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Universal Pictures
Logo descriptions by Jason Jones, Matt Williams, and Eric S.
Logo captures by Eric S., Bob Fish, codyfinke, Shadeed A. Kelly, Logozextreame102, Logophile, V of Doom, and Donny Pearson
Editions by Eric S., Shadeed A. Kelly, V of Doom, and Donny Pearson
Video captures courtesy of Eric S., Joecool85, kmhoran1, MrFb09, TomChor, JohnnyL80, VideoMaster1994, Tlogos, Columbia-Pictures, and Weatherguru76
Background: Universal Pictures was formed in 1912 by Carl Laemmle, a German-Jewish immigrant who settled in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he managed a clothing store. It is the second oldest studio in Hollywood (beaten by one month by Paramount Pictures). However, it was fully established in 1915. In 1946, Universal merged with International Pictures, headed by Leo Spitz and William Goetz. This team ran Universal-International, while Nate Blumberg and J. Cheever Cowdin remained at the helm of Universal Pictures, the parent company. In 1962, MCA purchased Decca Records and with it, Universal Pictures, leaving Milton Rackmil and Edward Muhl in charge, while Dr. Jules Stein (Board Chairman) and Lew Wasserman (President) guiding MCA. As a result of a consent decree with the justice departament, MCA divested itself of its talent agency business. Currently, it is part-owned by Vivendi SA (20%) and General Electric (80%) and is a subsidiary of NBC Universal.
1st Logo
(1912-1919)
Nickname: "Trans-Atlantic Globe", "Saturn Globe", "Trans-Atlantic Saturn Globe" "The Collision of Earth and Saturn"
Logo: We see a circle with "UNIVERSAL" written above and "FILMS" written below. Inside the circle is some really small text that says "TRADE MARK". A Saturn-like ring surrounds the circle, which reads "THE TRANS-ATLANTIC FILM CO. LTD." (Universal's British distributor at the time).
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: None.
Availability: Extinct; Universal destroyed most of their silent films, so you'll have to look hard for this one. It may appear on TCM's Silent Sunday Nights.
Scare Factor: None, unless you're creeped out by silent films.
2nd Logo
(1915-1922)
Nicknames: "Saturn Globe II"
Logo: We see a checkered background with a Saturn-like globe with the words "UNIVERSAL FILMS" on it. "UNIVERSAL" is
shown above the globe in a stencil-like font. "FILM MANUFACTURING COMPANY", "PACIFIC COAST STUDIOS", and "Universal City, Cal." are shown below, in different fonts (and the first line in an upward arc).
FX/SFX: None.
Cheesy Factor: It's a very old logo.
Music/Sounds: None.
Availability: Rare; appears on silent films that appear on TCM. You may look for this logo on TCM's Silent Sunday Nights.
Scare Factor: None.
3rd Logo
(1922-1926)
Nickname: "Rotating Letters", "Saturn Globe II", "Airplane Passing Globe"
Logo: We see a biplane flying around the rotating globe counterclockwise and leaving a trail of smoke behind it, and the smoke forms the words "UNIVERSAL PICTURES".
Variant: A more zoomed-out version was used sometimes.
FX/SFX: The plane rotating around the globe, the forming of the name.
Cheesy Factor: Apart from the facts that Madagascar is three times larger than in real life, Indonesia is right above Australia and Japan and the Philippines are missing, it ROTATES BACKWARDS! Very cheesy by today's standards, but pretty for its time.
Music/Sounds: None.
Availability: Ultra rare; currently appears on some 1920s Universal films on TCM.
Scare Factor: Low; may surprise you the first time you see it.
4th Logo
(1926-1936)
Nickname: "Airplane Passing Globe II"
Logo: On a cloud-like background, an earth globe rotates. No clouds are visible on the globe. As the globe rotates, a biplane flies around it, with "A UNIVERSAL PICTURE" being wiped in diagonally as the biplane passes the globe.
Closing Variant: The words "THE END" are seen superimposed in the globe. Then, seconds later, "IT'S A UNIVERSAL PICTURE" fades in, sometimes written in cursive.
FX/SFX: The biplane, wiping on of letters, and the globe.
