Atlus

Background

Atlus (アトラス) is a Japanese video game developer, publisher, arcade manufacturer and distribution company based in Tokyo. It was founded in April 1986 and originally existed until 2010, when it was merged into Index Corporation as a publishing brand. The brand (alongside Index) was bought by Sega in 2013 and the company behind it was revived the following year, as a development studio and label within Sega.

Atlus is best known for the Megami Tensei video game series and its many spin-offs (including Persona), Catherine, the Etrian Odyssey and Trauma Center series, as well as Print Club (Purikura) arcade machines.

1st Logo (November 24, 1989-April 15, 2014)

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  Black background

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  White background

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  2003 version

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  Drywall background variant

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  White outline version

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  with URL variant (TrackMania DS)

Visuals: On a black or white background, there is the text "ATLUS" in a futuristic, segmented font, colored mostly in blue with the T in red.

Variants:

• Starting in the late 2000s, a white outline has been added.
• Some games for the Playstation, GBA and NDS like River City Ransom EX and SBK: Snowboard Kids feature the logo against a yellow-ish drywall background, with a shadow behind it.
• Sometimes, a URL is shown below the logo.

Technique: A still, sprite-based graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Can be seen on most games produced by the company until 2014, starting as an in-credit version on the Japanese version of Kwirk named Puzzle Boy (overseas versions omit it this logo in favor of their local publishers). The first time it was used as a full logo was in the arcade version of BlaZeon.

2nd Logo (July 24, 1992-July 14, 1995)

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Visuals: On a black background, the letters of the company logo appear one at a time, rotating once in a clockwise direction as they appear. The logo has a more metallic color compared to its predecessor.

Technique: Sprite-based CGI.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on several SNES and Genesis games released by the company, such as Shin Megami Tensei, Power Instinct, and GP-1, among others.

3rd Logo (September 29, 1995)

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Visuals: On a black background with a repeating pattern of dark red Atlus logos scrolling, The Atlus logo from before mirrored or flipped in completely red with a dark red outline zooms out from the top and settles to the center. Then, the letters then move to the center and space out to the correct side. the background continues scrolling.

Technique: Sprite-based animation.

Audio: Several notes descending, followed by ascending notes.

Availability: Seen on Jack Bros. for Virtual Boy.

4th Logo (October 20, 1995-November 3, 1999)

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Visuals: Over a black background, the logo starts with several gray blocks (which are actually letters to "ATLUS") with red and blue lights floating around them. The blocks pass by at different angles as the lights float into them and color them. The screen then zooms out to see the completed Atlus logo, followed by the logo shining.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Several whoosh sounds as the logo starts, followed by a synthesized rock theme as the logo forms, ending with a warbling sound as the logo shines.

Availability: Can be seen on PlayStation and Saturn games during the time period, such as Revelations: Persona, High Velocity, Peak Performance, and Guilty Gear.

5th Logo (June 24, 1999-June 27, 2003)

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Visuals: The screen fades to a wormhole with electricity going through it. As the screen zooms out of the wormhole, a silver "S" from the Atlus logo flips in and flashes, followed by a silver "U", a silver "L", a silver "T" and a silver "A", while they flip in faster and flash faster than the previous. The camera rotates and pans, while electricity appears above the logo, making the logo blue. Some rays move and color the "T" red. The camera stops rotating, as the logo shines.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A wobbly synth while various sound effects play as the logo progresses, ending on a deep synth note with a small low note as the logo shines.

Availability: Can be seen on late Playstation and early Playstation 2 games, starting with Persona 2: Innocent Sin and last seen on Maken Shao: Demon Sword.

6th Logo (Catherine Classic variant) (February 17, 2011-February 23, 2012, January 10, 2019)

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Visuals: On a black background, the Atlus logo in metal flashes quickly. Then, the "T" gets covered by blood, before the logo fades into its colors.

Technique: Computer animation.

Audio: An electric sound, the sound of liquid flowing, and the opening theme of the game.

Availability: Seen on the original "Classic" release of Catherine on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. The Full Body versions have this replaced with the next logo.

7th Logo (May 7, 2014-)

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Visuals: On a black background is the revised Atlus logo, without the segments and the letters being further separated.

Variants:

• The logo originally had the white outline, but it was removed starting on 2020s releases.
• On Persona 5 Royal, we first see Joker's mask from the loading screen. The hair then appears, before the camera zooms out and his silhouette is revealed. Joker jumps, as the screen zooms out from multiple building lights and the letters of the Atlus logo are revealed in white. Once the letters settle, it fades to its colors with the white outline.

Technique: A still, digital graphic; computer animation for the variant.

Audio: None.

Audio Variant: On the Persona 5 Royal variant, wind sounds and the sound of Joker jumping are heard.

Availability: Can be seen on most games by the company starting with Tesla Effect: A Tex Murphy Adventure.