August First Film Studio

Credits

Captures by
Camenati

Background

Sub-ordinate to the People's Liberation Army of PRC, the August First Film Studio (八一電影製片廠) mainly produces films on military subjects. Founded on August 1, 1952, to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the founding of the PLA in 1927, the studio has produced more than 2,200 films that range from features to documentaries. Originally called 解放軍電影製片廠 (PLA Film Studio in Chinese), it was renamed to 八一電影製片廠 (August First Film Studio) in 1956.

1st Logo (1952-December 22, 2003)

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Visuals: On a blue space background, a 3D-looking red star with a gold border is shown having the Chinese characters "八一" stacked on each other (the 八 is on the top and 一 is below it). The Chinese text "中国人民解放军八一电影制片厂" (translating to "Chinese People's Liberation Army Bayi Film Studio") is seen below.

Variants: The logo has evolved during the years. Here, we can see the differences:

• 1952-1950's: The background looks more like a sunburst environment, and the star is at a 2D style. There's no Chinese text below. Then, the logo fades to a black background with Chinese text. In some films, the text is different.
• 1950's-1960's: The background looks cloudy, the star is now at a 3D-like perspective style, and part of the Chinese text is added in a glass style. The english text "BAYI DIANYING ZHIPIAN CHANG" is seen below the Chinese text.
• 1960's: Same as the previous version, but it's now in color. Also, the background looks more like zooming stars.
• 1960's-1970's?: The border of the star is gone (along with the Chinese characters), the background is now more black, and the english text is slightly modified.
• 1970's-1990's?: The background is now just blue, and the chinese text is now plain white and longer.
• 1990's-2000's?: The border of the star, including the Chinese characters, are now back. The background also visually looks more advanced.
• 2000's-December 22, 2003: The star is visually changed to a 3D-like perspective form.

Technique: Cel animation.

Audio: A patriotic fanfare that sounds more like a national anthem.

Availability: Can be seen on films produced by August First during the time; most of them are about military themes.

2nd Logo (May 6, 2004)

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Visuals: The screen red star glows and back zooms to the screen, and zooms out back again to the top side of the screen, and the glow fades out to reveal that it's the star from the 2000's version of the logo. The blue space background and fades the Chinese text in below.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Same as before

Availability: Seen only on 驚心動魄 (Astonishing).

3rd Logo (August 15, 2005-)

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Visuals: The screen zooms on a space background. A red star glows and zooms to the screen, and zooms out back again to the top side of the screen, and the glow fades out to reveal that it's the star from the 2000's version of the logo. The background fades to the blue space background and the Chinese/English text zooms in below with a trail effect. It stops, and the star "shines".

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Same as before, only low-pitched.

Availability: Seen on August First's new productions starting with On the Mountain of Tai Hang.