Icon Productions

Background : Icon Productions is a production company that is owned by Mel Gibson formed in August 1989. The first production was Hamlet, released December 19, 1990, but logo wasn't used until the release of Forever Young. The company also produces films in the UK and Australia through its British subsidiary Icon Entertainment International, and distributes cinema films through its British subsidiary Icon Film Distribution Ltd, and its Australian subsidiary Icon Film Distribution Pty Ltd.

1st Logo (December 11, 1992-May 20, 1994)

Logo : On a black background, two streaks of blue flame come from the left and right, and then collide, causing a red explosion. The blue words "ICON" and "PRODUCTIONS" rise from the flame line from top and bottom of it respectively, with lines on top and bottom of "PRODUCTIONS". Then, a blue outlining of a knight with a sword standing in front of a couple of rock structures with the sun behind it rises from "ICON". As this happens, the majority of the company name turns yellow, leaving only a hint of blue and white on top of "ICON". The sword shines.

Variants :
 * A still version appears at the end credits of Forever Young.
 * On Maverick, the logo is almost still with the sword shining.

FX/SFX : The flame, the explosion (which is hand-drawn in the Richard Williams style), the company name coming from the flame, the knight rising, and the sword shining.

Music/Sounds : When the streaks of flame come, there is a flaming noise, with a "BOOM" at the explosion. When the knight rises, there is an ominous theme with creaking noises. When the sword shines, there is a sound of a sword being drawn.

Availability : Seen on films of the era such as Forever Young, The Man Without a Face, Airborne, and Maverick.

Scare Factor : Medium, bordering on high; the dramatics, the fire and explosion and the theme may scare a few, but it's lower for those who are used to seeing it. Minimal for the still versions.

2nd Logo (December 16, 1994- )

Logo : We first see lightning striking in the right side of the screen. A picture of an eye (a close up of the Theotokos of Vladimir icon) fades in, and lightning strikes again. The camera zooms out revealing more of the picture, and lightning forms the word "ICON" (in the Trajan typeface). The word "PRODUCTIONS" (in spaced-out letters) appears below.

Variants :*On the UK and Australia prints of films starting in 1999, the word "PRODUCTIONS" was omitted.
 * Some foreign releases replace the term "PRODUCTIONS" with "ENTERTAINMENT INTERNATIONAL".
 * A rare closing print version exists.

FX/SFX : The lightning, which looks very professional.

Music/Sounds : Just the sound of the thunder. On some movies, the logo is silent, or has the opening theme playing over it.

Availability : Common. The logo first appeared at the beginning of Immortal Beloved, and appears on films such as Braveheart, What Women Want, Passion of the Christ, The Miracle Maker, and more. A shortened version appeared on two short-lived shows from 2004: ABC's Complete Savages and CBS'sClubhouse. An international version is rare and was seen on The Miracle Maker, and the trailer of One Decent Criminal.

Scare Factor : Medium to high, the lightning may scare some people. It might remind you of the Renassiance Pictures "Bad Weather in the Louvre" logo. The scare factor is lower for those who are used to seeing it, though. Low for the version with the silent variation and the variation with the movie's opening theme.