Films transport us to an alternate reality; an alternative universe that needs to be heavily detailed and meticulously designed to make us believe in it.
Some films immerse us with branding. Storylines that contain fictitious companies or branded packages show us another level of detail that allow us to be involved with the everyday realities of that world. The logos can evoke feelings that represent the film itself, cleverly marketing the film internally. These companies therefore become the marketing campaigns, the product lines, and the memorabilia that cement the film in our memories and also our wallets.
The Ghostbusters
Released: 1984 | Designed by: Michael Gross
The Ghostbusters logo is recognised almost everywhere – whether there are ghosts or no ghosts. The symbol, similar to pest control logos, is thoroughly embedded within the film's identity. Cleverly, a film can extract a logo from their storyline to represent the film itself; branding within the fiction and also beyond.
Duff Beer (The Simpsons)
Released: (first featured) 1990 | Designed by: Matt Groening
“Duff Man.” Any fans of The Simpsons may read that in a particular voice. The famous beer from the cartoon is so well known that it is now being sold outside the yellow cartoon universe as an ice cold beverage across the globe. The Duff logo is a simple illustration by Matt Groening, created as a result of the convenient rhyme: “Can’t Get Enough of that Wonderful Duff.”
Jurassic Park
Released: 1993 | Designed by: Sandy Collora (based on cover by Chip Kidd)
Even Jurassic World held a homage to the original logo of Jurassic Park. The young boys stumble onto the antique trucks branded with Sandy Collora’s classic design. As a branded theme park, a strong visual culture is needed to create a believable fiction where the audience are transported into this prehistoric universe.
Monsters Inc.
Released: 2001 | Designed by: (Art Directors) Dominique Louis Tia W. Kratter
Monsters Inc. presents an alternate universe to the one we know. Suggesting that our children’s screams power a monster’s city. The film uses the everyday routine of a scarer to explain this world. As such, Monsters Incorporated requires branding and marketing like all other corporations to help us believe and become immersed in the monsters’ reality.
Watchmen
Released: 2009 | Designed by: Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (published 1986)
The cult film Watchmen follows an ominous yellow smiling face from the death of The Comedian to the planet Mars. The Smiley face badge seems childlike and content, yet the addition of the blood drip that creates the logo hints at the films’ subversion of normality. The Watchmen logo is an incredibly simple yet visually powerful image that highlights the films’ cinematic, impending sense of doom.
As a Graphic Designer with a background in Film and TV I believe in the importance of creating an immersive brand. A memorable logo will help people engage with your brand and consolidate your client relations.