Fred Wolf Films

Background

MWS was a joint venture between animators Jimmy Murakami, Fred Wolf, and Charles Swenson. It began as Murakami-Wolf Productions in the 1960s, and became known as Murakami-Wolf-Swenson in 1978. The company became Fred Wolf Films in 1993.

Murakami-Wolf-Swenson

(December 28, 1987-November 5, 1994)

Nickname: "MWS"

Logo: In a stylized font on a white-to-black gradient background, the capital letters M, W, and S (in a stylized font and red-white gradient going from the top to bottom of the letters) and the word "inc" (the same font, lowercase letters, and approximately 1/3 the size of the MWS) next to it. Underneath the logo, in smaller white letters, is "Murakami · Wolf · Swenson".

Variants:

On Toxic Crusaders, the logo was seen between "A" and "PRODUCTION".
On the first 11 episodes of Alvin and the Chipmunks produced by MWS, the credit text reads as: "ANIMATION PRODUCED FOR BAGDASARIAN PRODUCTIONS BY: MURAKAMI WOLF SWENSON INC. WITH A-1 PRODUCTIONS" with the "MURAKAMI WOLF SWENSON INC." text in a large font and everything else in a smaller font.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: In most cases it's the last few seconds of the show's ending theme. Starting in 1991, a comical-mystery sounding synth tune is heard, produced using an E-mu Proteus 2 Orchestral synthesizer.

Availability: Can be seen on every series they produced, beginning with the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. The standard logo does not appear on the 11 episodes of Alvin and the Chipmunks they produced; they instead end with the 1982 Ruby-Spears logo (since Ruby-Spears farmed out those 11 episodes to MWS.). However, the logo proper can be seen on the 1991 special Rocking With The Chipmunks, which can be seen on the 1992 Buena Vista Home Video release of said special.

Editor's Note: None.

Murakami-Wolf Dublin

1st Logo (1991-1994)

Nickname: "MW"

Logo: On a blue and black shaded background is a solid red "MW", which is in a weird, curvy font. Below it is a yellow line and "DUBLIN, LTD." in white, all in shadow effects.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None; just the end title theme playing from any show.

Availability: Appears on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles episodes produced at the MW Dublin studio in Ireland.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (1991)

Nickname: "MW II"

Logo: On a gray and black shaded background is a pink and white shaded "MWD", in the previous font. Under it is "Murakami Wolf Dublin".

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The ending theme.

Availability: Seen on some syndicated Season 4 & 5 episodes of TMNT.

Editor's Note: None.

Fred Wolf Films

(October 30, 1993-November 2, 1996)

Nickname: "The Scribble FW"

Logo: On a dark brown/black background, a metallic light-gray rectangular panel flies in from the top-left corner to cover up the background, while the red "FW" flies from behind and placing to the near-top; the words "FRED WOLF FILMS" dissolve in below the "FW" and the red line wipes in below the name from right to left, while the background shines a little.

Variant: Shows produced at Fred Wolf's Irish studio in Dublin featured an added word "DUBLIN" below the line.

FX/SFX: The logo will form, and the line will form from right to left. None for the still version.

Music/Sounds: A 6-note triumphant MIDI-like score, produced using the E-mu Proteus 2 Orchestral synthesizer. Sometimes, it's the closing theme of the show.

Music/Sound Variant: There is also a high-toned version of the theme, which was rarely heard on PAL prints of Fred Wolf shows.

Availability: Appears on the final seasons of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, along with The New Adventures of Speed Racer, Budgie the Little Helicopter, and other post-1993 Fred Wolf productions. Can also be found on some UAV Corporation videos, such as Snow White and the Magic Mirror. On international prints of these Fred Wolf shows owned by Disney, the logo is always followed by the Buena Vista International logo.

Editor's Note: A pretty decent logo, though the animation and music can startle some.