M6

Background

M6 is a private national television channel based in France owned by Groupe M6, which is in turn owned by RTL Group. Its programming is directed towards the teenagers and young adults, largely inherited from its predecessor TV6, whom M6 replaced on March 1, 1987.

Contents

1st ID (March 1-August 31, 1987)	2nd ID (September 1, 1987-1999)	3rd ID (1999-2009)	4th ID (2003-2009)	5th ID (2009-2015)	6th ID (2015-2020)	7th ID (2020-)

1st ID (March 1-August 31, 1987)

Visuals: Starting off inside a gray tube, it starts to move and zoom away from us, before rotating to near the bottom of the screen. A bluish-gray "V" shape is drawn above the line, with 2 lines coming down from the sides of it as the "V" wipes in again, forming an "M". It zooms out to the top half of the screen, gaining a reflection, as "METROPOLE TELEVISION" types out below. A hand-drawn "6" draws on the right side of the "M" and the text below fades out, leaving the logo.

Variant: The ID had the logo modified, with a bigger, tube-like "6" and brighter colors, spinning around once. The reflection may not be there, and the speed may vary.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A synthesized marching band fanfare for the main launch. The ID had either the same jingle for RTL, but with a chorus singing "M6!", or a synthesized jazz tune.

Availability: The normal variant was only seen on March 1, 1987, when M6 launched.

2nd ID (September 1, 1987-1999)

Visuals: Fading in to a white background, an "M", being far more angular than before, zooms in sync to the music. As it takes up the whole screen, a black "6" zooms in from the middle, while a red "6" zooms out from the edges as the "M" begins to rotate a bit. The numbers disappear as a blue "6" and a black "6" try to come together, followed by a green "6" and a black "6" from the left and right sides of the screen, then a gold "6" zooming out, and finally a red "6" from the top and 3 black "6"'s from the remaining screens. In the background, the "M" is shown doing similar things. When the 4 "M" copies merge, the same "6" formation from the beginning appears, but this time, it actually all comes together to form the M6 logo.

Trivia: This logo was designed by Étienne Robial, who was also responsible for the Canal+ and La Sept idents at the time. A making of featurette can be seen here.

Variants:

On television shows, the "M" rotates counterclockwise to the beat of the music, with the "6" zooming in. When the "M" goes back to its original position, the "6" appears on it.
For the closedown variant, the logo ran in reverse.
Different variants also exist for this logo.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: A catchy and soothing synth orchestra tune (ID version), which was rearranged to a more rhythmic rendition on the production/closing logo variant with a chorus of women whispering (sounding like they're saying "fresh rat"), all composed by Philippe Eidel and Arnaud Devos via a Roland D-50.

Availability: Seen on television shows produced by the channel. The normal version is seen on shows such as Gadget Boy's Adventures in History. The short version was seen on the infamous The Wacky World of Tex Avery. The ident variants only surfaced on VHS tapes from M6 Vidéo.

Legacy: It's a favorite both inside and outside of France.

3rd ID (1999-2009)

Visuals: Just a still version of the logo, either the 1987 or 1999 variations on a black or white background respectively.

Technique: A still, digital graphic.

Audio: The ending theme of the show.

Availability: Seen on various M6 productions at the time, like Mission Odyssey and Atomic Betty.

4th ID (2003-2009)

Visuals: In front of a colored backdrop, there is a miniature model of the M6 logo, which spins counterclockwise.

Technique: Live-action.

Audio: A windy or synthesized held-out note.

5th ID (2009-2015)

Visuals: The M6 logo is in the air, while stuff around it happens that it reflects.

Technique: CGI and live action.

Audio: For the break bumpers, it depends on the variant.

6th ID (2015-2020)

Visuals: Out of thin air, the logo is growing bigger while spinning. Below flies in the slogan "continuons a vibrer ensemble" ("Let us continue vibrating together" in French).

Technique: CGI and live action.

Audio: Same as the previous logo, but with someone singing "Woah oh oh, M6!"

7th ID (2020-)

Visuals: On a light gray background, there are colors, shapes and patterns changing, which ends up forming the familiar M6 logo.

Technique: 2D animation, done by Gédéon.

Audio: A series of ambient notes that eventually gains a beat and becomes a catchy, upbeat synth theme. Composed by Laplage.

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TV6

M6