Cheesy Factor: This logo just SCREAMS 1920s, as everything is a cheesy model. Still, it looked nice for the time, and you have to give them the effort of trying.
Music/Sounds: None; just the sound of the biplane's engine.
Availability: This is one of the rarest Universal logos. Can be seen on some early films still, though. The current DVD release of Frankenstein has plastered this with the B&W variation of the 1997 logo, while the 1999 VHS release of the film itself has plastered this with the B&W variation of the 1963 logo. This logo can sometimes be seen after the current logo of Universal on certain movies. A warp speed variant can be seen at the beginning of Balto III: Wings of Change. However, this logo was re-created on Xanadu, used during the opening credits. This logo made a comeback on Cry-Baby in 1990 (although it was supposed to used the 8th logo with the 75th Anniversary variant). This logo made its surprise appearence on the 2010 film Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball.
Scare Factor: None.
5th Logo
(1936-1946)
Nickname: "The Art-Deco Globe", "Rotating Letters II"
Logo: A stylized glass globe is seen, tilted at an angle. Around the globe, the words "A UNIVERSAL PICTURE" rotate, in a stylized 1930s font. Stylized five-point stars (ala the stars on the Paramount logo) surround the globe.
Closing Variant: Superimposed in a special background or in the last seconds of a movie, we see the words "The End" with lettering variating on that movie along with the disclaimer "A Universal Picture/Release".
FX/SFX: The stars, globe, and rotating letters.
Cheesy Factor: This has to be cheesier than the first one. The stars honestly look like they're hung from a mobile or something. And the glass globe and letters look weird. It did look okay for its time, though, and they did get better later on.
Music/Sounds: Usually the beginning of the movie's opening theme. However, a proud, bombastic orchestral fanfare is sometimes used, and Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid uses a remix of the tune.
Availability: Can be seen on Universal releases of the era, and makes surprise appearances on The Sting, The Brink's Job, Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, Leatherheads, and Changeling.
Scare Factor: None.
6th Logo
(1946-1963)
Nickname: "Rotating ('40s) Globe"
Logo: On a space background, a model globe (harkening back to logo 2; still no clouds though), rotates. Superimposed onto the globe are the words "Universal International" (in white for B&W films or yellow-orange for color films) in a majestic script font, symbolizing Universal's merger with International Pictures.
Byline: Later on, the credit "EDWARD MUHL, IN CHARGE OF PRODUCTION" would appear in the lower-left corner.
Closing Variant: Same as above, but the disclaimer is "A Universal-International Picture".
FX/SFX: The rotating globe.
Cheesy Factor: Well, they got sane with this one. Relatively minimal on the cheesy scale, though you can tell it's a model globe.
Music/Sounds: The opening of the movie's theme.
Availability: Again, seen on Universal International releases of the period.
Scare Factor: None.
7th Logo
(1963-1990)
Nicknames: "Zooming Globe", "Gaseous Globe", "Famous Globe"
Logo: We zoom through space, and a pair of asteroid belts start to form. The rotating earth globe appears in the distance, and as we get closer to it, the word "UNIVERSAL", in a bold, planetary font, fades in close-up to us and zooms out to a comfortable distance. When the word and the globe are in position, "AN MCA COMPANY" fades in below it, in a bold yellow font. Two rings surround the globe.
Bylines: Now, there are several byline variations. There are, again, three main ones, used with all three logos:
Variants: Several renditions of this logo have been discovered. This is going to get complicated, so let's explain this simply. There are three main variations of this logo:
FX/SFX: The rotating globe zooming in and "UNIVERSAL" zooming out.
Cheesy Factor: This was very advanced for its time, and its longevity is amazing, especially during the '80s, when computerized logos were making their debut. So, this one is very low on the cheese scale.
Music/Sounds: Usually it did not have music, but it did occasionally, composed with horns, or the opening theme of the movie.
Availability: It's common as this was never plastered over (except E.T. plastered it with the E.T. 20th Anniversary variant of the 1997 Universal logo for its 20th Anniversary, but seeing this on 1988 and 1996 VHS releases, the theatrical DVD release, and HBO airings of this will be commonly seen), and was used for a total of 27 years, the longest-used logo since the classic era of movies. The original 1960s version has made a surprise appearance on the 2009 films Drag Me to Hell and Inglourious Basterds. The "PRESENTS" variation of the logo is seen on Journey to the Far Side of the Sun, followed by the "a GERRY ANDERSON CENTURY 21 CINEMA PRODUCTION" logo.
