Filmation Associates

Credits

Descriptions by
Jason Jones and James Fabiano

Captures by
Eric S., RSX-708 and others

Editions by
Mr. Logo Lord, Eric S., RSX-798 thehugetvfan, KramdenII, Henrynguye5 and Max1111111

Background

Filmation Associates started out in commercials in 1962; however, this was fully established as a production company one year later not only to produce animated shows, but also some live-action shows. In 1969, TelePrompTer Corporation acquired Filmation, who had later merged with Westinghouse Broadcasting Company in 1981. Filmation was later shut down by Group W in 1989 after attempting to sell Filmation to the L'Oréal Group, but L'Oréal kept its library. The bulk of the company's back catalog is currently owned by NBCUniversal on behalf of DreamWorks Animation, with the following exceptions: The Brady Kids, Star Trek: The Animated Series, and The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse and Heckle & Jeckle (currently owned by CBS Studios, and distributed by CBS Media Ventures), Journey to the Center of the Earth and Fantastic Voyage (owned by 20th Television with Disney Media Distribution distributing it), and The Tom & Jerry Comedy Show and the DC Comics properties (owned by Warner Bros. Entertainment, the former title via Turner Entertainment Co.).

1st Logo (September 10, 1966-December 21, 1974, February-December 11, 1982)

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Nicknames: "The Happy-O Face", "> : )"

Logo: In the ending credits of shows, the text would appear superimposed. The company is referred to as being "at FILM ATION ASSOCIATES in Hollywood," with the capitalized text being the Filmation logo at the time. The Filmation logo consists of "FILMATION" in a stretched font, with "FILM" filled in with color and the rest being an outline. The "O", however, is instead replaced with a circle with a smiling face and a large, V-shaped arrow above it. The copyright stamp appears below the logo.

Variants:

• From 1966-1967 the logo had a larger, upside down arrow under the happy face and "ASSOCIATES" under "FILM" and squashed between it and a large rectangle.
  • The opening version has it white on a black background and "PRESENTS" in a blue childish font.
• Starting in 1967, the word "ATI" and "N" were light blue. Also, "ASSOCIATES" is stretched out to fit the length of the Filmation logo, which is all filled up.
• On The New Adventures of Batman and Fantastic Voyage, the text reads "PRODUCED AT FILMATION ASSOCIATES IN HOLLYWOOD".
• Starting in 1968, on The Archie Show, the text "IN HOLLYWOOD" was dropped and the text was shortened to "PRODUCED BY FILMATION ASSOCIATES".
• Following TelePrompTer's acquisition in 1969, the byline "A TELEPROMPTER COMPANY" is seen below the logo. This was used until 1973
• Starting with The Hardy Boys in 1969, the names of producers Lou Scheimer and Norm Prescott would rotate before this logo appears. The rotation was done so that neither name would be "on top" (i.e. equal billing).
• Starting in 1969, the logo became white.
• An in-credit notice of Filmation (without either the TelePrompTer byline or "ASSOCIATES") can be seen in the 1971 TV movie Aesop's Fables.
• Starting in 1972, the text was shortened to "A FILMATION PRODUCTION".
  • On the King Arthur pilot, as well as the movies Treasure Island and Oliver Twist, the text appeared vertically.
  • On season 1 of The Brady Kids, the logo is on a black background.
  • The logo was brought back for Gilligan's Planet in 1982, however the smiling face is absent on the "O" due to an error.
  • On the 1982 game show pilot The Origins Game, the text was read as "A FILMATION STUDIOS and SFM entertainment CO-PRODUCTION" with "FILMATION" and "SFM entertainment" in its usual print logos rather than text, respectively.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: Accompanied by the show's ending theme music.

Availability: Still seen on shows like The Archies and The Groovie Goolies, whenever someone decides to show them, most recently on RTV. Also preserved on DVD releases of The Archies and The New Adventures of Superman. The 1972 version was still seen on shows like Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids on Bounce TV, The Brady Kids, and Lassie's Rescue Rangers, whenever someone decides to show them. This can be seen on Fat Albert and The Archie Show DVDs, as well as Star Trek: The Animated Series on DVD and Netflix. The 1972 version was last seen on The U.S. of Archie on RTV.

2nd Logo (September 6, 1975-December 13, 1980)

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Nicknames: "The Happy-O Face II", "The Happy-O Face Combining"

Logo: Against a black background, four sets of the word "FILM ATION<" emerge from all four sides of the screen to combine into one single "FILM ATION ." All the letters outside of the first four are outlined, and the happy-faced O from the 1st logo appears. "A" appears over the "FILMATION" name, and "PRODUCTION" appears under it.

Variants:

• The normal logo animation is sometimes superimposed over the end-credit sequence of the show until 1977.
• A copyright stamp may be seen under the logo.
• On A Fat Albert Christmas, the logo is red, due to film deterioration.
• On Flash Gordon, a still version is shown reading as "A "FILM ATION STUDIOS and King Features Syndicate PRODUCTION", with a copyright for King Features Syndicate below.

