Sentai Filmworks

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


Background

Sentai Filmworks is an anime licensing company from Houston, Texas, formed in 2008 as the successor to the then-defunct ADV Films. They are known for localizing mostly contemporary anime titles to the US market such as Gintama, Clannad, Parasyte, Legend of the Galactic Heroes and others. Their titles are distributed by Section23 Films. On January 5, 2022, AMC Networks announced it had acquired Sentai Filmworks' parent company Sentai Holdings, LLC, and all its assets and subsidiaries, including HIDIVE, Anime Network, and "member interests" from the Cool Japan Fund, via its subsidiary Digital Store LLC.



1st Logo (2010-2014)


Visuals: Five lines (one pink, one blue, one red, one green and one yellow) wipe in from the left on a black background. The formed line turns white and a white background expands with similar-colored glass lines moving. "sentai filmworks" appears in two lines at the center.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on their early releases, such as Clannad and its sequel After Story. Also found on other anime home video releases by the company such as Get Backers.

2nd Logo (2014-2018?)


Visuals: On a misty black background, a blue streak starts to swirl around the screen. This is followed by a green streak, then a yellow, pink, and red streak as they form a spiral shape and sparkles appear in the background. As they meet in the center, all of the mist and particles then get absorbed into the spiral before exploding into a myriad of red, blue, and green sparkles, as well as blue towers of light appear. As the camera rotates, the Sentai Filmworks logo then fades in along with a reflective floor, as everything slows down and it positions itself to the center.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Composed and designed by Bryan Leach, a dramatic fanfare with strings and bells, with a whoosh when the lines meet the light.

Availability: Seen on releases from the time.

3rd Logo (2018-)


Visuals: On a black background, the white text "sentai FILMWORKS", in the same font as before, slams in from the front.

Technique: 2D digital animation.

Audio: A drone synth, with a slam and the crash of a gong when the text appears.

Availability: Current.