Icon Productions

Background
Icon Productions is a production company owned by Mel Gibson that was formed in August 1989. Their first production was Hamlet, released December 19, 1990, but a logo wasn't used until the release of Forever Young. The company also produces films in the United Kingdom and Australia through its British subsidiary Icon Entertainment International, and distributes cinema films through its British subsidiary Icon Film Distribution Ltd, and its Australian subsidiary Icon Film Distribution Pty Ltd.

1st Logo (December 11, 1992-May 20, 1994)
Logo: On a black background, two streaks of flame come from the left and right, and then collide, causing a  explosion. The words "Times New Roman" and "Times New Roman" (both in Goudy Old Style) rise from the flame line from top and bottom of it respectively, with lines on top and bottom of "Times New Roman". Then, a outline of a knight with a sword standing in front of a couple of rock structures with the sun behind it rises from "Times New Roman". As this happens, the majority of the company name turns yellow, leaving only a hint of and white on top of "Times New Roman". The sword shines.

Variants:
 * A still version appears at the end credits of Forever Young.
 * On Maverick, the logo is almost still with the sword shining.

Technique: Traditional animation mixed with computer animation.

Music/Sounds: A loud flaming noise and explosion sound, then an ominous theme with creaking noises. When the sword shines, there is a sound of a sword being drawn.

Availability: Seen on films of the era such as Forever Young, The Man Without a Face, Airborne, and Maverick.

2nd Logo (December 16, 1994-)
Logo: On a black background, we see lightning striking on the right side of the screen. A picture of an eye fades in, and lightning strikes again. The camera zooms out revealing more of the picture, and lightning forms the word "Times New Roman" (in the Trajan typeface). The word either "Times New Roman" or "Times New Roman" (in spaced-out letters) fades in below.

Trivia: The picture is a close-up of the Virgin of Vladimir Icon, a medieval Byzantine Icon of the Virgin Mary and Jesus the Child that has been in Russia since soon after it was painted. It is one of the most venerated orthodox icons and a fine and early example of the iconography of the Eleusatype. This means it's actually the eye of Mary (Jesus' mother).

Variants:
 * On UK and Australian prints of films starting in 1999, the word "Times New Roman" is omitted.
 * Some foreign releases replace the term "Times New Roman" with "Times New Roman".
 * There is another version where the word "Times New Roman" replacing the previous terms.
 * A rare closing print version exists.
 * There is also a short version that was used on TV shows. This version starts at the word "Times New Roman" forming.
 * A still version appears at the start of some UK prints of Ghost World, and at the end of Kevin & Perry Go Large.

Technique: Computer animation done by R/Greenberg Associates, Imaginary Forces, and Prologue Films.

Music/Sounds: Just the sound of the thunder.

Music/Sounds Variants:
 * On some movies, the logo is silent, or has the opening theme playing over it.
 * On Payback (1999), faint thunder sounds are heard on the preceding either the 1995 version of the 1986 Paramount Pictures logo (US release) or the 1999 Warner Bros. Pictures logo (International release), then as the distributor's logo fades out, the build-up of the thunder is heard and as the Icon logo animates, the sounds play as usual.
 * ABC airings of Complete Savages use a generic theme and leave the thunder intact.

Availability:
 * The logo first appeared at the beginning of Immortal Beloved, and appears on films such as Braveheart, What Women Want, Passion of the Christ, The Miracle Maker, and more.
 * The short version appeared on two shows from 2004: ABC's Complete Savages and CBS's Clubhouse.
 * The international version was seen on The Miracle Maker, and the trailer of One Decent Criminal.
 * The Film Distribution variant does not appear on the UK release of Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000), however it appears right at the start of the VHS and DVD releases of the aforementioned movie.
 * The "FILM DISTRIBUTION" variant has also appeared on a few tape releases, appearing on the 2001 UK VHS release of The Magic Pudding.