Capcom (Japan)

Background
Capcom is a Japanese video game developer and publisher that is well-known for the creation of multiple game franchises such as Resident Evil, Street Fighter, and Mega Man. It was founded in 1979, and their first game would be published in 1984.

1st Logo (1991-Mid '90s, 2013)
Logo: On a black background, we see the Capcom logo (with the word "CAPCOM" in yellow with a blue outline, set in the Korinna font), which shines briefly. The logo looks metallic. In some cases, there is no animation.

Variants:
 * On Capcom-developed games for the Nintendo Entertainment System, especially Mega Man (starting with the 4th game in the series), the logo has "PRESENTS" in white below the now-smaller Capcom logo. The logo shines in the 6th game.
 * On Capcom's MVP Football (1993), launched only in the Americas for the SNES, the logo is bigger and fades in rather slowly compared to the original logo. "PRESENTS" is written in blue and a different font. The logo was accompanied by a high-pitched version of the theme described below.
 * An enhanced version of the logo made a surprise appearance on DuckTales Remastered.

FX/SFX: Just the shining.

Music/Sounds: Just two warbling synths, then a long-lasting electronic piano glissando (which sounds different depending on the system/game it appears on). In other cases, it's silent.

Music/Sounds Variant: A low-pitched version of the theme can be heard on the game Marvel Super Heroes: War of the Gems (awaiting for more games that used the music variant).

Availability: Seen on all Capcom developed games in the 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit era, such as Mega Man X1-3 (only the SNES version of Megaman X3 has this logo, the PlayStation and Megaman X Collection versions use the next logo), Street Fighter 2, etc. This logo was left intact on Megaman 7 in Megaman Anniversary Collection for PS2 and GC, and on Megaman X and Megaman X2 in Megaman X Collection, also for PS2 and GC. The "Capcom Presents" variant is known to be on Megaman 4-6 on NES, which is also left intact on Megaman Anniversary Collection and Final Fight on the SNES.

Editor's Note: It is a very popular logo.

2nd Logo (1994-2000)


Logo: On a black background, we see the Capcom logo fading in and out, usually seen after the Q-Sound logo.

Variants:
 * On the Marvel vs Capcom series and Marvel-licensed arcade games produced by Capcom, starting with the Japanese release of X-Men: Children of the Atom, the logo is seen on or next to a globe with Ryu from Street Fighter.
 * On Vampire Savior (and the Japan only updates Vampire Hunter 2 and Vampire Savior 2), the logo is seen with 2 versions of Akuma/Gouki from Super Street Fighter II Turbo, with "Dirty Beret" (a reference to the programmers Team Dirty Beret) on the left and "X" on the right (Japan only). The logo is highlighted in dark blue in Japan and in red on international releases.
 * On Strider 2, the logo slides to the left along with a red silhouette of the main character Strider Hiryu.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: Usually silent, the end of the Q-Sound jingle, or an announcer saying Capcom.

Availability: Seen on most arcade games using the CPS-2 and Sony ZN-1/2 hardware.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Logo (1995?-1997?)


Logo: On a black background, a glowing purple line draws an outline of the Capcom logo, which is taken away by a gold square which zooms out while spinning, and then breaks apart. The gold version of that outline then zooms in, which then flashes to the completed Capcom logo on a white background.

FX/SFX: The purple line drawing the Capcom logo, and the gold square spinning, zooming out, and breaking apart, as well as the zoom in of the completed Capcom logo.

Music/Sounds: A synthesized tune plays throughout, along with a shattering noise when the gold square breaks.

Music/Sounds Variant: On early beta versions of Resident Evil, the logo is silent.

Availability: So far, it has only been seen on early PlayStation and Saturn games produced by the company, normally with the Virgin Interactive logo appearing after this logo in Europe. Games that have this include Street Fighter Alpha, Street Fighter: The Movie, the original release of Resident Evil (the Director's Cut and Saturn versions use the next logo), X-Men: Children of Atom (the Saturn version only, the PlayStation version uses the 5th logo), Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors, Street Fighter Alpha 2, and Megaman X3 (the latter of which being only released in Japan and Europe). It has also been seen on the version of Megaman X3 included in Megaman X Collection for PS2 and GC (most likely since it's an emulation of the PlayStation version). Check your old Capcom games from the period for this logo.

