'''Nelvana Limited''' (often called '''Nelvana Studios''', '''Nelvana Enterprises''' or simply '''Nelvana''') was founded in July 1971 in Canada by Michael Hirsh (now in the directory of [[Frederator Studios]]), Patrick Loubert, and Clive A. Smith to produce and distribute children's animated shows and movies originally. The original specials the company produced (from 1977 to 1980) were distributed by [[Viacom Productions|Viacom Enterprises]]. Until 1986, the company did not have an animated logo separate from the credits at the end of their shows, instead using an in-credit version of its logo. Today, it's a subsidiary of the Canadian media company [[Corus Entertainment]]. Nowadays, Nelvana has all licensed properties on all characters based on original products and books and it's been the longest-living animation studio based in Toronto, Ontario. The company also had an international division to distribute programs and movies internationally known as '''Nelvana International'''.
Nelvana's best-known productions include ''Rock & Rule'', the ''Care Bears'' movies, the original ''Babar'' animated series, the ''Beetlejuice'' animated series, ''The Magic School Bus'', ''Franklin'', and ''Donkey Kong Country'', among many others. In the early 2020s, the company gained some controversy for producing ''Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go'' with [[Mattel Television]]. The series was criticized by ''Thomas'' fans for being unfaithful to the original source material, its animation quality, lack of realism, amongst other reasons. It had also gained some backlash from parents, with some children notably saying that it isn't the ''Thomas'' they like,; and some were terrified by the series as young as the age of 3.<ref>[https://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/tv-and-film-parents-dont-like-thomas-the-tank-engines-awful-new-makeover-20210910]</ref> Nonetheless, Nelvana remains highly regarded in the Canadian animation industry.
The company's name originally came from a Canadian comic book superheroine from the 1940s named '''''Nelvana''' of the Northern Lights'', but the three decided to use a polar bear instead for a logo in order to avoid confusion.
'''Variants:'''
*On ''The Devil and Daniel Mouse'', ''Romie-0 and Julie-8'' and ''Intergalactic Thanksgiving'' (a.k.a. ''Please Don’t Eat the Planet''), some of Nelvana's earliest productions, the polar bear drawing is different.
*On the workprint of ''Rock & Rule'' (1983), the logo is {{color|gold|yellow}} rather than the {{color|blue}} colour of the theatrical version.
*On both VHS and some early TV prints of ''The Care Bears Movie'' (1985), the background is {{color|blue}}, the same blue used on the custom [[Samuel Goldwyn Home Entertainment]] logo, and was likely caused by some sort of post-production mistake, as the credits background for the film's original theatrical release was black. Post-[[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios|MGM]] prints of the film restored the credits back to their original black colour.
*On original prints of ''The Edison Twins'', the logo appears in {{color|gold}} underneath the The Association of Canadian Film Craftspeople and CAMERA logos with a copyright below.
'''Technique:''' A hand-drawn graphic.
*It also appears on the ''Star Wars: Droids'' cartoon, the live-action series ''The Edison Twins'', and early 1980s prints of Nelvana's early animated TV specials (''A Cosmic Christmas'' didn't feature the logo, nor did the ''Strawberry Shortcake'' specials or other co-productions with Those Characters from Cleveland).
*It does not appear on the film ''Burglar'', as it only uses an in-credit notice (due to the film being rated R).
*This was used in tandem with the next logo until April 2, 1988.
===2nd Logo (October 19, 1985-June 1, 2001)===
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'''Visuals:''' On a black background, a {{color|blue}} square with a {{color|red}} outline and a white star in the centre flies from the top right of the screen, gradually enlarging and turning anticlockwise to fit the screen as the star multiplies into a seven star semicircle outline. The text "{{color|red|NELVANA}}" appears below the semicircle. The star outline shines from left to right, and the pinnacle star sends a shower of light (which starts off in {{color|gold|neon yellow}}, but turns {{color|blue|neon blue}}) down the centre of the semicircle. The company name lights up in {{color|orange}}, and the shower of light unfolds to the left, turning into a {{color|blue|neon blue}} polar bear looking up.
'''Variants:'''
*This logo exists as both filmed and videotaped versions.
*The short variant starts off with the stars shining and the "shower of light" animation. This plays in warp speed on ''Eek! the Cat'' before the compressed or split-screen credits. This is slowed down on some episodes of ''Babar'', ''The Adventures of Tintin'' and ''Beetlejuice''. This version is more common.
