Bagdasarian Productions

Background

Bagdasarian Productions is a production company which holds the rights to Alvin and the Chipmunks and related intellectual property assets. It is owned and operated by Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. and Janice Karman. It is the successor to Bagdasarian Film Corporation, which was owned and founded by Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise creator Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. (also known as David Seville).

Bagdasarian Film Corporation

Contents

Logo (October 4, 1961-September 12, 1962, 1990s)

Contents

1st Logo (September 15, 1984-January 28, 1989)	2nd Logo (September 9, 1989-April 14, 1995)	3rd Logo (1998)	4th Logo (November 15, 2011)	5th Logo (March 30, 2015-December 2, 2022)

Bagdasarian Film Corporation

Logo (October 4, 1961-September 12, 1962, 1990s)

Visuals: There is a black rectangle against a red background. The words "A PRESENTATION OF" (in white) are seen above it. Then the letters "Bagdasarian" appear one-by-one in rainbow colors with a red dot above the "i" in sync with the music. The words "FILM CORPORATION" appear below it (also in white).

Variants:

An earlier version of this logo exists, in which the logo is in B&W.
Sometimes, the logo is off-center.

Technique: 2D animation by Format Films.

Audio: A fanfare sounding similar to "Old MacDonald" that plays to the beat of the letters appearing. Composed by Johnny Mann.

Audio Variant: On Alvin and the Chipmunks Sing Alongs tapes, it has a re-recorded synthesized version of the music mixed in with the original music.

Availability: Seen only on the short-lived cartoon The Alvin Show. It also appeared on the 1990s Alvin and the Chipmunks Sing-Alongs VHS releases from Buena Vista Home Video.

Bagdasarian Productions

1st Logo (September 15, 1984-January 28, 1989)

Visuals: Against a pink/yellow gradient background is Alvin, Simon and Theodore hold up the word "BAGDASARIAN" in silver "bubble" letters (Alvin, standing in the center, is only using one hand and has a smug expression, and Theodore and Simon are trying their hardest to hold it up) as they stand on "PRODUCTIONS", which is written in the same font. Over them is "PRODUCED BY" (or "PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH" from 1984-1987) in black. Later on, a copyright stamp appears in black or white.

Variants:

The early version had the logo looking far different than later on. Alvin, Simon, and Theodore appear to be in their earlier designs, and are all struggling as they hold "BAGDASARIAN", which, along with "PRODUCTIONS", is now in multiple colors and perfectly aligned in a more bubbly font. "PRODUCTIONS" is also much smaller and the background is light cream.
On The Chipmunk Adventure, an in-credit version is used on a royal blue background, like the credits before it. It fades to black after 8 seconds.
Sometimes, the logo is shifted up slightly.

Technique: Traditional ink and paint.

Audio: Same as the previous logo.

Audio Variant: Sometimes, it might be the closing theme in some cases.

Availability: Seen on seasons 2-6 of Alvin and the Chipmunks.

The early variant is seen on The Alvinnn!!! Edition DVD box set from Paramount Home Entertainment.
It also plastered over the in-credit text on syndicated airings of the first season of Alvin and the Chipmunks when it was rerun on Cartoon Network from 1998-2002.

2nd Logo (September 9, 1989-April 14, 1995)

Visuals: Against a pink/blue gradient background with many sparkles, "BAGDASARIAN" is seen in multiple pastel colors, and is sitting right on top of the word "PRODUCTIONS" (in purple). Both words are written in two different fonts, with the former being more jumbled. A blue copyright stamp is written in the bottom left corner. The Chipmunks then come out from the space in between the words and hold up "BAGDASARIAN" with all their strength. The third "A" in the name then loosens and starts to fall, so Alvin swings up his left foot to hold it back up in place. The Chipmunks then grin sheepishly at us as the logo shines.

Variants:

Sometimes, the copyright stamp is not shown.
A more common shorter version starts when the "A" loosens and falls.
On the 1989 Chipmunk Library VHS releases of A Chipmunk Christmas (1981) and The Chipmunk Family Tree, the extended logo plays.
On A Chipmunk Celebration and The Easter Chipmunk, the logo freezes for the last few seconds so the ending music of both finish.

Technique: Cel animation.

Audio: Same as the previous logos, but accompanied with sound effects.

Audio Variants:

In some cases, the logo is silent.
On "Trick or Treason", the last bars of the 1988-1990 "The Chipmunks" outro plays during the logo.

Availability: Seen on the final two seasons of Alvin and the Chipmunks and subsequent Alvin and the Chipmunks specials, including "Rocking With The Chipmunks" and "The Easter Chipmunk".

Still seen on the current Paramount DVD releases of The Chipmunks Go to the Movies and Bagdasarian DVD releases of said Alvin and the Chipmunks specials.
The extended logo was only used for "The Chipmunk Library" VHS releases until home media rights to Alvin and the Chipmunks were given to Buena Vista in the early 1990s.

3rd Logo (1998)

Visuals: On a black background, black and white versions of The Chipmunks in their 1960s designs appear with the text "SIMON-ALVIN-THEODORE" arcing above the chipmunks and "BAGDASARIAN PRODUCTIONS" arcing below, with the combined text forming a full circle around the chipmunks.

Technique: Computerized graphics.

Audio: None.

Availability: Its only known appearance is on a 1998 screener tape for The Chipmunk Adventure.

4th Logo (November 15, 2011)

Visuals: On a black background, there is an image of the 1961 version of Alvin holding a harmonica in his hand with black silhouettes of paparazzis behind him. Underneath him is the black text "bagdasarian productions". This is their print logo.

Technique: Flash animated graphics.

Audio: None.

Availability: Was used on the game Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked for the Wii, Xbox 360, and Nintendo DS. While this print logo had been used for several years by this point on Alvin and the Chipmunks DVD releases and other products related to the series, this is the only known on-screen appearance of this logo.

5th Logo (March 30, 2015-December 2, 2022)

Visuals: In the closing credits, there is the word "BAGDASARIAN". Alvin's hat is placed on top of the first "A". Under that, there is "PRODUCTIONS" in a smaller font.

Technique: A digital graphic.

Audio: The closing theme.

Availability: Seen on ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks.