Antenne 2

Credits

Descriptions by
SnowflakesOmega and rj4712

Captures by
SubparMario63 and Camenati

Video captures courtesy of
INA Cuite, Antoine Libotte, Timber Micka, Sylvain Panchuco, LeBazarVidéos and Dominique TINGUELY

Background

In 1974, three channels were established under a 1974 law that mandated the breakup of ORTF into seven distinct organisations, which includes TF1, Antenne 2 and FR3. ORTF then completely ceased operations on 6 January 1975. The channel, along with FR3 was then renamed to France 2 and France 3 in 7 September 1992.

1st Logo (January 6, 1975-1983)

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Logo: On a psychedelic vector background, a TV antenna is formed from two white lines. The antenna then turns into the word "NTENNE" and an "A" which fly around the screen in a psychedelic manner before forming the word "ANTENNE" in white. An orange copy appears above the word "ANTENNE", flies around it, and forms the number "2". The "A" grows and slowly becomes a triangle without a bottom line, with the "2" becoming white and settling inside of it. The "2" then becomes violet and flies around the "A" as the background turns blue. The vector background returns.

Trivia: The logo was created by Peter Foldes, who created the 1956 anti-nuclear war short film A Short Vision, and was also known for pioneering in the field of computer animation with The Hunger, a 1974 short film.

Technique: An early example of Scanimation.

Music/Sounds: Composed by Francois de Roubaix, we hear a loud descending pulse-wave synthesizer at the beginning, that then fades into an electronic warble with another electronic dripping sound once the antenna appears. Four ascending synth bell notes then play with a piano, then a different electronic warble, then the same synth notes and piano, but in a higher pitch. Another high electronic warble then plays, followed by the same synth/piano in a more higher pitch, then an even more higher repeat of the same 2 notes. This is followed by arpeggiating synths.

Availability: Extinct. Was used for programming announcements.

Legacy: This logo gained infamy and popularity in the logo community due to its tense music and vector-animated nature.

2nd Logo (January 6, 1975-1983)

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Logo: In a space full of planets, a red planet and approaches the viewer. Then, various men in blue uniforms fly and settle on the planet. Then we see a rising "2". As that happens, the planet flies away, unveiling the whole image, and the men start flying. They then regroup themselves above the "2" and turn around to reveal the letters of the word "ANTENNE" on their coats. The men then fly away.

Variant: A closedown variant exists where we see one of the men flying towards the others as the two is slowly unveiled, before turning around and flying away like in the normal variant

Trivia: This logo was designed by Jean-Michel Folon.

Technique: Hand-drawn animation.

Music/Sounds: A melancholic oboe and horn piece composed by Michel Colombier, titled "Emmanuel".

Availability: Extinct. This was used as a startup and closedown. This ident was also resurrected in 2017 commercial jingles for France 2.

Legacy: A lot more calm compared to the last logo, but less memorable.

3rd Logo (1978-1980)

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Logo: On a black background, a more twisted sketch of the previous logo is drawn with "A" in red and "2" in green. "ntenne" is seen after the "2" and behind it are multiple curves and lines bursting out of the logo. "presente" can be seen to the bottom right.

Variants:

• On Heidi, the logo is smaller to make room for a curved trapezoid containing the stylized letters "rtsr". A2's logo is different than the normal one with "ntenne" in white and a written font and more detailed curves and line bursts. "presentent" can be seen underneath it and overlapping with the "rtsr" logo.
• On Cro et Bronto, the logo appears as an in-credit logo with the curves and lines removed and simply containing "A2ntenne" with a black outline.

Technique: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Extinct. This can only be found at the beginning of some French programs from this period such as Heidi and Cro et Bronto. However, they have become increasingly hard to find after they have stopped airing on the channel.

4th Logo (1983-1990)

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Logo: We see a black background with pink lighting on the top half and brown lighting on the bottom. One of the brown lights then moves to the right until it stops, and various geometrical shapes fly around it. Then some color-changing circles appear on the brown light as the shapes fly around it. As that happens, the circles separate themselves from the orbit and form an orbit of their own. Then we see a bubble as the logo transitions to a black body of water under a dusk sky. At the top we see rectangles with stripes on them, while bubbles fly around the screen. The rectangles then move to the lower part of the screen, as the sky becomes a morning sky, turning to a diagonal angle as it does. Then the screen moves away to reveal a water background, which zooms out to reveal the Antenne 2 logo.

Trivia: The sequence is intended to represent the transition from night to daytime.

Technique: Unknown

Music/Sounds: An instrumental piece consisting of oboe, drum and violin for the closedown variant. The startup is a more upbeat version of the closedown, with keyboards and drums.

Music/Sounds Variant: There is another variant with a drum and synth theme.

Availability: Extinct.

Legacy: The logo has been noted for its peaceful music and abstract artistic vision.

5th Logo (September 7, 1987-1988)

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Logo: We see red stripes flying by forming lines. Then we see a "2" and an "a" appear, then the "2" turns 90° and the a becomes flat.

Technique: Unknown.

Music/Sounds: A synthesised song with the singer at the beginning singing "A A A2".

Availability: Extinct. This is most likely a prototype for the 5th logo.

6th Logo (December 23, 1987-1990)

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• Full version of the startup variant
• Full version of the alternate startup music

Logo: On a dark grey background with black stripes, a spotlight traces out a faint "2" shape in white, which greatly resembles the future 1991 BBC Two logo in design. As a "a" flies in from the right. As it approaches and rests on the "2", the screen brightens into a light grey color, although the "2" remains in grey and gains a white drop shadow.

Variant:

• There is a startup variant that consists of the a2 logo sliding from the bottom to the center. Then a slide puts it away to reveal the same logo. Then a slide puts that one away to reveal rendered lines while the logo slides in from the left to the center. Then a slide flies by and the slide gets re-rendered revealing the logo sliding down from the top to the center. Then the process starts again from the same logo revelation onward six more times. All the time we hear an extended version of the track, though it lacks the "passionately" part.
• There is a Christmas variant where the A gets packaged in by the 2. The theme is also shorter.
• There is a winter variant in which a strange puppet, which appears to be an anthromorphic polar bear, hops in from the right on snowy ground, holding a sign featuring the Antenna 2 logo covered in snow. It then cuts to a close-up to him signing (which is a deep male voice) and then looking at the sign, zooming in as well.

Technique: CGI.

Music/Sounds: After a few seconds, a pop music-styled tune plays with a lady singing "A2, A2. Passionnément. A2, A2."

Availability: Extinct. This logo was also resurrected in the 2017 commercial jingle for France 2.

7th Logo (1990-September 7, 1992)

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Logo: On a night sky background with exploding fireworks, a blue rectangle appears and a red-yellow "2" is formed on it. Then, from above, the word "ANTENNE" appears.

Variants:

• There is a startup variant that plays out like a sort of music video where people sing "La 2" constantly.
• There is a 1991 variant that consists of a harp and flute theme where the components of the 2 form the 2 together.
• There is a 1992 variant that consists of the logo zooming in while a 2 is getting beatboxed.

Technique: Unknown

Music/Sounds: A chorus.

Availability: Extinct.

◄ Deuxième Chaîne de l'ORTF

Antenne 2

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