Orion Pictures chose to take their age-logo design in a brave and radical direction. The now former logo evokes fond cinema trips from the 1980s and 1990s, to see films like Dances with Wolves, The Silence of the Lambs, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, The Terminator and Robocop.

Most brand’s design upgrades have followed a very familiar pattern; take the original logo, reduce it down to its essentials, and reset it in a flat, minimalist, sans-serif font that makes it look remarkably similar to every media and tech company. However, Orion followed a different pattern.

The new design may not be skeuomorphic but it feels three dimensional with the clever use of gradients to a dramatic sense of depth and roundedness. From the shading of the ‘O’s suggesting a planet to switch to bright, Gen Z-friendly hues and tapping into the vaporwave trend while still staying crisp and professional, Orion has definitely exceeded the audience’s expectations.

Orion says the new logo aims to reflect a more inclusive approach to storytelling at the studio. The upgrade will officially debut a modernised rebrand of its longstanding logo signaling a new creative direction for the MGM-owned label.