RealD 3D

Background
RealD 3D is a digital stereoscopic projection technology made and sold by RealD. It is currently the most widely used technology for watching 3D films in theaters (cinemas).

1st Logo (November 4, 2005-2009)
Logo: In a black background, the white text "HOW 3D HAPPENS..." fades in and zooms in slowly. After it fades out, we fade onto a dark red room filled a little bit of light shining on the center, revealing metallic red circular outlines that cross through each other with a hole in the middle. A set of small red cubes zoom beyond the hole as the camera begins a rapid zoom through it, revealing a large room filled with hexagon patterns in different shades of red and lots of cubes encircling a set of three giant rings, similar in style to the IMAX logo, all in red. Red is all over the place! As we zoom throuh the set of rings, the camera starts to slow down as we see a vertical line of cubes, rectangles and silver "D"s, which also come from upwards. This line starts to move upwards as everything gets closer to each other with the final destination being inside the D, including various rectangular shapes that form a red shape that covers the hole of the D, and as the top line also begins to get closer, an "R" is revealed. As soon as everything collides, the rectangles curve themselves to form the outlines of the R & D, which forms a 3D symbol of both letters on top of each other facing upward at an angle. The text "REALD" is then revealed by each letter zooming into place at the bottom of the symbol, all silver except for the D, which has a silver outline but is mostly red. Two thin horizontal lines also quickly come in from both sides of the screen and halt on the top and bottom of the text. A hexagon pattern then appears one-by-one behind the symbol and the letters and the rings slowly cross through each other.

Trivia: This trailer was produced by Scott R. Archambault (also known by his online nickname, chlorinedream), who has worked with marketing communications during the mid-2000s to as late as 2012. He also made other stuff, like a website for RealD, the music from a bumper for Rave Motion Pictures, and later on a logo for MasterImage 3D, which coincidentally would later be acquired by RealD.

Variant: A demo reel exists where variations on this logo appears, but is very different. The background is light blue with light blue-white rings and reflective blue hexagons. The animation is also different (especially with an entirely alternate animation at the beginning) with various segments dedicated to Pre-Show Entertainment, Advertising, Live Events and Movies. At the end of the demo reel, a version of the normal logo's animation is played with the changes listed above.

FX/SFX: Everything going on in the bumper.

Music/Sounds: A bass-heavy synth hum with whooshes at the beginning, then a series of electronically-sounding noises which accompany the actions going on screen, which ends in another bass-heavy synth hum.

Availability: Extinct in most territories including the United States after RealD changed its logo in 2009. Despite this, some international markets such as Cinemark theaters in Brazil still use this trailer. It also has been spotted in an exclusive screening of the 3D version of Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones which happened in Essen, Germany during Star Wars Celebration Europe II in 2013.

Editor's Note: This is absolutely fantastic. Sure, it takes some inspirations from IMAX, but that doesn't detract from the amazing mood this logo sets. It's like you're about to step into something cool with all the stuff going on at every second of this logo. It's truly something to behold, especially in 3D.

2nd Logo (2009-2015?)
Logo: We fade in on a sepia-toned side view of a white robotic dog with blue eyes standing in front of a tree on bladeless grass, a cloudy sky and a city skyline in the background. Just then, a ball falls from the tree with blue markings and the RealD "D))" symbol on top of it. As it rolls to the dog, the dog puts a pair of RealD 3D glasses, causing the shot to change entirely from sepia to full color and most of the clouds to disappear, revealing the blue sky behind them. The ball starts to float and the grass (pure green, of course) starts to grow below it and the dog. The ball then comes closer to the screen (causing a 3D effect) as the dog chases it. The ball goes left then right as the dog jumps twice, and then to the center as it distances itself from the screen and starts to let out some electricity. The dog is startled and distances himself when the ball reveals that it's a blue orb inside two spheric halves. It spins aeound until transforming into a blue RealD 3D logo, with the dog looking puzzled then amused as he sits down. After the text "The New Dimension Of Entertainment" appears quickly letter by letter below the logo, the background changes to a dark blue-light blue gradient background with various cloud-like shapes. The logo zooms in slowly before fading out.

