Milkyway Image

Background

Milkyway Image (Hong Kong) Ltd. (Chinese: 銀河映像(香港) 有限公司) is a production company based in Hong Kong. The company was established in 1996 by prolific director Johnnie To in joint partnership with frequent collaborator Wai Ka-Fai. The company is known best for producing dark crime films inspired by the work of French director Jean-Pierre Melville and the genre of Film noir. Milkyway Image's productions have been repeatedly praised as a bold move against the slapdash commercialism found in post-handover Hong Kong cinema, and have also attracted a significant international fan base.

1st Logo (1996-1998)

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Logo: In space, the red-colored flash occurs at the bottom-left side of the screen, turns purple, and moves to the center, while a diamond-like shape zooms out and flips. The word "MILKYWAY" in a futuristic circuitry-like font zooms out while rotating to the left and stops in the shape. The flash and stars go out and the Chinese characters fade in. After that, the words "MILKYWAY" and "IMAGE" in rainbow colors appear and move to make the company's name. The word "production" or "presents" in red appears below.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A majestic fanfare.

Availability: Can be found on Milkyway Image's first films, including Too Many Ways to Be No. 1.

2nd Logo (January 1, 1998-)

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Logo: On a black background, the diamond-like shape from the previous logos, but blue, appears at the bottom of the screen and moves to the left. A flash occurs on it, making the "MILKYWAY" text appear. The following text wipes in below:

銀 河 映 像 ( 香 港 ) 有 限 公 司 出 品 及 製 作

PRESENTED & PRODUCED BY MILKYWAY IMAGE (HK) LTD

Variant: In later years, the logo is darker and the text below the Chinese characters is changed to "MILKYWAY IMAGE (HK) LTD PRODUCTION".

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A whoosh and a laser-like sound effect when the text appears.

Availability: Currently in use. Appears on many of their films starting with The Longest Nite.

3rd Logo (2000)

Logo: On a black background, the diamond-like shape from the previous logo emerges, and then the word "MILKYWAY" from before zooms out as "MILKYWAY IMAGE" flips in below. Then the text fades in below:

銀河 映像 (香港) 有限公司

MILKYWAY IMAGE (HK) LTD

production

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Electric and laser sounds.

Availability: The only film where this logo was spotted is Help!!!.