Konami (Commercial Tags)

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


1st Tag (Mid 1980s-1986)


Visuals: Over a black background is the blue 3D rotating letters of "Konami", in the trademark old font. The logo glows in blue as the background changes in white, with the logo turning into 2D while a blue line and the registered mark appear with "SOFTWARE" below.

Variant: A still variant exists.

Technique: Early computer animation.

Audio: A 3-note bell with the male announcer saying "Konami".

Audio Variant: The still variant instead uses a beautiful sounding tune with a Japanese woman singing "Konami!"

Availability: Seen on Japanese commercials by the company during the mid-1980s.

2nd Tag (August 1986-1997)

Visuals: On a black background, the Konami "bacon strips" logo in 3D rotate and position themselves on-screen. The black background then changes to white and the text "KONAMI" appears below them.

Variant: A more common still variant exists.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Same as before.

Audio Variant: In some versions of this logo, the sound is replaced with a child saying the company name, or a different male announcer who says either "Konami!" or "From Konami.".

Availability: Seen on Japanese commercials by the company during this period.

3rd Tag (Late 1980s)


Visuals: On a white and gray gradient background, the 3-D "KONAMI" (in a dark gray color" rotates and eases back to the top of the screen. As this happens, the Bacon Strips (also 3-D) rapidly spins past the text. They both rest on the top of the screen and copyright and store disclaimers appear below.

Technique: Computer animation.

Audio: A spinning noise is heard with a whoosh and a "THUD" when the logos rest.

Audio Variant: The soundtrack from the commercial might be heard when the logo animation plays. It ends when the "THUD" is heard.

Availability: This appeared on TV spots for the NES games The Adventures of Bayou Billy and Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest. Check old tape recordings.

4th Tag (1997-2000)

Visuals: Just the Konami "bacon strips" and wordmark in a boxed frame.

Variants:

  • The text would later be changed to match the 1998 wordmark.
  • Later on, the logo would be shrunken and placed higher to make room for the URL.

Technique: A still, computerized graphic.

Audio: A different male announcer saying the company name.

Availability: Seen on Japanese commercials by the company during this period.

5th Tag (2000-2003)

Visuals: Just the 1998 Konami wordmark on a black background.

Variant: An animated variant exists where the logo is seen in red before it quickly floods with white.

Technique: A still, computerized graphic.

Audio: An male announcer either saying "Play! Konami!" or "Konami!" The animated variant has a 3-note synth chime added.

Availability: Seen on Japanese commercials by the company during this period.

6th Tag (2003-2006)

Visuals: There is the new Konami logo on a white background. A red parallelogram that reads "Surprised? = Be Creative" abruptly rises above the logo before settling.

Technique: Computer animation.

Audio: A female voice saying "Surprised?", followed by yet another different male announcer saying the company name.

Availability: Seen on Japanese commercials by the company during this period.

7th Tag (2006-2008)

Visuals: On a white or black background, the Konami logo without its border in red/white (depending on the background color), along with a URL in grey, and various geometric shapes in white, black, grey, and red surrounding the top and bottom portions of the screen. The logo zooms out slightly while the border shapes move as well.

Technique: Computer animation.

Audio: The end theme of the commercial.

Availability: Seen on Japanese commercials by the company during this period.

8th Tag (2008-)


Visuals: On a white background, the Konami wordmark in red fades in quickly.

Variants:

  • Starting in 2013, the colors would be inverted to have the logo white and and the background red.
  • A version with a bigger logo exists.

Technique: Fading effects.

Audio: A synthesized chime, two people shouting "Konami". This logo was made by Sota Fujimori, sound director of various Konami games as well as a notable BEMANI artist.

Audio Variant: Sometimes, the logo is silent.

Availability: Seen on every recent ad and web-ad for Konami in Japan, as well as some web advertising.