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{{PageCredits|edits=Henrynguye5, RSX-798, CooleyBoy10, LMgamer36, Michael Kenchington and BoyInCharge55}}{{Infobox company|founded=September 14, 1960 ({{age|1960|9|14}} years ago)|country=United States|name=Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment|formerly=Videocraft International (1960-1968)<br>Rankin/Bass Productions (1968-1983)|founder=Arthur Rankin Jr.<br>Jules Bass|fate=Folded into Lorimar-Telepictures|predecessors=Arthur Rankin Jr. Associates|parent=Independent (1960-1971, 1974-1983)<br>Tomorrow Entertainment (1971-1974)<br>Telepictures (1983-1987)<br>Lorimar-Telepictures (1987-1989)|defunct=March 4, 1987 ({{age|1987|3|4}} years ago, company)
===Background===
'''Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment''' was formed in September 1960 by Arthur '''Rankin''', Jr. and Jules '''Bass''' as [[Videocraft International]]; it was renamed to '''Rankin/Bass Productions''' in 1968. In 1971, the company was acquired by [[Tomorrow Entertainment]] and distributed by [[Viacom Productions|Viacom Enterprises]], while [[Broadway Video]] acquired the rights to the pre-1974 library in 1988. It was later acquired by [[Telepictures Corporation|Telepictures]] on January 24, 1983 and then became a subsidiary of [[Lorimar-Telepictures]]. The studio closed in 1987 as a result of TV show failures like ''The Comic Strip'', and its partnership was officially dissolved in 2001 after the production of the studio's last Christmas special ''Santa, Baby!''.
The pre-1974 library is currently owned by [[NBCUniversal Syndication Studios|NBCUniversal]] on behalf of [[DreamWorks Animation]] through their [[DreamWorks Classics]] label, while the post-1974 library is owned by [[Warner Bros. Television Studios|Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.]] except for ''The Jackson 5ive'', which is distributed by [[CBS Media Ventures]]. Rankin/Bass's theatrical film library is currently split amongst different companies. [[StudioCanal]] owns ''The Wacky World of Mother Goose'' and ''Mad Monster Party'' since both movies were released by [[Embassy Films Associates|Embassy Pictures]], ''The Last Unicorn'' is currently owned by [[ITV Studios]] (released by [[ITC Entertainment Group|ITC]]) and [[Universal Pictures]] owns ''Willy McBean and his Magic Machine'' via DreamWorks Animation and ''King Kong Returns''.
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==Rankin/Bass Productions==
===1st Logo (November 23, 1968-December 10, 1974)===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
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{{YouTube|id=3UIbxyCd4sE|id2=APFQCLHftZA}}
'''Visuals:''' On a
'''Bylines:'''
*1968-
*1970-1971: "© Videocraft International Limited (year in Roman numerals)"
*1971-1974: "A DIVISION OF TOMORROW ENTERTAINMENT, INC."
*Sometimes, it has no byline.
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'''Variants:'''
*The logo appears to have <u>varying speeds</u> when it comes to the circles appearing, as well as slight differences in the lettering's shape.
*When it first debuted in <u>1968</u>, the logo was slightly different. The most notable difference is that the TV monitor isn't present, but there are also a number of smaller differences. The rectangle's animation is slightly different, the circles appear slower and with part of "{{color|blue|ranKin bass}}" as well alongside them, and the text appears to be a bit cleaner. The copyright date also uses Arabic numerals rather than Roman numerals. This has first appeared on the rare 1968 special ''The Mouse on the Mayflower'', but
*On ''<u>The Smokey Bear Show</u>'', an amalgamation of the early and later variants is used, having the animation of the later variant, but lacks the TV tube shape and uses Arabic numerals like the early variant. It's also in a shade of
*On <u>later reprints of ''Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town''</u>, the logo has a slight
*
*On ''<u>The Year Without a Santa Claus</u>'', the screen starts off white before fading to the logo, in which it appears to hang around until the flute starts to play.
