Owl Communications

Background

Owl Communications was founded in 1985 as the television production arm of the Canadian children's magazine Owl. In 1997, Owl Communications was purchased by Conscient Group, Quebec's largest television production company, and rebranded into Owl/SDA Productions.

1st Logo (November 2, 1985-1994)

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Visuals: On a black background, there is a large red "O" in a Times New Roman-like font with a screech owl sitting in its centre. An animated owl from OWL/TV then appears on the right and starts clapping. A copyright below reads "© OWL(/)TV INC. (year).

Trivia: This logo was based on the Owl Magazine logo of the mid to late '80s. The owl's design was first used on the October 1985 issue.

Variants:

• On some occasions, the logo would appear in the background before the credits stopped rolling.
• There is a variant where the cartoon owl stops his clapping animation and remains on screen for a few seconds longer.

Technique: Cel animation.

Audio: The final notes of the show's intro with the owl clapping.

Audio Variant: On later episodes of OWL/TV, a voiceover of a girl says "If you've enjoyed OWL/TV, be sure to read Owl Magazine".

Availability: Seen on pre-1994 episodes of OWL/TV.

2nd Logo (March 2, 1992-October 11, 1993)

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Visuals: On a black background, there is a large "O" in a Times New Roman-like font with a white border and a white owl acting as the hole in the "O". The "O" is in the center of a square with diagonal dark blue and gold stripes and a gold border. Below the square is the white text "OWL TELEVISION" in a Mrs. Eaves font.

Trivia: This logo was based off of the Owl Magazine logo of the 1970s, with the owl's design being used on Owl Magazine's first issue in January 1976.

Variants:

• On Spirit Rider, the logo is brighter and the word "OWL" appears below the logo.
• On the 1992 unaired game show What's the Big Idea?, the "O" is slightly bigger, "OWL" is bigger, and the logo is superimposed on the closing shot of the show.

Technique: A still, computerized graphic.

Audio: None, but on Spirit Rider, it's the ending theme of the movie.

Availability: Seen on the first two seasons of The Big Comfy Couch, as well as on the TV movie Spirit Rider and the unaired 1992 game show pilot What's the Big Idea?.

3rd Logo (July 4, 1994-1995)

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Visuals: On a white background, there is a red owl inside a box, with the large word "Owl" underneath the owl, and below it, the word "Communications", all in Goudy Old Style. It appears like this:

Owl
Communications

Everything is surrounded by a red border.

Trivia: This logo was based off the Owl magazine company's logo featured in the bottom corner of all their magazines starting in the mid '90s (Owl, Chickadee, Chirp)

Variant: On later episodes of OWL/TV, the same animation of the cartoon owl clapping occurs overtop this logo. A copyright stamp appears below the logo as well.

Technique: A still graphic. The OWL/TV variant uses the same cel animation as the 1st logo.

Audio: None.

Audio Variant: On OWL/TV, a voice over says "If you enjoyed OWL/TV, be sure to read Owl Magazine."

Availability: Seen on season 3 and 4 episodes of The Big Comfy Couch. It was also seen on later episodes of OWL/TV.

4th Logo (February 3, 1997-1999)

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Visuals: On a cloudy background, the owl from the last logo, outlined in a light purple color, briefly moves in from the left as the word "Owl", the letters having a green outline, slides in from the right and turns the outlined owl completely blank, leaving only its shape behind. Then a CGI version of the owl from OWL/TV flies downward into the logo and rests inside the "O", making it bounce and he poses.

Variants:

• Later on in the logo's life, the stacked caption "OWL/SDA Productions Inc. A Coscient Group Company." is seen below once the owl almost finishes his animation.
• On PBS airings of Hello, Mrs. Cherrywinkle, the logo fades out before the owl lands.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Some children saying "Goodbye, Mrs. Cherrywinkle!", continued from Hello, Mrs. Cherrywinkle's credits, then silence.

Availability: It was discovered on the obscure show Hello, Mrs. Cherrywinkle and was known to only appear on the first 2 seasons of it. It was also seen on tapes of the show released by TVA International.