Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment: Difference between revisions
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===Background=== | ===Background=== | ||
'''Rankin | '''Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment''' was formed in September 1960 by Arthur '''Rankin''', Jr. and Jules '''Bass''' as '''Videocraft International'''; it was renamed to Rankin/Bass in 1968. In 1971, the company was acquired by [[Tomorrow Entertainment]] and distributed by [[Viacom (1952-2006)|Viacom Enterprises]], while [[Broadway Video]] acquired the rights to the pre-1974 library in 1988. It was later acquired by [[Telepictures Productions|Telepictures]] on January 24, 1983 and then became a subsidiary of [[Lorimar-Telepictures]]. The studio closed in 1987 as a result of TV show failures like ''The Comic Strip'', and its partnership was dissolved in 2001 after the production of the studio's last Christmas special ''Santa, Baby!''. | ||
The pre-1974 library is currently owned by [[NBCUniversal]] on behalf of [[DreamWorks Animation]] through their [[DreamWorks Classics]] label, while the post-1974 library is owned by [[Warner Bros. Television|Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.]] except for ''The Jackson 5ive'', which is distributed by [[CBS Media Ventures]]. Rankin | The pre-1974 library is currently owned by [[NBCUniversal]] on behalf of [[DreamWorks Animation]] through their [[DreamWorks Classics]] label, while the post-1974 library is owned by [[Warner Bros. Television|Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.]] except for ''The Jackson 5ive'', which is distributed by [[CBS Media Ventures]]. Rankin/Bass's theatrical film library is currently split amongst different companies. [[StudioCanal]] owns ''The Wacky World of Mother Goose'' and ''Mad Monster Party'' since both movies were released by [[Embassy Films Associates|Embassy Pictures]], ''The Last Unicorn'' is currently owned by [[ITV Studios]] (released by [[ITC Entertainment Group|ITC]]) and [[Universal Pictures]] owns ''Willy McBean and his Magic Machine'' via DreamWorks Animation and ''King Kong Returns''. | ||
{{SeparateTOC | {{SeparateTOC | ||
|Videocraft International | |Videocraft International| | ||
{{ImageTOC | {{ImageTOC | ||
|GW227H153.jpg|1st Logo (September 1, 1961-November 24, 1966) | |GW227H153.jpg|1st Logo (September 1, 1961-November 24, 1966) | ||
|GW263H199.jpg|2nd Logo (June 1966-November 23, 1968) | |GW263H199.jpg|2nd Logo (June 1966-November 23, 1968) | ||
}} | }} | ||
|Rankin | |Rankin/Bass Productions| | ||
{{ImageTOC | {{ImageTOC | ||
|GW232H175.jpg|1st Logo (November 23, 1968-December 10, 1974) | |GW232H175.jpg|1st Logo (November 23, 1968-December 10, 1974) | ||
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|GW223H169.jpg|3rd Logo (December 19, 1975-July 5, 1987) | |GW223H169.jpg|3rd Logo (December 19, 1975-July 5, 1987) | ||
}} | }} | ||
|Rankin | |Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment| | ||
{{ImageTOC | {{ImageTOC | ||
|GW258H204.png|1st Logo (January 23, 1985) | |GW258H204.png|1st Logo (January 23, 1985) | ||
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}} | }} | ||
==Videocraft International | ==Videocraft International== | ||
===1st Logo (September 1, 1961-November 24, 1966)=== | ===1st Logo (September 1, 1961-November 24, 1966)=== | ||
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200"> | <gallery mode="packed" heights="200"> | ||