*Starting in the <u>2010s</u>, the logo has been stretched to 16:9 and it can be seen only in later airings of ''Santa Claus is Comin' to Town''.
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'''Technique:''' Traditional animation by [[Toei Animation]].
'''Audio:'''
'''Audio Variants:'''
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*''<u>The Mouse on the Mayflower</u>'' had some of the tune come in earlier than beforehand.
*Starting in <u>1998</u>, ABC airings of ''Santa Claus is Comin' to Town'' had a generic theme and/or voiceover.
*On
*Also seen on the 1969 Rankin/Bass television series ''The Smokey Bear Show''.
▲*It appears on most of Rankin/Bass's Christmas specials when aired annually by CBS, Freeform, AMC and other channels, as well as on DVD and most VHS releases.
*The variant with the "Tomorrow Entertainment" byline was seen on ''Festival of Family Classics'', ''Kid Power'', ''The Red Baron'', ''Mad Mad Mad Monsters'', ''The Enchanted World of Danny Kaye: The Emperor's New Clothes'' and early '70s prints of ''Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer''.
▲*Strangely enough, on one airing of ''The Little Drummer Boy'', this logo was replaced with the 1975 "Blues" logo.
*
*
'''Legacy:''' A beloved and nostalgic logo by many, particularly during the Christmas season.
===2nd Logo (September 11, 1971-September 1, 1973)===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:GW245H187.jpg
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'''Visuals:''' Superimposed over the middle of the [[Motown Productions]] logo's animation are the words "Rankin/Bass" in a script font superimposed onto it with the text "IN ASSOCIATION WITH". The logo then fades out and the Motown logo animates as usual.
'''Technique:'''
'''Audio:''' Same as the 1971 Motown Productions logo.
'''Availability:'''
===3rd Logo (December 19, 1975-July 5, 1987)===
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{{YouTube|id=WX51ZO8aocI|id2=jNTA7fTQONE|id3=1MFwOmrxm-k}}
'''Visuals:''' The screen flashes three different shades of
'''Variants:'''
*On
*On <u>earlier prints of ''The Hobbit''</u>, it
**On both the <u>[[Xenon Entertainment Group|Xenon]] VHS release and 2014 remastered [[Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
*On <u>certain airings of Rankin/Bass specials</u>, the logo fades out earlier after the animation is finished to make way for either the 1972 WBTV "Distributed By" logo, or the 1998 WBTV "75 Years" logo, with the music continuing on said logos.
'''Technique:''' Cel animation from Topcraft
'''Audio:'''
'''Audio Variants:'''
*In
*On the 1983 TV special
*On the <u>WB DVD release of ''The First Easter Rabbit''</u> (1976), the film deteriorated variant uses the fanfare from the 1986 [[Lorimar-Telepictures]] "Crashing Comets" logo. This is most likely another case of sloppy reverse plastering.
*<u>ABC airings of ''Rudolph's Shiny New Year''</u> in early to mid 2000s had the generic theme playing over that logo.
▲*On an <u>old broadcast of ''The Little Drummer Boy''</u>, the NBC chimes were heard due to sloppy plastering.
▲*Retained on most Rankin/Bass holiday specials from this period on DVD releases and reruns on Freeform and AMC.
*The Warner Bros. variant is preserved in credits pushback on Freeform airings of ''Rudolph's Shiny New Year'' and ''Nestor the Christmas Donkey'' during the 24 Days of Christmas Marathon.
*The last special with this logo was ''The Wind in the Willows'' (though it had been produced in 1983 and released on video in the UK the same year, it did not air in the U.S. until 1987 on ABC).
'''Legacy:''' Another
==Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment==
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File:GW258H204.png
</gallery>
{{YouTube|id=
'''Visuals:''' On a black background, the 1975 logo plays, without the "A" and "PRODUCTION" above and below the now-white "ran{{small|K}}in bass" words, respectively. The word "''{{color|skyblue|animated}}''" in a light blue script-like font flashes and appears. The words "{{color|skyblue|entertainment from}}" in light blue then slides in. The logo then cuts to a sped-up version of the 1983 variant of the 1980 [[Telepictures Corporation|Telepictures]] "Linecoaster" logo.
