SML Logo PNG
SML (ex-SML Plush Show, SuperMarioLogan) is a US-based YouTube channel, which became popular due to skits featuring Nintendo plush toys and puppets. The creator of the channel, Logan Thirtyacre, co-authored the videos with his elder brother Lance Thirtyacre, and other artists. The channel name and content had to undergo transformations because of legal problems with Nintendo.
Meaning and History
December 8, 2007, was the day Logan Thirtyacre registered the channel on YouTube, while the name of the first video was Super Mario Got Milk. Originally, Logan published a lot of reviews of games featuring Mario and Tony the Tiger. But it was his brilliant commentaries and interviews with his plush dolls that became a major audience magnet. Apart from Logan, the team behind the channel also includes Lance, his elder brother, as well as several close acquaintances (Lovell Stanton, Audrey O’Mallie, Pablo Sanchez, Chilly and Tito Jimenez, and Elaina Keyes). In 2018, the channel faced age restrictions from YouTube, and then in 2021, it got a cease and desist letter from Nintendo. As a result, the original channel was deleted, the names of the main and related channels were changed, as well as the contents of the videos.
What is SLM?
The description of the YouTube channel states that SML contains “adult humored plush videos,” and it also emphasizes that the content is intended for mature audiences.
2007 – 2009
The original logo was dominated by the depiction of Mario’s face. To the right, there was a yellow rectangle featuring the channel name in dark blue cursive letters. The glyphs looked somewhat irregular, which emphasized the playful logo and contents of the channel.
2009
The SML logo in 2009 features a stylized, cartoonish character with a prominent mustache and a red cap, reminiscent of a classic video game icon. The character’s face is central to the design, with exaggerated features that convey a playful and friendly demeanor. The color scheme primarily consists of bold red and blue tones, creating a vibrant and eye-catching appearance. The background is dark, which accentuates the character’s features and makes the logo stand out.
2009 – 2017
In 2009, Logan decided to add an abbreviated version of the channel name to the logo. He placed the lettering “SML” in the lower-left corner of the design. In comparison with the original version, the update was a bit more refined. A combination of a darker outline and lighter filling was used to make the letters better visible. While the position and the face of Mario remained the same, the scaling was changed.
2017 – 2021
A minor update took place, which might not be obvious unless you compare the two versions side by side. In the new logo, the letters “SML” feature a different typeface. It has lost its playful irregularity but looks a bit better readable now. The reason why Logan didn’t dare make a total transformation was obvious – by the end of 2016, his channel achieved a million subscribers, and one has to think twice before introducing any dramatic changes to such a well-recognized media.
2021 (original channel), 2021 – present (4th channel)
In 2021, when the channel already had 9.6+ million subscribers, several events happened that affected its existence. Most importantly, SML was prohibited from using officially licensed Super Mario plushes for their skits. That was the requirement of Nintendo. Instead, the channel used human puppets.
The legal issues with Nintendo also influenced the logo. While Mario was removed from it altogether, the name of the channel now became the centerpiece of the design. The letters got back their lively irregular style, which was even more obvious now. More importantly, each letter now featured a different color. In addition to the original yellow, there were now blue and red, which were borrowed from Mario’s outfit. Also, some volume was added due to the black shades.
Font and Color
The typeface has transformed more than once, each update reflecting a new page in the channel’s history. The original version was pretty amateurish, which perfectly fit a newly-created media. As the number of subscribers was increasing, the font choice was growing more sophisticated. In 2021, Logan opted for a custom type, its playfulness somewhat correlating with the video contents.
The color choice has always been inspired by the looks of the Mario character, which appears to be the most obvious choice. While the designers have taken some liberty with the hues, the basic colors – yellow, red, and blue – have been preserved.
