The history of the CBBC brand: 32 years' worth of logos
With CBBC updating its identity for a mobile future with a new animated logo, The Drum decided to take a nostalgia-laden trip through the history of the brand – and the shows we associate with it.
History of CBBC
The Children's BBC launched in September 1985, fronted by now-ITV presenter Philip Schofield in the glamorous surrounds of a broom cupboard.
The below ident was one of of many variations running on BBC TV from 1985 – 1991.
During this time you could catch shows such as ChuckleVision (which ran off and on until 2009), Postman Pat and Blue Peter.
A new logo was introduced in September 1991, bringing it in line with the broadcaster's wider theme.
Launching the same year was 'Get Your Own Back' in addition to other classics such as Byker Grove, Round the Twist, The Demon Headmaster and the Queen's Nose.
1997 saw the launch of the modern CBBC as we know it, carrying a BBC Sport-like ident with simple typography. Children was also shortened to 'C'.
In 2002, the logo went through a number of iterations, all sticking to the gooey green one would associate with 'Get Your Own Back's' gruesome gunge. The CBeebies brand for young children was also launched, sticking to the gloopy theme.
In 2005-2007 this logo was updated to a version more suitable to the ident animations put forward by the channel, designed by Red Bee Media.
In 2007 and standing until today's revamp, a completely new version was created loosely sticking to the colours set by previous iterations. Also created by Red Bee Media, the branding was in 2010 given a 3D modernisation.
And alas, that brings us to present day with the latest monogram, described, rather confoundingly by Cheryl Taylor, controller of CBBC, as a "versatile and dynamic logo… for a broad age spectrum".
Judged in isolation, the logo hasn't come across too well on social media. Check out some of the animated visuals for a full judgement of the branding.
Check out a neat branding history GIF from CBBC.
From 1985 to 2016 and beyond!
— CBBC (@cbbc) March 14, 2016
Only time will tell whether it sticks in kids heads as the previous entries did ours.
Content created with:
Red Bee
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