'''Technique:''' Traditional animation, which is again from Topcraft.
'''Audio:''' A jazzy drum break is heard, followed by an abridged version of Cheetara's
'''Audio Variant:''' On the <u>PAL DVD print of
* It was then plastered by the next logo when repeated on the show's fall premiere that same year.
▲* This was a prototype/placeholder logo, and only appeared on the broadcast pilot for ''ThunderCats'' (''Exodus'' and ''The Unholy Alliance'').
*
===2nd Logo (September 9, 1985-December 7, 2001)===
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File:GW308H231.png
</gallery>
{{YouTube|id=-iblpowxRt0|id2=-A9Jh5LiFwA|id3=
'''Visuals:'''
'''Variants:'''
* A shortened version exists that ends after the company name forming. This was due to the 1984 WBTD logo plastering the Telepictures logo. This was spotted on a <u>later Russian print of the ''ThunderCats'' Season 1 episode "Return to Thundera"</u>.
* Another shortened version also exists, in which the logo fades out just as the "
* On
'''Technique:'''
'''Audio:''' A bouncy, synthesized oboe theme (composed by Bernard Hoffer), with a "spring" sound effect when the line morphs into the "Animated Entertainment"
'''Audio Variants:'''
* A <u>low tone</u> variant exists.
* On a <u>post-1989 Russian print of the ''ThunderCats''
* On
'''Availability:'''
* It was also seen on some '80s prints of older R-B specials, typically plastering the older logos.
* It is also intact at the end of ''Rudolph's Shiny New Year'' (1976) on the 2000 UK VHS release thereof from [[Warner Home Video]], which is then followed by the 1988 [[Lorimar Television]] logo.
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Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment was formed in September 1960 by Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass as Videocraft International; it was renamed to Rankin/Bass Productions in 1968. In 1971, the company was acquired by Tomorrow Entertainment and distributed by Viacom Enterprises, while Broadway Video acquired the rights to the pre-1974 library in 1988. It was later acquired by Telepictures on January 24, 1983 and then became a subsidiary of Lorimar-Telepictures. The studio closed in 1987 as a result of TV show failures like The Comic Strip, and its partnership was officially dissolved in 2001 after the production of the studio's last Christmas special Santa, Baby!.
The pre-1974 library is currently owned by NBCUniversal on behalf of DreamWorks Animation through their DreamWorks Classics label, while the post-1974 library is owned by Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. except for The Jackson 5ive, which is distributed by CBS Media Ventures. Rankin/Bass's theatrical film library is currently split amongst different companies. StudioCanal owns The Wacky World of Mother Goose and Mad Monster Party since both movies were released by Embassy Pictures, The Last Unicorn is currently owned by ITV Studios (released by ITC) and Universal Pictures owns Willy McBean and his Magic Machine via DreamWorks Animation and King Kong Returns.
Visuals: On a blue background, a large white tube sits flat, resembling a TV screen. A blue rectangle then appears like a door shutting and 2 circles appear separately on top of each other, one blue and the other light blue. The text "A ranKin bass PRODUCTION", each word stacked, appears next to the shapes. The logo itself is supposed to represent an abstract "rB", with the "r" formed up with the darker colored parts and the "B" made up of all the shapes.
Bylines:
Variants:
Technique: Traditional animation by Toei Animation.
Audio: The 1966 Videocraft International logo theme composed by Maury Laws and Jules Bass. Sometimes, the logo is silent. Recent prints of Frosty the Snowman have it either with the special's closing theme or silence, while original prints, Family Home Entertainment releases, Spanish-dubbed prints, and the mono track on the 2018 print have the music.
