Google has come a long way since its original bubble-letter insignia. The search engine has long been famous for their “Google Doodles,” the first of which came in 1998 when creators Larry Page and Sergey Brin went to Burning Man. At the time, they needed a way to inform users that they would be out of the office, so they placed the Burning Man logo behind the second “o.” Since then, they’ve created historic reminders, and even interactive games out of the Google sign. Nowadays, we rarely get to see those brightly colored letters. Despite their near abandonment of their classic logo, Google has been able to create some really amazing things with their search engine, and we’ve highlighted some of the best below.
Best Interactive Doodles
Pac-Man
On May 21, 2010, Google turned their logo into an interactive Pac-Man game in honor of the game’s 30 year anniversary. And, it’s pretty impressive. The game functioned surprisingly well and was a fantastic call back to the classic arcade game. It only featured one level but it did offer a few minutes of procrastination, which is always a gift.
Robert Moog’s 78th Birthday
Have you ever wanted to play the synthesizer? Well, Google gave their users the chance to do so on May 23, 2012 or Robert Moog’s 78th Birthday. In honor of Robert Moog, inventor of the electronic analog Moog Synthesizer, the company turned their logo into an interactive synthesizer. What’s so impressive about this Doodle is how thorough it was. It featured over 20 different buttons to adjust the sound of the keyboard, as well as the ability to record and playback.
Best Historic Doodles
Invention of the Barcode
To mark the pivotal invention of the barcode in 1974, Google created one of their simplest logos. On that day, October 7, 2009, Google replaced their classic logo with a simple barcode. Seemingly simple at first, but some were able to decode that that “Google” was in fact integrated into the code.
20th Anniversary of Wallace and Gromit
This one should get extra marks for its creativity. On November 4, 2009, the 20th anniversary of Wallace and Gromit, Google featured the classic characters planning their next adventure and drinking tea at their dining room table. The word is spelled out by a lamp, a tea kettle, a magnifying glass, a tea cup and plate, a wrench, and a scroll. It’s subtle but impressive in its ability to stay true to the characters while maintaining the integrity of the Google logo.
Most Artistic Doodles
Amelia Earhart
On what would have been her 115th birthday, Google wanted to celebrate the life of Amelia Earhart and remind the world of her accomplishments as the first female pilot to cross the Atlantic. In commemoration, Google featured a simple yet stunning painting of Earhart triumphantly boarding her plane.
The Wizard of Oz
In 2010, 71 years after The Wizard of Oz premiered, Google decided to honor the class film with a beautiful illustration. The Doodle used a lush landscape the spell out the logo in the background, while featuring Dorothy, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Tin Man, and Toto in the foreground. As the characters first spot the Emerald City, the majestic green tower forms the “L” in Google. The Doodle captures the beauty and whimsy of The Wizard of Oz, while seamlessly incorporating “Google.”
Featured Image Courtesy of Pixabay
