Leonine Distribution

Credits

Descriptions by
CooleyBoy10, DannyTheMuppetMan and TheLogoFan2004

Editions by
Henrynguye5 and TheLogoFan2004

Video captures courtesy of
Ahmed Hassn, DanielMuppetBoi and ifrequire

Background

Universum Film GmBH is a film distribution company previously owned by the RTL Group. It was founded in 1979 to release videotapes and has no correlation with Universum Film AG. Nowadays, it distributes films together with Buena Vista International. As of 2020, the company is owned by American private equity firm KKR and has been renamed to Leonine Distribution.

1st Logo (early 2000s-2015)

Logo: In space, we see the Solar System, with several planets (some with moons orbiting them), a Milky Way, and another planet that flies towards the others. Suddenly, the camera moves around the planets as a silver crescent slowly fades in. The planets disappear in the crescent as the text "universum" flies around it in a Universal-style way. The crescent glows blue, as it changes into a smaller crescent with two dots near it. The words "universum" and "film" are seen next to the blue crescent. The logo slowly zooms in as a blue flash appears behind it and slowly dissipates.

Variant: On Family-oriented releases from the company, the animation is slightly cheaper and there's a visible rotating Earth instead of the bigger ball next to the crescent.

FX/SFX: Very good CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: A series of string notes and a brief synth section, that gives off the impression of being in space. The music suddenly grows more dramatic, before it turns into a powerful fanfare.

Availability: Common in German prints of movies on DVD and Blu-rays and in theaters.

Editor’s Note: This clearly has some Universal inspirations, however it's not as strong as the next logo.

2nd Logo (2015-2019)

Logo: We fade into space, with this time only stars. The camera moves to the left, where we see a close-up of a backwards transparent "m". As we move past it, we see the Earth, a nebula and a few of the planets from the last logo. The "universum film" text then flies past the globe and the screen, also transparent. When the "m" in "film" passes by, a trail of sparkles are left, which pass by the screen. The print Universum Film logo then appears, and the space backdrop fades out. A purplish-blue light then goes to the left of the screen until it's not longer visible.

FX/SFX: Gorgeous CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: Same as the last logo.

Availability: Common in Germany. Seen on releases from Universum Film starting in 2015.

Editor's Note: This logo is very reminiscent of the 2012 Universal logo in the quality of its CGI and the overall feel of it.

3rd Logo (2019- )

Logo: A forest appears which a bird is standing on a statue of a lion. Then, the bird takes off from the lion and flies into the sunrise then the trees surrounding it form the wordmark "LEONINE" as the forest fades into black.

FX/SFX: Superior CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: TBA.

Availability: Common in Germany. Seen on releases from Leonine from 2019 onwards. Also seen on current TV and home media releases produced and/or licensed by Leonine. Also seen at the end of TV shows produced by Leonine's TV units.

Editor's Note: None.