX; however, the thunder sound can still catch you off guard.
Logo Pictures by Eric S.
Background: Renaissance Pictures is the production company founded by film director Sam Raimi (the controversial Evil Dead saga,Darkman,Spider-Man). Although the company started up in 1982, Raimi didn't use an animated logo until 1993. Renaissance Pictures' offices have been housed on the Universal Studios backlot since 1987, and most of their productions, beginning with Darkman, have been released by Universal. (Raimi is also involved with horror film producer Ghost House Pictures.)
1st logo
(1993-1994)
Nicknames: "The Earth and the Sun", "WHOOOSH!"
Logo: In space, the words "RENAISSANCE PICTURES" (stacked on top of each other, in blue) are suspended above the Earth. The sun rises behind the name, as it rotates upwards to face the viewers.
FX/SFX: All the animation in this logo.
Cheesy Factor: It's all computer animation from the 90's.
Music/Sounds: A high WHOOSH sound.
Avaliability: Very rare. Originally seen on the pilot episode of the M.A.N.T.I.S. series.
Scare Factor: Medium. The whoosh and the sudden animation may get some. At least it's better than the next one below…
2nd logo
(1994-)
Nicknames: "Thunder from Hell", "Evil Mona Lisa", "Mona Lisa from Hell", "Bad Weather in the Louvre", "Herc and Xena Logo", "AAAAAAAAAAH-IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!", "The reason I don't want to see the end of Xena", "Run-and-hide Pictures"
Logo: We zoom out on an engraving-like portrait (on what appears to be a piece of aging parchment at first glance) of a man in 16th century dress (though the head is about all that's seen, and it bears a striking resemblance to Da Vinci's Mona Lisa). A crack appears on the bottom right, and then the portrait then zooms in toward the viewer, ripping into two pieces in the process. As the ripped portrait's two pieces pull away, some lightning flashes are seen with crashing thunder. When the portrait's sections clear the screen, one more lightning flash occurs--this time revealing the company's name-- "Renaissance" in a script typeface (named Pepita), and "PICTURES" below it in spaced-out letters, in the Friz Quadrata typeface (best known for being used in the logos of the original six Fox stations and the "Law & Order" logo).
Short Version: There exists a short version starting with the company name appearing, glowing, and then dimming. This version is only known to exist on one show, "American Gothic". Only the sound of thunder is heard.
FX/SFX: All the animation in this logo.
Cheesy Factor: This one, above all 1990's-vintage logos, has something to unnerve nearly everyone: an extreme zoom-in, lightning, unholy-sounding music...
Music/Sounds: A sound bite of a Tibetan chant (described by one of the logo nicknames), a loud ripping noise, and the thunder. Tibetan monks are known for singing in a very low vocal register, sometimes as much as 9 octaves below normal, which makes this logo very ominous.
Avaliability: Was on "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys", "Xena: Warrior Princess" and "American Gothic", among other shows. The short version appeared on Chiller's reruns of "American Gothic" (that show no longer airs on Chiller). The long version can be seen on Xena reruns on Oxygen. It also appeared on the (short-lived) Jack of All Trades and Cleopatra 2525, as well as Young Hercules (which was last seen when Encore Wam reran it) Unfortunately for some, this logo lives again: it can be seen on "Legend of the Seeker" in syndication.
Scare Factor: High to NIGHTMARE: due to the thunder, lightning, ripping/tearing animation FX, and the Tibetan monk chant soundbite. This logo is no doubt one of the scariest ever made. Low to medium for the short version, due to lacking the lightning, chanting and ripping FX; however, the thunder sound can still catch you off guard.