*AAn longeralternate version exists, which appears on some theatrical releases of the era, at least ''The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland'' and ''Babar: The Movie''. After the logo forms, the polar bear stands on its hind legs for a second before assuming its normal position, then all seven stars disappear. Depending on the film, the background will either be black (as seen on ''The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland''), or the usual {{color|blue}} (as seen on ''Babar: The Movie'').
*The 1988 TV special ''Clifford the Big Red Dog'' has a variant with the logo rotating on screen from its' center position. Some episodes of ''Care Bears'' have this shortened.
*Sometimes, this logo also shares the screen with other logos.
*On ''Madballs'', one of the characters says "Rock 'n roll!!" over the logo.
'''Availability:''' This logo is easy to find, and is used in tandem with the next logo until June 1, 2001.
*The short variant still appears on 1995-2001 episodes of ''Little Bear'' and early episodes of ''Franklin'' on Nick Jr., ''Eek! Stravaganza'' (whenever reran, usually on foreign Disney networks), ''Fievel's American Tails'' on Peacock, VHS and [[Netflix Originals|Netflix]] releases of ''The Magic School Bus'' (1994 series), and on VHS and DVD releases of the Nelvana version of ''Care Bears''.
*This logo also appears on all episodes of ''Beetlejuice'' (including the Shout! Factory boxset) and the ''Donkey Kong Country'' pilot episode "I Spy With My Hairy Eye".
*The short variant was also preserved on some episodes of ''Babar'' when Qubo reran the series up to its shutdown.
*Like the previous logo, this did not appear on the films ''Burglar'' or ''Malice'' (the company's only two R-rated films to date). While the former was given an in-credit notice, Nelvana was uncredited for the latter film.
*Most shows had this logo until 1997 (after being used in tandem with the 3rd logo below) when they then switched to the next logo. However, even though the logo retired in 1996, ''Little Bear'' continued to use the logo until its end in 2001, albeit ''Franklin'' used this logothat on some prints until sometimeof inseasons 19991-2.
===3rd Logo (December 2, 1995-July 30, 2005)===
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'''Visuals:''' On a space background, there is a flash of light as the company logo appears in CGI on the background looking similar to the 1st logo, with some exceptions: the seven star semicircle has a {{color|blue}} chrome outline, as does the polar bear and the "NELVANA" text. A multicolored comet flies from the right, and as it passes the pinnacle star and the second star to the left in the semicircle, each star lights up.
'''Variants:'''
*On the trailer for ''Care Bears: Journey to Joke-a-lot'', there is what sounds like a shooting star passing by in time with the comet flying. The version used here is the one that starts with the comet flying by.
'''Availability:''' LikeThis logo, like the previous logo, this logo is easy to find. This was used in tandem with the previous logo until June 1, 2001, and with the next three logos until July 30, 2005.
*First seen on ''The NeverEnding Story: The Animated Adventures of Bastian Balthazar Bux''.
*This logo is often seen on Nelvana's Retro Rerun YouTube channel.
*It appears on season 2 of ''Cyberchase'', ''Franklin'', ''Rolie Polie Olie'', and the first two seasons of ''Max and Ruby'' and most prints of ''Franklin'', among others.
*It also appears on the English dub of the anime ''Cardcaptor Sakura'', (known initially as ''Cardcaptors'' in those regions,) as well as ''All New Tales from the Cryptkeeper''.
*It was also seen on ''Braceface'', last seen on [[Disney Channel Originals|Disney Channel]] and ABC Family (now [[Freeform Originals|Freeform]]) in North America.
*''Beyblade G-Revolution'' also kept this logo until its end in 2005.
*On Tubi, the ''Braceface'' episode "Up in Smoke" retains the Corus Entertainment byline.
*This is also retained after the credits on [[PBS Distribution]]'s DVD release of ''The Berenstain Bears: Adventures in Bear Country''. However, it's unknown if the 6th logo plastered this logo on later releases by PBS.
*This is also retained after the credits on [[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment|Walt Disney Home Entertainment]]'s DVD releases of ''Rolie Polie Olie''.
*The theatrical variant only appears on two movies; 1997's ''Pippi Longstocking'' and 1999's ''Babar:, King of the Elephants''.
*The "INTERNATIONAL" variant appears on most international prints of seasons 1-4 of ''The Fairly OddParents'' and also on international prints of ''Taina''.
**The aforementioned variant with the byline appears on ''The Fairly OddParents'' episode "Abra-Catastrophe! (Parts 1-3)".
'''Audio Variant:''' In other cases, the ending theme of a show or the generic network theme.