Audio Variants:
Availability: Seen on most of Rankin/Bass's Christmas specials when aired annually by CBS, Freeform, AMC and other channels, as well as on DVD and most VHS releases.
Legacy: A beloved and nostalgic logo by many, particularly during the Christmas season.
Visuals: Superimposed over the middle of the Motown Productions logo's animation are the words "Rankin/Bass" in a script font superimposed onto it with the text "IN ASSOCIATION WITH". The logo then fades out and the Motown logo animates as usual.
Technique: A still graphic.
Audio: Same as the 1971 Motown Productions logo.
Availability: Seen on The Jackson 5ive.
Visuals: The screen flashes three different shades of blue, with the effect that they're getting sucked inwards, into a rectangle at the left edge of the screen. Every time they go through a shade, that's what the color of the rectangle is, until all three have been done and the screen is white. Then the circles appear to complete the stylized "rB", except instead of just appearing, layers of the circles zoom in until they fill the outline - they sort of "grow" in their places. To the right of the logo the words "A ranKin bass PRODUCTION" appear as usual, with "ranKin bass" wiping in with the circles before the rest appear. It looks a bit like the early version of the first logo.
Variants:
Technique: Cel animation from Topcraft.
Audio: The 1966 Videocraft International logo theme, now in a slightly lower tone.
Audio Variants:
Availability: Retained on most Rankin/Bass holiday specials from this period on DVD releases and reruns on Freeform and AMC.
Legacy: Another well-known logo during the Christmas season. Some have been rattled by this logo due to its music and fast-paced animation.
Visuals: On a black background, the 1975 logo plays, without the "A" and "PRODUCTION" above and below the now-white "ranKin bass" words, respectively. The word "animated" in a light blue script-like font flashes and appears. The words "entertainment from" in light blue then slides in. The logo then cuts to a sped-up version of the 1983 variant of the 1980 Telepictures "Linecoaster" logo.
Technique: Traditional animation, which is again from Topcraft.
Audio: A jazzy drum break is heard, followed by an abridged version of Cheetara's theme (a triumphant horn fanfare, with a funk flair to it). When the 1983 variant of the 1980 Telepictures "Telecoaster" logo appears, an abridged version of the drum roll and a ding from the said logo is heard.
Audio Variant: On the PAL DVD print of S4E5 of ThunderCats titled "Return to Thundera: Part 5", this logo features the music from the next logo with the 1986 Lorimar-Telepictures "Crashing Comets" logo in a high pitch (likely due to NTSC to PAL conversion), and also due to a reverse plastering error as well.
Availability: This was a prototype/placeholder logo, and was only seen on the broadcast pilot for ThunderCats (Exodus and The Unholy Alliance).
Visuals: The classic Rankin/Bass logo, except made completely three-dimensional, with the text in royal blue and in the corporate font of then-current parent company Telepictures, appears on a black background. A white line forms under the logo, and that line "springs" into a cursive "Animated Entertainment". Then, the "rB" zooms up, and the shapes slide apart as they come closer to the screen, revealing a white "from". As the "o" overtakes the screen, the animation of either Telepictures (1985-86) or Lorimar-Telepictures (1986-89) plays and eventually fills the entire screen.
Variants:
Technique: Cel animation, possibly combined with computer animation for the zooming. This is animated by Pacific Animation Corporation (now Walt Disney Animation (Japan) Inc.).
Audio: A bouncy, synthesized oboe theme (composed by Bernard Hoffer), with a "spring" sound effect when the line morphs into the "Animated Entertainment" text. On the first season of ThunderCats, the music segues into a custom fanfare for either the 1980 Telepictures "Telecoaster" or the 1986 Lorimar-Telepictures "Linecoaster" logo (also by Hoffer), and from season 2 onward, it segues into the end of the 1986 Lorimar-Telepictures "Crashing Comets" theme when the logo appears.
Audio Variants:
Availability: Seen on 1980s Rankin/Bass productions, including ThunderCats, The Comic Strip, and SilverHawks.
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