EastEnders

Long overdue, but usual BBC idiocy when it comes to branding. The producer doesn't like the wipe effect, so it's gone in favour of a bland fade - but IMO the wipe reveal of the logo is as much a part of the titles as the whole map aspect, and looks far better than just fading it on.

It is not too bad. I would rather have had no clouds and with a wipe reveal as another poster has said. I also do not like the continuous 'reverse twisting' at the end. The wipe reveal is as bigger part of the title sequence as the Thames itself. The music sounds almost identical albeit for the the louder 'tiss tiss' background theme (I do not know the techincal term for it), more prominent beginning whistle and a different piano ending (which seems quieter and longer). All in all I rather like it, the best bit is that it finally shows the whole Greewich Penisula development instead of just The O2.

Additional: Could anyone rip the video and/or music and send it to me by Personal Messaging or post it here to share with everyone! Yes I know, a bit of a long shot.

Why don't they centre the O2 Dome so after the BBC One circle ident finshes the circle is replaced (faded to) by the O2 circle shape?

Wouldn't work on BBC 3 though.

Nice touch with the clouds, at least they didn't change the music like they did in 1993!

The drop shadow is awful. And I think with the theme, they've just remastered the current theme imo (or Simon May has raided his cupboard for a few extra bits!)

A poor effort.

The image looks too sharp, the Thames is way too blue and the shadows and fade-up look cheap. There's also something about the music that's just irritating, but I can't put my finger on it.

The theme sounds very plinky-plonky, echoey and airy and not as sharp as the current one. I think that's just going to annoy me.

The drop shadow looks very cheap and so does the fade. The wipe has symbolised EastEnders since 1985.

But the clouds and the and the zoom are good, But the skyline now looks a lot greyer and static than before because of the colourised Thames.

A mixed verdict from me.. I'll have to see it in use I think.

I have put together this video to compare the 1994 and the new 2009 themes.

Comparison video

To use Diederick Santer's words, It works. Why change it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZz88_n_Fqc

What's with the clouds which gather in squares, then disappear?

Bahamas style blue sea and tacky extra drop shadow? Put old and new side by side and see which people think is the dodgy mock!

Like the clouds effect though.