Scare Factor: None to minimal; this is one of the most popular logos ever to exist in history, but the off-center variant is a little creepy.
8th Logo
(May 1990-1997)
Nicknames: "CGI Globe", "Rotating Letters III"
Logo: A large "flash" appears as we view the far right side of the Universal globe, still cloudless and in CGI. We move down the globe and see, in golden letters, the word "UNIVERSAL", in a brand new font, circle the globe. We zoom out and the globe moves to center, as the word "UNIVERSAL" straightens itself out and takes its place across the globe. "AN MCA COMPANY", in white, appears below the logo.
Variants:
FX/SFX: The rotating globe and letters.
Music/Sounds: A majestic orchestral fanfare by James Horner. A French horn fanfare was played during the clips of the old logos during the 75th Anniversary logo; a sped-up version of this was later used as the 1991 UTV theme.
Availability: It's easy to see, as this was on all Universal releases of the era such as Jurassic Park, Waterworld, among others. The 75th Anniversary version can be seen on the aforementioned films above.
Scare Factor: None; this is a great logo,escpecially the CGI with fresh accuracy.
9th Logo
(1997- )
Nicknames: "CGI Globe II", "The Glittering Globe", "The Shimmering Globe", "The Transparent Globe", "Rotating Letters IV"
Logo: On a black background, an arc slowly appears and brightens. Lights begin appearing below the arc and we see that this is another globe, looking over Europe. We move down as the lights appear all over Europe, and then Africa. As we begin to zoom out, the letters in the word "UNIVERSAL", in a similar font as the last logo but handsomely redone, rotate to the front of the globe. By this time, the globe is shining from the back. A small copyright appears at the bottom-right.
Variants: A treasure trove. Here are a few variants:
FX/SFX: The lighting of the globe and the rotation of the letters.
Cheesy Factor: The globe looks more like a giant rubber ball than anything else, but the lighting effects looks very professional that had more fresher accuracy.
Music/Sounds: Begins with a powerful, majestic horn fanfare, followed by two orchestra hits. Then, another horn fanfare, followed by two more hits. Then, a very majestic fanfare as the logo is completed. Composed by Jerry Goldsmith, who composed the music for the Carolco logo.
Music/Sounds Variants: From November 2001 to April 2002, the music was changed in an arrangement by John Williams to go with the customized E.T. logo; there is only one horn fanfare/hits sequence, followed by the end fanfare. This then segues into the theme from E.T. as he and Elliott fly across the globe. When the E.T. logo was dropped in April 2002, the music did not change back to the 1997 version until either summer or fall 2003: instead, it's a reorchestration of the 1997 fanfare, again in an arrangement by John Williams. Same melody, but like the E.T. logo, it is in a different key and sounds more "powerful".
Availability: Current; this logo precedes releases originally without this logo on video (and serves as a de-facto home entertainment logo) and occasionally on cable channels (don't worry, the original logos still remain). Also seen on new prints of The Blues Brothers and The Last Starfighter.
Scare Factor: None; this logo isn't as popular or well-received with fans as the previous logo, but there's nothing scary about it.
Logo captures by Eric S., Bob Fish, codyfinke, Shadeed A. Kelly, Logozextreame102, Logophile, V of Doom, and Donny Pearson
Editions by Eric S., Shadeed A. Kelly, V of Doom, and Donny Pearson
Video captures courtesy of Eric S., Joecool85, kmhoran1, MrFb09, TomChor, JohnnyL80, VideoMaster1994, Tlogos, Columbia-Pictures, and Weatherguru76
Background: Universal Pictures was formed in 1912 by Carl Laemmle, a German-Jewish immigrant who settled in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he managed a clothing store. It is the second oldest studio in Hollywood (beaten by one month by Paramount Pictures). However, it was fully established in 1915. In 1946, Universal merged with International Pictures, headed by Leo Spitz and William Goetz. This team ran Universal-International, while Nate Blumberg and J. Cheever Cowdin remained at the helm of Universal Pictures, the parent company. In 1962, MCA purchased Decca Records and with it, Universal Pictures, leaving Milton Rackmil and Edward Muhl in charge, while Dr. Jules Stein (Board Chairman) and Lew Wasserman (President) guiding MCA. As a result of a consent decree with the justice departament, MCA divested itself of its talent agency business. Currently, it is part-owned by Vivendi SA (20%) and General Electric (80%) and is a subsidiary of NBC Universal.
