'''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.
*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)===
*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 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.
'''Audio Variants:'''
*The main theme was rarely used, perhaps to prevent legal issues with Lucasfilm over the lightsaber-esque noise. As such, forFor most of Nelvana's 1990s shows such as ''Rupert'', either the end theme plays over it, or the logo is silent, or (rarely) the standard theme plays.
*The gradient background variant uses a mystical twinkling sound with a thunderclap. Some specials and shows distributed outside of North America used this variant, although the original broadcasts of ''My Pet Monster'' has this version's music playing over the standard logo.
*On ''The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland'', some whooshing sounds with wind chimes and a dreamy synth theme plays.
*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".
*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 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'' 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)".
*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 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.
*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.
==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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