May Kanno Network (MKN) is a television network founded on December 21st, 1965 by May Hisako Kanno and Scottish professor Boey Goodman as an effort to make television in Videoland more widespread. After purchasing an abandoned building, some equipment, and calling to install antennas, MKN soon went on the air at 6:00pm that holiday season.
MKN is most well known for their very unique programming. Their most unique genre of programs being Japanese Anime, being part of their Anime Club block starting in 1969. Over the years, they have aired such anime as Kimagure Orange Road, Bubblegum Crisis, Doraemon, and most famously Urusei Yatsura. Their schedules also consist of some PBS programs as well. Including Sesame Street and The Electric Company.
Actually, none of this happened. MKN never existed to begin with, Diana Clevington never hosted Anime Club, and Boey Goodman was never a real person. It was all just a fever dream that May had after watching old Rede Globo "Vinhetas". She always dreamed of designing for big companies, but she couldn't. May ended up being a radio personality for stations such as WKJ in Edison, NJ, WNRN-FM in Orlando, and her own station, Radio Tomoboki in Tomobiki, Japan. She even has her own jingle company, May H. Productions in Kyoto, Japan. They are also the Japanese distributors of JAM Creative Productions and PAMS in Dallas, TX. Now going by May H. Kanno, May still makes motion graphics, drawings, and plays DOS games.
1965-1967[]
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Cloister Open Face
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December 22, 1965
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MKN first started off with a fairly simple logo reminiscent of a pinwheel. The pinwheel consisted of 4 blades offset from each other to leave a square gap in the middle. Unfortunately, this logo was not well-received with viewers due to its simplicity, claiming that it did not tell much about the company. This was later rectified in 1967.
1967-1976[]
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May Hisako Kanno
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January 5, 1967
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MKN's "Pinwheel" logo was phased out in 1967 with their new Globe logo consisting of 6 lines in total. After designing, May claimed that the Globe was meant to represent how MKN had a worldwide impact, despite only airing in the US and Videoland. The logo could be seen on all MKN programs until 1976. But, that didn't mean the globe was going to be dropped entirely. It was then promptly given a revision in 1971.
1971-1976[]
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May Hisako Kanno
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The Globe was given a moderate-sized update in 1971. The logo now consisted of 7 rings which actually represent the 7 stations they had at the time. At the bottom, we see text that read "MAE KANOU TELEVISION NETWORK" or simply "MAY KANNO". The spelling of the co-founder's name was often misinterpreted as Mae Kanou throughout all of their programming. This was quickly rectified the day after. The revamped version would be the most prominent, appearing in all network idents, promotional material, merchandising, and on the building of MKN's headquarters. This logo was dropped in 1976 in favor for an image that would define the network for years to come.
1976-1981 (2021 for Throwback Thursdays)[]
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ITC Avant Garde Gothic
VAG Rounded (programs)
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In 1975, MKN commissioned famed Australian designer, Sans Donner to create a brand new image for the network. It was no easy task, though. Many designs were rejected and eventually, Sans gave up. That was until Mr. Donner was sitting down at a local Taco Bell and started doodling on a napkin. One doodle he made really caught his eye. A shaded sphere with a TV-shaped cutout with the letters M and K inside the sphere.
Once Donner showed the doodle to May, she absolutely loved it. Then in 1976, MKN introduced their brand new image along with their line-up of new programs. Sans eventually designed and animated a few idents for the network in the following years. Numerous versions of this logo would appear in 1979 through 1985.
This logo was brought back in 2021 as part of their Throwback Thursday block, in which they show their old programs from the past.
1981-1983[]
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Sans Donner
Paul Weyesman
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ITC Avant Garde Gothic
VAG Rounded (programs)
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Later in 1981, the logo was revised by famed Videolandian designer, Paul Weyesman to give it a much darker, shinier look. Alongside it, a new batch of 3D computer generated idents, something barely other networks at the time used. Some people liked the new look, others found it scary and thought it looked like an evil eye. This one did not last very long, as it would be phased out in 1983.
1986-1992[]
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Sans Donner
Diana Clevington
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ITC Avant Garde Gothic
VAG Rounded (programs)
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In 1986, MKN employee Diana Clevington wanted to give the network image a new, vibrant look for the 1980s. She took Sans Donner's original design and made the outer sphere and letters metallic, and the inside of the sphere rainbow-colored. The new logo would be seen throughout the mid-to-late 80s under various iterations and styling. This style would remain part of MKN's image until 2021.
1992-1996[]
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Sans Donner
Diana Clevington
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ITC Avant Garde Gothic
VAG Rounded (programs)
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A slight revision of the 1986 logo was made. This time with the sphere and letters being in a much more reflective material than before. MKN also commissioned Boberto Shimestrone to animate new idents for the network. This style of material would be used on the logo would be used until 2008.
1996-2000[]
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Sans Donner
Diana Clevington (3x)
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ITC Avant Garde Gothic
VAG Rounded (programs)
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November 3, 1996
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The logo was revamped yet again in 1996 with a new, more darker material being used. Some more idents were animated using this logo, with earth being the central focus in one of their idents. Another one was made in 1999 featuring water drops.
2000-2005[]
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Sans Donner
Diana Clevington (4x)
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ITC Avant Garde Gothic
VAG Rounded (programs)
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January 2nd, 2000
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In 2000, the MKN logo was given another slight alteration. They made the material rougher. That was it.
This was easily their most underwhelming logo to date.
Albeit new idents were made featuring a glass version of the logo overlayed onto various kinds of US and Videoland scenery.
2005-2008[]
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Sans Donner
Tim Eastward
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ITC Avant Garde Gothic
VAG Rounded (programs 5x)
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December 21, 2005
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MKN comissioned Videolandian graphic designer, Tim Eastward to give their logo a new breath of fresh air in comemoration with their 40th anniversary. Tim gave the logo a brighter material, and slightly different color palette for the rainbow. The Glass idents were also reworked to feature Tim's new logo, along with glass stripes appearing one by one. The stripes were heavily used in the company's 40th anniversary logo.
2008-2014[]
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Sans Donner
Tim Eastward
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ITC Avant Garde Gothic
VAG Rounded (occasionally)
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In 2008, Tim redesigned the MKN logo again for the rapidly-coming digital age. He planned on changing the shape of the rectangle to reflect that of a modern digital TV. Unfortunately, May did not allow anyone to change the tried-and-true formula of their logo which was in use since 1976, claiming that "people would get really angry and be stubborn for change". The only changes being the new, shiner material and the rainbow being made up of scanlines. This version would also be the defining image for MKN to many viewers across Videoland and the USA.
2014-2021[]
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Sans Donner
Tim Eastward
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ITC Avant Garde Gothic
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December 21, 2014
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Another major update was given to the MKN logo in 2014 in commemoration of their 50th anniversary. The rainbow scanlines stayed, but the sphere's material was changed to a much simpler, matte white material. This logo was also well-received with viewers and network executives alike. This would later change in 2022.
2022-present[]
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Tim Eastward
May Hisako Kanno
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Sequel Sans
ITC Avant Garde Gothic
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January 1, 2022
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For New Year's Day of 2022, MKN has now decided to go for a much simpler, sleeker look for their identity. This time with May Kanno herself redesigning the logo, years after her first creation in 1967. The logo now had a slightly darker material, and the rainbow colors kept changing depending on the variant. People initially hated this change, but once viewers saw it in action, they really enjoyed it. Some claiming that their new ident was similar to the one seen in 1986. This will probably be their most prominent logo for years to come.
..unless they change it again for the 1,000,000th time.