'''Availability:''' This was used as an alternate logo in tandem with both the previous oneand next logos between 2001 and 2006.
*On first-run shows, this appears on season 1 of ''Cyberchase'' and later episodes of ''Maggie and the Ferocious Beast'' (Nick Jr. reruns also kept the logo intact; however, on later prints, such as DVD prints and airings on [[Qubo]], this logo was plastered with the 6th logo).
*It also appears on some international prints of ''The Fairly OddParents''.
===5th Logo (July 20, 2004-February 11, 2013)===
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Images=
Image=
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200150">
File:Nelvana (2004) 3.png
File:Nelvana 2009 (Max & Ruby in-credit version).webp|''Max and Ruby'' season 4 variant #1
File:Nelvana 2009 (Max & Ruby in-credit version) Version 2.webp|''Max and Ruby'' season 4 variant #2
File:Nelvana 2011 (Max & Ruby in-credit version).webp|''Max and Ruby'' season 5 variant #1
File:Nelvana 2011 (Max & Ruby in-credit version) Version 2.webp|''Max and Ruby'' season 5 variant #2
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{{YouTube|id=TdqZO7AanIo|id2=RbkERzKexXI|id3=njZDIs42mZo|id4=Ce9x6CltPdo|id5=dNjU1Xlz6ew|id6=wDbmkz32-ps|id7=8rK2n1tP7qY|id8=QbizUU0xHuA|id9=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PXuJFIGhwU|id10=JKjTJ1A8cls|id11=hwUUC-DoLpo|id12=VjLBiZRVCGA|id13=eKm8fhHP0D8|id14=PG_w8yGXLsI|id15=l-BU9E4eq7g|id16=ThT58uXk_hc}}
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'''Visuals:''' On a black background, the text "'''NELVANA'''" (set in Gill Sans Extra Bold) is seen with a byline underneath it. A white polar bear then flies onto the screen from the middle left and then stops onto the text. It bumps a star onto the screen, which twinkles, and a nebula forms and dissipates behind the logo. Otherwise, the nebula is absent.
'''Trivia:''' The logo is similar to the pre-19861985 in-credit logo, except with only one star.
'''Bylines:'''
*On ''Handy Manny'', the word "'''A NELVANA PRODUCTION'''" are above the polar bear and no nebula is shown.
**Starting with season 2, the nebula is shown and the 2005 byline is seen. This version also exists in both standard 4:3 or widescreen 16:9.
*On ''Grossology'', the polar bear gets dunked in slime, which causes the polar bear and "NELVANA" text to become distorted, the byline to become obscured by the slime, the star to spin around before dripping slime and no nebula is shown. Appears on international prints and Qubo airings.
**The original U.S. airings of ''Grossology'' on [[Discovery Kids Originals|Discovery Kids]]/[[Hub Network Originals|The Hub]] (now [[Discovery Family Originals|Discovery Family]]) use the 2004 normal version in the still form.
*An international version exists: "'''INTERNATIONAL'''", in a rounded rectangle, is squeezed in between the company name and the byline (now in {{color|blue}}).
**At the end of ''Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure'', the variant is superimposed over the credits for ''Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure''.
*On current prints of the first episode of ''Committed'', a still variant without the star is seen which also exists.
*Some reruns of ''Corduroy'' have the logo starting after the star is bumped.
*A superimposed variant — with the in-credit text "'''''Distributed by Nelvana Enterprises Inc.'''''" above it and without the nebula — also exists on season 3 of ''Max & Ruby'', sharing the screen with the [[Treehouse Originals|Treehouse]] logo.
*Sometimes, the logo is bylineless.
*On Qubo airings of early episodes of ''Class of the Titans'', after the polar bear bumps the star, the 2005 version of the logo freeze-frames. Also appears on the series finale thereof.
*A variant exists in which the word "'''{{color|blue|DIGITAL}}'''" is added below the text with the 2004 byline (now in {{color|blue}}, and with a registered trademark symbol instead of a regular trademark symbol) appearing below it.
*Occasionally, the 2005 byline is in grey.
*On ''Life with Boys'', the nebula-less logo has smoother animation.
*On ''Lucky Duck'', there is a bubble transition to the nebula-less logo.
*At the end of a trailer for ''Care Bears: Journey to Joke-a-lot'', there is a short version which starts when the nebula disappears.
*On the trailer of the failed series ''Formula RC'' (which can be found on Pipeline Studios' Vimeo account), the polar bear is wearing a cybernetic glasses and the nebula is absent. After it bumps the star, it settles down when the star turns red, yellow and green. The "N"s are acting like car tires, then the polar bear drives away as the star spins. This variant also has a {{color|blue}} 2005 byline, similar to the International and Digital variants.
*On Discovery Kids airings of Latin American prints of later season 3 episodes, some of season 4 and remastered airings of season 1 of ''The Backyardigans'', the 2005 version of the common variant with the haze is seen (but the [[Nickelodeon Productions]] "Lightbulb"/2009 logos plastered it, making this freeze-frame at the end). It also appears on [[Discovery+ Originals|Discovery+]] prints of the aforementioned episodes.
*On ''Pandalian'', the Teletoon logo makes a one frame appearance at the beginning of the Nelvana logo for some unknown reason, despite the fact that this series actually aired on YTV in Canada.
*Shows plastering the 1985 logo may use the dramatic synth theme or the mystical twinkling theme instead of the normal music. This appears on newer prints of ''T and T'' and ''My Pet Monster''.
*A shortened version of the jingle also exists.
*For the ''Grossology'' variant, the first two notes of the guitar theme is heard, followedbut byit the theme beinggets interrupted by the sound of slime splashing and dripping.
*In some cases, such as on some Canadian YouTube prints of ''Rolie Polie Olie'' (which feature a blank title screen and blank closing credits), the logo is silent.
*For the ''Care Bears: Journey to Joke-a-lot'' trailer variant, there is the audio variant of the 3rd logo.
*On some episodes of ''Mike the Knight'' and the sizzle reels of some Nelvana shows (such as the aforementioned ''Mike the Knight'', ''Babar and the Adventures of Badou'' and ''Little Charmers'') on the company's website, the child's laughter is omitted as the music consists of a sombre, "evaporating" deep synth note instead, set in the same chord as the normal fanfare.
'''Availability:''' This logo is mainly used to plaster older Nelvana logos. This logo was used in tandem with both the previous three logos, and the next logo, until February 11, 2013 and September 24, 2018, respectively.
*It debuted on ''Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends'', and last appeared on the sixth season finale of ''Max & Ruby''.
*Nelvana shows from the time, such as ''The Backyardigans'', ''Grossology'' when last seen on Hub Network (now Discovery Family), ''Babar and the Adventures of Badou'' on [[Disney Junior]] and [[Discovery Kids Originals (Latin America & Brazil)|Discovery Kids Latin America]], ''Handy Manny'' on [[Disney+ Originals|Disney+]] and [[Disney Junior Originals|Disney Junior]] (formerly [[Playhouse Disney Originals|Playhouse Disney]]), ''Wayside'', ''Spliced'', ''My Friend Rabbit'', ''Sidekick'', ''Scaredy Squirrel'', and many others feature this logo.
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'''Visuals:''' Over a {{color|blue}} background is the stylized polar bear in blue with a white outline and the new "'''nelvana'''" text in a modified Nordique Pro font, in white being drawn out. The star is at the bottom of the bear, jumps up and spins, then lands. The polar bear bumps it, causing the colours to reverse. Then, the text at the bottom middle of the polar bear changes from white to {{color|blue}}. A tiny, registered trademark symbol appears next to the company's name right at the bottom.
'''Trivia:''' This logo was first introduced on July 12, 2016, according to the Corus Annual Report 2016 book.
'''Availability:''' This was used in tandem with the previous logo until September 24, 2018.
*Debuted on the company website and later officially on ''Hotel Transylvania: The Series''.
*It later appears on all further programming and movies by the company (such as ''Bravest Warriors'', ''Mysticons'', ''Go Away Unicorn!'', ''Corn & Peg'', ''Agent Binky: Pets of the Universe'', ''The Dog & Pony Show'', ''Ollie's Pack'', ''Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go'', the final season of ''Max & Ruby'', seasons 2 and 3 of ''Ranger Rob'', ''Barney's World'', and the 2019 short film ''The Most Magnificent Thing'', among others).
*The complete logo debuted on ''Zhu's News - Pumped Up Zhus'' (on YTV's official YouTube channel).
*This logo also appears (as a de-facto home video logo) on DVD releases starting with the 2018 DVD release of ''The ZhuZhus: Season One''.
==Final Note==
As of 2024, Nelvana remains the only Corus Entertainment subsidiary with an active logo (the 2017-present logo), as the other sister companies' logos have been replaced by Corus' logo.
==References==
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[[Category:Canadian animation logos]]
[[Category:Logos with sound effects by Sound Ideas]]
[[Category:English-language logos]]
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