Mikado Film

Background

Mikado Film (also known as Mikado on-screen) was an Italian film distribution and production company of the DeAgostini Group, founded in 1984, which distributed national and international films on the Italian territory, specializing in promoting independent and quality films. In 2003, Dolmen Home Video was founded as a company specializing in home video entertainment, with a catalog of over 600 titles. Since 2007, Mikado Film has been 100% acquired by DeAgostini Communications.

1st Logo (1988-1998)

Visuals: On a black background, there is a blue, thick line drawing, starting from the center before turning several times with it overlapping an already drawn part of itself. After the blocky knot is drawn, it zooms out and then a flash happens, sending "MIKADO" in blue with a white glow zooming out on the bottom via trail effect. "presenta" would then pop up underneath the company's name.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A rather somber fanfare with wind throughout the first half and a repeating four-note piano piece.

Availability: Seen on films from this era such as Sono seduto sul ramo e mi sento bene and Swan Song.

2nd Logo (1998-2010)

Visuals: While the blue knot from before is seen drawing itself, it spins and zooms out on a black background with "MIKADO" wiping in from the bottom during its sequence. The text zooms out in sync with the knot and afterwards, "presenta" fades in with each letter slightly getting close to one another.

Variant: When DeAgostini Communications acquired the company in 2006, its logo would appear in between "MIKADO" and "presenta".

Technique: 3D animation.

Audio: Originally, silent. A piano theme accompanied with harps and a singing choir was introduced in 2004.

Availability: Can be seen on Certi bambini, Urban Parkour, L'uomo che verrà, among others.