Intel (Commercial Tags)

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


1st Tag (1990-1992)


Visuals: Transitioning from the commercial, a vortex is formed. The camera zooms into the vortex, and at the end the Intel Inside logo described in further detail below appears. The rest of the vortex fades out.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: The ending theme of the commercial, usually with an announcer saying:

  • "So check out computers with Intel, the computer inside."
  • "So look for computers that have Intel inside."
  • "At lightspeed, Intel, the computer inside."
  • "Make sure your next PC has one inside."

Availability: It can be seen on their commercials from the era.

2nd Tag (1991)


Visuals: On a beige textured background is the corporate Intel logo in black. Below it is "The Computer Inside.™" in ITC Garamond. At the bottom of the screen, there is text reading "Ask your dealer which 486 SX systems are upgradable." All of the text has a drop shadow.

Technique: A still computerized graphic.

Audio: The ending theme of the commercial.

Availability: Only seen on a 1991 commercial for the i486 SX.

3rd Tag (June 1994-January 2005)


Visuals: On a black background, multiple purple spiral-like shapes appear in a tunnel pattern. They slowly merge together into one, and "intel inside" in a cartoony-like font appears in the center. The logo slightly shines and turns blue.

Variants:

  • Depending on the processor being advertised, its name will usually appear below the logo.
  • Sometimes, Intel's official URL will appear: www.intel.com
    • The URL is usually regionalized depending on the country the commercial is shown in. There exists variants with British, Australian, French, Spanish (both for Spain and Latin America), Portuguese, Dutch, Japanese and South Korean URLs.
  • The South Korean version, alongside having a regional URL, also has "인텔인사이드™" fade in at the top left of the screen.
  • There is an enhanced version introduced in 1998, where the logo has a light purple glow effect, and the words fade in earlier and slightly zoom out.
  • There exists an open matte version of the enhanced version, with the Intel Inside logo being much smaller.
  • Usually, some computer manufacturer's commercials feature a cropped Intel Inside logo usually at the corner of the screen.
    • It also appears along with the advertised computer's specs.

Technique: Simple 90s CGI.

Audio: A loud chime, followed by a 4-note tune (D♭, F#, D♭, A♭) played on a xylo-marimba. Composed by Walter Werzowa, this sound is officially known as the "bong" and is one of the most well-known and popular sounds in the world.

Audio Trivia: Werzowa also did the music for the 1999-2006 BVHE Filmreel bumpers, DTS's Sonic Landscape logo, and Legendary Pictures's second logo, among others.

Audio Variants:

  • On a certainty of commercials by Dell or Gateway, the Pentium III sound is used (seen here, here and here).
  • On The Simpsons Intel commercial, the last note is replaced with Homer's trademark "D'oh!"
  • On Korean commercials, the jingle is usually lower-pitched.

Availability: Seen on almost all Intel Inside commercials between the time period of 1994 to 1999, most notably on their Pentium commercials, but continued to be used for their Xeon and Celeron processors until August 2000 and January 2005, respectively.

Legacy: This tag features the first appearance of the "bong" jingle, which would go on to become one of the most well-known jingles in the world.

4th Tag (January 1, 2006-2008)


Visuals: On a blue background, a white line draws a circle and then "intel" appears onto the circle. A flash occurs, and the background turns white, while the Intel logo turns blue. Then "leap ahead" and the registered trademark symbol appear.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A more synthesized rework of the trademark Intel jingle with whooshing-style effects, with the last 4 notes sounding more like orchestral notes.

Availability: It was seen on some commercials at the time.

5th Tag (2008-2009)


Visuals: On a blue-white gradient background with a reflecting glass surface on the bottom is the Intel logo. The dot of the "I" flashes and sends out computer designs like square groups and capacitors. The "leap ahead" zooms out into place. The Intel logo then shines.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Same as the last logo.

Availability: Like before, it was seen on commercials at the time.

6th Tag (2009-2011)


Visuals: Most of Intel's staff at that time are seen looking at the screen. Then, they sing the company's trademark jingle before fading into blue. The Intel logo later shows up with the dot of the "I" being changed from its shiny gold appearance to its standard appearance. Then, the logo shines while the tagline "Sponsors of Tomorrow" appears on the bottom.

Variants:

  • Another variation of Intel's staff (in a different lineup) doing the jingle also exists.
  • There is also a variant featuring members from Girls Generation singing the jingle.
  • Another variant features characters from DreamWorks Animation properties, Shrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda singing the jingle. This was used on Intel's advertisements for their Core i5 processor which featured the Madagascar Penguins.
  • Several Japan-exclusive variants featuring Intel's spokespersons for that region singing the jingle also exists.
  • On Japanese Hewlett-Packard commercials, a variant of several members from AKB48 singing the jingle also exists.
  • There is a variant where the staff is absent, leaving just the jingle with the regular logo.

Technique: A mix of live-action and CGI.

Audio: Same as the 4th tag, but with Intel's staff singing the jingle.

Availability: Seen on Intel's commercials at that time.

7th Tag (September 2, 2020-)

Visuals: Transitioning from whatever commercial it appears on, many small blue squares of different shades start to appear, forming one giant one. The camera quickly zooms out, and it is revealed that this is happening on a dark blue background. Below the square is a white line, representing an "i". The letters "n", "t", "e", and "l" settle into position one-by-one, before the "i"'s dot becomes turquoise.

Variant: A variant with a light blue background exists, which doesn't transition from a commercial.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A new rendition of the Intel jingle.

Audio Variants:

  • The main jingle has two variants: one with a fast orchestration, and another with a slower piano-driven tune.
  • Some TV commercials from 2020 to 2021 would incorporate the Intel jingle into their respective musical scores.
  • The 2006 rendition of the Intel jingle was also used as a placeholder early on.

Availability: Seen on current commercials starting in 2020.

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