Media Molecule

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


Background

Media Molecule Ltd. is a British video game developer based in Guildford, Surrey. The company was founded in 2006 by Mark Healey, Alex Evans, David Smith, and Kareem Ettouney. The company is best known for developing the LittleBigPlanet series (until 2011), the Tearaway series and the 2020 video game Dreams.



1st Logo (27 October 2008)


Visuals: On a paper background, there is a person writing and scribbling black letters "Mm". Then, the person cuts a magenta Post-It note offscreen, forming the logo's symbol. The words "MEDIA MOLECULE" is scribbled below the logo. The person points his index finger to the letter "A" on the text. Finally, the person pushes away all of the art/office supplies (mainly the pencil, colored marker, scissors and the paintbrush), removes the cut Post-It, scribbles the logo with a cloud-like drawing and crumples it away.

Technique: Live-action.

Audio: It starts with two scribbling sounds, then followed by a sound of a paper cutting, another scribbling sound and a child's laugh. The logo ends with a sound of a paper being picked up, a scribbling sound again and a crumpling sound, segueing to the game's opening theme.

Availability: The logo can only be found on the PlayStation 3 game LittleBigPlanet.

2nd Logo (18 January 2011)


Visuals: Over a chalkboard timelapse background, there are some children drawing various characters, objects and shapes on the chalkboard. As the children draw on the board, the logo fades in with a paper effect.

Technique: Live action and computer animation.

Audio: It starts with a children laughing noise, which it can be faintly heard, then followed by a remix of the song "The Orb of Dreamers" by Daniel Pemberton.

Availability: The logo can only be found on the PlayStation 3 game LittleBigPlanet 2.

3rd Logo (19 September 2012, 8 September 2015)


Visuals: There is the company's logo in a black background.

Variants:

  • On LittleBigPlanet PS Vita is the logo being swiped to the right, then it was rotated in the correct position. Finally, the logo gets swiped down.
  • On Tearaway Unfolded, the logo is glitching. A green spotlight can be seen on the middle left of the screen and the logo glitched again two times.

Technique: Computer animation.

Audio: Depends on the variant.

Audio Variants:

  • On LittleBigPlanet PS Vita, a series of squeaks and whooses can be heard when the logo is being swiped.
  • On Tearaway Unfolded, it starts with a sound of a static, then it proceeds with the Green Man saying "Mm. Mm? Mmmmmmm!", which is followed by two glitch-like sounds.

Availability: The "swiping" variant can be seen on the PlayStation Vita video game LittleBigPlanet PS Vita, while the "glitch" variant can be seen on the PlayStation 4 video game Tearaway Unfolded.

4th Logo (20 November 2013)

Visuals: Over a papercraft-like background, there multiple pieces of paper that explode like confetti. Then, the letter M (in uppercase) began to unfold, following with a piece of paper being lifted up as it reveals another letter M (this time in lowercase). A yellow-colored arrow is formed on the back of the paper. Finally, three pieces of paper that was cut in the shape of the logo's symbol began to move, which forms the final logo.

Technique: CGI rendered in-engine and real time, which means that the logo's camera can be moved using the PlayStation Vita's gyroscopic controls.

Audio: It starts with a sound of a twinkle, then followed by sounds of papers fluttering and moving.

Availability: The logo can only be found on the PlayStation Vita game Tearaway.

5th Logo (14 February 2020)


Visuals: Over a white background, there are the following drawings:

  • A ladder
  • A burger
  • A lampshade
  • A pair of scissors and a glue stick
  • A paintbrush
  • A paint roller being rolled
  • A pirate flag
  • A flipbook showing a cloud-like drawing turning into a crudely-drawn face
  • A crude drawing of a human face
  • An eyeball
  • A mouse
  • A bone
  • A crown of a king
  • A rainbow

After it stops at an animation of a brain being drawn by a pencil, there is a different set of the following drawings:

  • A human skull
  • A girl smiling in excitement (thinking that she has an idea)
  • An onion
  • A cupcake
  • A cloud
  • A guitar
  • A jar of jam
  • Three bricks
  • Two table tennis rackets hitting the ball
  • A sock puppet
  • A Santa Claus hat
  • A painting easel showing a crudely drawn human face
  • A cactus
  • A bow tie
  • A trophy

After it stops at an animation of a birthday cake is the first set of drawings again, then there is the next two drawings:

  • A mug with a heart symbol
  • A conical hat-shaped creature waving

After it stops at an animation of a person holding and opening a banana, there is a combination of the two set of drawings with an additional set of drawings, which includes:

  • A pair of slippers
  • A microphone
  • A joystick
  • A fishbowl

Finally, the drawing stops at the already formed logo, with an arm of a painter moving away from the screen.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: It starts with a fast-sounding bongo-like drum beat, which is followed by a playful ditty, a charge fanfare and a sound of trumpet that resembles a fart, then a rising synth note and a choir-like sound can be heard at end of the logo.

Availability: The logo can be seen when starting up the PlayStation 4 video game Dreams.

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