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'''Logo:''' Over a white background, we see three colorized TV tubes aside each other, as in the infamous "V" design from the previous logo. The name "ARTHUR RANKIN, Jr." pops up in the {{color|blue}} tube on the left, while the name "JULES BASS" pops up in the {{color|green}} tube on the right. The third tube (which is {{color|orange}}) on the bottom has "Production" appear in it and "AN" above the logo, revealing the phrase as "AN ARTHUR RANKIN, Jr.-JULES BASS Production". We pan out to reveal the words "VIDEOC{{Big|r}}AFT International Limited" appearing in black underneath the logo. There is a very notable tilt to the entire logo. | '''Logo:''' Over a white background, we see three colorized TV tubes aside each other, as in the infamous "V" design from the previous logo. The name "ARTHUR RANKIN, Jr." pops up in the {{color|blue}} tube on the left, while the name "JULES BASS" pops up in the {{color|green}} tube on the right. The third tube (which is {{color|orange}}) on the bottom has "Production" appear in it and "AN" above the logo, revealing the phrase as "AN ARTHUR RANKIN, Jr.-JULES BASS Production". We pan out to reveal the words "VIDEOC{{Big|r}}AFT International Limited" appearing in black underneath the logo. There is a very notable tilt to the entire logo. | ||
'''Trivia:''' This logo was restored in 1997 by Rankin | '''Trivia:''' This logo was restored in 1997 by Rankin/Bass historian Rick Goldschmidt and is featured in his book ''The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass: A Portfolio''. | ||
'''Technique:''' Camera-controlled 2D animation. | '''Technique:''' Camera-controlled 2D animation. | ||
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'''Music/Sounds:''' A strum and two horn notes, followed by a 6-note flute tune and a dramatic finish. Bongos play throughout the whole thing. The music was composed by Maury Laws and Jules Bass. | '''Music/Sounds:''' A strum and two horn notes, followed by a 6-note flute tune and a dramatic finish. Bongos play throughout the whole thing. The music was composed by Maury Laws and Jules Bass. | ||
'''Availability:''' Extinct. This was last seen on original airings of ''The King Kong Show'', and the 1967 ''Cricket on the Hearth'' special. Don't expect this on current TV airings and DVD/Blu-ray releases of both, as they are plastered over with the first Rankin | '''Availability:''' Extinct. This was last seen on original airings of ''The King Kong Show'', and the 1967 ''Cricket on the Hearth'' special. Don't expect this on current TV airings and DVD/Blu-ray releases of both, as they are plastered over with the first Rankin/Bass logo. | ||
'''Legacy:''' This logo's music would be more infamous when the company became Rankin | '''Legacy:''' This logo's music would be more infamous when the company became Rankin/Bass. | ||
==Rankin | ==Rankin/Bass Productions== | ||
===1st Logo (November 23, 1968-December 10, 1974)=== | ===1st Logo (November 23, 1968-December 10, 1974)=== | ||
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'''Availability:''' Common, especially around the Christmas season. | '''Availability:''' Common, especially around the Christmas season. | ||
*It appears on most of Rankin | *It appears on most of Rankin/Bass's Christmas output when aired by CBS, Freeform, AMC and other channels, as well as on DVD and most VHS releases. | ||
*Strangely enough, on one airing of ''The Little Drummer Boy'', this logo was replaced with the 1975 "Blues" logo. | *Strangely enough, on one airing of ''The Little Drummer Boy'', this logo was replaced with the 1975 "Blues" logo. | ||
*The variant with the "Tomorrow Entertainment" byline was seen on ''Festival of Family Classics'' and early 70's prints of ''Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer''. For the latter, it was probably last seen in the 2000's on the Canadian channel YTV. | *The variant with the "Tomorrow Entertainment" byline was seen on ''Festival of Family Classics'' and early 70's prints of ''Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer''. For the latter, it was probably last seen in the 2000's on the Canadian channel YTV. | ||
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*On earlier prints of ''The Hobbit'', it's silent and the background is {{color|orange|carrot orange}}, while on ''Nestor the Christmas Donkey'', the music is sped-up and the background is {{color|orange}}-{{color|gold}} (though both of these could be from film deterioration). | *On earlier prints of ''The Hobbit'', it's silent and the background is {{color|orange|carrot orange}}, while on ''Nestor the Christmas Donkey'', the music is sped-up and the background is {{color|orange}}-{{color|gold}} (though both of these could be from film deterioration). | ||