Editor's Note: None.

4th Logo (Mid 90's-2000s)


Logo: On a black background, we see several teal cubes floating around. Then, white lasers start connecting to the cubes. As this happens, the cubes form the Capcom logo, which is first shown tilted on its side, then the camera zooms back as the logo flips over. After this is complete, the background fades to white.

FX/SFX: The lasers connecting to the cubes, then forming the Capcom logo.

Music/Sounds: A dreamy synth, with many more synth notes and laser sounds (which sound somewhat reminiscent of the previous logo).

Availability: Can be seen on Capcom-developed games on the PlayStation, Saturn, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, and PC games from that era, including Megaman X4 (on both the PlayStation and Megaman X Collection versions), Marvel vs Capcom, and all the Resident Evil games on the PS1, except for the original version of Resident Evil and Resident Evil 3, with the former using the previous logo and the latter using the next logo.

Editor's Note: An iconic logo in the gaming community (especially for those who grew up in the 32-bit era).

5th Logo (Mid '90s-)
Logo: We see the Capcom logo against a white or black background.

Variants:
 * Sometimes, copyright info or the URL is shown below.
 * On Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening, the logo is gray, covered with blood, and on a black background.
 * On Resident Evil 4, the logo is gray (this is during the credits only, the opening of the game uses the standard logo).
 * On the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure arcade games, the logo is placed on a black/green diamond checker pattern board, surrounded by a yellow frame. Below it, Hirohiko Araki's signature quickly signs in below.

FX/SFX: Just a still logo.

Music/Sounds: Usually none.

Music/Sounds Variants:
 * Some SNES and GBA games use the music from the 1st logo, namely Rockman and Forte (Mega Man & Bass, which was previously only released in Japan).
 * Sometimes, a voice (normally the voice of a character from the game) saying "Capcom" or "Capcom Presents" can be heard.
 * Few games use a re-arranged version of the CPS-3 logo's (the 6th logo) music.
 * On Heavy Metal Geomatrix, a short heavy metal theme plays.

Availability: Common. This was also used on the U.S. Street Fighter cartoon.

Editor's Note: None, it's just boring.

6th Logo (January 31-September 30, 1996)
Logo: We see a dark skybox with a water surface below. A brief bursting explosion occurs on the center of the screen as the 3D Capcom logo, flipped above moves close to the camera while the angle changes and the Capcom logo places itself in front, zooming out with a glossy shader on it. The logo settles as a starry light passes through the outline of the text.

FX/SFX: Generic 3DCG animation.

Music/Sounds: A quiet gong/whoosh sound.

Availability: Very rare, appeared only on the FMV game Fox Hunt.

Editor's Note: Due of it's rarity, it is considered one of the most forgotten logos from Capcom.

7th Logo (1997-1999)
Logo: On a black background, yellow light rays wipe in and out clockwise, revealing the flashing Capcom logo and a big shadow of it from behind. The light rays then go off, leaving the logo.

Variants:
 * On Super Gem Fighter, the background is light blue and the shadow seems to have a colored outline.
 * On Street Fighter III, the animation of the yellow Capcom logo is different and the colored logo fades in a second after it disappears.

FX/SFX: The light rays, the flashing logo.

Music/Sounds:


 * A soothing synth theme, with the instrument arrangements changing on each game.
 * On the Super Gem Fighter variant, an ascending synth bell arpeggio with a female voice saying "Capcom!".
 * On the Street Fighter III variant, an ascending synth bell arpeggio followed by a droning, filtered synth chord.

Availability: Only can be found on CPS-3 arcade games starting with Red Earth (Warzard in Japan). It can be seen on the Street Fighter III series and JoJo's Bizzare Adventure (JoJo's Venture in Asia).

