Funimation Productions, LLC, is an entertainment company based in Flower Mound, Texas. It focuses on the dubbing and distribution of East Asian media, including Japanese anime.
For much of its history, the Funimation logo was based on the combination of geometrical shapes inspired by an exclamation mark.
Meaning and history
1994 – 1996 (Funimation Productions)
The original logo combined three shapes: a white star (on the forefront), a larger red circle (behind the star), and a blue rectangle (behind the circle). During the earliest period of the company’s history, the square was standing on its narrow side, while the company name could be seen next to it.
In the 1994 version, the lettering featured a somewhat playful type and was placed to the right of the emblem.
1996 – 2004
The typeface grew straighter and more “serious.” The name of the company was typically placed below the geometrical emblem, although you could still come across a version where it stayed in its previous place. In this case, shades were added, which made the design different from the 1994 logo.
2004 – 2005
The position of the shapes forming the emblem and their size slightly changed. So, while the overall look of the emblem might have preserved pretty much the same, you could feel it had been refreshed.
Another important update was that the text grew larger in comparison with the pictorial part of the logo – it now occupied more space.
2005 – 2009 (Funimation Entertainment)
The design team preserved the original three shapes but gave them a much more playful and fun look. The rectangle was replaced by an irregular quadrilateral. It now stood on one of its longer sides, due to which it was possible to place the name of the company inside, not next to the emblem.
While the red circle was preserved rather large, the white star grew by far smaller. The “serious” type was replaced by something that better fitted the word “fun” in the company’s name.
2007 – 2011
The gradient that was added to the design created a 3D effect.
2011 – 2016
The geometric emblem disappeared leaving only the word “Funimation.” The type remained unchanged. A large “F” appeared below the writing.
2016 – Today
The Funimation logo went through a complete overhaul. Many of the angles on the letters were rounded. The type grew lighter. The “o” was replaced by a “smiling” circle.