Case in point: the logo that appears on Animal Crossing: New Leaf's North American box art (below).
The logo created for Animal Crossing: Wild World (below) is a bit better, it has to be said, but even then I'd hardly call it creative.
Compare both of the above-mentioned logos to the one conjured up for the Japanese version of Wild World (aka Oideyo Dōbutsu no Mori), which in my opinion not only is more whimsical--always a plus in my book--but also is a better fit with the rest of the cover imagery.
That said, I think the logo crafted for the Japanese release of New Leaf (aka Tobidase Dōbutsu no Mori) is even better--and is the kind of thing Nintendo of America's designers should strive for in the future.
I especially like how the game's title is contained within a row of homes as well as a tree--elements that play a major role in this series of adorable "life sims." The subtitle's placement within a bunch of communication bubbles is a nice design choice, too, as it helps depict the series' increased focus on interactions with players both near and far.
Anyway, that's what I think about this admittedly rather unimportant matter. What do all of you think about it?
26 comments:
Well, I for one can say that I hate that little green leaf sticking off the new logo. It looks so cheap and out-of-place. Not to mention, it doesn't seem to fit any logical visual flow up there...
I'd love to see something new. But you know how we Americans are...change the branding on something and you might as well discontinue it.
Well, I'm glad to hear that you, too, hate the leaf, Justin. That took one of NOA's designers, what, a minute and a half to work up? Ugh.
As for your changing the branding comment: I guess you're right, but I'd still like them to give it a try. I think the series has built up a pretty solid NA fan base by this point, so surely most of those folks would be able to find the latest release whether it uses this tired old logo or a new one?
Is this a uniquely American thing? When people talk about logo changing as a bad thing they make it sound like they have it down to a pretty good science.
But that really speaks to certain design mentalities of Japanese box art vs American ones--Japanese box art will typically favor a more artistic approach (why fans tend to prefer it) and American box art goes for immediate, purposeful, eye-catching qualities based on "rules" (ie, "blue + orange," "surly man holding gun," "best way to trick Grandma into buying shovelware for her grandkids") and I've wondered before if in fact it's some proven method that western designers are following to improve sales and that Japanese designers don't know about it (unlikely?) or is it a cultural thing that Japanese consumers aren't as responsive to those triggers? The same here with what you're suggesting--Japanese consumers don't care (and maybe even like it) if you change the logo, but in America it's considered marketing suicide. Are these really proven rules, and if not, why do we follow them, or if they are, why do they not follow them in Japan?
Sorry about all the question marks, I don't really expect answers to this, it's just a thing I'm curious about (would be thrilled to have them, though!)
No arguments from me. The US title makes me think of this: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_makbiqY2Sa1rpmaodo1_500.jpg
I wish I could answer your questions with any certainty, Michael, but I can't. Although I took some advertising/marketing courses while in college, they certainly didn't touch on this sort of thing.
If I were to guess, I'd say that this sort of thing is more of a mindset or assumption on the part of American marketers than it is a truth (or something that's been proven by statistics, etc.).
Regardless, I'm glad Japanese designers don't feel the need to be constrained by the same rules, as their box arts continue to be much prettier, and much more interesting, than their North American counterparts.
Ha ha! I love it, Simon. And you're right--it does give of that vibe, doesn't it? Sadly :|
Yeah, for whatever the reason, it's great that the Japanese boxes are the way they are, but the puzzle just kills me. xD When I was younger, I would have fallen (and did!) into the weeaboo trap of thinking that Japanese designers and consumers must just be better, more savvy, etc, but surely it can't be that simple?
I said all that without mentioning how much I love the new logo, too--it has a punchy phonetic quality, I want to sound out the Japanese characters as I read them, and I can clearly imagine each icon "popping up" in animated sequence with audio accompaniment. It's lively!
I don't know, Michael, I actually think it might just be that simple in the end.
I can't say why that is, though. Maybe Japanese companies and designers have more respect for their audience than their American counterparts?
As for the Japanese New Leaf logo: I agree with you, and I love how you call it lively and phonetic. It is both of those things, isn't it?
BTW, I realize that translating this particular design into English could be a challenge, but I can't imagine it would be impossible. At the very least, I'd like NOA's designers to make an attempt!
Hoo boy, now that you mention it that would be a mean feat. But like you said, even just trying something new would be nice, it wouldn't have to be a straight translation.
Right, a straight translation of this idea likely would be hard to pull off. What about, though, making the line of houses more of a silhouette, with the words 'Animal Crossing' fitting inside? The 'New Leaf' portion could be included in a clump of trees or something. Or they could re-think the 'New Leaf' subtitle and go with something that would better fit with the communication bubbles coming out of the houses' many chimneys.