1st Logo
(1912-1919)
Nickname: "Trans-Atlantic Globe", "Saturn Globe", "Trans-Atlantic Saturn Globe" "The Collision of Earth and Saturn"
Logo: We see a circle with "UNIVERSAL" written above and "FILMS" written below. Inside the circle is some really small text that says "TRADE MARK". A Saturn-like ring surrounds the circle, which reads "THE TRANS-ATLANTIC FILM CO. LTD." (Universal's British distributor at the time).
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: None.
Availability: Extinct; Universal destroyed most of their silent films, so you'll have to look hard for this one. It may appear on TCM's Silent Sunday Nights.
Scare Factor: None, unless you're creeped out by silent films.
2nd Logo
(1915-1922)
Nicknames: "Saturn Globe II"
Logo: We see a checkered background with a Saturn-like globe with the words "UNIVERSAL FILMS" on it. "UNIVERSAL" is
shown above the globe in a stencil-like font. "FILM MANUFACTURING COMPANY", "PACIFIC COAST STUDIOS", and "Universal City, Cal." are shown below, in different fonts (and the first line in an upward arc).FX/SFX: None.
Cheesy Factor: It's a very old logo.
Music/Sounds: None.
Availability: Rare; appears on silent films that appear on TCM. You may look for this logo on TCM's Silent Sunday Nights.
Scare Factor: None.
3rd Logo
(1922-1926)
Nickname: "Rotating Letters", "Saturn Globe II", "Airplane Passing Globe"
Logo: We see a biplane flying around the rotating globe counterclockwise and leaving a trail of smoke behind it, and the smoke forms the words "UNIVERSAL PICTURES".
Variant: A more zoomed-out version was used sometimes.
FX/SFX: The plane rotating around the globe, the forming of the name.
Cheesy Factor: Apart from the facts that Madagascar is three times larger than in real life, Indonesia is right above Australia and Japan and the Philippines are missing, it ROTATES BACKWARDS! Very cheesy by today's standards, but pretty for its time.
Music/Sounds: None.
Availability: Ultra rare; currently appears on some 1920s Universal films on TCM.
Scare Factor: Low; may surprise you the first time you see it.
4th Logo
(1926-1936)
Nickname: "Airplane Passing Globe II"
Logo: On a cloud-like background, an earth globe rotates. No clouds are visible on the globe. As the globe rotates, a biplane flies around it, with "A UNIVERSAL PICTURE" being wiped in diagonally as the biplane passes the globe.
Closing Variant: The words "THE END" are seen superimposed in the globe. Then, seconds later, "IT'S A UNIVERSAL PICTURE" fades in, sometimes written in cursive.
FX/SFX: The biplane, wiping on of letters, and the globe.
Cheesy Factor: This logo just SCREAMS 1920s, as everything is a cheesy model. Still, it looked nice for the time, and you have to give them the effort of trying.
Music/Sounds: None; just the sound of the biplane's engine.
Availability: This is one of the rarest Universal logos. Can be seen on some early films still, though. The current DVD release of Frankenstein has plastered this with the B&W variation of the 1997 logo, while the 1999 VHS release of the film itself has plastered this with the B&W variation of the 1963 logo. This logo can sometimes be seen after the current logo of Universal on certain movies. A warp speed variant can be seen at the beginning of Balto III: Wings of Change. However, this logo was re-created on Xanadu, used during the opening credits. This logo made a comeback on Cry-Baby in 1990 (although it was supposed to used the 8th logo with the 75th Anniversary variant). This logo made its surprise appearence on the 2010 film Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball.
Scare Factor: None.
