Lionhead Studios

Background
Lionhead Studios was a British video game development company founded in 1997 by former Bullfrog CEO Peter Molyneux, Mark Webley, Tim Rance, and Steve Jackson. The name "Lionhead" originated from Webley's pet hamster, who died not long after the naming of the studio. The company was acquired by Microsoft in 2006, following financial difficulties. Molyneux left the studio in 2012 to found 22Cans. On 7 March 2016, Microsoft announced the proposed closure of the company and the cancellation of Fable Legends. Lionhead officially closed down on 29 April 2016.

1st Logo (27 March 2001-7 January 2002)


Logo: On a background, we see millions of black and white stars. The stars then move around and then form the print of a lion's head. The print then zooms in.

Trivia: This logo isn't a pre-rendered animation, it's actually a real-time particle physics demo. When starting up Black & White, the stars (and even the finished logo) can be distorted and dragged around the environment.

Technique: Real-time CGI.

Music/Sounds: A majestic choir fanfare composed by Russell Shaw.

Availability: Only seen on Black & White.

2nd Logo (14 September 2004-12 September 2014)
Logo: In a white environment, a Hero clad in black metal armour walks towards the screen. He stops, and then wields his sword, which he throws around and then thrusts into the ground. Just as he thrusts it, the ground ruptures and vulcanic matter emerges, throwing the Hero and his sword away. We then pan over the rupture, from which black smoke comes out. As the smoke clears, the Lionhead logo is revealed.

Technique: CGI.

Music/Sounds: Walking sounds, then the sound of a sword drawing, and finally some crumbling and wind noises.

Availability: Can be found on Fable for Xbox. Also appeared on Fable: The Lost Chapters and Fable Anniversary.

3rd Logo (4 October 2005-6 January 2009)


Logo: On a gradient white background, we see a black cup with the text "LIONHEAD STUDIOS" on the bottom. Then, some small black and white cubes begin pouring into the cup as it slowly swings back and forth. Once all the cubes are in, the cubes change colour as they form the lion's head print. Suddenly, the cup tilts to the left and dumps out all of the cubes. Then the head print fades in as the cubes fade out, and the logo stands back up in its place.

Trivia: Like the one seen on Black & White, this logo is also a real-time particle physics demo. When you start up The Movies or Black & White 2, click on the logo and drag it around to experiment around. Also, the sound effects such as the chanting and beeping comes from the music portion "Creature End Sequence" from the first Black & White game.

Variant: On The Movies, the background colour has a bit more in it, and the head print forms as the cubes are pouring in.

Technique: Real-time CGI.

Music/Sounds: A synth choir note as the cubes start falling in, and a weird chant sound as the logo forms. Then some beeps as the cubes are dumped out, and a final synth note as the final logo comes in.

Availability: Can be found on Black & White 2. The same variant also appears on The Movies and its Stunts & Effects expansion pack.

4th Logo (21-24 October 2008)


Logo: On a white background, we see the Lionhead logo slowly fade in, while changing into different patterns quickly, while a bad TV reception effect is used. The logo finally comes to the centre and the reception clears out.

Technique: CGI.

Music/Sounds: Some radio buzzing and a high-pitched buzz when the reception clears out.

Availability: Only seen on Fable II.