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Logos[]

1st logo (1993-1994)[]

In space, the words "RENAISSANCE PICTURES" (stacked on top of each other with "PICTURES" in spaced-out letters, in blue) are suspended above the Earth. The sun rises behind the name, as it rotates upwards to face the viewers (like the 1968 MGM film, 2001: A Space Odyssey).

2nd logo (September 2, 1994-April 29, 2018; May 13, 2022)[]

We zoom out on an engraving-like portrait (on what appears to be a piece of aging parchment at first glance) of someone in 16th century dress (though the head is about all that's seen, and it bears a striking resemblance to Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa). A crack appears on the bottom right, and then the portrait then zooms in toward the viewer, ripping into two pieces in the process. As the ripped portrait's two pieces pull away, some lightning flashes are seen with crashing thunder. When the portrait's sections clear the screen, one more lightning flash occurs, this time revealing the words "Renaissance" in a strange script typeface known as Pepita, and "PICTURES" below it in spaced-out letters, in the Friz Quadrata typeface (best known for being used in the logos of the original six Fox stations, the end credits of DreamWorks Animation movies, and the Law & Order logo).

Variants[]

  • An early version of the logo exists where the crack appears early as the portrait finishes zooming out before it rips into two pieces. The zoom out is also slower. This variant only appears on the first two TV movies of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.
  • There exists a short version starting with the company name appearing, glowing, and then dimming. This version is only known to exist on one show, American Gothic. Only the sound of thunder is heard.
  • There is another short version that begins with the portrait already still before the crack appears which also exists.
  • An abridged warp-speed version of the logo also exists, which appears on Legend of the Seeker and Ash vs. the Evil Dead, respectively. Also, it's enhanced.
  • A still version of this logo also exists. The text only appears in this variation.
  • There is also an open matte version of this logo.
  • A variant where the brightness darkens during the flash on the logo also exists, which was seen on a July 2019 UK rerun of an episode of Xena: Warrior Princess on 4Music. This was most likely done to prevent people from getting seizures.

Music/Sounds[]

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A high whoosh sound.

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A sound bite of a Tibetan chant, a loud ripping noise, and the thunder. Tibetan monks are known for singing in a very low vocal register, which makes this logo very ominous.

Music/Sounds Variants[]

  • On M.A.N.T.I.S. and season 2 episodes of Cleopatra 2525, it's the finishing of the closing theme.
  • On Ash vs. the Evil Dead, only a loud whoosh is heard; it is silent on the portrait zooming out.
  • CBS airings of American Gothic used Letterman's voice over promos over the logo.

Scare Factor[]

1st logo[]

Low, bordering onto medium. The whoosh and the animation may get some. Otherwise, this is nothing compared to what have followed up after that...

2nd logo[]

Depending on variant:

  • Medium to nightmare for the regular variant; all thanks to the thunder, the lightning, the ripping/tearing animation FX and the Tibetan monk chant soundbite, this logo had been known to unnerve quite a lot of unaware viewers, not to mention the dark setting of it, in addition to the flashing thunder/lightning, which might have also affected those who are prone to seizure-provoking graphics. However, its general cheesiness might offset the factor.
  • High to nightmare for the modern warp-speed variant, as the much quicker speed of the jarring animation and the loud whoosh accompanying can be even more unsettling and scarier for those who are afraid of the original version.
  • Medium for the short variant, due to the lacking the lightning, the chanting and the ripping FX; however, the thunder sound might still catch some off-guard.
  • None for the still variant.

Videos[]

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