Buckaroo Banzai Logo-Tshirt
Wear your colors proudly!
Blue Blazers rejoice!
For the first time in 20 years, there is an official licensed Banzai shirt!
Logo is printed on a navy blue cotton t-shirt.
Get ‘em now, and the Lectroids just may leave you alone!
Available S, M, L, XL = $16.99
XXL = $18.99
The new (proposed?) logo has been passed around the BB yahoogroups and its created a stir over there. All positive for a new shirt but some members are bantering around some of their own offerings for a new "licensed" logo. At current count there are over half a dozen different ideas for logos being talked about and more will likely come in the coming days.
Are the powers-that-be open to impute and suggestions on the "new logo?"
Awesome! My 'Ancient Secrets and New Mysteries" shirt is getting a little worn out.
FR: Prof Zero
Buckaroo T-Shirt is OK. Not great
Prof. Zero, Your comment was a bit short and to the point, but doesn't give the rest of us a little clue why you feel the new logo is quote "not great." Are you willing to elaborate?
So you don't feel alone, I feel the same way and so to others. In the short run, if the designer and Moonstone (one and the same)? can get over some of us saying this about the new logo, can the powers-that-be place their hurt feelings aside :sad02: and (long term) consider some of the Blue Blaze's impute?
As I said previously, there are many interesting new designs over at the BB yahoogroup all with their own merits.
BBI Dragon
The post was abbreviated because I accidentally posted a one page rant thinking the logo on the Buckaroo Banzai button "The Buck Stops Here" was the logo on the shirt. The Buck Stops Here?!?! Buckaroo didn't even stop for a mountain! He went right through! 'The Buck Doesn't Stop Here' would be more appropriate. I had to quickly delete the post and post something else.
Here's what I don't like about the logo:
- Why is he jumping into an octopus?
- The octopus is the largest and colorful thing on the shirt. Draws the eye to the octopus instead of Bucaroo.
- What's wrong with that katana? Can't someone draw a sword properly?
- And why have a katana? Even though I practice Japanese sword arts, I don't see the purpose of putting the sword in. The Japanese sword thing was just a throw-away in the movie. It's never been emphasized in Buckaroo Banzai.
- And again, the katana is more colorful than Buckaroo, and just as big as Buckaroo. Distracts from Buckaroo.
- The guitar makes him look like a actress trying to hide a pregnancy. Very awkward. Put the guitar slung on his back if you want a guitar in the picture.
- Why does he have a pistol, a sword, and a guitar? It's too many items.
- Why is Buckaroo drawn so small? Can't even recognize him!
So you basically have a faceless guy with a poorly drawn sword jumping into a octopus?!?!?!
Not something I'm going to spend my money on. Wouldn't even wear it if the shirt was free.
Prof. Zero,
We still are not on the same page.
The "new logo" as it was presented to the BB yahoogroup is very reminiscent of the winged Bs we are familiar with (on the front of the bus in the film for instance). According to BBI ArcLight who brought this to the group's attention, they've modified the usual winged Bs because of unclear "rights issues" but it is still similar in appearance.
(see the attachment to this post below, click on thumbnail)
Opinions on the new winged Bs logo range it is just the old one with an additional bar on top, to the idea that if it is time to reinvent a logo, let's explore the basic concept of the winged Bs along with some other concepts.
The image you are referring to, the octopus logo is I believe an alternate cover art to one of the comic issues.
To address a few of your thoughts;
I think the octopus logo in general is symbolic. The multiple tentacles of the octopus might represent the forced of evil, having so many arms.
The katana, the guitar and the pistol are all again, representative of aspects of Team Banzai and B. Banzai. The katana for the Martial Arts and Japanese influences, the guitar for good old rock-and-roll and the pistols symbolic of the readiness to take action and use of force when it's needed and necessary.
I agree, if all these elements are not used in balance, they can easily be "too much" but I do like their basic symbolism and in fact use them in a few of my own "new logo" ideas.
BBI Dragon
I like the new logo. It's pretty close to the original logo, and I had no problem with the original one (this is my first time seeing this logo... the octopus thing had me scared). Would that be the colour scheme? The red and yellow? Just curious I'd wear that on a shirt.
My favorite logo, however, has always been the Banzai Institute one. Hopefully we'll see some merch with that on it in time.
Guys, guys, giys! What are we talking about? There IS no "octopus logo..." A logo is merely a symbol or a group of letters or words arranged in a designed fasion to be immediately recognizable. The *picture* of Buck with the tentacles is just that... a picture of Buck with some tentacles. It's not a "logo" in any sense. It's just a fun picture, nothing more!
Now, as far as completely overhauling the logo goes..? Well, we considered it. But see above the part about logos. Theie job is to be stylized in such a way as to be quickly recognizable for the product it is representing. The more you change it, the less immediately identifiable it becomes with that product. So, when doing the "tweaking," we placed a great deal of importance on keeping it as visually similar as we could. Musta worked, too... you all seem to know what it is! LOL
A logo is merely a symbol or a group of letters or words arranged in a designed fasion to be immediately recognizable. The *picture* of Buck with the tentacles is just that... a picture of Buck with some tentacles. It's not a "logo" in any sense. It's just a fun picture, nothing more!
Now, as far as completely overhauling the logo goes..? Well, we considered it. But see above the part about logos. Their job is to be stylized in such a way as to be quickly recognizable for the product it is representing. The more you change it, the less immediately identifiable it becomes with that product. So, when doing the "tweaking," we placed a great deal of importance on keeping it as visually similar as we could. Musta worked, too... you all seem to know what it is! LOL
I hear ya Dave, but I think the variables involved with a logo, especially "re-imagining" an existing logo, are a little more complicated than what you describe above. You touch on two of the things that go into the stew, but there's more in the pot as well.
The two biggies you mention are, of course, huge parts of the picture: branding (associating the image with a product), and design (composing an image based on certain physical, emblematic, and thematic criteria). The complication really comes with two other issues at work here: identification (in this case, transcending associations with an established design vs. "selling" a new design), and entrenchment (being fan "loyalty" to a specific design, as well as sensitivity to changes in said design).
When it comes to identification, I think what's happening here is that some people see the new logo and "...seem to know what it is," but obviously know that it's not the same. That's bound to happen, and people will roll with the new one or not. That brings us to the next point
When you look at any fandom, but particularly one as long-lived as BB, there's going to be a lot of entrenchment. Some folks just aren't going to dig a new anything, and that's only natural. The original "Winged Bs" logo in question was really well designed. It looks great, it's popular amongst the fans, and it's been around forever. That's a mighty big mountain to drive through.
As far as design goes, I have my own opinions about the new logo, but who doesn't have opinions? With the logo, I think you guys took on a difficult and potentially thankless job. Changing a fan favorite, even in small ways, is no easy task. Could you have done better? I don't know. Could you have done a lot worse? Hell yeah!