Carnival Films

Credits

Editions by
Michael Kenchington

Background

Carnival Films is a British production company which was founded in 1978 as Picture Partnership Productions by feature film producer Brian Eastman. It was later renamed to its current name in 1991. The company produces feature films and programs such as the long-running series Downton Abbey and The Last Kingdom. In 2007 the company was sold to Australian company Southern Star Entertainment and was later acquired by American-based media company NBCUniversal (who owns Universal Television) in 2008, marking its first UK acquisition and adding the company into its international portfolio. Prior to 2002, the company had no on-screen logo and used in-credit text notices at the time.

1st Logo (March 5, 2002-August 9, 2004)

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Visuals: Over a blue background, the logo starts with the light revealing the words "a carnival films production" with "L" and "F" connected together in a flashing effect.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: A high-pitched synth note.

Availability: This logo first appeared on the U.S. version of As If and was last seen on The Grid.

2nd Logo (August 31, 2003-2016)

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  Normal
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  Early
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  With the BBC logo
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  The Last Kingdom
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  With the Sky logo
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  With the Masterpiece logo
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  With the BBC Scotland logo
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  Print
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  The Worricker Trilogy
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  The Hollow Crown

Visuals: There is a red spotlight with orange light streaks and a purple light is seen then the flaming light reveals the words "Carnival" in a different font with the small text on the bottom right reads "a carnival films production" then the light stops flashing.

Variants:

• An early version exists, where the background and the light streaks are different with the text "a Carnival production" with the same text as the previous logo and it's still.
• On Downton Abbey, the logo remains the same but the text "a Carnival (in it's corporate text as seen above)/ Masterpiece co-production" is seen below the logo with a copyright disclaimer.
• Sometimes, the logo can be still.
  • A version of said variant where it is inside a red box also exists.
• A notice for shows by the BBC, ITV, or Sky co-produced with Carnival Films may be placed underneath the former's logo.
• On season 1 of The Last Kingdom, the text "co-production with BBC America" is seen below the logo. The logo is also smaller and seen with a blurred black box.
• On The Worricker Trilogy, only the "Carnival" text of the logo as well as a small portion of the background is seen albeit as an in-credit notice.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: Usually the ending theme of the programme or none.

Audio Variants: On Downton Abbey and the first season of Stan Lee's Lucky Man, a two note theme with a synthesized sound is used.

Availability: This logo first appeared on it's shows and miniseries that they produced from this era until 2017 such as Rosemary & Thyme, the final season of Sea of Souls, the long-running series Downton Abbey, The Last Kingdom, The Philanthropist, Dracula, Whitechapel and The Hollow Crown.

• The variant with the rex box can be seen on DVD releases of their shows.
• The variant with the 2013 ITV logo is also seen on UKTV Drama airings of S04E01 of Whitechapel, which is then followed by the 2010 BBC Worldwide logo.

3rd Logo (May 5, 2017-)

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  Normal
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  With the Sky logo
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  With the Epix logo
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  Downtony Abbey (2019)/Downton Abbey: A New Era closing

Visuals: Over a black background, the logo starts with multicolored smoke and multiple lines with swirls is seen to form the word "CARNIVAL" then the whole logo turns white with some smoke becomes grey then it disappears.

Variants:

• A notice for various channels co-produced with Carnival may be placed underneath the latter's logo.
• At the end of the movie adaptation of Downton Abbey and its sequel Downton Abbey: A New Era, the logo is still with colored smoke on it.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: The ending theme of the programme, or the opening theme of the movie.

Audio Variant: At the end of the final two seasons of Stan Lee's Lucky Man, the fanfare from the previous logo is heard.

Availability: This logo first appeared on Jamestown and was then later seen on later seasons of Stan Lee's Lucky Man and The Last Kingdom.

• It is also seen on the movie adaptation of the long running series Downton Abbey and its 2022 sequel Downton Abbey: A New Era.