I spent some time searching an answer and couldn't find anything.

Does anyone know the origin of the Gargamel logo? Is it a spin on one of the vintage manufacturers? I've always thought it was distinctive, and I like how they work it into their figures, but I wonder if it means something or if it's just a cool logo.

Looks like a simple version of a Japanese paper lamp called a SHOJI lamp.
That would be my guess . . . . .

I always thought it was cool logo too.

looks like a modified SHOJI lamp, made to look like a "G" ?

. . . . um, i dont see how that logo looks like a 'G' in any way at all.

^^^^

Really? I see it

Here's the G as I see it:

Thats exactly what I was going to post.

Fair enough, if thats what you see thats cool, but for me it seems like a bit of stretch.
No wonder i did'nt see it . . . .

Where i've put green rings is where your theory falls down
Theoretically you can turn a cube into any letter if you try hard enough.








Thinking about it though, i might of possibly seen the logo with the 'G' highlighted somewhere before . . . .
but i still think its a stretch.

The dress is blue!

^^ Haha!

^^^

i see G-A-R-G-A-M-E-L spelled out in the cube

i also see H-A-I-L S-A-T-A-N

**deleted image, so not to desecrate family crest.

I buy the Shoji lamp theory, but the hidden G is kind of a stretch...

My understanding is that it's sortof a family crest. The family crest of Gargamel.

^^ Thanks Bwana. The Wikipedia article on these is interesting. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mon_%28emblem%29

I can still only see a swastika-like (yes, shoji lamp... ) image...
I like Moog's alphabet though, and the blue dress of course!

it looks like a duck, but also a rabbit

I always just thought it was a Mon.



You're thinking of the Gamecube logo

I sent an email to Gargamel and received a nice reply from Kiyoka.

"Thank you very much for asking and interested in our company logo.

As Bwana explains, the concept of our logo is from the family crest.
It is motif of three (3) swastika which is one of the styles of family
crest that has come down from long distant past in Japan. Please refer
attached images.

When swastika (卍) had came from India to China, people believed its
meaning
"this mark means auspicious symbol, and all the things will be." and
then
it called Manji (*万字*) . *万 (Man)* means "all the things".

Basically, I like this the origin story about *Manji (万字)* , and when
I
started business of Gargamel by three (3) persons, so I thought if there
were three *Manjis (3 x 卍)*here, all the things would be done without
fault. It is kind of Buddhist prayer.
And I was born on March(*3月*), and there are three brothers (*３人兄弟
*) in my
family. So I like the number of three(3) as lucky number, so finally I
created this company logo.

Also I would like to explain *Kanji *-like logo marking. What is this
*kanji* ? It is FAQ !
It's deal drawing lay-out of the letters of "G" "A" "R" "G" "A" "M" "E"
"L".
Please see attached as arrow marking.
I designed also this logo marking and draw it,
and then, Chanmen finalized it as data."

Thanks for that!

Nice Job Blake. Thanks as always to Kiyoka.

it's like a finger pointing to the moon. don't concentrate on the finger or you miss all the heavenly glory.

very interesting, thank you

Love it. Great info.