Toei (Japan)

Background

Toei was founded in 1949 during the dismantling of the traditional Japanese film industry, as a result of some of the oldest elements of motion picture producers Makino, Toyoto Motion Pictures, Tokyo Pictures, and Ohizumi studios. In its early years, Toei preferred to build local cinemas in villages and near train stations over making quality movies. In 1956, Toei established an animation division, Toei Animation Company Limited at the former Tokyo-Ōizumi animation studio, purchasing the assets of Japan Animated Films.

1st Logo (1950-2001)

Nicknames: "The Seashore I", "The Triangle I", "東映 I"

Logo: We see a video of a sea with some rocks and waves crashing ashore. Then, when big waves form, a triangle with the kanji "東映" (which means "TOEI") in a superimposed style, zooms in.

Variants:

• On pre-1969 films, the logo appears in black & white.
• On early prints of the logo, the words (also in Japanese text) "COMPANY, LTD." are seen below the logo.
• On some English export prints, the logo is translated into English, with the words "A TOEI COMPANY, LTD. Picture".
• Other English export prints have the text "A TOEI PICTURE" pop in a split-second after the logo settles.
• The Thorn EMI release of Roaring Fire has the text "TOEI COMPANY, LTD. Presents" fading in below.
• When ToeiScope premiered, the logo would appear with the letters "TOEI-SCOPE" surrounding the logo.
• The logo may be completely still on some films.
• On a Greek VHS of The Golden Bird, there is a blue tint to the logo.
• There is a variant seen on Hakujyaden, in which two fireworks explode on a blue background, which is followed by the Toei logo (in yellow) zooming up.
• On the Dragon Ball fire safety video Gokū no Shōbōtai (Goku's Fire Brigade), the Toei logo is in gold and on a black background.

FX/SFX: The live-action background and zooming of the logo.

Music/Sounds: The sound of waves crashing, silent, or the opening theme of the film. The Hakujyaden variant uses a patriotic fanfare.

Availability: Seen on Toei releases from the era. Sometimes is removed or plastered with local distributors logos on export prints, but is often retained. Some films that have this are the Dragon Ball films, the Street Fighter trilogy, Karate Bullfighter, and The Wonderful World of Puss 'n Boots. The "A TOEI PICTURE" variant appears on the English version of Shogun's Ninja. The logo may have appeared on original release prints of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, but no evidence proving this has shown up as of yet. It might have also been on original release prints of Castle in the Sky and Kiki's Delivery Service, but has since been replaced on most home video releases of both films with the current Studio Ghibli logo.

2nd Logo (2001-)

Nicknames: "The Seashore II", "The Triangle II", "東映 II", "The New And Improved Seashore", "A Wall Of Clouds/Water"

Logo: A light appears and reveals a "wall" of clouds and water, which takes over the entire screen. It reveals a black Toei logo on the wall for a few seconds. The words "TOEI COMPANY, LTD." emerge from the water at the bottom side of the screen, and the "wall" crossfades to the seashore from the previous logo, with the Toei triangle zooming in and while it does so it turns back to it's normal white color. The seashore fades out to the black BG, leaving the text and triangle on it.

Variant: Since 2010, the wall looks more like it's made of water, and the Toei logo isn't revealed on it.

FX/SFX: The light, the "wall", the words emerging, the fading, the live-action background and triangle zooming in.

Music/Sounds: Same as before.

Availability: Current. Films that have this are all modern Super Sentai and Kamen Rider films and the Special Edition of Battle Royale.