National Film Board of Canada

Background

The National Film Board of Canada ("l'Office national du film du Canada" in French) was established in 1939. It produced movies such as cartoons and action-live motion pictures. No logo was used until 1968.

1st Logo (1939-1968)

Logo: Just a background with the text

THE NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA p r e s e n t s

Variant: At the end, it says: The End. A NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA PRODUCTION or Produced by THE NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The theme of the movie.

Availability: Still available on any motion pictures and cartoons produced by the company.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (1968-1991)

Nickname: The Visionary Man

Logo: On a black background, we see a green stick figure with arms connected to form an eye shape being drawn in. Then, it zooms out. We see the green character, followed by:
National Office Film Board national du film of Canada du Canada

Variant: In some releases of 1989, a 50th anniversary logo replaces this one.

FX/SFX: The drawing.

Music/Sounds: Usually silent or the opening theme of any film or cartoon.

Music Variants: Three music variations exist: Street Musique (1972) by the late Ryan Larkin had a bright-sounding Moog synthesizer tune. Another music variant had an electronic synth fanfare that turns "triumphant" at the end. On Get a Job! (1985) and Every Dog's Guide to Complete Home Safety (1986), cartoon sound effects were heard throughout the logo.

Availability: Still seen on some motion pictures and cartoons produced by the company. Can currently be found on some short films and cartoons on NFB's YouTube page.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Logo (1979-1993)

Nicknames: Color Trail, The Visionary Man II

Logo: On a black background, we see a red circle growing in color continuously until a green dot flies over to cover it all and change it into the visionary man.

FX/SFX: The zooming, spinning and trail.

Music/Sounds: None or the opening theme of any movie or cartoon. On a 1988 reissue of Log Driver's Waltz (1979) by John Weldon, it had a mystical sounding fanfare.

Availability: Still found on some motion pictures and cartoons of this era. Can also be found on some short films/cartoons on NFB's YouTube page.

Editor's Note: None.

4th Logo (1993-2003)

Nicknames: The Frame, The Visionary Man III

Logo: On a black background, we see drawn versions of the visionary man appearing one by one as they change into the real ones. They mix-and-match to create the big visionary man in a frame with "ONF" on the first side and "NFB" on the other one. Green lights flash to complete the logo.

FX/SFX: Everything.

Music/Sounds: A caking robbing movie tune with cinematographic sounds.

Availability: Seen on any movies and cartoons from the era produced by the company. Can even be found on short films/cartoons on NFB's YouTube page.

Editor's Note: None.

5th Logo (2003-2020)

Nicknames: The CGI Man, Visionary Man IV

Logo: On a black background, we see color squares meeting up to create a single man with feet. After that, this all turns white with "NFB" and "ONF" in it. They separate to complete the logo.

FX/SFX: The squares, the sliding.

Music/Sounds: A film projector sound, followed by a rising string theme and several tribal drumbeats. The theme stops in its tracks as the squares turn white, and then ends with a laser sound with a deep note.

Availability: Currently in Use.

Editor's Note: None.