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{{Guidance|reason=flashing}}{{PageCredits|description=Logoboy95 and others|capture=Logoboy95 and others|video=FanCentralNetwork, statefairshows, Luke2505, originalsboy11, and LogosForTheWin|edits=Shadeed A. Kelly, KirbyGuy2001, Michael Kenchington and others}}
 
{{Infobox company
| name = Sony Wonder
| image = DotSony Wonder (2006).png
| formerly = [[Sony Kids’Kids' Video|Sony Kids' Music/Video]]<br>(1992-93)
| founded = February 1992; 3032 years ago
| founder = Linda Morgenstern
| parent = [[Sony Music Entertainment]]<br>(1992-2007)<br>[[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]]<br>(2007-2020)
|country=United States
|defunct=2020; 4 years ago
|successors=[[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]]<br>[[Sony Pictures Television Kids]]
}}
 
===Background===
'''Sony Wonder''' was the children's music and home video arm of [[Sony Music Entertainment]], originally formed in 1992 as "[[Sony Kids' Video|Sony Kids' Music/Video]]". In 1993, Sony Wonder began distributing [[Nickelodeon]] videos until 1996, when their license with Nickelodeon expired. In 1995, the company began distributing ''Kidsongs'' video releases after acquiring the rights from [[KidVision]] until 1998, and [[Sesame Workshop]] releases from 1995 to 2007, as well as ''Arthur'' videos from 2000 to 2006. By 1997, they distributed videos from [[Golden Books Family Entertainment]], which became [[Classic Media]] in 2002.
 
Sony Wonder also had a TV division, which produced and distributed TV shows. This division of the company purchased [[Sunbow Entertainment]] in 1998, but in October 2000 the company sold their TV division including Sunbow to Germany's [[TV-Loonland AG|TV-Loonland AG]].
 
On March 13, 2007, Sony BMG Music Entertainment announced they would shut down Sony Wonder so that they can focus on their central music businesses; it would be moved to [[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]] as an in-name-only division on June 20, 2007. The company was completely merged into SPHE in 2020, and a majority of its kids' content is now handled by [[Sony Pictures Animation]] and [[Sony Pictures Television|Sony Pictures Television Kids]]. The releases by Classic Media (now part of NBCUniversal) and Sesame Workshop were then transferred to [[Genius Products]]. From 2010 to 2018, ''Sesame Street'' DVDs were distributed by [[Warner Bros. Home Entertainment]], and since late 2018, they have been released by [[Shout! Factory Kids]].
 
{{SeparateTOC
|Sony Kids' Video|
{{ImageTOC
|Sony Kids Video.png |1st Logo (1992-1993)
|Sony Kids Video (2nd logo).jpg |2nd Logo (1992-1993)
}}
|Sony Wonder|
{{ImageTOC
|Sony_Wonder_1991.jpg |1st Logo (July 1993-April 11, 1995)
|Sony Wonder 1995 better.png |2nd Logo (April 18, 1995-November 7, 2006; 2007; February 25, 2014-September 19, 2023)
|Sony Wonder 2006.jpg |3rd Logo (November 14, 2006-August 28, 2007)
|Sony Wonder 2009 logo RARE.png |4th Logo (October 13, 2009)
}}}}
 
==Sony Kids' Video==
===1st Logo (1992-1993)===
[[File:Sony Kids Video.png|233x233px|center]]
{{youtube|id=2Ihxc6bO268}}
 
'''Logo:''' On an orange-pinkish background filled with brown silhouettes of kids, we see a blue upside down triangle with the familiar Sony logo on top of it. There is also a yellow ribbon-like rectangle over the triangle with the black words "KIDS' VIDEO" (with jumbled letters) and a huge black music note between them.
 
'''FX/SFX:''' None.
 
'''Music/Sounds:''' An ominous, screechy choir, which sounds like something from a horror/thriller movie. This ends with a quick orchestral glissando, similar to the Paramount Television "Closet Killer" logo.
 
