Tecmo

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


Background

Tecmo was a Japanese video game company that was originally formed in 1964 as the Imperial Trustee Corporation. It was later renamed to Tekhan in 1977, and then Tecmo in 1986. In 1987, it was merged with Tehkan Electronics Corporation to form a new Tecmo. The company's greatest successes include the Ninja Gaiden games and the Tecmo Bowl series. On April 1, 2009, Koei and Tecmo merged to form Tecmo Koei Holdings (now Koei Tecmo Games), though both companies still use their own respective names for game development.



1st Logo (Still variants) (1986-September 30, 2010)

Visuals: Over a black or white background is the text "TECMO" in a futuristic font.

Variant: On Tsuppari Oozumou: Rissin Shusee-hen, the logo is next to the word "PRODUCTS".

Technique: A still, sprite-based graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on many Tecmo games from the era, starting from the arcades, like Tee'd Off and SNES games. The logo does not appear on Famicom/NES games, except for Tsuppari Oozumou, Ninja Gaiden, Tecmo Baseball, Tecmo World Wrestling and Bad News Baseball.

2nd Logo (July 20, 1990-November 1992)

Visuals: On a black background, a rabbit leans against the Tecmo logo from before. Below is the text "PRESENTS" or "THEATER".

Technique: A still, sprite-based graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on Tecmo Super Bowl, Captain Tsubasa II: Super Striker, Fire'n Ice, and Tecmo NBA Basketball for NES.

3rd Logo (July 17, 1992-April 3, 1993)

Visuals: On a white background, a rabbit poses to the left of the Tecmo logo. Next to the logo is the text "PRESENTS", which shifts up reveal "THEATER".

Technique: Sprite-based animation.

Audio: An ascending four-note sound.

Availability: Seen only on Captain Tsubasa III and IV for Super Famicom.

4th Logo (December 25, 1992-1994)

Visuals: On a black background, the Tecmo logo slides up with a warping effect, while "PRESENTS" flips in below the logo. Then the rabbit chases, and lands on the logo and shines, while doing its pose.

Variant: On Tecmo Super Bowl, the already-formed logo slides up.

Technique: Sprite-based animation.

Audio: An ascending synth theme, with some cartoon-like sounds.

Availability: Seen on Tecmo Super NBA Basketball and Tecmo Super Baseball for Super NES and Sega Genesis, and Tecmo Super Hockey for Genesis.

5th Logo (July 25, 1996-October 20, 2000)

Visuals: On a black background is the Tecmo logo from before zooming out, with a light effect behind the logo.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A chime sound.

Availability: Seen on Tecmo's Deception: Invitation to Darkness, Tecmo Super Bowl, and Monster Rancher 2 for PlayStation.

6th Logo (Monster Rancher custom variant) (July 24-November 15, 1997)

Visuals: On a black background, the Tecmo logo rising out of a river, and then the logo disappears. Then it turns into a CD with zooms out, and turns into a coin.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Same as before, plus a dreamy sound when the CD turns into a coin.

Availability: Seen only on Monster Rancher for PlayStation.

'Koei
Tecmo'
Koei Tecmo Games