5th Logo
(1936-1946)
Nickname: "The Art-Deco Globe", "Rotating Letters II"
Logo: A stylized glass globe is seen, tilted at an angle. Around the globe, the words "A UNIVERSAL PICTURE" rotate, in a stylized 1930s font. Stylized five-point stars (ala the stars on the Paramount logo) surround the globe.
Closing Variant: Superimposed in a special background or in the last seconds of a movie, we see the words "The End" with lettering variating on that movie along with the disclaimer "A Universal Picture/Release".
FX/SFX: The stars, globe, and rotating letters.
Cheesy Factor: This has to be cheesier than the first one. The stars honestly look like they're hung from a mobile or something. And the glass globe and letters look weird. It did look okay for its time, though, and they did get better later on.
Music/Sounds: Usually the beginning of the movie's opening theme. However, a proud, bombastic orchestral fanfare is sometimes used, and Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid uses a remix of the tune.
Availability: Can be seen on Universal releases of the era, and makes surprise appearances on The Sting, The Brink's Job, Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, Leatherheads, and Changeling.
Scare Factor: None.
6th Logo
(1946-1963)
Nickname: "Rotating ('40s) Globe"
Logo: On a space background, a model globe (harkening back to logo 2; still no clouds though), rotates. Superimposed onto the globe are the words "Universal International" (in white for B&W films or yellow-orange for color films) in a majestic script font, symbolizing Universal's merger with International Pictures.
Byline: Later on, the credit "EDWARD MUHL, IN CHARGE OF PRODUCTION" would appear in the lower-left corner.
Closing Variant: Same as above, but the disclaimer is "A Universal-International Picture".
FX/SFX: The rotating globe.
Cheesy Factor: Well, they got sane with this one. Relatively minimal on the cheesy scale, though you can tell it's a model globe.
Music/Sounds: The opening of the movie's theme.
Availability: Again, seen on Universal International releases of the period.
Scare Factor: None.
7th Logo
(1963-1990)
Nicknames: "Zooming Globe", "Gaseous Globe", "Famous Globe"
Logo: We zoom through space, and a pair of asteroid belts start to form. The rotating earth globe appears in the distance, and as we get closer to it, the word "UNIVERSAL", in a bold, planetary font, fades in close-up to us and zooms out to a comfortable distance. When the word and the globe are in position, "AN MCA COMPANY" fades in below it, in a bold yellow font. Two rings surround the globe.
Bylines: Now, there are several byline variations. There are, again, three main ones, used with all three logos:
- "A UNIVERSAL PICTURE", with the "UNIVERSAL" logo text sandwiched between "A" and "PICTURE" or "RELEASE". (1963-1973)
- "PRESENTS" is underneath the "UNIVERSAL" logo text.
- "AN MCA COMPANY", in a yellow blocky font, appearing below the Universal logo text. (1971-1990)
- A credit for Edward Muhl, then-head of Universal, can be seen on the lower-left of the first movies to feature this logo.
- E.T. the Extra-Terrestial had this logo in reverse, so we can go from the world to outer space.
- The 1971-1990 version is bylineless on some films.
- The widescreen version of Jaws 3-D has the MCA Company text in a more extended font.
Variants: Several renditions of this logo have been discovered. This is going to get complicated, so let's explain this simply. There are three main variations of this logo:
- Widescreen: Always shown in a letterboxed ratio, the globe appears to zoom in rather slowly, and the "UNIVERSAL" text is blurred when it fades in, becoming clearer as it zooms out. The logo is much wider than usual, to accommodate the extra space. This is seen on films shot in 2:35:1 widescreen such as Halloween II and III, The Thing, The Dark Crystal, The Last Starfighter, and Jaws.
- TV Screen: Always formatted to fit the television screen, the logo appears to move somewhat faster than the widescreen version. The "UNIVERSAL" text is not blurred, and simply fades in. The logo most people are familiar with. This is also seen on films shot in 1:85:1 widescreen such as Videodrome, Cat People (1982), and Somewhere in Time.
- Off-center: Only known to exist on Charade, the logo is slightly off-center.
FX/SFX: The rotating globe zooming in and "UNIVERSAL" zooming out.
Cheesy Factor: This was very advanced for its time, and its longevity is amazing, especially during the '80s, when computerized logos were making their debut. So, this one is very low on the cheese scale.
