NBC updates ‘curtain raiser’ sequence with glassy 3D look

NBC has introduced an updated “curtain raiser” vanity card along with a 100th anniversary version of its bug.

The new raiser animation has been used as the network began premiering its 2026–2027 season of programming.

The new sequence differs significantly from the flatter, more gradient-driven, color-wash approach introduced in late 2022.

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Instead, the new version features a more heavily 3D, glassy look set against a dark background, bringing a sort of elegance to the sequence. 

Although this version doesn’t reference the network’s 100th anniversary and it’s not entirely clear whether it’s meant to be directly part of that branding, the look harks back to the days when the peacock was often rendered with shiny glass effects and plenty of 3D in network and affiliate designs. 

NBC kicks off 100th anniversary celebration with promos, ‘A Century Together’ tagline

The network also appears to have bumped up the saturation on the logo’s colors so they feel richer and warmer, perhaps as a nod to the golden looks used in the NBC 100 look. NBC’s 1926 founding, in fact, put its birthday right in the middle of the so-called roaring 1920s — an era where extravagance was often conveyed through gold hues and Art Deco vibes.

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NBC has also been using the 100th anniversary version of its logo as its bug during programming.

The element enters the screen with a tracing effect on the “100” before it fills in with solid gold as the peacock blooms outward next to it. After a few moments on screen in its full color glory, the element takes on the semi-transparent effect that has become common with network bugs.

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The glassy version of the bug retains a bevel effect, setting it apart from the flatter look that NBC and other networks have been moving toward in recent years.