FX/SFX: Traditional animation.

Music/Sounds: Accompanied by the show's ending theme music.

Availability: Still seen on shows like Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids on Bounce TV. Retained on DVD releases of the company's live-action output from the era (Isis, (the original) Ghost Busters, Shazam, Space Academy, and Jason of Star Command). Also seen on The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse.

3rd Logo (1980-1981)

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Nicknames: "The Happy O-Face III", "The Happy O-Face in Space"

Logo: On a space background, we see the red text "AFU" with white outlines. Above "AFU" is "AN" and below it is "PRODUCTION". A white flash covers the screen, and we see the Filmation logo like in the previous logos, only "FILM", the happy-faced "O" and the arrow is in white, and "ATI" and "N" were in red with white outlines. Above the Filmation logo is "A" and below it is "FILM".

FX/SFX: The flashing transition from the AFU to the Filmation logo.

Music/Sounds: The end theme of the show.

Availability: Rare, as it was seen only on the European-American co-production Sport Billy and it should never be reran again.

4th Logo (September 12, 1981-December 10, 1982)

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Nicknames: "The Happy-O Face IV", "Filmation Sunburst"

Logo: On a red shining sunburst background, we see the words "FILMATION" in the same font and style as the previous logos, but this time the word "FILM" is in outlined like the "ATION" part from the 4th logo, zoomed out quickly complete with the happy-faced "O" and the arrow above the "O" from the previous logos. "A" and "PRODUCTION" appeared above and below the logo.

FX/SFX: Traditional animation.

Music/Sounds: Accompanied by the show's ending theme music.

Availability: Seen on Filmation's cartoons from the era, like like the second season of the 1980 animated revival of The Lone Ranger, The New Adventures of Zorro, Blackstar and Shazam! as well as the 1982 movie Mighty Mouse in The Great Space Chase.

5th Logo (1981?-1983?)

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Logo: On a light purple background, we see the word "FILM ATION" in the typeface used by Group W, (for there logo and TV stations). The word "FILM" is fully white, and the rest of the letters are in a wireframe-looking outline. Below the logo is a small byline that reads "A DIVISION OF GROUP W PRODUCTIONS/WESTINGHOUSE BROADCASTING AND CABLE INC." Below the byline is an address and phone number, with the British phone number as well.

Variant: A superimposed version exists.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Pretty much extinct. The only known sources are at the end of a promo for Blackstar, which was found on a UK Popeye video by Select Video/Video Gems UK and on a later print of the 1972 TV movie Daffy Duck and Porky Pig Meet the Groovie Goolies.

6th Logo (September 3, 1983-February 24, 1988, May 28, 1993)

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Nicknames: "Flashing Letters", "Rainbow Letters"

Logo: Against a black background, a white ball of light brings forth the letters in the word "FILM A T I O N" (again in the same font commonly used on most Group W programming). They are all in rainbow colors (which do differ from time to time), and all the letters outside of the first four are in the same wireframe-style outline. In the opening, the word "PRESENTS" appears under the logo. At the end, "A" appears over it and "PRESENTATION" under.

Variants:

• A longer version of the logo exists on the movie He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword. A spark writes the text, and the logo flashes, and the word "PRESENTS" in the Friz Quadrata font is shown below the logo. While the logo fades out, the text sparkles and it zooms away.
• On early episodes of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, the colors of the logo are different, and colored sparks write down the logo.
• Starting in 1986, "PRESENTS" is in a script font, with the "S" having a extended stroke at the end. Also, the white ball of the light has sparks come out of the ball. The colors are also different. The closing version on post-1986 shows lack the text above and below the logo.

FX/SFX: The name being spelled out. The music (see below) adds to the effect.

Music/Sounds: Described as a "downward scale on a xylophone" that gives a tumbling effect to the spelling of the name. Ends with a ding for the extra words. Sometimes uses the closing theme of the show.

Music/Sounds Variants:

• The script version uses a "dreamier" rendition of the music.
• On The Adventures of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, the first few beats of the theme song play after the logo animation finishes. After the logo fades out and the opening sequence actually starts up, those first six beats replay as the theme song starts up correctly.
• On BraveStarr', the opening version has the sound of galloping hooves when the Filmation text appears, and the "Presents" title appears with the sound of a whip.
• On some early He-Man episodes such as The Greatest Adventure of All, an electronic synth theme (composed by the show's composers Haim Saban and Shuki Levy) was heard over the logo on the closing variant.

Availability: Still seen on shows like The Adventures of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids on Teletoon Retro in Canada and Bounce TV, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, She-Ra: Princess of Power, and Ghostbusters on Qubo and RTV. Retained on the Bravestarr, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, She-Ra, Princess of Power, and The Adventures of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids DVD sets. It's also intact on the UK Right Entertainment DVD of Pinnochio and the Emperor of the Night and the 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment DVD of Happily Ever After.