HAL Laboratory

Logo descriptions by nin10do Editions by CuriousGeorge60 Video captures courtesy of Random Guy Productions

Background: HAL Laboratory, Inc. is a Japanese video game company that was founded on February 21, 1980. It is headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan and has been led by Masahiro Sakurai. The company is best known for the video game character, Kirby, the protagonist of many of the company's video game series of the same name, as well as the Super Smash Bros. series. Masahiro Sakurai currently owns his new company known as Sora Ltd. The company was known as "HAL America, Inc." in the U.S., up until the mid-90's, when it was referred to as "HALKEN".

HAL America

1st Logo (1984-1991)

Logo: Over a background, we see the large, italicized letters, "HAI" in the center of the screen. The letter "H" has a "shadow-like" texture behind it and the letters have white, turquoise, yellow, and orange stripes. The italicized words "HAL AMERICA, INC." are below.

Variants: Sometimes there would be a (TM) bug. On The Adventures of Lolo, the "HAI" is pink on a sky blue background. On The Adventures of Lolo II and III, the logo is seen between two large blue bars, with a copyright notice on the 2nd bar. This variant would later be the basis for the following logo. On Kabuki - Quantum Fighter, the logo is seen on two gray boxes which move to the center and make a brighter version of the logo. On Rollerball, the variant from Adventures of Lolo is seen but on a black background. The copyright notice is seen below.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None or the opening theme of the game.

Music/Sounds Variants: Sometimes a sound from the game is used.

Availability: Quite rare. It can be found on many games from the era such as Air Fortress and The Adventures of Lolo series, which is available on the Virtual Console, among others.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (September 1991-1994)

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Logo: On a black background, the HAI logo emerges from a black wipe moving to the right. The logo here is much larger and detailed than before, with shines and clear definition. 2 dark blue bars then appear above and below the logo, along with a "TM" bug in the lower right corner of the logo. The final result resembles the 1st logo, but much larger and with no copyright.

FX/SFX: The logo moving in, the blue bars and "TM" appearing.

Music/Sounds: A dramatic rising sound, ending with a chime. On HyperZone, it used an ominous pad with arpeggiated xylophone notes. On Arcana, it used a calmer, similar-sounding theme like the one from HyperZone. A choir is also heard.

Availability: Seen on the American versions of HyperZone, Arcana and HAL's Hole In One Golf. Other versions of the game used the HALKEN logo.

Editor's Note: None.

HALKEN/Hal Laboratory Inc.

1st Logo (1980's)

Logo: We see "HAL" in pink with "Laboratory" in purple below.

Variants: On Eggerland: Meikyuu no Fukkatsu, the HAL is gold. The PAL version of The Adventures of Loloomits "Laboratory" and it's seen on a sky blue background, like the 1st HAL America logo.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Found on some of the European/Japanese versions of the company's NES games.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (1990-1991)

Logo: We see the stacked white text "HAL LABORATORY INC.", with "HAL" being bigger than the other words.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Found on later European/Japanese versions of the company's games including New Ghostbusters II and The Adventures Of Lolo III.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Logo (August 31, 1991-1998)

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Logo: Over a background, we see two dots, one that is across from the other at a slant. There are two green lines which are slanted toward the right. Behind the lines and the dots are blue straight lines. The word "HALKEN" is underneath.

Variants: An animated variant which mostly appeared on earlier games like HyperZonehas one of the dots draw the whole logo on a black background. The "HALKEN" text would then fade in below. On EarthBound (known as Mother 2 in Japan), the logo is in black and white. On Kirby Super Star, the logo is seen below the Nintendo logo. On Kirby's Dream Land 3, the logo is seen as a drawing.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The opening/ending theme of the game or silence.

Music/Sounds Variants: On Kirby's Dream Land 3, a "crumbling" noise is heard. The animated variant had a synth arpeggio. The European version of HAL's Hole In One Golf, international versions of HyperZone and the Japanese version of Arcana had their own respective themes from the HAL America logo's sound variants.

Availability: Rare. Was first seen on HyperZone (European and Japan versions only; the US version has the HAL America logo) and last used on Kirby's Dream Land 3, along with Kirby Super Star (not counting its remake, which used the next logo, instead), all for SNES and available on the Wii's Virtual Console, except for HyperZone. The animated variant was found on the Japanese and European versions of HAL's Hole In One Golf (the American version has the 2nd HAL America logo) and may appear on other Japanese/European SNES games from the time.

Editor's Note: None.

4th Logo (1998-)

HAL Laboratory (2011)Nintendo and HAL Laboratory (SSBM)Nintendo, Qubluid and HAL Laboratory credit signsHAL Laboratory and Nintendo (Kirby's Return to Dreamland)

Nicknames: "Dog With Eggs", "Dream Hatcher", "Inutamago" ("Dog Eggs")

Logo: In a black rectangle, we see a dachshund-like dog sleeping inside a nest with three eggs under it. Under the nest is black text reading "HAL Laboratory, Inc."

Variant: Earlier games with this logo such as Pokemon Snap has the text simply say "HAL" and usually no rectangle around the logo.

Trivia:


 * This logo was commissioned by former Nintendo president Satoru Iwata and designed by Shigesato Itoi, who's otherwise known as the creator of the Mother/EarthBound series of cult RPGs.


 * According to a Nintendo Power interview with Kirby Air Ride producer Masayoshi Tanimura, the dog is not a dachshund, but a fictional creature. The eggs represent incubating ideas that will eventually "hatch" into new games.


 * In all Kirby games from Kirby Super Star Ultra onwards, the rarest possible form the Stone copy ability can take is the Dream Hatcher, a golden rendition of this logo. The Dream Hatcher is also a rare Keychain in Kirby: Triple Deluxe, and a rare sticker in Kirby: Planet Robobot.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None or the opening/ending theme/sounds of the game.

Availability: Common. Is usually shown either with or after the Nintendo logo in most current HAL games, including most Kirby games starting with Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, Super Smash Bros., and Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Editor's Note: None.