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The roaring MGM lion is famous from the opening credits of many Hollywood classics. MGM stands for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, a film studio in the United States.
The MGM Lion: Here’s the Backstory
The MGM logo is both unique and famous. The star of the approximately 13-second opening sequence is a roaring lion. Only its head is visible against the black background. A golden film reel inscribed with “Ars Gratia Artis” winds around it.
- The logo in its original form already existed when Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer Studios was founded in 1924. The well-known MGM Studios emerged from a merger of several film production companies.
- Ever since then, the MGM lion has roared tirelessly from the screen in movie theaters . But it wasn’t always the same animal. Eight lions are said to have been in use at MGM since the early 20th century.
- Regardless of their actual names, they were all called “Leo the Lion.” Only one of the animals was actually named that—namely, the one with the longest “tenure.” All sorts of gruesome rumors from the film set also surround the MGM lion lineup—very few of which are actually true.
- Leo, the lion born at the Dublin Zoo (Ireland), appeared the longest—from 1957 to 2021—in the opening credits of Hollywood films produced by MGM. The first MGM lion was named Slats. He didn’t roar yet, but simply stared silently into the camera. Another well-known successor was Jack.
- For about 100 years now, the MGM mascot has been carrying the motto “Ars Gratia Artis” into the world of film. Literally translated, this means: “Art is the reward of art.” Interpreted freely, it means that art requires no external influences and is an end in itself.
- Perhaps “Leo the Lion” was once used to watch over Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer productions in the spirit of the motto, or simply to give the brand a meaningful identity.
The Digitization of the MGM Lion
The real lion, Leo, lives on at MGM long after his death. He was first broadcast in 1957.
- The images of Leo—who had already passed away by that time—will not be retired until 2021. Since then, a computer-generated “Leo the Lion” has been guarding the MGM logo.
- The CGI lion was modeled after the real Leo and crafted down to the last detail. With the logo update in 2021, MGM sought to stay current.
- But the pandemic years took a toll on the studios, as they did on many other companies, and an investor had to step in. In 2022, Amazon acquired the film giant as previously announced, thereby expanding its streaming offerings to remain competitive.
