Top Five Movie Idents Of All Time

When it comes to logo real estate not much can compare to the almighty movie ident. They sit there in front of our favourite films, filling us with nostalgia and excitement in equal measure. Hollywood production values and sound to boot make these the ultimate in logo manifestation, it’s what all logos want to be when they grow up.

Here at Howl and Bray we’ve decided to rank our top five movie idents, The ones that still have the power to excite, and transport us. This has resulted in some seriously heated debates and a lot of rewatching of old favourites. Now a couple of things to note before we commence with the list; firstly we’re both children of the 80’s a fact that definitely and unashamedly looms large in our decision making and secondly TV idents aren’t allowed or the white noise and vocals of HBO would definitely be troubling the top spot having heralded countless hours of peerless entertainment.

we’re both children of the 80’s a fact that definitely and unashamedly looms large in our decision making…

Right enough of that here’s the results in reverse order…

No.5 – Paramount

The epic American landscape, the flying stars it doesn’t get much more Hollywood than this. All the idents on our list have strong associations with much loved films and Paramount is no exception, Ferris Bueller, Beverly Hills Cop to name just a few, however the deal sealer here is a certain archeologist by the name of Indiana Jones. The wild landscapes of the logo giving way to John Williams score and the South American jungle is a perfect match and it’s fair to say that no other ident on the list quite conveys the same sense of adventure as Paramount.

No. – 4 Amblin

Different to the rest of the list, this entry was inspired by a perfect moment of movie magic. The simplicity and purity of the bike silhouetted against the moon creates a near perfect signature for the man whose work it’s synonymous with , If only all logos could be so evocative.

No. 3 – Universal

If the name wasn’t enough on its own the spinning globe certainly lets you know this is a powerhouse of film production. Like every entry on this list the Universal ident has been through numerous updates each more glossy than the last but the version which captured our hearts is the 70’s iteration. As the hazey cosmos fades in the grainy letters of Universal appear over the model of Earth. The film that follows, the one that cements this as one of the greats for now and forever; Jaws.

No.2 – Columbia

Back once again with the epic symbolism. Vast open skies and Columbia silhouetted against the clouds holding her torch aloft. Some of the best idents have found creative ways of weaving in the films personality and aesthetic so much so that these days it’s common place but back in 1984 it wasn’t. The eerie, spectral sounds of Elmer Bernsteins soundtrack slowly creep into the ident fusing a supernatural mood with the familiar imagery of Columbia. It perfectly sets up the opening scene of the film, putting the viewer on edge and preparing us for the majesty of Ghostbusters.

No.1 – Fox

The drumroll, the trumpets, the search light. It had to be. Without question it’s the music that makes this one the greatest. But when that fanfare gives way to John Williams timeless score and the iconic yellow scrolling type of Star Wars hits the screen it created a bond between ident and film that could never be broken in a young boys mind.

So there it is Howl and Brays top five idents, let’s be honest we’ve not dug very deep here, 5 of the biggest picture houses of all time making the list. After all there are countless idents to choose from but what we found is it’s almost impossible to separate the maker from the film. It’s a perfect example of brand association and a reminder of just how valuable that advertising space is!