Introduction
Whilst researching mockumentaries, it also seemed apparent to have a logo to establish the brand and tone of our production. Therefore, I will be researching more into logo's before attempting different designs for our own production.
What are other Mockumentary Logo Designs/Animations?
Below are some of the logos that I've researched. As not all mockumentaries have a standard published logo, my research will be a mixture of whether they have a published logo, or one taken from the title sequence. Additionally, I will research the logo as a still image as well as the ways on which it has been animated in the title sequence.
The Office (US)
Still Image
As you can see from the image, The Office (US) has a simplistic logo design. You can tell from the image that the two characters are involved in something business based, which is a typical theme of The Office. Nonetheless, the font of the office too is very simplistic - perhaps so that it seems professional as working in an office (or any working environment) is meant to be kept professional. Of course, this contradicts the program as you often see acts of immaturity within the office, so perhaps the logo is meant to look professional to contradict against the show itself. Therefore, this simplistic design works in a way to enhance the comedy of the program as for those who have seem the program will learn that the logo is ironic and doesn't promote everyday office life.
Animation
The animation for the logo is quite clever whilst remaining simplistic. It simply shows the logo but without the 'The', making the logo seem like a sign which just says 'Office' as well as the picture. The 'The' then appears after the camera pans from the image over to 'Office'. This helps to emphasise that this is 'The Office' and not just any typical office, giving a clue to the audience that what you will see will be something you won't expect. This contradicts my point about saying how they've made it simplistic so that you'll be surprised on what you see, however this is very subtle and only leads a little hint that it isn't your everyday office. Nonetheless, the animation is reasonably simplistic, which overall makes the logo and animation a very basic design.
The Office (UK)
Still Image
Likewise to the american version, the UK The Office too is very simplistic and reasonably bland in terms of the logo itself. All we see is an image of a building in the background which we believe to be a typical stack of offices. This works well against the bland and simple logo as it hints that those working in an office may have a bland and typical everyday life, hence the simple logo. Additionally, this too works in an ironic manor as the program does not provoke simple everyday office living, helping to give the show more humour as the logo should give hints that we will be seeing a documentation of everyday office life. Therefore, despite having a simplistic font and design, the logo seems apparent and effective for those who have seen the show.
Animation
The animation for this too is very basic. All which happens is that the title 'The Office' fades onto screen - there isn't any other animation. This reinforces this idea of the simplicity of the show which furthermore enables the audience to learn that this isn't your everyday office, helping to stay ironic.
Trailer Park Boys
As you can see from the image, Trailer Park Boys too has a very simplistic logo. It simply has the show's name in bold and capitalised, with a contrasting red to black font to make it stand out even more. This can only hint that the show itself may be bold and dramatic, however you could say that the title has a casual and immature sense because of the contrasting colours - it doesn't seem like a professional title. This relates to the show as we constantly see immature behaviour, meaning for those who have seen the show, they would agree that the style and tone of the title does refer to the story. Nonetheless, this title remains enigmatic in a way that it doesn't reveal anything about the story, unlike both the UK and US The Office which both include elements that establish the location. Thus, to me this logo isn't entirely effective, however it does have a similar tone which relates to the story itself.
Animation
Unusually, the title sequence for Trailer Park Boys doesn't have a very published logo. Instead, the only evidence of the logo is at the beginning of the title sequence when the title 'Trailer Park Boys' appears in the bottom right of the screen, as shown in the image. This is very subtle as the title isn't even situated in the centre of the screen, isn't the same as the actual logo and doesn't stand out very well. Nonetheless, this idea of being subtle works very well with the title sequence's soundtrack - it is very basic and doesn't have much of a beat which then contrasts with the action you see within the story. In terms of animation, the title only fades in likewise to The Office (UK), helping to reinforce this subtle manor which the title sequence provokes.
Modern Family
Now seeming conventional, Modern Family too has a simplistic logo. The style simply consists of the show's name in serif font that uses two colours to parallel against each other (black against red). This can hint that the show may have a disruption within it's story because of the parallel in colours, however the logo is reasonably enigmatic. Likewise to Trailer Park Boys, we don't get a sense of the story or any location just from the logo. Additionally, the font has purposely been chosen to be quite faint and not stand out - this could link that the show may be showing an everyday 'modern family' and is simply documenting on these families. Nonetheless, when watching this program you can immediately identify that the families are not your everyday families, working in a similar way to The Office (UK and US) and makes the title ironic. Therefore, it is now seeming conventional for logo's to be very simplistic, almost as a way to contradict the simplicity in the narrative of the mockumentary.
