Milkyway Image

Credits

Captures by
Chow Woon Gan

Editions by
Yuuko2K and Chow Woon Gan

Video captures courtesy of
Asia Movie Logos

Background

Milkyway Image (Hong Kong) Ltd. (Chinese: 銀河映像(香港) 有限公司) is a production company based in Hong Kong. The company was established in 1996 by prolific director Johnnie To in joint partnership with frequent collaborator Wai Ka-Fai. The company is known best for producing dark crime films inspired by the work of French director Jean-Pierre Melville and the genre of Film noir. Milkyway Image's productions have been repeatedly praised as a bold move against the slapdash commercialism found in post-handover Hong Kong cinema, and have also attracted a significant international fan base.

1st Logo (1996-1998)

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Visuals: In space, the red-colored flash occurs at the bottom-left side of the screen, turns purple, and moves to the center, while a diamond-like shape zooms out and flips. The word "MILKYWAY" in a futuristic circuitry-like font zooms out while rotating to the left and stops in the shape. The flash and stars go out and the Chinese characters fade in. After that, the words "MILKYWAY" and "IMAGE" appear and move to make the company's name. The word "production" or "presents" appears below.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A majestic fanfare.

Availability: Can be found on Milkyway Image's first films, including Too Many Ways to Be No. 1.

2nd Logo (January 1, 1998-)

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Visuals: On a black background, the diamond-like shape from the previous logos, but blue, appears at the bottom of the screen and moves to the left. A flash occurs on it, making the "MILKYWAY" text appear. The following text wipes in below:

銀 河 映 像 ( 香 港 ) 有 限 公 司 出 品 及 製 作
PRESENTED & PRODUCED BY MILKYWAY IMAGE (HK) LTD

Variant: In later years, the logo is darker and the text are changed to "銀 河 映 像 ( 香 港 ) 有 限 公 司 製 作" and "MILKYWAY IMAGE (HK) LTD PRODUCTION".

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: A whoosh and a laser-like sound effect when the text appears. In later years, electric and laser sounds are heard. Otherwise, the opening theme of the movie.

Availability: Appears on many of their films starting with The Longest Nite.

3rd Logo (August 11, 2000)

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Visuals: On a black background, the diamond-like shape from the previous logo emerges, and then the word "MILKYWAY" from before zooms out as "MILKYWAY IMAGE" in a steel blue-tinted rainbow color, flips in below. Then the text fades in below:

銀河映像（香港）有限公司
MILKYWAY IMAGE (HK) LTD
production

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Same as the previous logo.

Availability: The only film where this logo was spotted is Help!!!.