I read the other guys thoughts too, and I have to admit this time I'm with the mass that completely like that "sign" logo. Wild Word was funny, with that piece of wood attached below, and I COMPLETELY LOVE the leaf in New Leaf. Here in Europe we are pretty fucked with our always different translations (I don't mean the non-English only ones) and I always enjoied the sound of "New Leaf", which in my mind is a clear reference to the leaves of the game items' icons but sounded like a pun with "New Life" (and I know the pronunciation is different, maybe it's just my non-native-English-mind that fools me). Anyway, Brian, I usually follow your posts "which cover is better" and in the ones where you say you prefer the japanese ones I usually agree... but Japanese Animal Crossing's boxart... I suppose that, to me, look cheap just as the American's one looks cheap to you. #lol
I'm just glad in the western boxarts just didn't appear angry faces and/or guns, as usually happen when redesigning art for non-Japanese people (yeah I know I put the whole thing to the extreme, but that's how I perceive that)
Hey there, Giuda! Nice to see you around here again :)
Anyway, I think it's great that you like the standard western (non-Japanese) Animal Crossing logo and even the 'New Leaf' element of the new game. We don't all have to agree here, after all!
I also quite like the 'New Leaf' subtitle of this iteration, by the way. I think it's more than just a reference to the leaves that appear in the game, though; I also think it's a reference to the (American?) phrase, 'turning over a new leaf,' which seems pretty fitting in the case of this game.
The only thing I don't like about 'New Leaf' is the way it's handled in the game's logo.
Finally, I also agree with you that I'm glad that in every other way Nintendo of America (and Nintendo of Europe, too, I imagine?) has stuck with the art used for the Japanese cover.
Of course, making the Animal Crossing characters look mad (a la North American Kirby box arts) wouldn't have made much sense, but that hasn't stopped Nintendo before :)
One more thing, Giuda: did you notice my most recent 'Which Box Art is Better?' post? I actually chose the North American cover as my favorite! I know, wonders never cease :P
I didn't know about "turning over a new leaf" phrase, that's great, thanks!
Really? It must primarily be an American phrase then. It means to start anew, start over, etc.--which makes a lot of sense when you consider all of the changes that have been added to New Leaf. Plus, this game has the player 'turning over a new leaf,' so to speak by giving up his/her life of doing nothing but fishing, etc., by becoming the town's mayor :)
hehe Touch Detective? Yeah I read that but the game never interested me so I had nothing to say! ;P
As for "turning over a new leaf" I meant I didn't know the existence of such sentence; in Italian we have something with a similar metaphorical meaning which is "voltare pagina", literally "turn the page" (referred to a book, turn to a blank page from where start to write a new thing, a new life), but as I said, I never knew it and if someone hadn't told me I probably ended translating that in the literally way... Sound so weird to imagine one can approach a tree to turn one of its leaves... >_>
Don't worry, I basically was just making fun of myself with my comment about the Touch Detective 'Which Box Art is Better?' post :)
As for 'turning a new leaf' and 'turning the page'--I guess each country/culture has a saying similar to this, which makes sense. And, yes, the 'turning a new leaf' one is kind of weird when you think about it...
Ugh, totally agree that the Japanese one is better in this case. The name New Leaf is fine but it just looks cheaply done in the logo...I don't like the stroke around the text, the font doesn't seem to mesh (even though it may very well be the same font as the rest of the logo), the colors of the leaf and text are incongruous and too high chroma, the outer glow looks bad especially considering the shadow on the bottom of the logo... I am not a fan.
The JP version evokes all the different townspeople you'll meet with the different colors, the green/yellow color saturation is cohesive, the chunky text works well in the subtitle (supertitle?) and the main text--it's all cute and feels more like "Animal Crossing" even having grown up with the western logo. As you said, my favorite thing about it is the way each character in Tobidase is being "spoken" by a different house, reinforcing the community aspect of the game. Neat stuff.
Sorry for the essay! Don't usually get worked up about these things but when I first saw the US logo I was like "is you serious"
No need to be sorry, Simply_Awful! I like it when people get passionate about stuff like this. Also, I agree with pretty much everything you said--although of course I don't know all the technical terms and such like you do.
Haha sorry, that's my visual design/color theory courses coming through. I needed something substantial besides "nerrr japan is number 1".
I forgot to tell you! My name I use on my bio is Bruce but you can actually call me Jeremy. Just trying to make it as confusing as possible.
Wow, I had just always assumed the logo was the same in Japan. Don't know why... I guess I just never bothered to look up box art. But I definitely think the Japanese logo looks much better, on both cases! That little row of houses is just too adorable.
Hey there, Girly Gamer! Thanks for the comment :) Anyway, I agree with you about the little row of houses especially. It's kind of hard to believe such a logo hasn't been used elsewhere yet!
At first glance that ... play thing in the right looks like a summoning circle... but only for a second!
OK, you're going to have to explain that, Robert. What's a summoning circle?
Oh, like a pentagram or something to do with "dark arts." But that as only form the corner of my eye. on a related topic I totally agree the new leaf logo on the american version looks really out of place and cheap.
Ah, OK. I thought you were talking about a Final Fantasy game I haven't yet played ^_^
Anyway, thanks for the explanation and for sharing your thoughts on this topic.
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