Music/Sounds: Usually it did not have music, but it did occasionally, composed with horns, or the opening theme of the movie.
Availability: It's common as this was never plastered over (except E.T. plastered it with the E.T. 20th Anniversary variant of the 1997 Universal logo for its 20th Anniversary, but seeing this on 1988 and 1996 VHS releases, the theatrical DVD release, and HBO airings of this will be commonly seen), and was used for a total of 27 years, the longest-used logo since the classic era of movies. The original 1960s version has made a surprise appearance on the 2009 films Drag Me to Hell and Inglourious Basterds. The "PRESENTS" variation of the logo is seen on Journey to the Far Side of the Sun, followed by the "a GERRY ANDERSON CENTURY 21 CINEMA PRODUCTION" logo.
Scare Factor: None to minimal; this is one of the most popular logos ever to exist in history, but the off-center variant is a little creepy.
8th Logo
(May 1990-1997)
Nicknames: "CGI Globe", "Rotating Letters III"
Logo: A large "flash" appears as we view the far right side of the Universal globe, still cloudless and in CGI. We move down the globe and see, in golden letters, the word "UNIVERSAL", in a brand new font, circle the globe. We zoom out and the globe moves to center, as the word "UNIVERSAL" straightens itself out and takes its place across the globe. "AN MCA COMPANY", in white, appears below the logo.
Variants:
- In 1990, Universal was celebrating its 75th Anniversary, and the initial version of this logo was different from the one used afterwards. It began with clips of logos 4, 5, and 7, and then segued into the then-current logo, as if it were a grand unveiling, or a passing of the torch. The end logo also had "75th Anniversary" on top of the logo, with "75" in the middle of "ANNIVERSARY" and written out in script. A few movies that have this logo include Darkman, Back to the Future Part III, Kindergarten Cop, Jetsons: The Movie, Problem Child, Closet Land, and The Hard Way. This was only used from May 1990 to March 1991.
- A "PRESENTS" variation is also seen on various releases, including the Action Pack logo (which is gone outside of tapes).
FX/SFX: The rotating globe and letters.
Music/Sounds: A majestic orchestral fanfare by James Horner. A French horn fanfare was played during the clips of the old logos during the 75th Anniversary logo; a sped-up version of this was later used as the 1991 UTV theme.
Availability: It's easy to see, as this was on all Universal releases of the era such as Jurassic Park, Waterworld, among others. The 75th Anniversary version can be seen on the aforementioned films above.
Scare Factor: None; this is a great logo,escpecially the CGI with fresh accuracy.
9th Logo
(1997- )
Nicknames: "CGI Globe II", "The Glittering Globe", "The Shimmering Globe", "The Transparent Globe", "Rotating Letters IV"
Logo: On a black background, an arc slowly appears and brightens. Lights begin appearing below the arc and we see that this is another globe, looking over Europe. We move down as the lights appear all over Europe, and then Africa. As we begin to zoom out, the letters in the word "UNIVERSAL", in a similar font as the last logo but handsomely redone, rotate to the front of the globe. By this time, the globe is shining from the back. A small copyright appears at the bottom-right.
Variants: A treasure trove. Here are a few variants:
- There is a shorter version of this logo, beginning as the "UNIVERSAL" text slides in over the logo, with a shortened version of the fanfare. This is usually found at the end of documentaries produced for DVD by Universal Home Entertainment, with a web address for Universal Home's website.
- From 1999 to 2009, the www.universalstudios.com web address, in an orangish color, fades in at the end. By now the copyright is gone, and moved to the end credits of the movie.
- In 2005, the globe was graphically enhanced with a darker color was rotating below the arc in the beginning of the logo.
- Starting in 2009, the website URL has been removed in favor of the words "A DIVISION OF NBC UNIVERSAL", also in an orangish color, which fades in toward the end.
- Another variant has a darker mood. Nicknamed "The Transparent Globe," the presentation is the same as usual... except the initial darkness of the globe is darker than usual (pay close attention to that). Then, after the word "UNIVERSAL" is rotated from behind, a darker, thicker shadow suddenly pops out late after it locks in position, and the entire globe zooms out farther than its intended mark, and instead of slowing to a stop, it stops hard in its far-back position. The website URL is featured in a Xerox Serif Wide-type font, like a rectangular Helvetica. The globe appears much further back in letterbox format. You can find this variant on the following films: 8 Mile, American Wedding, Seabiscuit, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, and The Bourne Supremacy.
