CA
IMO
, For BBC1, 1997 - 2002 hands down.
For BBC2, it's actually quite a hard choice. Lets start with 1991 - 1997, the starting point for the famous '2.' It had many idents from the beginning with great soundtracks (except for Paper Cut Out which got a bit annoying after a while IMO ) and some eerie aspects to them. The idents that came in later like Dog and Car countered the eerie music with a lighter theme, cute fluffy dogs and remote controlled cars. 1995 introduced some of BBC2's best idents:
Diary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBR6yssofoM
Steam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7gocv9Ifrg
Their effects and music were amazing IMO !
Now 1997 - 2001! This rebrand retained most of the idents but many of the originals didn't last that long like Silk , Firecracker , Steam and Diary . They add new idents, most of them include the '2' interacting with animals and it's environment. The new millennium added some more idents and a late entry, Wave Night . Personally I like the 1997 - 2001 idents best.
For BBC2, it's actually quite a hard choice. Lets start with 1991 - 1997, the starting point for the famous '2.' It had many idents from the beginning with great soundtracks (except for Paper Cut Out which got a bit annoying after a while IMO ) and some eerie aspects to them. The idents that came in later like Dog and Car countered the eerie music with a lighter theme, cute fluffy dogs and remote controlled cars. 1995 introduced some of BBC2's best idents:
Diary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBR6yssofoM
Steam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7gocv9Ifrg
Their effects and music were amazing IMO !
Now 1997 - 2001! This rebrand retained most of the idents but many of the originals didn't last that long like Silk , Firecracker , Steam and Diary . They add new idents, most of them include the '2' interacting with animals and it's environment. The new millennium added some more idents and a late entry, Wave Night . Personally I like the 1997 - 2001 idents best.
MK
I'd say on balance, 1997-2001. This is mainly because I feel the upright squares BBC logo, which is fortunately still with us, is superior to the slanted one with lines under it. Also, the balloon idents on BBC One were great and really it was long overdue for BBC One to have a variety of idents rather than just one, as well as having music in them. Also, the selection of idents on BBC Two became huge during this period. More seemed to get introduced rather than withdrawn.
However, there are a few things that I liked about the 1991-97 era. For a start, it was sad that the '1' numeral went away. Although a lot more serious-looking and less playful than the '2', it showed itself to be a lot more versatile than the globe for things like promos. It also came into its own during Christmas times (bar the first one, 1991), where it was temporarily set free from the globe and behaved more like the '2'. The two numerals complimented each other well, especially during cross-promotion. Although, like I said, I do prefer the current BBC logo, the slanted one had a less intrusive and more mininalistic appearance on the idents, which for the BBC Two ones, I feel, looked a bit smarter. Also, three original 1991 BBC Two idents were removed in 1997 - Water Reflection, Black & White Paper Cut Out and Shadow. Whilst I felt the first two were no great loss and were essentially just variations of the standard Water and Copper Cut Out idents, the retirement of the Shadow ident was a bit unfortunate. It was a very simple but nice ident.
However, there are a few things that I liked about the 1991-97 era. For a start, it was sad that the '1' numeral went away. Although a lot more serious-looking and less playful than the '2', it showed itself to be a lot more versatile than the globe for things like promos. It also came into its own during Christmas times (bar the first one, 1991), where it was temporarily set free from the globe and behaved more like the '2'. The two numerals complimented each other well, especially during cross-promotion. Although, like I said, I do prefer the current BBC logo, the slanted one had a less intrusive and more mininalistic appearance on the idents, which for the BBC Two ones, I feel, looked a bit smarter. Also, three original 1991 BBC Two idents were removed in 1997 - Water Reflection, Black & White Paper Cut Out and Shadow. Whilst I felt the first two were no great loss and were essentially just variations of the standard Water and Copper Cut Out idents, the retirement of the Shadow ident was a bit unfortunate. It was a very simple but nice ident.
SF
I am only 13 years old, but I still haven't missed it! I've been watching things like openings, closedowns, idents, breakdowns, etc, and I think that BBC1 and BBC2 (now BBC One and BBC Two) were much better in the 90s. Now, they just show a load of boring animated effects. You may have read in other forums that I did not like their current look; they are so stale!
I think the BBC may need a rebrand ASAP. Maybe like ITV done it; matching the color scheme to the type of programme and the time of day. It makes it feel cosy, which I what you want; especially during Winter.
If you want to talk further, PM me.
I think the BBC may need a rebrand ASAP. Maybe like ITV done it; matching the color scheme to the type of programme and the time of day. It makes it feel cosy, which I what you want; especially during Winter.
If you want to talk further, PM me.
RW
Robert Williams
Founding member
Again, on balance, I would go for 1997-2002, largely because of the uniform look that Lambie-Nairn brought on in BBC1 and BBC2, that could also be extended across to the new digital channels that were launching at the time.
I was never a fan of the 1991 BBC1 globe because it looked such a mess and seemed markedly inferior to what it replaced, but I did like the balloons; on the other hand I think the BBC2 idents introduced between 1991 and 1997 were better than the later ones.
