Just for Laughs

Background

Just for Laughs (also known as Juste pour rire in French) is a comedy festival held each July in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1983, it is the largest international comedy festival in the world. It also serves as a television division.

1st Logo (December 26, 2000-2021)

Logo: We start with sped-up footage from the view of a stage of a crowd leaving an amphitheater where a live show (first filmed at the Saint-Denis Theatre in Montreal) is being held. Once the theater is almost empty, a stubby green monster with red horns (the Just for Laughs mascot, named Victor) runs onto screen, noticing everyone leaving. He gasps and turns a bit, saying "MOMMY, IT'S OOOVER!" in a sad voice as the curtains close on him and the Just for Laughs logo comes in on a spotlight and stops in the middle of the screen. A byline reading "© [YEAR] Juste pour rire Les Gags Inc." (or "© [YEAR] Juste pour rire TV Inc.").

Variants:

A short version exists, which starts when Victor gasps.
Depending on the program or language it is in, the words at the end are in French: Juste pour rire.
The URL "justforlaughs.com" can appear below.
Sometimes the credits for the program play over the first few seconds of the logo when the crowd is vacated.
Later in 2007, the logo started with a lime green background with Victor popping up as the English and France for Just for Laughs pop up next to him. Also seen is the words "FESTIVAL - LIVE TELEVISION - MUSEUM" being revealed below. The word "TELEVISION" becomes red. The normal logo would play right after. Also, the French version does exist.
- Since 2011, when the Just for Laughs Museum was closed in the same year, the logo was enhanced with the URL "hahaha.com" being displayed and the words now reading "FESTIVAL - LIVE SHOWS - TELEVISION".
In 2009, the logo was enhanced to include Victor’s shadow, stars on the bottom of the curtains when they drop, and a more realistic-looking spotlight.
In 2013, the logo was enhanced yet again, with the logo now taking place at Place des Arts in Montreal. The logo also ends with different-looking curtains and a zoom out before the spotlight shines with the updated Just for Laughs logo.

Technique: Live-action footage and 2D animation.

Music/Sounds: A short piano tune (which is the first ten notes of Just for Laughs' signature theme by Serge Fiori) that stops when Victor gasps, his dialogue, and another tune as the curtains drop.

Music/Sounds Variants:

Sometimes, the closing theme plays it over.
A French version exists, wherein Victor has a much higher voice, and says his dialogue in French (now "MAMAN, C'EST FINIIII !").
The post-2007 variant had a pop sound, followed by the clicks and a ding sound when the word "TELEVISION" becomes red.

Availability: Very common in Canada, seen on many older shows from the company, like Just for Laughs: Gags and some stand-up comedy shows.

Legacy: This logo is very nostalgic for fans of Just for Laughs: Gags, as well as Just for Laughs fans in general.

2nd Logo (2010's-2021)

Logo: In a grayscale city, some green and red streaks fly through a set of skyscrapers. They meet and move into a neon billboard that lights up, containing the Just for Laughs logo in a green box with the horns of Victor from before. A byline reading "© [YEAR] JUSTE POUR RIRE TV INC." may appear below.

Variants:

A version appears at the start of programs where "Presents" in a white script font appears under the logo.
A short version exists.

Technique: CGI.

Music/Sounds: Some whooshes and the sounds of streetcars as the streaks fly, and the buzzing sound of a neon sign lighting with a gong as a crowd laughs. Sometimes, the closing theme plays it over.

Availability: Common in Canada, seen on programs like Just for Laughs: All Access.

3rd Logo (October 18, 2021-)

Logo: On a black background, we see the pictures of Victor flipping (a la the 2002 Marvel logo) inside the box, then it forms into the text "JUST FOR LAUGHS" (set in the new corporate font, called Riposte HAHAHA, which is a modified version of Riposte) in the white rectangle. The logo glitches and fades out. A byline reading "© [YEAR] JUSTE POUR RIRE TV INC." may appear below.

Trivia: This logo was designed by Cossette.

Variant: Just like the first logo, there is a French version with the words, "JUSTE POUR RIRE".

Technique: CGI.

Music/Sounds: The sound of pages flipping, followed by the first five notes of the famous Just for Laughs theme tune.

Availability: Seen on Howie Mandel & Friends: Don't Sneeze on Me, Just for Laughs 2022: The Gala Specials: Jo Koy and some stand-up comedy shows.