Animation
When looking at the logo during the title sequence, the logo too differs likewise to Trailer Park Boys. Although having the same font and structure, the colours differ - we now have a black background, and instead the black for 'modern' against the red 'family', we now have a white 'modern' and orange 'family'. These colours still contrast against one another however in my opinion not enough to show that it could lead to a disruptive narrative. Nonetheless, you can argue that the use of orange helps to create a warming feeling when looking at the logo, which could then contradict to the drama you see within the show. Thus, this still has a similar effect, but it is unusual to see that the logo changes colour in the title sequence. In terms of animation, nothing happens to the logo apart from it zooms in after the graphic match from the family holding the picture (which is part of the title sequence). Therefore, it is becoming conventional that animating the logo is purposely being kept simplistic.
People Just Do Nothing
Still Image
Unlike all other examples, this show doesn't actually have it's own logo. The closest it has to a logo is the show's name which appears on the title sequence, as you can see in the image above. Nonetheless, this is similar to The Office (UK) int terms of using a location which may hint that this is where the mockumentary will be established. For example, this location in this logo may hint that People just do nothing will be filmed in a city-based location, judging from the sky scrapers. Additionally, it may hint that it is in a grimy area as these sky scrapers could be for flats. Nonetheless, the title itself too is very simplistic - it is literally just a white sans-serif font which has been capitalised, showing that there hasn't been any modifications or work to make it stand out. However, this conforms to the conventions judging from the previous examples I've researched and as you watch the show, it remains iconic as the show isn't as simple as the title. In a way, you could argue that the simplicity of the title can link to the grimness of the location which we believe to be filmed. Nonetheless, to me this is quite an effective yet simplistic logo as it remains conventional and simplistic whilst at the same time helping to establish the scene.
Animation
In terms of animation, the title itself doesn't move apart from fading in. However, we see a live background as we see lights flashing, cars driving by (which is sped up to make it more evident) which help to give some content for the title as well as emphasising that this could be the location on which the mockumentary is based (which it is). Therefore, this too has quite simple animation however the idea of having a 'live' background to me works in a significant manor.
Summer Heights High
Still Image
Perhaps the most animated and least conventional from all my examples, Summer Heights High to me has a reasonably effective logo. You can establish the location judging from the building at the bottom of the logo which gives hint to being a school. The logo itself is very bold and stands out and has a reference of summer with the sun beaming on the logo - perhaps hinting that the documentary could be very peaceful and motivating if referring to the sun. This works similarly to all other of my examples as when watching the show there is no sense of a peaceful nature and is instead the opposite. Nonetheless, the font itself can give hints to that the mockumentary is based in a school - it has a a casual and unprofessional feel making the title seem quite immature, which helps to link that this is based at a school with young children. Therefore, this logo is reasonably effective and conventional as it helps to establish the location and follow this ironic sense of giving out a motivating and peaceful feel when the show is the literal opposite.
Animation
Unlike all other examples, this has quite alot of animation for the logo - we see the title swoop in with a sun beaming in the background, before swooping back out of shot. This works effectively as the use of the sun reinforces this idea that what you are about to see is likely to be pleasant and charming (as mentioned earlier) thus creating a 'calm' tone for the programme. However, this is done purposely for comedic reasons as when you watch it the program is basically the opposite. Nonetheless, although unconventional compared to my other examples, the animations on this work well for setting up the program.
Conclusion
To conclude, I now feel that I understand why title sequences for typical mockumentaries stick to this simplistic design. It enables an immediate irony for those who have seen the program before, which is all purposely done to help add to the comedic aspect of the program. Additionally, you can argue that mockumentaries such as The Office UK and People just do nothing use locations in their title sequences not just to establish the setting, but also to conform to this idea of setting up where the documentary will be based - as a mockumentary is still technically a documentary. Nonetheless, I will now begin to design a couple of ideas on which I have for the logo, including what I aim to create when animating the logo for the title sequence.
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