Universum Film GmBH
From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum
Descriptions by
CooleyBoy10, DannyTheMuppetMan, TheLogoFan2004 and AlmightyKingPrawn
Editions by
Henrynguye5, TheLogoFan2004, Thesquidgeeks and AlmightyKingPrawn
Video captures courtesy of
Ahmed Hassn, The DMB Network, BasicMasterReloaded, Fernado VII and ifrequire
CooleyBoy10, DannyTheMuppetMan, TheLogoFan2004 and AlmightyKingPrawn
Editions by
Henrynguye5, TheLogoFan2004, Thesquidgeeks and AlmightyKingPrawn
Video captures courtesy of
Ahmed Hassn, The DMB Network, BasicMasterReloaded, Fernado VII and ifrequire
Background
Universum Film GmbH was a film distribution company owned by the RTL Group. It was founded in 1979 to release videotapes and had no correlation with Universum Film AG. It mostly distributed its films together with Buena Vista International. In 2019, American private equity firm KKR acquired the company and renamed it to Leonine Distribution. The company didn't have an on-screen logo until 2002.
1st Logo (2002-2015)
Visuals: In space, we see the Solar System, with several planets (some with moons orbiting them), a Milky Way, and another planet that flies towards the others. Suddenly, the camera moves around the planets as a silver crescent slowly fades in. The planets disappear in the crescent as the text "universum" (in Franklin Gothic) flies around it (ala the Universal Pictures logo). The crescent glows blue, as it changes into a smaller crescent with two dots near it. The words "universum" and "film" are seen next to the blue crescent. The logo slowly zooms in as a blue flash appears behind it and slowly dissipates.
Variants:
- A shortened version where the logo just shines appears on films such as Open Water 2: Adrift.
- Starting in 2010, especially on family-oriented releases from the company, the animation is slightly cheaper and there is a visible rotating Earth instead of the bigger ball next to the crescent.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: A series of string notes and a brief synth section, that gives off the impression of being in space. The music suddenly grows more dramatic, before it turns into a powerful fanfare.
Availability: Can be seen on films from the company until 2015, such as the German print of Maya the Bee Movie (2014).
2nd Logo (2015-2019)
Visuals: The screen fades into space, with this time only stars. The camera moves to the left, where we see a close-up of a backwards transparent "m". As the camera moves past it is the Earth, a nebula and a few of the planets from the last logo. The "universum film" text (in the same font as the previous logo) then flies past the globe and the screen in a mirrored fashion to the Universal logo, also transparent. When the "m" in "film" passes by, a trail of sparkles are left, which passes by the screen. The print Universum Film logo then appears, and the space backdrop fades out. A purplish-blue light then goes to the left of the screen until it's no longer visible.
Variant: There is a "night" variant where the logo is much darker.
Technique: CGI.
Audio: Same as the last logo.
Audio Variant: There are both low and high-pitched versions of the soundtrack.
Availability: Seen on releases from Universum Film starting in 2015, like the German print of Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.
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