I love the studio intros that movie companies have put together at the beginning of movies.  You know… those little movie snippets with the various company names on them evolving out of some nifty graphics.  Usually revolving around a logo.  Some of the newer movie companies have truly come up with some great artsy and creative intros, which do bear looking at.  But for the sake of today’s post, I want to focus on those of the older, more established movie companies. 

(For a look at a variety of these intros, check out the following on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9PtpALF_3w&feature=BF&list=PLD25EE797D1D52470&index=6

If you’ve been watching movies for any length of time, you can probably recognize the intro to most of the main studios: MGM, Disney, Paramount, Universal, Dreamworks, Lions Gate, etc.  And you will most likely continue to recognize these intros almost immediately, regardless of how much these intros have in fact been updated over the years.  The reason for this is that even though these “video logos” have evolved – adding animation here, updating to new sharper graphics and colors there – the basics of the logo are still intact.  Dreamworks, for example has taken the static picture of the kid fishing on the moon and added animation.  Disney’s iconic castle logo has evolved into a flowing movie intro following a train to the castle, which is now beautifully done in 3D.  Even the old MGM lion now actually roars and moves.  The evolved intros are decidedly modern, and for the most part don’t look like they are up to 50 or more years old, but they are definitely rooted firmly in their iconic past.  And thus, their brand recognition continues to build.  (These intros are, in fact, so recognizable that as I was looking at the various intros on youtube, my four year old recognized them from across the room and could name various movies associated with each.)

For anyone looking to update their existing logos, it doesn’t hurt to take your cue from these movie giants.  If you have an existing clientele who recognizes your logo, but still feel the need to update it (either to enter new markets or simply because it’s becoming dated), make sure it is really an update, but still maintains the brand recognition of your existing logo. 

What are your favorite movie studio intros/intro updates?

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