Draft:BBC Two/Christmas Idents
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1967-1971
Visuals: On a black background is the "2-cube" from before in white/red. Underneath the two is the text "B B C 2", followed by the text "COLOUR" also in white/red. Right next to it would either be a snowflake or a Christmas tree.
Technique: TBC.
Audio: TBC.
Availability: No video footage currently exists for these idents. It is unknown if these were idents, or just stings.
1972
Visuals: There is the "2-cube" rotating above the screen. Below that, Separated by a line, is the text "CHRISTMAS in colour"; with the sides covered in tinsel. It is unknown how it was coloured, as currently only a black-and-white image has surfaced of this ident.
Technique: Live-action.
Audio: None, although an announcer may be heard.
Availability: No video footage currently exists for this ident.
1973-1974
Visuals: There is a thinner version of the 2-cube, without the large dot. Several sequin stars rise out of the "2", while below that is a caption that stated the day ("Christmas Eve", "Christmas Day" or "Boxing Day") underneath. It is unknown what the 1973 variant is coloured like, but the 1974 version has the "2" coloured in orange. That was the last time the 2-cube was ever seen on BBC2.
Technique: Live-action.
Audio: None, although an announcer may be heard.
Availability: No video footage currently exists for the 1973 version, but the 1974 version has surfaced.
1975
Visuals: A big yellow "2" made of two stripes (very similar to the next BBC 2 logo) on a red background.
Technique: TBC, likely live-action.
Audio: None, although an announcer may be heard.
Availability: No video footage currently exists for this ident. For a long while, this ident was entirely lost until a screenshot of it resurfaced in 2016.
1976
Visuals: There is the standard striped "2" logo from the time on a black background, made out of shiny and multicoloured sequins, which constantly move.
Technique: Live-action.
Audio: None, although an announcer may be heard.
1977
Visuals: There is a cube formed out of four red "2"s composed by stripes with an emerald inside. It rotates in the same manner as the prior 2 Cube idents. Below the cube is a "CHRISTMAS" caption.
Technique: Live-action.
Audio: None, although an announcer may be heard.
1978
Visuals: On a black background are two groups of three medieval trumpeters – each placed on separate rotating turntables. One turntable followed a clockwise motion, the other anti-clockwise. Their trumpets are adorned with the new "2" logo on the flag of the trumpets.
Technique: Live-action.
Trivia: This was the first time the then-new striped BBC2 logo appeared on an ident.
Audio: None, although an announcer may be heard.
Availability: The ident was classified as entirely lost until it was discovered and resurfaced forty years later in December 2018.
1979
Visuals: On a black background is a revolving Perspex snowflake rotating endlessly, as it shines. Below that is a white version of the BBC2 logo, made out of paper.
Variant: A clock variant also exists, featuring the mechanical clock in white, with a green 2.
Technique: Live-action.
Audio: None, although an announcer may be heard.
1980
Visuals: Same as the previous ident, but the snowflake is much more colourful, while the caption consists of an outlined CHRISTMAS with a large BBC2 below it.
Trivia: The "2" used in the caption has a similarity to the 2 used in the 1990 package for BBC2, which would become a mainstay for the channel.
Technique: Live-action.
Audio: None, although an announcer may be heard.
1981
Visuals: On a black background are three red translucent candles spinning around with yellow frames below. Below that is the caption "Christmas 2".
Technique: Live-action.
Audio: None, although an announcer may be heard.
1982
Visuals: On a black background are three green Perspex Christmas trees rotating endlessly. Below that is a hand-drawn, angular "BBC2" caption with two drawn trees next to it.
Technique:
Audio: None, although an announcer may be heard.
1983
Visuals: Same as the previous ident, although the trees are now 3D metallic models, and the caption below reads "Christmas 2", as with 1981, in a swirly font.
Technique:
Audio: None, although an announcer may be heard.
1984
Visuals: On a black background is a large pink bauble with an inflated version of the "2" printed onto it. The Bauble is suspended by a fuzzy green stick, while a stylized ribbon spelling "Christmas" rotates around it.
Technique: Live-action.
Audio: None, although an announcer may be heard.
1985
Visuals: On a black background is a rotating blue-tinted snowy landscape scene around a magenta neon "2" which stays stationary.