Variants: There is a variant made for international markets where "The New Dimension Of Entertainment" is completely removed, but the sound associated with it is still there.


 * An alternate variant exists which takes place in the blue background from the main logo, but the animation is almost completely different. We first see the ball coming from a distance in the left side of the screen, then coming closer to the screen and going to the right, then distancing itself again to the center, separating and spinning around like the normal logo. The text then appears and the logo zooms in.

FX/SFX: The ball and the dog doing their thing, all done by Cinema Concepts. Something worth noting is that the initial sepia segment is completely in 2D before it smoothly transitions into 3D once the dog puts the glasses on. The same thing happens with the previous logo, where the "HOW 3D HAPPENS..." text is in 2D, but the rest of the logo is entirely in 3D.

Music/Sounds: At the beginning we hear a sound of something breaking from the tree before a piano solo is played as the ball rolls. When the dog puts the glasses, the music changes to an orchestral piece with strings, woodwind and brass which accompanies the dog and the ball's shenanigans. The piano comes back at the end when the RealD logo appears, then when the background changes. The fanfare comes to a close and holds one note when the RealD logo is fully formed, with one last dog bark being heard as the logo fades out. The dog's actions, of course, are also punctuated with whimpers and barks.

Availability: Seen in lots of cinemas when it was unveiled to the world until 2015 when RealD rebranded itself again.

Editor's Note: While not as cool as the last logo, it still is a great bumper for showing the audience the capabilities of 3D and the RealD technology.

3rd Logo (2013, November 5, 2014)
Nickname: "The Pikmin Logo"

Logo: We start on a blue reflective background, with RealD 3D glasses, with the text "PLEASE PUT ON YOUR reaLD)) 3D GLASSES" above it. We then fade out and back in, going through the grass to see a Yellow, Red, and Blue Pikmin (from the Nintendo video game series of the same name) sitting on a blade of grass and looking bored. Two Winged Pikmin fly by and drop them RealD 3D glasses. They look around a bit before they put them on and stand up, their leaves blooming into flowers and the Winged Pikmin returning. A Bulborb pops up from behind and turns to face them, scaring the Pikmin as they scream and run away. It chases the Yellow, Red and Blue Pikmin, but loses sight of them and skids to a stop. The Winged Pikmin fly by to give it giant RealD 3D glasses, which it puts on with its foot. It smiles, then leaps forward to "eat" the screen. In the darkness, the RealD 3D logo appears and shines. The white text "Please place glasses in the recycling bin as you exit the theatre. Thanks!" appears below.

Variants: A Japanese version exists.


 * A variant exists that doesn't start with the 3D glasses prompt, has Nintendo and Pikmin copyright information in the right corner of the screen, and ends with the text "The New Dimension Of Entertainment" instead.

FX/SFX: Nice CGI by Cinema Concepts.

Music/Sounds: The music starts out as a calm arrangement of the main theme of Pikmin, but turns dramatic and ominous when the Bulborb shows up, then a tad playful when the Winged Pikmin give the glasses to the Bulborb, with an additional electronic stinger when the RealD 3D logo appears. Vocalizations from the Pikmin and Bulborb and sounds corresponding to glasses getting put on are heard throughout. A skid sound is used when the Bulborb skids to a stop.

Availability: Was used in 2013 to promote the release of Pikmin 3. It was also available to watch on the Nintendo 3DS app Pikmin Short Movies 3D, which has since been taken off the Nintendo eShop.

Editor's Note: It's a cute logo, and Pikmin fans will probably like it. It might creep out some younger unsuspecting folks in the audience, especially in 3D and if they aren't familiar with Pikmin, but it's a cute enough logo.

Additional Note: Even though RealD rebranded itself in 2015, most bumpers from before the 2015 rebrand are still available to download with DCP files still being included on the reald-mktg.com website: