Kadokawa Pictures

Background: In 1945 the Kadokawa Shoten Publishing company was established. In 1975 Haruki Kadokawa launched a film division, which presented its first production year after. Kadokawa made a lot of well-acclaimed films in Japan. They also acquired Daiei Film Co. and renamed it Kadokawa-Daiei in 2002, and in 2005 they purchased Herald Pictures. In 2011 all subsidiaries were rebranded under the label of Kadokawa Group.

1st Logo (1976- Early 2000's?)
Kadokawa Pictures (1976)Kadokawa Pictures (1979)

Nicknames: "Heraldic Bird"

Logo: We start on the slowly moving starfield with Moon and a red comet appears flying towards us. It becomes a flaming fire bird, which moves and envelopes the moon. Then the moon explodes into bright blue splash and suddenly the early Kadokawa bird pops up, with the name in Japanese or English zooming in below.

FX/SFX: The moving comet, bird and splash. Incredibly beautifully detailed hand-drawn animation.

Music/Sounds: None or an raising warbling sound that becomes a majestic synth.

Availability: Seen on films at the time.

Editor's Note: The animation is very splendid, all that effort (especially for a logo) certainly paid off as it creates a sense of awe for the viewers!

2nd (known) Logo Early 2000's)
Kadokawa Pictures (2005)Nickname: "The Moonrise Bird"

Logo: At a ocean at moonlight, a strange object flies under the water and then emerges. It forms the Kadokawa bird as we zoom into it and the background turns black. The name appears below in either English or Japenese and shines.

FX/SFX: The logo is formed.

Music/Sounds: A majestic soundtrack.

Availability: Uncommon. Seen on Great Yokai War, Chakushin Ari (One Missed Call), Chakushin Ari 2 and Chakushin Ari Final. Also seen on Master of Horrors episode Imprint.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Logo (2000's-)
Kadokawa Pictures (Japan) - CLG WikiNickname: "The Water-Drop Bird"

Logo: In a blue environment, rings are seen moving around and one lands on there, making lines. They move around and the background changes color. It turns back to blue and a white gradient expands like a water drop hitting water, with a different Kadokawa bird opening up. The "KADOKAWA" name then appears below in Japanese.

FX/SFX: The rings, environment, bird, and lines.

Music/Sounds: An original soundtrack.

Availability: Rare, seen on certain releases like RoboGeisha.

Editor's Note: None.

4th Logo (Mid 2000's - )
Kadokawa Pictures (2009)Nicknames: "The Revealing Bird", "The Drawing Bird"

Logo: The bird is seen forming with the name in a circle forming as well. It slowly zooms in and fills in with lavender.

FX/SFX: The logo is formed.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Rather common on anime releases from Funimation, for example Deadman Wonderland.

Editor's Note: None.

5th Logo (2014?-)
Logo: Over a lake surrounded by mountains and a cloudy sky, 2 sapphire-colored chevrons flip and move around. The camera then cuts to several shots of the chevrons spinning, as well as other letters moving about. The camera then cuts to the chevrons flipping about, with then and the letters forming the current Kadokawa logo, with the bird on the side and shown with a reflection on the water, all before the background becomes white and the logo becomes 2D. On DVD releases, the chevrons quickly flip into place before the final result forms.

FX/SFX: The chevrons flipping, the name forming.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Current. Seen on movies starting with the widely-panned live-action Lupin the 3rd. Since 2016, the short version replaced the Kadokawa Video and Kadokawa Pictures logo on Funimation releases.

Editor's Note: None.