Illumination Logo

Illumination LogoIllumination Logo PNG

Not all companies 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.

Illumination: Brand overview

Founded:January 17, 2007
Founder:Chris Meledandri
Headquarters:
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Website:illumination.com
Illumination is the creator of such well-known animated films as Despicable Me, Minions, The Secret Life of Pets, and Sing. This company was founded in 2007 by American producer Christopher Meledandri, who previously headed Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox Animation. Having vast experience in the film industry, he managed to organize the activities of the new animation studio properly, and in 2010, it launched a media franchise about a supervillain named Gru. As a rule, all Illumination films have a relatively low budget because the company uses economical animation methods. This is one of Meledandri’s principles.

Meaning and History

Illumination Logo 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, but it is inconsistent 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 of creative work, bringing millions of viewers joy.

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

Illumination Entertainment Logo 2007

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; they are small and flattened at the bottom. 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

Illumination Logo

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 letters’ easily readable form.

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.