Illumination Logo

Illumination Logo PNG

Not all companies working in the entertainment industry have a festive logo. For example, the Illumination logo can be characterized as businesslike and strict. But at the same time, it has a mix of elegance, mystery, and intrigue. The emblem creates a sense of anticipation for something impressive and bright – much like the content of the animation studio.

Meaning and History

As it happened, Illumination Studio hardly used a logo until July 2010, that is, until the debut of the film “Despicable Me.” Before that, few had heard about it, as it was established in 2007 and did not present any projects for three years. In 2010, audiences saw the opening title sequence with the inscription “ILLUMINATION ENTERTAINMENT,” which sparkled in the spotlight and was surrounded by minions. Of course, in the official black-and-white version of the logo, there were no such effects – neither a silver gradient nor amusing yellow characters.

In 2017, the company’s name was shortened to one word, which was a reason to update the logo. But its style didn’t change: it remained a black inscription without decorative elements. The Illumination symbol might seem formal, not consistent with the entertainment industry. However, the contrast between the emblem’s seriousness and the cartoons’ joyful atmosphere could be a strategic choice. It generates interest and attracts society’s attention. This is a unique signal behind a serious external appearance is creative work, which brings joy to millions of viewers.

What is Illumination?

Illumination is an American company that creates animated films and is part of the multinational conglomerate NBCUniversal Media. Its most famous projects are “Sing,” “The Secret Life of Pets,” and “Despicable Me.” The animation studio was established in 2007 under the name Illumination Entertainment and was renamed after ten years.

2007 – 2017

The history of the studio that brought franchises such as “Despicable Me” and “Sing” to life began in 2007. The newly formed company was named Illumination Entertainment, and this was reflected in its logo through simple black letters. The phrase is divided into two lines and is justified. The designers had to play with the fonts to make both words perfectly coincide in length. As a result, the first half of the inscription turned out to be much larger than the second. The glyphs at the top level are huge and vertically stretched; at the bottom, they are small and flattened. Both are uppercase. Because of this, it seems as if the word “ILLUMINATION” fell on “ENTERTAINMENT” and crushed it. Such associations correspond to the concept of a developer of fun cartoons.

2017 – today

In 2017, the word “Entertainment” disappeared from the animation studio’s name and emblem. After the release of Despicable Me 3, the inscription “ILLUMINATION” emerged. Now it doesn’t look too cumbersome because, in this version, the designers did not show its “heaviness” by placing something flattened below. On the contrary, the elongated form of the font embodies lightness and airiness. The extended lines confidently stretch upward, making the letters seem stable.

The logo lacks cartoonish characters and bright colors. This is part of the marketing strategy. The studio aims to create an impression of professionalism and competence. The strict wordmark reflects this image and emphasizes that Illumination takes its work seriously. The company deliberately chose a logo that contrasts with audience expectations. It creates intrigue and arouses curiosity among viewers.

Font and Colors

In both versions of the Illumination logos, the same font is used – Futura Condensed Medium. Typographer Paul Renner created this geometric sans-serif in the mid-1920s, but it remains relevant due to the easily readable form of the letters.

As for the color of the inscription, it is entirely black and is placed on a white background. Such design was chosen to create a contrasting and memorable visual image to reflect the studio’s creative approach.

Illumination color codes