20th Century Studios Logo PNG
The understated quality conveyed by the 20th Century Studios logo is misleading, as the company is incredibly creative and famous for works like Star Wars, The Simpsons, Titanic, Planet of the Apes, Futurama, Die Hard, and Avatar. Despite the shining past of its predecessor, the reborn studio uses a modest emblem, preferring monochrome.
20th Century Studios: Brand overview
| Founded: | May 31, 1935; 2020 – today |
| Founder: | The Walt Disney Company |
| Headquarters: |
Fox Studio Lot Building 88, 10201 West Pico Boulevard, Century City, Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Website: | 20thcenturystudios.com |
In 1935, Twentieth Century Pictures was born from the union of Fox Film Corporation and its namesake company. In 1985, the company was bought by News Corporation, controlled by Rupert Murdoch, and took on the new moniker of 20th Century Fox. During the latter part of the 20th century and into the 21st, the studio became renowned for several blockbuster movies such as Star Wars, Titanic, and Avatar. Its portfolio of successes cemented its status as one of America’s leading six film studios.
2019 marked a pivotal change when The Walt Disney Company took over the studio in a transaction valued at $71.3 billion. Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Corporation held onto assets like Fox News and Fox Sports as part of this deal. A year after the acquisition, the studio underwent another name change, becoming 20th Century Studios, and integrated into Disney’s expansive media assets.
The studio is known for high-profile franchises like Avatar, Planet of the Apes, and Die Hard, among others. It has also garnered critical acclaim for films such as 12 Years a Slave and Bohemian Rhapsody. Though it has lost its status as an autonomous entity, 20th Century Studios remains a significant player in the Hollywood film industry under the umbrella of The Walt Disney Company.
Meaning and History
Despite emerging in 2020, the roots of 20th Century Studios go back to 1935, when Fox Film and Twentieth Century Pictures combined. This merger resulted in the brand 20th Century Fox, from which the studio inherited a rich cinematic heritage. Its modern logo is taken from one of its predecessors, 20th Century Pictures. Specialists from the agency Picturemill worked on updating the visual identity. They crafted a modernized symbol for the film company, in which the aesthetics of the old symbolism are discernible. Designers also revised the textual part, using a modified version of the Proxima Nova font.
What is 20th Century Studios?
20th Century Studios is the new name for an old film company that has released many works loved by everyone, including Star Wars, The Simpsons, Titanic, Planet of the Apes, Futurama, Die Hard, and Avatar. It came into existence in 2020, renamed by The Walt Disney Company, which owns it. Post-rebranding, the studio received a different name and a modernized emblem.
2020 – today
The logo of 20th Century Studios has hardly changed since the times of 20th Century Fox; it has retained its original style and main details; thus, at first glance, it appears to look as it did before. But there are differences, although the design is indeed identical. This is tied to the well-accustomed and easily recognizable emblem so that viewers perceive the company’s films not as new works from an unknown producer but as those from an experienced professional with interesting content.
Why was 20th Century Fox renamed?
20th Century Studios is a young film company with a rich past, as its roots stem from 20th Century Fox, which came into existence in 1935 due to the merger between Fox Film and Twentieth Century Pictures. Anything that hit the screens under this brand gained global fame and became a sensation. Therefore, when legendary spotlights aimed upwards appeared on the screen and solemn fanfare sounded, the audience eagerly awaited a captivating spectacle. And the expectation was justified. Then, 20th Century Fox transitioned to The Walt Disney Company, which purchased and completely reorganized in 2020, launching an entirely different brand.
A key role in the visual identity is played by the pedestal of a three-level inscription and the spotlights surrounding it—traditional cinema equipment. The name is positioned sideways, so the letters in the foreground are larger than those in the background. They are also complemented by wide shadows, creating a depth effect. Long white stripes are present between the lines, forming platforms for the words. Ramps are located to the right and left of the text and consist of two elements. Light from them goes upwards, piercing the darkness.
Font and Colors
Designers chose a modernized version of Proxima Nova—a classic typeface of medium weight—for the inscription. The individualized version is adapted to the uneven lines receding into the distance. Like the font on the previous emblem, it lacks serifs, which is characteristic of this film company’s identity.
The color palette remains constant: it is predominantly monochrome. The combination of black and white allows the studio to maintain the necessary contrast of shadows and light, turning static objects into convex, expressive, enigmatic, and dynamic ones.
