Bandai Namco Holdings is a prominent name in the global entertainment industry and has emerged from the merger of two influential companies: Bandai Co., Ltd. and Namco Limited. Established in 2005, the entity has undergone several changes, especially in its branding and logo design. The evolution of the Bandai Namco logo reflects the journey of the company through various phases of corporate identity. The logo iterations have merged creative elements from the original brands while adapting to modern trends.
The Genesis of the Bandai Namco Holdings Logo (2006 – 2015)
The first logo for Bandai Namco Holdings was introduced in 2006 after the merger of two companies (Bandai and Namco) in 2005. This logo featured a vibrant design with overlapping blobs of colour, especially orange, red, and yellow, to symbolise creativity and collaboration.
The word “Bandai Namco” was prominently displayed in a bold, sans-serif font in white, while the word “Games” appeared below it in red and in a thinner style. This logo aimed to capture the essence of both companies merging into one cohesive brand focused on gaming and entertainment.
(2015 – 2022)
In 2015, the company rebranded itself as Bandai Namco Entertainment. Consequently, the logo underwent a minor adjustment where “Games” was replaced with “Entertainment,” thereby maintaining the original colourful abstract shape. This change signified a broader focus of the company beyond just gaming to encompass all forms of entertainment produced by the company.
(2022 – Present)
In September 2021, Bandai Namco Holdings announced a significant rebranding effort that would culminate in a new logo unveiled on April 1, 2022. This new design marked a departure from the previous colourful emblem to a more streamlined and modern aesthetic. The logo features a simplified speech bubble with a white background and a thick outline in red, containing the words “BANDAI NAMCO” in black.
Interestingly, the font has been inspired by Japanese manga. The overall design choice of this logo iteration reflects both the influence of Japanese manga culture and the company’s commitment to communication and collaboration with its audience.
The Elements of the Bandai Namco Holdings Logo
Font
The company has consistently utilised a straightforward sans-serif typeface characterised by bold lines and contours since its establishment. The current typeface closely resembles that of the previous Bandai Namco logo. The official name of the font used by the company is simply “Namco.”
Colour
Historically, the colours of the Bandai Namco logo were much more vibrant than those currently in use. The company employed a “sunset” colour palette that included a variety of oranges, yellows, reds, and whites. Today, the Bandai Namco logo has been streamlined to feature a black wordmark on a white background, which is further accented by a red speech bubble border.
This simplified design conveys sophistication, professionalism, and passion. The use of red also ties the company back to its predecessor brands, both of which incorporated red as a primary colour in their identities.
Finally
The Bandai Namco Holdings logo and its iterations encapsulate the history of its parent companies as well as their adaptation to changing market dynamics and cultural trends. Right from its colourful beginnings to a more modern and minimalistic approach, each logo iteration reflects a deeper understanding of branding within the entertainment landscape.