Technique: Live-action.
Audio: None, although an announcer may be heard.
1986
Visuals: Snow constantly covers and uncovers the then-new "TWO" logo in waves going left to right.
Technique: Live-action and cel-animation.
Audio: None, although an announcer may be heard.
1987
Visuals: A transparent ball hangs in front of the camera as two people throw snowballs at each other with backgrounds of trees. The ball then pans up to reveal an all-white "TWO" logo, with a red dash above and a large green triangle stretching the entire length of the TWO above that.
Technique: Cel-animation.
Audio: Some bell sounds. This was the first BBC Two Christmas Ident to use its own music track and sounds.
1988
Visuals: A white-powdered person with green hair in the style of a Christmas tree cuts to a picture of a green and red "TWO" with the sections separated and frozen in ice.
Technique: Live-action.
Audio: A jazzy tune.
1989 (Wheel Animation)
Visuals: Three figures seemingly made of wrapping paper move the sections of the "TWO" into position, which themselves seem to be made out of wrapping paper in the logo colours. The end board is accompanied by rotating sheep in the background.
Technique: Stop-frame animation. Produced by Jean-Christian Knaff.
Audio: A synthesised track sounding like it was created using handmade instruments. The end of the ident consists of a synthesised nursery tune
1990 (Christmas Boxes)
Visuals: An upside-down triangle, square and circle burst open to reveal the letters "TWO" made out of items such as crackers, wheels and other assorted materials. These idents were designed to follow on seamlessly from a similarly styled promotional trail.
Technique: Cel-animation.
Audio: A soundtrack of two notes, the final note being dragged out for the length of the announcement.
1991 (Méliès)
Visuals:
Trivia: The ident package is based on Georges Méliès' Le Voyage dans la Lune (A Trip to the Moon).
Technique:
Audio:
1992 (Christmas Tree)
Visuals:
Technique:
Audio:
1993 (Tin Toy)
Visuals: There is several Hobbit-like creatures taking a large discarded tin decoration in the shape of the '2' up to the top of a Christmas Tree. Once it reaches upwards to the tree, the BBC logo appears below, a red-haired hobbit creature jumps down, and blue flames appear on the back of the '2'.
Trivia: The entire ident was recorded within a single take, utalising complex shots and effects. The whole thing was produced using a simple set, articulated puppets and special effects, all lit up using a golden reflective cyclorama.
Variant:
- An alternate variant exists where the '2' does not flame up at the end. The BBC logo (or any stereo or 888 symbols) appears for the entire length of the ident this time.
- Shorter variants exist which start right as the ident finishes.
Technique: Stop-motion animation. Produced by Joan Ashford and Martin Pullen of 3 Peach Animation.
Audio: A victorian-like tune.
Legacy: A virtually well-produced and impressive piece of art (deemed a "Mini Epic" by enthusiasts) that certainly deserved the Design & Art Direction Wood Pencil and BAFTA Television Craft Awards it got.
1994 (Ice Queen)
Visuals: Within a large snowy tundra landscape, a large yellow "2" is seen in a decorated dome. The dome lights light-up and so does the "2".
Trivia: The ident package is based on a section of Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Selfish Giant’. The stings featured Jack Frost, a Snow Queen and the Wind, who represented their own elements as they created the "2".
Technique: Live-action animation done in real time. The set is hand-painted, while the dome and the "2" are models.
Audio:
1995 (Wallace and Gromit)
Visuals: In a dining room setting, Wallace and Gromit accompany a "2" covered in fairy lights while sitting down to Christmas dinner.
Trivia: The ident package was created to promote the then-newest Wallace and Gromit short film "A Close Shave".
Technique: Stop-motion animation by Aardman Animations. This was their first BBC Christmas ident.
Audio: Same as the "Neon" ident, with the lights syncing to the music. Buzzing noises can also be heard when the fairy lights flash.
1996 (Santa)
Visuals: In a night sky, a mystical Santa-like character (more or less looking like a Wizard) walks over a cloud near a full moon. He spins and uses magic to turn himself into a "2" made out of stars.
Technique: CGI and live-action. Produced by The Moving Picture Company.
