Logos[]
1st logo (1988 - present)[]
There is a blue triangle with a streak, resembling a grass leaf, coming inside of it and projecting out of the triangle. While inside, the streak is black (background-colored) and its outer point is blue. The word "TAITO" is seen below.
Variants[]
- Some games have the triangle logomark taking place of the "A" of the Taito wordmark. This is typically seen on the title screen on most arcade games of the era, and was later used as an on-screen logo on modern games. On rare occasions such as the arcade version of G-Darius, it may have "PRESENTS" below.
- Many arcade games have unique variants of the logo (as described in the variants page).
- A special variant was used when booting up the company's forgotten video game console/karaoke machine hybrid Taito X-55. Here, on a white background, the blue triangle spins until it settles in its usual position. The blue circle bounces and forms the streak, thus forming the usual trademark logo. Once the circle settles in its usual position, it flashes on through the completed logo on a black background.
- On the Game Boy Color games of Dexter's Laboratory: Robot Rampage and Sgt. Rock: On the Front Line, the Altron logo is shown above the logo.
2nd logo (1990s)[]
Similar to the 1st commercial tag, except that rather than dropping the dot, the triangle-streak trademark shifts from side-to-side causing the dot to bounce around, as the face pieces become the "TAITO" text. After the logo finishes forming, the background then fades from white to black.
3rd logo (Early 1990s - 2000s)[]
We start off on a blue background, which then reveals to be the Taito triangle logomark, zooming out ala the 1980 WCI/Warner Home Video logo. Then, "TAITO", in its trademark font and colored grey, fades in below.
Variants[]
- Some games, like the 3DO port of Bust-A-Move, have a cut-short version of the logo lacking the blue background.
- The logo was redone in later games with smoother animation; also the text is intact instead of later fading in.
- On Arkanoid: Doh it Again! (1997), the blue background part is longer. After a few seconds, the copyright disclaimer for the game appears. Then it fades out and the logo animates normally.
- On Football Champ (known as Hat Trick Hero in Japan), the outer point doesn't fade in until the logo stops, and the background is black. This only appears in the arcade version.
4th logo (1993 - 1995)[]
Over a black background, the logo drops down and is in shape of a 3D cone, with the streak being white. The TAITO wordmark then fades in below, and the cone logo changes into the traditional plain logo.
5th Logo (Bubble Bobble Part 2 variant) (March 5-August 1993)[]
On a white background, we see the Taito wordmark logo in 3-D.
6th logo (1996 - 1997)[]
The 3D Taito logo zooms out on a black background. The ball of the logo moves in from the right and places next to the triangle's streak. Then a flash happens, bringing up the flat version of the same logo on a white background.
7th logo (2003 - 2006)[]
The blue triangle is seen from the top and pans to the side view. Four light streaks enter it and glow in the center. The triangle moves to the forming word "TAITO" and poses as the letter "A". Then it flashes and changes the background to white.
8th logo (2007 - present)[]
Just the still modern Taito logo over a white background, with the triangle posing as the "A".
Music/Sounds[]
1st logo:
- None for the most part.
- Some games have a Japanese girl's voice saying "Catch the Heart!", followed by a light chime theme, and then the same voice singing "Taito!" at the end. This appeared on Japanese games as well as international releases and Japanese commercials during the time:
- On Bust-A-Move '99 for the Nintendo 64 (known as Bust-A-Move 3 DX in Europe and Puzzle Bobble 64 in Japan), the "Catch the Heart!" line is omitted.
- The Taito X-55 start-up has a harp when the triangle spins, followed by a playful little theme for the rest.
2nd logo: The "Catch the Heart!" jingle from the 1st logo and the commercials at the time.
3rd logo: Depends normally. It can have the game's opening theme or is silent.
4th logo: None.
5th logo: None.
6th logo: This is the loudest of all of the logos. A quick laser zapping sound, then followed by a held synth bass note with a descending sounder when the logo zooms out and a quick swoosh during the flash.
Variants[]
- On few games like Champion Wrestler: Jikkyou Live, unknown.
- Ray Tracers used a loud noise, followed by a jet take-off like sound (not as low-pitched as the Metal Black variant).
7th logo: An atmospheric synth score.
8th logo: None.
Variant[]
When shutting down the Taito Egret II Mini, a techno-jingle loosely based on the "Catch the Heart!" variant plays.
Scare Factor[]
1st logo: None to low, depending on the theme.
2nd logo: Low. The face at the bottom may look weird, but it's harmless.
3rd logo: Low, due to the zoom-out.
4th logo: Minimal to low, depending on what you think about the triangle suddenly appearing.
5th logo: None, but the scare factor rises with the next logo...
6th logo: Depending on the variant:
- Original variant: Medium to nightmare, thanks to the in-your-face animation and the very loud music. The flash only makes the logo scarier.
- Ray Tracers variant: High to nightmare, as the even louder music makes this even worse.
- Champion Wrestler: Jikkyou Live variant: Medium to high. The music is tamer, but the animation is still startling.
Despite all of this, it's lower for those who are used to it, and it has been a fan favorite in the logo community.
7th logo: Minimal. It's very soothing, and tamer than the 6th logo.
8th logo: None.