Ident Tropes

[BeigeFiesta]

I'm with Matthew on this one. I think the old-fashioned logo-based idents of the 60's, 70's and 80's were the perfect buffer between the end of one programme and the start of the next (adverts notwithstanding!)

A logo (such as the BBC globes of the past) is something of an artistic entity and are therefore different to the programmes that follow which usually contain live action footage. For me, that's the reason why idents should be fundamentally a logo and nothing but - purely as a distinguishable separation of programmes, and even a palate cleanser before the next programme starts.

What are some common features of Idents you love or hate? The Youtuber Matthew Harris has been clear in the past that he finds live action idents, with a logo stamped on top to be weaker than those that have a solid, single symbol. I want to know what the rest of TVLF think on the matter? For me, one thing I really don't like in idents is a tendency to reduce the length of an ident over time, for the continuity. I understand why its done on channels like ITV or Channel 4, but BBC and its circles were horribly cut down, which made the ident less fun, and gave us less of what I consider to be a good form up.

[TVGuy]

I'm personally a big fan of idents that have little characters in them, particularly the C4 Giant, Red for Virgin1, Eefer for E4, the BBC Three blobs and the "Personality" 2s for BBC Two. I'm not too keen on live action idents either, ESPECIALLY the BBC One package I don't want to name.

Talking of characters, I like the CBBC Bugs/Blobs. I wasn’t born yet when they came out in 2002, but I did see the idents on YouTube.

[BBCMeridian]

My favourite idents has to be the BBC One balloon idents, the BBC Two 2s idents from 1997 to 2001, the CBBC Yellow and Black animations, the hearts idents that was used on BBC Choice from July 2000 to July 2001 and the circles ident that was used on BBC Knowledge from 2000 to 2002.

[AndrewP]

I personally really liked the 2004 Channel 4 ident set

[Dogorilla]

Do cats count as a trope? If so that's my favourite.

[Blubatt]

I'm personally a big fan of idents that have little characters in them, particularly the C4 Giant, Red for Virgin1, Eefer for E4, the BBC Three blobs and the "Personality" 2s for BBC Two. I'm not too keen on live action idents either, ESPECIALLY the BBC One package I don't want to name.

Talking of characters, I like the CBBC Bugs/Blobs. I wasn’t born yet when they came out in 2002, but I did see the idents on YouTube.

You don't realise how old that makes me feel. I was 4 years old then, about to turn 5.
But the CBBC/Cbeebies Blobs are excellent. Considering how long the latter has used them now. I get why CBBC has changed their look over the years, but the fact that those blobs are still on Cbeebies shows that good idents last.

[NancerOnTheLIVEForum]

Do cats count as a trope? If so that's my favourite.

Odd coming from a man whose name is Dogorilla.

[Dogorilla]

Odd coming from a man whose name is Dogorilla.

Woman, but yes good point lol. I do love dogs as well!

[NancerOnTheLIVEForum]

Odd coming from a man whose name is Dogorilla.

Woman, but yes good point lol. I do love dogs as well!

Oh, apologies. If you'd like me to I can edit the message.

[Brekkie]

One thing that does annoy me is when the ident doesn't even get a moment to shine and the CA speaks over it from the very beginning to the very end. It's also happening with the end credits now - barely a split second between the end of the programme and the CA piping up, and they talk all the way through to the end.

[Dogorilla]

Oh, apologies. If you'd like me to I can edit the message.

Don't worry, it's fine

[GraemeT]

Can’t agree more on the talking over credits. It’s been a joy that they couldn’t on 4 for a while and the whole theme gets played out

One thing that does annoy me is when the ident doesn't even get a moment to shine and the CA speaks over it from the very beginning to the very end. It's also happening with the end credits now - barely a split second between the end of the programme and the CA piping up, and they talk all the way through to the end.

[This is UTV]

One thing that does annoy me is when the ident doesn't even get a moment to shine and the CA speaks over it from the very beginning to the very end. It's also happening with the end credits now - barely a split second between the end of the programme and the CA piping up, and they talk all the way through to the end.

Speaking of CA's rabbiting on over every single second of the end credits, its even worse when the end credits have a song you normally like to sing along to, for example Neighbours and Home & Away.

If its just a boring piece of instrumental music over the credits, you don't mind not hearing it! But when the theme song is integral to the show (like Neighbours and Home & Away), talking over it just spoils the end.

[BBCMeridian]

One thing that does annoy me is when the ident doesn't even get a moment to shine and the CA speaks over it from the very beginning to the very end. It's also happening with the end credits now - barely a split second between the end of the programme and the CA piping up, and they talk all the way through to the end.

Speaking of CA's rabbiting on over every single second of the end credits, its even worse when the end credits have a song you normally like to sing along to, for example Neighbours and Home & Away.

If its just a boring piece of instrumental music over the credits, you don't mind not hearing it! But when the theme song is integral to the show (like Neighbours and Home & Away), talking over it just spoils the end.

Well to me, I've always felt it's important for the continuity announcer to talk over the end credits to let viewers know what's on next and later and remind them that the show they just watched, e.g would be back at the same time tomorrow.

[CCFG]

I am very conflicted on logoless idents. Logoless ident's could work if they feel alot like the actual channel, but alas with the C4 2015 set and the C5 2016 set, this wasn't achieved. Dunno about C5 2016, but for C4 2015, Forged Metal is terrible, Shaman is just odd, but the other two, Waterfall and Miners are beautiful. I prefer C4 2015 as idents, but C4 2017 feels more... C4. I do think Waterfall and Miners still don't beat the 2004 set overall, but I think it may beat two of them. Docks and Estate.

I will say with C4, the clock, the F1 and the Simpsons ident feel very C4 and are pretty good idents aswell.