By Mikelle Leow, 09 Mar 2021

MGM Studios presents a polished new look “worth its weight in gold.”

The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios logo has been a thing of fascination for about a century, helped by the majestic yet fearsome beasts that fronted it over the years. The latest face of Leo, though, is a CGI model, perhaps serving as a beacon for modern cinematic technology.

The studio presented the new branding this week, marking its first logo change since 2012. It’s a polished version of the beloved opening, with more vividity and detail added to the emblem’s metallic elements for a visual identity “worth its weight in gold.”

In promotional imagery and messaging, MGM Studios has pushed the tagline, “Art for Art’s Sake,” to the forefront. This is the English meaning for “Ars Gratia Artis,” the Latin slogan printed on the ribbon of the company’s logos.

Leo the Lion was played by seven real lions, and you could say that almost every one of them represented a new era in film. Slats, the first lion, was the face of MGM’s early silent films; his reign was followed by Jackie, the first MGM lion who roared and appeared in color. The most recent lion was actually named Leo, and his presence has been around since 1957.

The latest model is a CGI avatar of its predecessor—an apt move for these virtually-reliant times, and good news for animal rights activists.

More: MGM Studios Unveils Majestic Logo Revamp, With Leo The Lion Now In CGI – DesignTAXI.com