AOL CEO defends strategy.

Ben & Jerry's renames flavor to support gay marriage.

Benihana explores possible sale.

DelMonte Foods brings back "Meow Mix" jingle.

Encyclopaedia Brittanica to stop printing encyclopedias.

Facebook sees startups resist its pull.

Las Vegas Sands faces suit by former Macau partner.

Paramount Pictures goes to the mattresses with Puzo family over ownership of The Godfather franchise.Continue reading...

Paramount Pictures is celebrating its centennial on May 8th with a new logo that debuted in December. If you caught Dr. Seuss' The Lorax you may have noticed Universal Pictures' new animated logo for its 100th anniversary, which is coming up on April 6th.

Created by Weta Digital, it features Brian Tyler's new arrangement of Jerry Goldsmith's classic score. The previous Universal logo premiered with The Lost World: Jurassic Park in 1997. The Universary is being celebrated throughout 2012 with a Universal100th website featuring such iconic films as To Kill a Mockingbird plus "new films, classic DVDs, essential Blu-Rays, events, online games, competitions, and money-can't-buy prizes." (The Toshiba-sponsored contest's top prize: $1 million paid out as an annuity over 40 years).

Below, watch Universal's new animated logo and trailer promoting its 100th anniversary, along with 100 years of the studio's logos (including the Jurassic Park-introduced logo at :40); a clip of Tyler discussing how he reworked Goldsmith's musical intro to evoke a century of movie moments; and a comparison with Paramount's 100th anniversary logo.Continue reading...

Paramount Pictures turns 100 in 2012, but it’s getting the party started this week.

When the studio’s latest blockbuster — Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, starring Tom Cruise — opens on Friday in IMAX theatres (and everywhere else on Dec. 21), observant moviegoers may notice that the studio branding has had a little work done, which some might miss as they turn off their phones or tear open their Junior Mints.

Paramount’s famous mountain logo has been redesigned, adding “100” at the center in honor of its upcoming centenary. According to its press release,

"The studio’s first logo, a symbol of a rugged, snow-covered peak from the Wasatch mountain range, was created in 1916. The 100th Anniversary logo was created by Devastudios, Inc. Paramount will use the (new) logo throughout its centennial year in 2012. Beginning in 2013, the wording about the 100th anniversary will be removed from the logo, with the rest of the design remaining in use."

Entertainment Weekly points out that the original semi-circle consisted of 23 stars back then while the new centenary logo only has 22. (Perhaps one was whacked when the studio released The Godfather?)Continue reading...

Apple tries to leverage lower prices.

Cars.com sets up custom channels on Pandora.

Chipotle finds customers tolerate higher prices.

Dove asks women, "Who inspired you?" in new campaign.

Kia asks NBA star Blake Griffin to soar again.

Kraft keeps investors and advertisers hopping with its "leaping" strategy aimed at hitting home runs.

Mattel to buy preschool brands.Continue reading...

If comic book, animation and movie fans were excited by the first look at the posters and trailers for The Adventures of Tintin that were released in May, then their heads may have exploded today.

Ahead of the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con, Paramount and Columbia Pictures today released the first full-length trailer for the upcoming Steven Spielberg-directed and Peter Jackson-produced film, showing more of the animated effects than before. It's already got fans (and pros) buzzing about how to describe the animation.

All things Tintin: that's what's trending on Twitter today, after Paramount and Columbia Pictures released the trailer (watch it below) for the highly anticipated movie The Adventures of Tintin on Apple's website. 

Directed by Steven Spielberg, co-presented and -produced by his fellow director Peter Jackson, co-scripted by Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat, and based on the classic Herge comic, the live action adaptation for the big screen has fans and critics salivating for glimpses ahead of its December 23rd release.

Also whetting their appetites: the just-released movie posters, below.Continue reading...

Looking to save Abbey Road, Beatles fans turn to Facebook. [Bloomberg]

Non-Toyota drivers sigh in relief over their lack of drama. [Adweek]

Despite internal struggles, Playboy sees sales increase in the last quarter. [Daily Finance]

Ben & Jerry's plans on creating another Olympic-themed flavor. [Boston Herald]

As the Latin Music Awards approach, brands look for sponsorship. [Brandweek]

Disney tailors toward a gothic consumer for new 'Alice in Wonderland' products. [WSJ]Continue reading...