Studio Babelsberg

Background

Studio Babelsberg was formed in 1912 as Deutsche Bioscope. Later it merged with Decla in 1920 to form Decla-Bioscop and year later, merged into Universum Film (UFA). In 1946 the remains of the enterprise became DEFA, the most prominent film studio in East Germany. After the fall of the Wall, the Babelsberg facility was sold to Vivendi Universal and later resold in 2004 to independent German owners. Since then, the studio continues to produce many international films and create several on its own.

1st (known) Logo (1990's-2004)

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Visuals: There are many shining reddish streaks which outline vague structures on black background. Then we move right to see the turning 3D Babelsberg gate made of red lights. Its copy remains in the top left corner, and a blue ribbon appears with the name "Babelsberg Film", slightly tilted out.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A drum thus, following by a piece of flute with synth whoosh that plays for the logo's duration. This was followed by a random piano piece, then a rock guitar before a final whoosh plays. All of this was done with a orchestral music piece.

Availability: Sometimes seen in-credit. The animated version was seen on Die Stille nach dem Schuß.

2nd Logo (2004-)

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Visuals: The camera swirls around a glassy white human figure resembling a nude woman, which alludes to the Maschinenmensch from the studio's famous film Metropolis. Accompanied with flying light threads, the figure eventually becomes still and flat with the name "STUDIO BABELSBERG" below.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Flute and synth theme.

Availability: The still version appeared on Unknown (2011) and the fully animated version was first seen on La Belle et la Bête (Beauty and the Beast) (2014).