Fanta was born out of necessity in Nazi Germany during 1940. When Coca-Cola’s German bottling operations were cut off due to wartime trade restrictions, plant manager Max Keith created a new product using available ingredients—primarily apple fiber and whey. This beverage was dubbed “Fanta,” inspired by the German word “Fantasie,” meaning imagination.
Post-war, Coca-Cola took over the brand and introduced it to the global market. By the 1960s, Fanta had expanded across Europe, Latin America, and Africa. Known for its fruit-forward profile—particularly its iconic orange variant—Fanta’s identity has always celebrated youthfulness, boldness, and creativity. Today, the brand is available in over 190 countries with more than 100 different flavors worldwide.
Fanta Logo Evolution
1940 – 1962
The earliest Fanta logo was stark and utilitarian, reflecting wartime minimalism. The word “Fanta” appeared in all capital letters, using a strong, sans-serif typeface. There were no decorative elements or colors—only a plain, black type treatment that prioritized clarity.
This was less about brand appeal and more about function, as the product itself was developed under constrained conditions.
1962 – 1970
In the early 1960s, as Fanta gained popularity internationally, it adopted a more modern, colorful logo. The brand introduced an orange circular disc behind the bold “Fanta” text—its first step toward associating the brand with citrus and fruitiness. The typography remained blocky and bold, but the orange backdrop added warmth and visual energy, enhancing market appeal.
1970 – 1980
During the 1970s, graphic design embraced more fluid and funky aesthetics. Fanta mirrored this by introducing a playful, bubble-like typeface. The letters were rounded and slightly tilted, emphasizing fun and movement.
This logo retained the orange color scheme but incorporated a more vibrant, almost cartoon-like appearance—positioning Fanta as a drink for the young and adventurous.
1980 – 1995
This period marked the introduction of the now-famous green leaf above the letter “N.” The logo featured bold, thick lettering in deep blue, contrasting with an orange dot inside the “A.” The green leaf was symbolic of natural ingredients and a refreshing taste.
It was a clever branding element that visually reinforced the product’s fruit-based identity. This version became one of the longest-standing and most recognized Fanta logos globally.
1995 – 1997
In the mid-1990s, the logo was simplified for a short period. The font remained similar, but the design became cleaner. The leaf and orange dot stayed, but the composition was flattened to fit modern packaging aesthetics. This phase emphasized brand clarity and shelf visibility, preparing Fanta for a new visual language.
1997 – 2008
In 1997, Fanta underwent a significant brand update that included a redesign of its logo. The new design replaced the previous geometric typeface with a more playful and expressive artistic font.
This updated typography featured distinctive rounded elements and small dots at the ends of some characters, lending the logo a more casual, vibrant, and youthful appearance. The stylistic change reflected Fanta’s effort to align its branding with a fun, energetic image that resonated with a younger audience.
1997 – 2004
A bolder redesign arrived in 1997, aimed squarely at the youth market. The logo featured a curvier typeface, retaining the blue color and orange dot in the “A.” The leaf became more stylized, and a dynamic splash of juice or flavor was added around the text.
This logo emphasized energy, excitement, and vibrancy, matching Fanta’s growing brand personality.
2004 – 2008
Fanta kept the same general style but refined it. The wordmark became slightly sharper and cleaner, and the juice splash was more contained. This subtle evolution reflected a maturing brand that still targeted younger consumers but with a more polished visual identity.
2008 – 2016
In 2008, the Fanta logo underwent a notable redesign that refined its visual identity. The designers adjusted the typography by making the blue lettering thicker and lowering its height, a stylistic choice intended to evoke the appearance of water droplets—adding a sense of freshness and vitality.
Additionally, a subtle shadow was incorporated beneath the leaf graphic, enhancing its depth and giving the logo a more dynamic, three-dimensional feel.
2008 – 2010
With the rise of digital media, Fanta transitioned to a more dimensional logo. The wordmark became bolder with highlights and shadows, giving a three-dimensional effect. The color palette was deepened, and the leaf now had a more realistic gradient.
This design was meant to pop on digital screens and vending machines, increasing brand visibility.
2010 – 2023
The brand name is presented in a playful, diagonal layout, rendered in soft blue bubble-style typography outlined with thick white borders. This dynamic inscription breaks the boundaries of a vivid orange circle, symbolizing a ripe, sun-kissed orange.
Crowning the design is a small, stylized leaf shaded with a smooth green gradient, adding a fresh and natural accent to the overall logo.
2016 – Present
The logo features meticulously crafted white lettering accented by a bold blue shadow, designed by the UK-based Koto Agency. The creative process began with hand-cut paper elements, which were physically assembled to explore form and composition before being translated into a clean, digital vector format.
Each letter had a unique form, and the logo incorporated an abstract orange slice and blue font inside a colorful badge-like shape.
2017 – 2021
In a refined update of the 2016 logo, the design underwent several thoughtful adjustments to enhance both form and function. The once rigid geometric badge was subtly softened, giving it a more approachable and contemporary appearance.
The orange slice graphic, a key element of the logo, was rendered with greater clarity and prominence, making it more instantly recognizable. Additionally, the typeface was fine-tuned to improve legibility, ensuring the brand message remained clear across various formats.
This iteration preserved the brand’s vibrant and playful character while significantly improving its adaptability for packaging and digital platforms—especially within the Japanese market.
2023 – Present
In 2023, Fanta returned to a more minimalist design. The updated logo removed the badge background and focused on a flat, custom sans-serif wordmark. The letters are tight, clean, and slightly quirky—recalling the charm of earlier decades while embracing a modern tone.
The iconic green leaf remains atop the “N,” and the orange dot in the “A” continues to hint at the brand’s citrus heritage. This latest redesign reflects a matured yet still fun brand identity that works globally across all mediums.
Final thoughts,
Fanta’s logo evolution tells a vivid story of how brands adapt to cultural shifts, design trends, and consumer expectations.
From its utilitarian roots in wartime Germany to its bold, playful present-day identity, Fanta has continuously reinvented itself while staying true to its core promise: fruity refreshment and youthful energy.
As the brand looks toward the future, its logo remains a vibrant visual representation of joy, imagination, and global appeal.