- The biggest variation came in November 2001, when the studio celebrated the 20th anniversary of the most successful film of 1982, E.T the Extra-Terrestrial. The logo animates as normal until the very end, when the "UNIVERSAL" text fades out and the silhouette of E.T. and Elliott, on their bike, fly across the shining globe. Text appears on the bottom, "UNIVERSAL STUDIOS CELEBRATES E.T. THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY". This was used from November 2001 to April 2002, as of The Scorpion King, the normal logo has been reinstated (see below)
- On The Cat in the Hat, the logo is custom-made for the movie, taken place on a blue background, the globe is red with the continents in white with black outline, the flash is white, and "UNIVERSAL" is in a white, black-outlined custom font for the movie with the URL, also in the custom font. This logo then morphs into their ball, which is white, has a red stripe with a white star on it. Then it would transition to the DreamWorks logo, also custom-made for the movie, the same for the Imagine Entertainment logo following the DreamWorks logo.
- On Jurassic Park lll, during the studio introduction, each logo (including Amblin's logo) is accompanied by a water ripple effect and the sound of a heavy footstep, referencing the first movie.
- On 2 Fast 2 Furious, during the introduction around the end, the globe turns into a silver vehicle rim with the word UNIVERSAL still there.
- An HD version was seen on HD/Blu-Ray Universal releases, and can be seen on YouTube. The video for it is above.
FX/SFX: The lighting of the globe and the rotation of the letters.
Cheesy Factor: The globe looks more like a giant rubber ball than anything else, but the lighting effects looks very professional that had more fresher accuracy.
Music/Sounds: Begins with a powerful, majestic horn fanfare, followed by two orchestra hits. Then, another horn fanfare, followed by two more hits. Then, a very majestic fanfare as the logo is completed. Composed by Jerry Goldsmith, who composed the music for the Carolco logo.
Music/Sounds Variants: From November 2001 to April 2002, the music was changed in an arrangement by John Williams to go with the customized E.T. logo; there is only one horn fanfare/hits sequence, followed by the end fanfare. This then segues into the theme from E.T. as he and Elliott fly across the globe. When the E.T. logo was dropped in April 2002, the music did not change back to the 1997 version until either summer or fall 2003: instead, it's a reorchestration of the 1997 fanfare, again in an arrangement by John Williams. Same melody, but like the E.T. logo, it is in a different key and sounds more "powerful".
Availability: Current; this logo precedes releases originally without this logo on video (and serves as a de-facto home entertainment logo) and occasionally on cable channels (don't worry, the original logos still remain). Also seen on new prints of The Blues Brothers and The Last Starfighter.
Lazlow |
Latest page update: made by Lazlow
, Mar 12 2010, 7:18 AM EST
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| amberdown43 | Flashing "Universal Globe" | 2 | Feb 15 2010, 11:51 AM EST by amberdown43 | ||
|
Thread started: Oct 13 2008, 11:44 AM EDT
Watch
Last week, I was watching the Jestons Movie on skymovies premiere. But there was something very
strange about this logo. The logos flashed into 1926, 1937, 1963 and the 1990 75 Anniversary like I wass trying to stop flashing. I think it was a joke of that, or the oddest mistake I've ever seen. |
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| Yoshidude987 | Can anyone help me? | 0 | Feb 10 2010, 10:00 AM EST by Yoshidude987 | ||
|
Thread started: Feb 10 2010, 10:00 AM EST
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The new nickname for the first logo needs to be placed in logos 2 and 3. Can anyone use the nickname i made with these logos. But one special notice: remember, use the roman numerals II and III to make the nicknames more detailed.
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| PrimeEvil | Fourth Logo | 0 | Jan 26 2010, 1:59 PM EST by PrimeEvil | ||
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Thread started: Jan 26 2010, 1:59 PM EST
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I think "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" uses the fourth logo, since the first part of that film began in World War I.
You may now start throwing tomatoes and rotten cabbage at me for bringing that movie up. :) |
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