Creepy/Unsettling Childhood Film and Television Logos

Another logo I was terrified of as a kid, was the 1998 MGM dvd logo. (Not the 2003 one) The way it just lauches to the screen, the loud roar, the music, all of it just terrified me. I'd always run out of the living room until it was over. Looking back on it now I just see it as an ordinary logo that I just happen to feel nostalgic for, but it's still pretty loud to listen to.

As a little kid, I had a lot of weird fears, including the THX logo since it was so loud. I think being neurodivergent meant I was especially sensitive to this kind of thing, which seems to be a common factor.

Glad I'm not the only one that found the Rankin-Bass logo freaky. Also, the WGBH logo is auditory hell. At least it's not the original longer lofo

Disney's Fastplay bumper used to scare me along with the THX logo. With Fastplay it was more related to how rapid-fire the narration was. It just kinda jumps at you from out of nowhere lol.

The first time I got frightened by the THX logo when I was a kid was when I was watching the Return of the Jedi on VHS. I had a glass of juice in one had while screaming and running out of the room, spilling some of it on the floor lol.

I think they can be unsettling because of how they play in the sort of in between space before the show starts. Like, the preview trailers have ended and it’s quiet, the logo plays and then it’s quiet again. For the logos that play at the end it’s similar but with the added sadness you’d get with your program ending and the uncertainty you might have of what to do now, like maybe you’ll associate it with the feeling of the fun being over and having to go to bed. Idk I might not be articulating it well lol. But I think the quiet + sudden (maybe unfamiliar) sound are a big part of the eeriness.

For me, the logo that scared me the most was the Sketch Films logo after the ending credits of Courage the Cowardly Dog. The black background, detailed mouth, and that laugh scared me when I was young.

The Klasky Csupo logo used to scare me as a kid. Side note: looking up the scariest logo compilations, I’m surprised that some people have made compilations that feature almost 2,000 logos!

jeez The THX logo scared me as a kid as well but I’m still terrified by the sounds. I always cover my ears when it comes on before the movie starts

When I was young I use to be scared of DVD menu screens specifically the ones for animated movies sense they usually featured characters from the film either talking to you in some way or simply looking at you and it made me feel nervous like I needed to hurry up and start the movie or the characters would get mad. I was scared of console video game main menu's for a similar reason although to a lesser extent.

Very interesting video. I've visited the Scary Logos wiki a few times, and at the time, I found it odd that such a wiki existed. Each page described what happened in the logo, but didn't really explain why they were scary, or didn't do a very good job of explaining if it did. But you explained the reasonings a lot better. (I can DEFINITELY see why the thx logo scared people, that thing was damn loud!) In retrospect I feel like I should have been more understanding when reading the wiki, because the Scholastic logo that played before my Magic School Bus tapes used to scare me! The screen suddenly going to a "flying through space at hyperspeed" animation, always startled me. DNA Pictures on the other hand was an odd case. Despite scaring so many kids (for understandable reasons tbh) me and my sister always loved it, because we thought Paul had a funny voice and loved to imitate him.

Nice to see you back again after such a long while. Though I think for me, the old Dreamworks logo used to give me the creeps, off the top of my head. Same even went for the Ragdoll studios logo(The company responsible for Pob's Programme, Rosie and Jim, Brum, Teletubbies, Tots TV, In the Night Garden and Boohbah) around 2000. Mostly due to the slide-whistle sound that would make you jump. Along with the DNA Productions logo(Jimmy Neutron)with the creepy 3 eyed chimp, Paul.

Adding onto what was said about Aardman, the logo for the BBC that was on home media releases of their content during the 90's is also known to be frightening. The logo for it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaxlFQTTlLk) is the definition of emotional whiplash. Imagine you're a kid in the 90's and are about to watch a VHS or DVD of Wallace and Gromit or some other child-friendly BBC content, when suddenly, out of nowhere, the sound of a dramatic piano and an ominous choir blasts out of your speakers. It sounds like something straight out of the score for a horror game, like what the heck, I just wanted to watch A Grand Day Out, I know Wallace and Gromit can get pretty unsettling at times for the audience it's aimed at, but did you have to push it further?

Awesome video. The main logo that comes to mind is the variation of the "Hi, I'm Paul" bit where Paul's just not there. Also, deleted scene reels with long silence gaps and a blank screen between each deleted scene could be unsettling. A deleted scene could end at some ominous moment, then cut to a blank screen.

I remember a logo screen that gave me unnerving vibes was the funding Credits for Dragon Tales. "Corporation for Public Broadcast" had such a stone cold, colorless opening to it. It looks like there should be sound there but it's completely null of sound except for the announcers voice which sounded totally out of place compared to what my young mind was seeing. Such a weird juxtaposition compared to the funny Dragon Cartoon that came after. Even most of the other PBS kids funding logos aren't like that.

i remember the aardman one very well now that you mention it. this is such an intriguing and nostalgaic thing to talk about

I actually used to be afraid of the PBS logos that were used from 1984-1998. I didn't see the 1971-1984 PBS logo until about 15 years ago, but I am pretty sure that it would have scared me, if I saw it as a kid, as well.

I'm glad you mentioned the THX logo. That scared the crap out of me as a kid holy hell 😢

Hooray! You’re back! Also regarding scary logos, the Paramount logo (mainly the 2002-2011 variant) kinda freaks me out because, and this may sound a little crazy, the photorealistic mountain in front of the night sky and clouds really unsettle me. Idk these are just my personal thoughts 🤧

Great video! I remember one of my childhood friends had a really nice home theater system and the THX logo popped up and it was so loud I think he actually covered his ears. I’m a bit familiar with the “scary logos” community but never got too invested in it but it makes sense that the ones people remember as scary would be at the end. I never made that connection before. Strange that so many people from all different backgrounds can share memories around something so simple, lol. As for logos that scared me personally, I only have two (aside from THX): Valve and Klasky Csupo. Something about that bald guy with the water valve on his head was unnerving on its own but the music just made it worse. Part of me thinks the designer knew people would find it scary. The Klasky Csupo logo probably had more to do with the sounds at the end being a bit overwhelming; I’m not sure. It would be nice to have another video like this but the opposite with all the logos you remember liking. I know for me the old Dreamworks logo and the little “Nintendo” sound from the original Animal Crossing are big ones.