The ‘Avatar’ Series Has Finally Ditched The Wretched Font Known As Papyrus

I’m going to be very honest with you: I have a hard time shitting on Avatar after recently having watched it while I was high out of my mind. Sober, that movie is soulless, forgettable, bereft of any meaningful characterisation, completely lacking in anything novel or interesting to say, and far, far too long. High, however, that movie is nothing but cool glowing lights and dope flying lizards. But, despite my misgivings about criticising a movie that has now (with the assistance of edibles) given me one of the great filmic experiences of my life, we can all agree on one thing: Papyrus is a trash font for fools.

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Created in the 80s by designer Chris Costello using an actual calligraphy pen on textured paper, Papyrus was massively popular in the mid-2000s for things like metal band logos, fantasy-based video games, and terrible websites. Now, Papyrus is reserved for the terrible graphic design characteristic of shops that do crystal healing or forums that focus on ancient aliens. It was also, up until recently, part of the official logo for the Avatar film series.

Maybe in 2009 it hadn’t quite been done to death yet, but with the eyes of a person in 2018, it looks absolutely absurd being used in the logo of the franchise that contains the highest grossing film of all time (second highest, if you account for inflation).

While the bad news is that they have completed film both the second and third instalments in the series, the good news is that they have updated the font (typeface?) to this very slightly better one:

It might look like it’s from the cover of a circa-1985 Gary Gygax roleplaying game rulebook that has somehow forced big-titty demon women into an ancient Egyptian setting, we can all be thankful that at least it’s not fucking Papyrus.

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