Editor's Note: None.

8th Logo (1998-1999)
Logo: On a shining scanline background, the black Capcom letters reveal themselves through the center and fill in white. A light ray flash occurs and the screen flashes as the finished Capcom logo zooms out and settles.

FX/SFX: The shining scanlines, the logo forming, the flashes.

Music/Sounds: A synth warble is heard throughout with other ominous synth sounds, a whoosh, and a male voice saying "Capcom!".

Availability: Scarce. It's mainly known appearance is on the Dreamcast version of Capcom vs SNK.

Editor's Note: None.

9th Logo (1999-2003)


Nickname: "Capcom in the Sky"

Logo: We see a shot of a cloudy sky. Zooming up from the top of the screen in a "rollercoaster" fashion is the outline of the Capcom logo. As the outline zooms out, the letters "CAPCOM" zoom out onto the logo. It flashes to a white screen with the logo.

FX/SFX: The sky, outline, and letters.

Music/Sounds: A dreamy piano tune.

Availability: Can be found on Megaman X5 and Megaman X6 for the PS1 and PC (both games keep the logo intact on the versions included with Megaman X Collection). Can also be seen on both the arcade and Sega Dreamcast versions of Marvel vs Capcom 2 (and it might be on the Capcom vs SNK games on the Dreamcast, too).

Editor's Note: None.

10th Logo (1999-2000?)
Logo: On a black background, the outline of the Capcom text, with a blue sky filling, spins in rapidly and zooms out. The letters of the logo in gold then appear, slightly move down, zoom out and collide with the outline, as the outline turns into a basic blue texture. The finished logo then glows once, before the screen flashes into the plain Capcom logo.

Variant: On the Power Stone series, the golden texture of the text is replaced by a vintage map texture.

FX/SFX: The Capcom logo zooming out and forming.

Music/Sounds: Same as before.

Availability: Seen on Dreamcast games by the company, including Street Fighter Alpha 3 (Street Fighter Zero 3 in Japan), Spawn: In the Demon's Hand, and others.

Editor's Note: None.

11th Logo (July 22, 1999-June 16, 2000)


Nickname: "Servbots in Water"

Logo: We see the Capcom logo floating up from underwater and a Servbot from The Misadventures of Tron Bonne float up as the "O" in Capcom. Then another Servbot floats by on an inner tube all happy and then the Capcom logo fades into a white background, making the logo that we've seen on the 3rd logo.

FX/SFX: The water moving, the Capcom logo and Servbot rising up from below the water, the other Servbot floating towards the side, the logo fading into a white background.

Music/Sounds: A nice little dreamy tune and a dripping sound for when the Capcom logo in formed in the water.

Availability: Only seen in the game The Misadventures of Tron Bonne.

Editor's Note: None.

12th Logo (December 17, 2000-May 16, 2001)
Logo: On a black background, a blue-ish light beam passes through the sides of the screen bringing 6 glowing lights that bring up the "CAPCOM" letters while ripples appear from behind. Once the logo is formed, another light beam moves through the left as "PROJECT JUSTICE" fades in, the Capcom logo glows and a flash occurs on the screen.

FX/SFX: The light beams, the ripples, the glowing, the flash.

Music/Sounds: A synth bell arpeggio with whooshing sounds, ending with another synth chime chord.

Availability: Only seen in the Dreamcast/NAOMI game Project Justice, also known as Rival Schools 2.

Editor's Note: None.

13th Logo (2003-2007)


Nicknames: "The Pink Capcom Logo", "The Viewtiful Logo"

Logo: On a black background or white background, we see Viewtiful Joe using Mach Speed (a VFX power from the Viewtiful Joe game that causes Joe to run abnormally fast). He stops, looks around, and sees a fast Capcom logo. We zoom in to Joe, who is about to get hit by the Capcom logo, and Joe dodges it in slow motion. The Capcom logo stops above Joe, and the vowels in the logo ("A" and "O") fall down. We zoom in to Joe again, and he does a circle kick to the letters. We zoom out, a flash occurs, and the letters fall back into place. Joe uses Mach Speed to run away, and the Capcom logo is formed, which causes another flash. The background turns white and the Capcom logo turns pink.

