Sony Entertainment

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


Background

Sony Entertainment, Inc. is an American entertainment company established in 2012, focusing on Sony's film, television and music businesses. It is a subsidiary of the Japanese Sony Group Corporation and managed by Sony Corporation of America. The logos shown are also used as Sony's motion logo used in the dates, in the era shown below.

1st Logo (April 10, 2014-January 14, 2022)


Visuals: Over a black background, the logo starts with the Sony corporate logo, in white, appearing in the center of the screen. It fades in gradually from a white light appearing between the "O" and "N. As it lights up the rest of the logo, it then flashes, which fully lights up the logo. After a few seconds, the screen then cuts in on the "O", revealing that the Sony logo and the black background are actually a cut-out of a black metal plate with a metallic rim around the holes, transitioning to the logo of whatever Sony Pictures Entertainment unit is distributing the film, or the light disappears after transitioning, then the logo would appear as it was normally would.

If the Columbia Pictures logo is to follow this logo, a group of yellow clouds appears, moving over a blue background with a bright light. The light flashes as we transition to the Torch Lady's torch, seguing into the logo.

Alternate Descriptive Video Description: Over black, a word appears. Sony. A glint of light etches the letter "O".

Variants:

  • On the official Sony website, the logo fades out instead of zooming in, showing the homepage following the logo.
  • On movie trailers, an alternate version of this logo is seen where the logo is played in reverse. In this version, the end part of the logo is seen and the flash occurs, which transitions to the unit's logo.
  • Television series produced and/or distributed by Sony Pictures Television (Sony Pictures Television Studios)/TriStar Television/Gemstone Studios use the same variant as the movie trailer version, except the logo transitions to a shortened version of those logos.
  • An enhanced version of this logo exists, primarily made for 3D versions of films (even though it can also be spotted in 2D prints of Jumanji: The Next Level) in which the flash is bigger and stars appear behind the Sony logo before fading into the next logo (mainly Columbia or TriStar). The initial glow of the Sony logo is also much darker and more centered on the "O", as the other letters are harder to see before the flash than the normal logo, and motion blur is also added during the transition. Even though this variant was frequently used in 3D prints (One such example is Spider-Man: Homecoming), there were rare exceptions where the 2D logo was simply converted to 3D, such as in 3D prints of The Emoji Movie.
  • A cheaper version of this logo has been spotted before the Affirm Films and Originals logos (starting with Overcomer) and before the Stage 6 Films logo, where the light reveal at the beginning is different and a bit stiffer, the zoom-in just starts instead of the gradual increase in speed like the normal logo and everything looks like it was recreated in a professional editing software.

Closing Variant: The Sony logo appears at the end of the closing credits, either scrolling upwards as with the rest of the credits, or fading in and out. This is followed by the print logo of the unit that distributed the film. From 2014-2018, Sony's former slogan, "BE MOVED", would appear immediately after their logo.

Technique: Computer animation.

Audio: Depending on the version:

  • Movie Variant:
    • The same "ding" sound in G major used at the end of advertisements promoting Sony products (since the make.believe campaign in 2010) when the Sony logo is fully formed, followed by the beginning of the Sony Pictures unit's themes or a series of synths that beautifully segue into the Columbia Pictures theme.
    • Sometimes, the opening theme of the film plays over the animation in this logo, with or without the "ding" sound.
  • Television Variant:
    • The 2002 Sony Pictures Television or 1993 TriStar Television themes are heard over this logo, and continues to play when the following logo plays.
    • Most shows have this logo silent (as it is on the film version), and the theme doesn't begin until that logo actually appears. This is a more common version.
    • Some SPT shows will have the first two notes of the 2003 short theme playing first on this logo.
    • Sometimes, complete silence or the ending theme of the show.
  • Closing Variant: Just the movie's ending theme or silence.

Availability:

  • This logo debuted with the London premiere of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 on April 10, 2014, and was seen on most films and television series produced and/or distributed by a Sony Pictures Entertainment-owned studio ever since.
  • It was also seen as a standalone logo, in which a short version is used at the end of every Sony-related promos and commercials ever since. The full version is used on Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Wish Dragon and the theatrical release of the English dubbed & subtitled versions of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Mugen Train Arc, with the latter as a surprise appearance.
  • This logo doesn't appear on Moms' Night Out, When the Game Stands Tall, The Interview, or co-released films (such as those by other studios); although it does appear on the trailer for When the Game Stands Tall, as well as the first trailer for The Interview.
  • The television variant can be seen on current episodes of television series produced and/or distributed by Sony Pictures Television (now known as Sony Pictures Television Studios) or produced by TriStar Television.
  • This does not appear on movies from Sony Pictures Classics, Destination Films and Monumental Pictures, because they still retain their respective logos without this logo preceding it.
  • After the next logo debuted, this was last seen on A Mouthful of Air, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City and Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (as a variant).

Legacy: While not in the same level as the Sony Pictures Television logo, it is generally hated by the community. Many people view this logo as Sony milking out their corporate name in the movie logos despite said logos already having the company's byline.

2nd Logo (May 19, 2021-)


Visuals: Similar concept to the previous logo. On a black background, a multicolor backdrop gradually fades in and the Sony logo appears from behind it, causing a spectrum of colors to appear around the text. The colors fade out, and after that, it continues the same way as before (albeit with the Sony logo now in a flat cut-out), transitioning to the logo of whatever Sony Pictures Entertainment unit is distributing the film.

If the Columbia Pictures logo is to follow this logo, the same transition from the previous logo is used. Starting with Bullet Train, a group of gray clouds move over while a red sun is shown. As it moves closer to the clouds, the sun flashes as we transition to the Torch Lady's torch, segueing into the logo.

Alternate Descriptive Video Descriptions:

  • (2021-2022): Out of hazy colors, a word appears, Sony.
  • (2022-present): A word appears from hazy colorful light. Sony.

Variants:

  • On movie trailers and on Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness, the Sony logo is already formed; as it slowly zooms in, the spectrum flashes around the text, transitioning to the unit like before.
  • On TV spots for Columbia and TriStar films, the logo is placed to the left, beside the aforementioned logos placed in a box.
  • On trailers for Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan films, the logo is again placed on the left alongside the Sony Pictures International Productions logo.
  • Starting in 2022, motion blur is added during the transition. This does not apply to the aforementioned logo, however.

Technique: Live-action.

Audio: Same as before.

Availability:

  • The logo first debuted on a YouTube video from Sony's official YouTube channel called "The Evolution of Sony's Motion Logo".
  • The logo made its film debut with the London premiere of Venom: Let There Be Carnage with the Columbia logo on September 14, 2021.
  • The short version is shown at the end of Sony-related promos and commercials, and made its film debut on the film Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness.
  • This does not appear on the Stage 6 titles The Drop and Sisu, as said company's logo is used without the Sony logo; or Napoleon and The Book of Clarence, with the Columbia and TriStar logos, respectively, due to the former being financed by Apple Original Films instead and TriStar only handling distribution for the latter.
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