Audio:
1997 (Snowglobe)
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Vic, Bob and Ulrika variant
Visuals: On a blurry blue room with a table, a snow "2" appears on a snow globe, which also contains many trees, mountains, and a snowman.
Variant: An alternate variant exists where reflections of Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer (wearing a red paper crown) and Ulrika Johnson (dressed up as a fairy) from Shooting Stars appear on the snowglobe's glass. Vic and Bob point at the viewer, while Ulrika moves around slowly at the bottom. There was meant to be a wide range of variants featuring stars from other BBC Two shows, but this was the only one that was made. However, stings featuring other personalities were however, produced.
Technique: Appears to be live-action.
Audio: A mysterious single note "ahhhhh" tune.
1998 (Wild Fairies)
Visuals: The ident and sting package that year focused on a group of mischevious fairies. In the ident is one of the fairies moving away to reveal the 2 atop a Christmas tree with surreal white and green colours.
Trivia: This was the first BBC Two ident to be produced in widescreen.
Technique: A cross between computer effects and stop-frame animation, produced by Banana Park.
Audio:
1999 (Electric Fairy)
Visuals: Within a neon cerulean setting is the top of a Christmas Tree with a fairy on it. A spark appears, revealed to be a neon version of the 2, complete with wings. It shocks the fairy, knocking her off the tree before it takes her place. The 2, complete with wings, knocks the fairy off the tree before taking her place as it lights up a Christmassy view from the cities.
Trivia:
- This was the first BBC Two ident to use the "www.bbc.co.uk" URL above the logo.
- This ident won the Royal Television Society Craft & Design Award for the Best Channel Ident that year.
Technique: A cross between live-action (the sets), CGI (the city) and stop-frame animation (the "2"). Produced by Alchemy 3DC and Banana Park.
Audio: We hear some electric sounds, the fairy screaming "Ahhh!" and then an electric-sounding tune at the end.
2000 (Ski 2)
Visuals: In a snowy landscape set in a piercingly blue sky is several small white 2's skating on top of, and falling off a large ice-covered 2. We continue to see more 2s skiing off the giant snowy 2.
Trivia:
- The large "2" was over two metres tall, and was covered up in snow for the ident.
- The ident was used again as an ident for the 2006 Winter Olympics but with the purple BBC Two box logo instead.
Technique: Stop-frame animation. Produced by Alchemy 3DC and Banana Park, as with the previous ident.
Audio:
2001-2004 ()
Visuals: There is the '2' sprout its robotic arms, and a glowing fairy bursts into view, with sparks flying. The fairy flies out of the '2's hands and draws a tall Christmas tree - at warp speed - out of fairy dust. She then flies around a bit before settling down onto the top of the tree, and then flies off again.
Technique:
Audio:
2002-2004 ()
Visuals: The 2 builds a snow-2. The 2 runs off to get something, and comes back with two sticks. The 2 puts the sticks on the snow-2, so the snow-2 looks like a self-portrait.
Audio:
2003-2004 (Ice Cube)
Visuals: There is the robotic '2' frozen on ice. Also seen in the summer when the weather is hot.
Audio: Same as "Invisible Walls", with additional sound effects.
2005-2006 (Magic)
Technique: **Christmas 2005: Several yellow sparks fly around on black, forming the 2. Reused in 2006.
Audio:
2007-2010 (Magic Forest/Magic Sprite)
Visuals: The theme of this ident utilises paper origami and a blue sprite. Two idents were made:
- Magic Sprite: A blue sprite runs around white and light brown papers depicting trees, animals and other festive creatures.
- Magic Forest:
Audio:
2011-2016
Viauals:
Technique:
Audio:
2018-Present
Visuals: Christmas takes on the curve idents. Four were produced:
- Magical: A snow-covered fir tree with branches forming the 2 curve shakes off some of the snow, possibly inspired by the 1992 Christmas ident.
- Glorious: Also known as Glamourous. A brightly-coloured aurora shines in a dark, starry sky, weaving into the 2 curve shape at points.
- Cosy: Also known as Comforting. A domestic cat flicks a bauble around on a carpeted floor - only its tail is seen, occasionally settling into the shape of the 2 curve, and purring sounds can be heard.
- Festive: Various tinsel garlands are flying around the screen into the shape of the 2 curve in middle of purple tinsel and back.
Audio:
