Filmotype Zanzibar
Filmotype Zanzibar (2008, for Filmotype) is a classic semi-script originally designed and released in the 1950s. As quirky as it is elegant, it combines outlandishly ornate caps with a condensed, Bodoni-like italic lowercase. The overall impression is that of a script, but it’s really a highly stylized italic. The capitals are a riot of spirals and abrupt turns, seemingly inspired by musical notation. I kept these characteristics in mind as I expanded the character set beyond the basic set provided in the original film font.
Licensing note: Filmotype Zanzibar is owned by Font Diner and uses the Font Diner end user license, not mine. You can view the license here. There is also an FAQ about it here.
Weights & Styles
Features
- Ligatures.
- Context-sensitive alternate characters.*
- Automatic arbitrary fractions.*
- Superscript and subscript figures.
- Ordinals.*
- Extended language support for most Latin-based Western and Central European languages.
* Requires an application or operating system with support for OpenType advanced typography, such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Affinity Designer/Photo/Publisher, or QuarkXPress. Check your application’s user guide. OpenType advanced typography is also supported by most modern web browsers through the use of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).
Additional Information
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The Development of Filmotype Zanzibar
A detailed article I wrote on my blog about the process that went into developing Zanzibar as a modern digital font.
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Zanzibar – Our Favorite Typefaces of 2008
Review of Filmotype Zanzibar on Typographica.
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Filmotype Zanzibar on “Fonts In Use”
“Fonts In Use” is a collaborative website where interesting or notable examples of fonts in use are shared.