Production logo
A production logo, vanity card, vanity plate, or vanity logo is a logo used by movie studios and television production companies to brand what they produce and to determine the production company and the distributor of a television show or film. Production logos are usually seen at the beginning of a theatrical movie or video game (an "opening logo"), and/or at the end of a television program or TV movie (a "closing logo"). Many production logos have become famous over the years, such as the 20th Century Studios's monument and searchlights and MGM's Leo the Lion. Unlike logos for other media, production logos can take advantage of motion and synchronized sound, and almost always do.
Production logos are becoming commonplace in online video platforms such as YouTube, often as "channel" branding. Online channels may have a professional production team, or may be self-produced by an individual or a sole proprietor. The barrier to entry for professional audiovisual production is constantly falling, and the professionalism of self-produced branding now often rivals traditional production modes.