Mojang Studios

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


Background

Mojang Studios (formerly known as Mojang Specifications and Mojang AB) is a Swedish video game developer based in Stockholm, founded in 2009. It is the creator of the successful indie cult PC game Minecraft, which won many awards and has sold over 300M+ copies as of 2023. On September 15, 2014, Microsoft announced its plans to purchase the company, which closed on November 6. On May 17, 2020, the company rebranded to its current name to aim to reflect its multi-studio structure.



1st Logo (July 9, 2010-February 21, 2011)

Visuals: On a purple background is a light purple, pixelated abstract object, which looks like a C-shaped dragon. Under it are the words "Mojang Specifications" in white.

Technique: A still sprite-based graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on Minecraft versions from Alpha 1.0.4 to Beta 1.2, which can be played in the launcher if your profile allows these editions.

2nd Logo (February 22, 2011-October 1, 2013)

Visuals: Over a white background is the aforementioned pixelated object, now white and inside a red box. Under it is the word "MOJANG".

Technique: A still sprite-based graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on Minecraft versions from Beta 1.3 to Beta 1.7.3. However, this was kept on the Xbox 360 version through TU12.

3rd Logo (September 14, 2011-December 9, 2013)

Visuals: Same as before, albeit vertical and no longer pixelated.

Variant: There are lots of different logo variants depending on what texture/resource pack you use; the texture pack support started at Beta 1.8 and at 1.6.1, it became obsolete and was replaced with the new resource pack support.

Technique: A still digital graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on Minecraft versions from Beta 1.8 to 1.7.2.

4th Logo (0x10c variant) (2012-2013)

Visuals: On a black background, the abstract object, now in metallic silver, reveals itself from the shadows.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: Only appeared on Mojang's cancelled game, 0x10c (pronounced as "ten to the C power"), which was developed in 2012-2013.

5th Logo (December 10, 2013-May 20, 2020)

Visuals: A redux of the 4th logo, which has the rounded square with its top-right and bottom-left corners now untamed and the name in a new corporate font.

Variants:

  • The resource pack you are using may variate the logo.
  • On Minecraft versions 1.14 and 1.15, the loading stripe is seen below. When it ends, the stripe fades out and the whole logo follows it to the Minecraft menu.
    • On the Forge editions of said versions, the counter stripes are in the left down, left up and right up borders of the screen. After the stripe ends, the counters fade out and the rest of the logo plays as normal
  • On Minecraft Mini Series: Challenge of the Spooky Isles, the logo shares the screen with the Microsoft Studios logo.
  • On Windows 10, mobile and console versions of the game (all platforms are listed under the Bedrock Edition banner), the logo is smaller.
  • On later Forge editions of the game, the loading mod stripes are below and above the logo. Also in the right down border, an anvil stands on which a hammer knocks.

Technique: A still digital graphic.

Audio: None. The Mini Series variant uses the closing theme.

Availability: Seen on Minecraft versions 1.7.4 to Snapshot 20w20b, and its console ports since TU13, as well as Minecraft Mini Series: Challenge of the Spooky Isles.

6th Logo (Minecraft Java Edition 3D Shareware v1.34 variant) (April 1, 2019)


Visuals: A tiny red square appears from the center of a white background, and spins until it comes into view. It is then revealed to be the Mojang logo from before, albeit pixelated. The text from the previous logo fades in below, also pixelated.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: Silence at first, then a choir sings the company name once the text fades in, in a parody of the classic Sega logo jingle.

Availability: Only seen on Minecraft 3D Shareware v1.34, which was released on April Fools' Day of that year.

7th Logo (May 17, 2020-)


Visuals: Over a red background is 6 weird shapes, known as "Mojangs", with holes and indents in them, with either the whole shape or parts of the shape turning a few times. Then, once they stop turning, they each show "MOJANG" in an unusual typeface, with "STUDIOS" below.

Trivia: The logo was revealed on Minecraft's 11th anniversary on May 17, 2020. The logo's case study can be found on Bold Scandinavia's website here. This is also the first time that the logo features the word Studios.

Variants:

  • A still version exists, in which it has a loading stripe below and it fades to the Minecraft menu.
  • A vertical stacked version exists.
  • In the logo's reveal on Minecraft's YouTube channel, shown here, the Mojangs came out of a machine, known as the "Mojang-a-tron 3000", floating around, along with a person's hand touching one of the Mojangs, before getting into place, starting the logo's animation.
    • On Minecraft's social pages, shown here, the Mojangs only float around after coming out of the machine, then cuts to the logo's animation.

Technique: None, or CGI designed by Bold Scandinavia.

Audio: A synth theme with some sound effects, ending with the Minecraft exp. sound. None for the still version.

Availability:

  • Seen on recent updates of Minecraft starting with version 1.16.
  • The animated version appears on Minecraft Dungeons
  • The stacked version appears on Minecraft Legends