**On the [[Xenon Entertainment Group|Xenon]] VHS release and 2014 Remastered [[Warner Bros. Home Entertainment|WB DVD]] of the former, the music is intact and the background is brighter with a slight {{color|pink}} tint (possibly from film deterioration as well). | **On the [[Xenon Entertainment Group|Xenon]] VHS release and 2014 Remastered [[Warner Bros. Home Entertainment|WB DVD]] of the former, the music is intact and the background is brighter with a slight {{color|pink}} tint (possibly from film deterioration as well). | ||
*On certain airings of Rankin | *On certain airings of Rankin/Bass specials, the logo fades out after the animation is finished to make way for either the 1972 WBTV "Distributed By" logo, or the 1998 WBTV "75 Years" logo. | ||
'''Technique:''' Cel animation. | '''Technique:''' Cel animation. | ||
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'''Availability:''' Uncommon. | '''Availability:''' Uncommon. | ||
*Retained on most Rankin | *Retained on most Rankin/Bass holiday specials from this period on DVD releases and reruns on Freeform and AMC. | ||
*The Warner Bros. variant is preserved in credits pushback on Freeform airings of ''Rudolph's Shiny New Year'' and ''Nestor the Christmas Donkey'' during the 24 Days of Christmas Marathon. | *The Warner Bros. variant is preserved in credits pushback on Freeform airings of ''Rudolph's Shiny New Year'' and ''Nestor the Christmas Donkey'' during the 24 Days of Christmas Marathon. | ||
*The last special with this logo was ''The Wind in the Willows'' in 1987. | *The last special with this logo was ''The Wind in the Willows'' in 1987. | ||
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'''Legacy:''' Another memorable logo during the Christmas season, though it isn't as notable as the 1st logo. Some have been rattled by this logo due to its music and fast-paced animation. | '''Legacy:''' Another memorable logo during the Christmas season, though it isn't as notable as the 1st logo. Some have been rattled by this logo due to its music and fast-paced animation. | ||
==Rankin | ==Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment== | ||
===1st Logo (January 23, 1985)=== | ===1st Logo (January 23, 1985)=== | ||
<gallery mode="packed" heights="220"> | <gallery mode="packed" heights="220"> | ||
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{{YouTube|id2=-iblpowxRt0|id=-A9Jh5LiFwA}} | {{YouTube|id2=-iblpowxRt0|id=-A9Jh5LiFwA}} | ||
'''Logo:''' We see the classic Rankin | '''Logo:''' We see the classic Rankin/Bass logo, except made completely three-dimensional, with the text in {{color|royalblue|royal blue}} and in the corporate font of then-current parent company Telepictures. A white line forms under the logo, and that line "springs" into a cursive "Animated Entertainment". Then, the "RB" zooms up, and the shapes slide apart as they come closer to the screen, revealing a white "from". As the "O" overtakes the screen, we see the animation of either [[Telepictures Productions|Telepictures]] (1985-86) or [[Lorimar-Telepictures]] (1986-89), which eventually fills the entire screen. | ||
'''Variants:''' | '''Variants:''' | ||
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* On a post-1989 Russian print of ''ThunderCats'' S1 episode "Return to Thundera", the logo is silent. | * On a post-1989 Russian print of ''ThunderCats'' S1 episode "Return to Thundera", the logo is silent. | ||
'''Availability:''' Appears on 1980s Rankin | '''Availability:''' Appears on 1980s Rankin/Bass productions, including ''ThunderCats'' and ''SilverHawks''. It also appeared on some '80s prints of older R-B specials, typically plastering the older logos. | ||
{{Animation-Navbox}}{{Navbox-Comcast}}{{Navbox-WarnerBrosDiscovery}} | {{Animation-Navbox}}{{Navbox-Comcast}}{{Navbox-WarnerBrosDiscovery}} | ||