I was never a fan of the 1991 BBC1 globe because it looked such a mess and seemed markedly inferior to what it replaced, but I did like the balloons; on the other hand I think the BBC2 idents introduced between 1991 and 1997 were better than the later ones.
SF
If only they re-introduced some of the older BBC One and Two idents. Would be a great change! 
MK
Like how The Beatles took inspiration from US Rock and Roll bands they listened to as teenagers?
Really, if the BBC used to do something better in the past than it does now, then it should really look into why that is. No one's saying they should time warp and reintroduce wholesale presentation from 1997, idents, slides the whole hog, but that they can take elements of what was good and use it to create new presentation.
The whole taboo about never looking back for inspiration is why a home video of a dog being shampooed in a sink basin is considered good these days.
It's a mistake to try to take ideas and inspiration from the past.
Like how The Beatles took inspiration from US Rock and Roll bands they listened to as teenagers?
Really, if the BBC used to do something better in the past than it does now, then it should really look into why that is. No one's saying they should time warp and reintroduce wholesale presentation from 1997, idents, slides the whole hog, but that they can take elements of what was good and use it to create new presentation.
The whole taboo about never looking back for inspiration is why a home video of a dog being shampooed in a sink basin is considered good these days.
MD
Like how The Beatles took inspiration from US Rock and Roll bands they listened to as teenagers?
Really, if the BBC used to do something better in the past than it does now, then it should really look into why that is. No one's saying they should time warp and reintroduce wholesale presentation from 1997, idents, slides the whole hog, but that they can take elements of what was good and use it to create new presentation.
The whole taboo about never looking back for inspiration is why a home video of a dog being shampooed in a sink basin is considered good these days.
We have had two posts in this thread, one saying bring back the old presentation, and another saying copy ITV's new look.
You can say one of the good aspects of the past presentation was a consistency of style. Saying to bring back consistency is not what I consider bringing back the past. Doing it in the exact same way however would be a mistake.
Also bring back a globe, or a seriffed 1 numeral, may be going to far. But bringing back a strong identifying symbol/logo is also not a bad idea from the past.
Inspiration can often turn to homage or slip into parody.
I do think that it is a good idea to look forward and find what creative direction is right for the audience, and the programming. The presentation format and styles from the 90's would hardly be appropriate wholesale picked up and placed on TV now.
My personal thought is that the way the BBC channels are structured feels dated in a world of second screens, online TV, twitter etc. Programme > End Credits > Trailers > Menu > Ident > Programme Many of these elements should remain, but the moving from one to another should be smoother, more flexible, and more dynamic.
Channel 4, and Channel 5 feel the most modern in how they design their junctions, ITV follows closely with their new look, but in comparison the BBC channels feel clunky and pedestrian. A rebrand needs to be strong enough to shake up this decades old format, and looking to the past with some view that everything was better then, would be a mistake IMO.
Now I am happy to look back at the BBC One balloons, and talk about how wonderful they were, and what a shame it was they were replaced with stupid dancers. But if I honestly think on it, they would not work brought back as they were, nor do I think there would be much merit in integrating the balloons into a new set of idents and branded junctions.
It's a mistake to try to take ideas and inspiration from the past.
Like how The Beatles took inspiration from US Rock and Roll bands they listened to as teenagers?
Really, if the BBC used to do something better in the past than it does now, then it should really look into why that is. No one's saying they should time warp and reintroduce wholesale presentation from 1997, idents, slides the whole hog, but that they can take elements of what was good and use it to create new presentation.
The whole taboo about never looking back for inspiration is why a home video of a dog being shampooed in a sink basin is considered good these days.
We have had two posts in this thread, one saying bring back the old presentation, and another saying copy ITV's new look.
You can say one of the good aspects of the past presentation was a consistency of style. Saying to bring back consistency is not what I consider bringing back the past. Doing it in the exact same way however would be a mistake.
Also bring back a globe, or a seriffed 1 numeral, may be going to far. But bringing back a strong identifying symbol/logo is also not a bad idea from the past.
Inspiration can often turn to homage or slip into parody.
I do think that it is a good idea to look forward and find what creative direction is right for the audience, and the programming. The presentation format and styles from the 90's would hardly be appropriate wholesale picked up and placed on TV now.
My personal thought is that the way the BBC channels are structured feels dated in a world of second screens, online TV, twitter etc. Programme > End Credits > Trailers > Menu > Ident > Programme Many of these elements should remain, but the moving from one to another should be smoother, more flexible, and more dynamic.
Channel 4, and Channel 5 feel the most modern in how they design their junctions, ITV follows closely with their new look, but in comparison the BBC channels feel clunky and pedestrian. A rebrand needs to be strong enough to shake up this decades old format, and looking to the past with some view that everything was better then, would be a mistake IMO.
Now I am happy to look back at the BBC One balloons, and talk about how wonderful they were, and what a shame it was they were replaced with stupid dancers. But if I honestly think on it, they would not work brought back as they were, nor do I think there would be much merit in integrating the balloons into a new set of idents and branded junctions.