FX/SFX: Joe running, moving, and attacking.

Music/Sounds: All set to a song from the game. A whoosh, a zooming sound, a screeching tire sound, something falling down, a boom, and metal clanging.

Availability: Seen on most games in the Viewtiful Joe series: Viewtiful Joe (PS2/GameCube), Viewtiful Joe 2 (PS2/GameCube), and VJ: Red Hot Rumble (GameCube/PSP).

Editor's Note: None.

14th Logo (Mega Man Anniversary Collection variant) (2004-2005)


Nickname: "Guts Man", "Met Miners"

Logo: On a white background, we pan over to Guts Man lifting up a large boulder, along with several Mets with mining equipment behind it. He then throws the boulder, which changes shots, and slams onto the ground, causing the Mets to scatter. Then, Guts Man commands the Mets to destroy the boulder, and they rush towards the boulder with him looking at them. The Mets then smash the boulder up, all covered in a cloud of dust barring several bits of rubble flying off. When the cloud disappears, it reveals the Capcom logo with several bits of rock around it, and the Mets walk away. A chunk of rock then falls off it, revealing the registered trademark symbol, and the rubble disappears a couple of seconds later.

FX/SFX: The character movements, the boulder being destroyed.

Music/Sounds: Mostly sound effects for the various actions in the logo, along with the various high-pitched grunts of the Mets.

Availability: Only found on Mega Man Anniversary Collection.

Editor's Note: None.

15th Logo (Killer7 variant) (June 9, 2005)
Nicknames: "The Killer7 Logo", "Blood Red Capcom"

Logo: On a white background, we see the Capcom logo in black & white. The logo then suddenly turns into red.

FX/SFX: Just the logo turning red.

Music/Sounds: A creepy laugh, followed by the loud gunshot when the logo turns blood red.

Availability: Only found on Killer7.

Editor's Note: None.

16th Logo (2005-2006)
Logo: Over a black background, multiple blue/yellow blocks fall forming a pixelated Capcom logo while a lens flare appears briefly. The whole Capcom logo becomes revealed by the shrinking pixels, and the logo glows into the camera as it turns 3D and zooms in a little.

FX/SFX: The pixels, the logo turning 3D, the light effects.

Music/Sounds: 8-bit square wave arpeggios.

Availability: Only found on Capcom Classics Collection.

Editor's Note: None.

17th Logo (August 13, 2008, 2017)
Logo: On a black background, the Capcom logo with the registered mark pixelates in from the screen, staying for a few seconds before it bevels in from the right as a shine appears.

Variant: A similar concept appeared in the mobile game Pocket Fighter, without the 3D bevel appearing.

FX/SFX: The pixelation, the logo turning 3D and the shine.

Music/Sounds:
 * A re-arrangement of the 1st logo's music, first half mashing up multiple version of the 16-bit theme with the last note played with a guitar strum and quiet twinkling.
 * For the Puzzle Fighter variant, the last note is played by a string orchestra.

Availability: Originally appeared on the 2008 remake of Bionic Commando.

Editor's Note: A nice throwback to the 1st logo.

18th Logo (2011-201?)


Logo: On a white background with streams of small blue cubes, blue parts of the Capcom logo circles in letter-by-letter before arranging themselves together. Once they come to a halt, the background turns black and the yellow letters fly in from the top of the screen in a "rollercoaster" fashion and crash into blue parts from behind to form the Capcom logo, sending out sparks, and the logo emitting multiple copies of Capcom logos in front of it before pulling them back and being showered in quick flashes of light. After this, the logo fades out.

FX/SFX: The letters and the flash.

Music/Sounds: A synth tune plays throughout (similar to the original Capcom theme) ending with a series of quick reversed guitar noises.

Availability: Seen on 3DS games produced by the company, such as Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, Resident Evil: Revelations, and Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, among others.

Editor's Note: None.