Pyramid Films

Background
Pyramid Films is an educational media company with a catalog of nearly 700 titles. Founded in 1960 by Dave and Lynn Adams, Pyramid initially focused on CPR-training films, before branching out to other topics such as anti-smoking films and anti-drug films.

1st Logo (1967-1978)


Logo: On a black background, we see a trail of various words in various colors saying "Pyramid Films". Before they complete, a pyramid that has lines at the right fades in.

FX/SFX: The trail, the pyramid fading in. Primitive trailing effects, even for the time.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on some educational films and documentaries from the time, such as Vicious Cycles.

Editor's Note: The black background and trail effects may get to some, not to mention it's silent.

2nd Logo (1978-)
Logo: Against a sunrise background above a shimmering ocean, a prism is seen rotating in the middle of the background. The background grows brighter as a rainbow laser strikes the prism and moves to its tip, forming a silver-grated version of the pyramid from the previous logo. "PYRAMID" is below in a white font, and everything is against a black background with a blue haze below.

Variant: On the company's website, the background turns fully black and the logo turns flat once the laser leaves.

Trivia: A frame of this logo was once used as the artwork to the vaporwave album Holograms by Skeleton. Current issues of the album use a different cover.

FX/SFX: The prism and the laser. Very impressive animation for the time; this is one of the earliest computer-animated logos, done by Information International, Inc.

Music/Sounds: A dreamy string theme.

Availability: Common. Can be seen on short films and educational films distributed by the company, most notably Powers of Ten. Some can even be viewed on their website.

Editor's Note: While somewhat dated by today's standards, this logo is insanely advanced for the time period and is still very nicely-animated to this day. The music used is also incredibly gorgeous as well, though the warped 16mm version may startle some viewers.