'''Availability:''' Rare. It was spotted on a 1992 VHS of ''Snow White''. Also seen on VHS tapes of ''The Ratties''.
 
===2nd Logo (1992-1993)===
[[File:Sony Kids Video (2nd logo).jpg|233x233px|center]]
{{youtube|id=gmoeeu_jlBE|id2=UburAtZF5V8}}
 
'''Nickname:''' "Sony Colorful Kids Video"
 
'''Logo:''' On an aqua background with childish drawings of various objects in several different colors, we see the familiar Sony logo in pink with a purple outline. Below that is a dark blue TV with yellow knobs on a pink checkered floor. Inside the TV is a blue musical note moving and bouncing around inside the TV while the wave background behind it spins and changes color. Around the TV is a yellow banner with dark blue text reading "KIDS' VIDEO".
 
'''Variant:'''
* A longer variant extsts. TBA
* An in-credit version exists with the same background with dark blue texts that reads "A SONY Kids' Video Production".
 
'''FX/SFX:''' The background moving to the left, the musical note moving around inside the TV, and the waves behind the note inside the TV spinning and changing color.
 
'''Music/Sounds:''' None or TBA.
 
'''Music/Sounds Variant:''' On ''This Pretty Planet: Tom Chapin Live In Concert'', it's the opening theme of the program, and the closing theme on the variant.
 
'''Availability:''' Very rare. It was spotted on a 1992 VHS of ''This Pretty Planet: Tom Chapin Live In Concert''. It also appears on some educational tapes like [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nkuZjzp7JQ ''My first Cooking Video''].
 
===1st Logo (July 1993-April 11, 1995)===
==Sony Wonder==
=== 1st Logo (July 1993-April 11, 1995) ===
[[File:Sony_Wonder_1991.jpg|233x233px|center]]
{{YouTube|id=0BjQXDUSeGU}}
 
'''Visuals:''' On a pale blue background, a {{color|#202350|dark blue}} Sony logo is seen slightly above the center. At the same time, a teal box falls from the top to the bottom-middle of the screen, squeezing in as it does so. Once it hits the bottom, it bounces back up, spreading itself out, and stops below "SONY", revealing the word "WONDER" in the AR Hermann font.
'''Nicknames:''' "Bouncy Block", "Weird Block", "Cheesy Block", "Cheapy Wonder"
 
'''Variants:'''
'''Logo:''' On a white background, we see the {{color|#202350|dark blue}} Sony logo. At the same time, a {{color|green}} (or {{color|#13889a|teal}}) box falls from the top to the bottom-middle of the screen, squeezing in as it does so. Once it hits the bottom, it bounces back up, spreading and widening itself, and stops below "SONY", revealing the word "WONDER" in the Herman font.
 
* In some cases with the credits of ''See How They Grow'', the logo is still and just fades in and out.
'''Variant:''' On the 1994 VHS of ''Jim Lee's WildC.A.T.S. Cry of the Coda'', a still of the logo is seen with {{color|#202350|'''"ALSO AVAILABLE FROM"'''}} above it in the same color as the Sony logo. This is after the initial logo's sequence ends.
* On <u>the 1994 VHS release of ''Jim Lee's Wild C.A.T.S. Cry of the Coda''</u>, the still logo is seen with the words "'''{{font|times new roman|ALSO AVAILABLE FROM}}'''" above it in the same color as the Sony logo. This is after the initial logo's sequence ends.
 
'''Technique:''' Computer graphics.
'''FX/SFX:''' The box bouncing, the spreading and widening.
 
'''Audio:''' Either the opening/closing theme of the program or silence.
'''Music/Sounds:''' None, except for the variant listed above, which has an announcer saying ''"Also available from Sony Wonder."''
 
'''Audio Variant:''' For the "'''{{font|times new roman|ALSO AVAILABLE FROM}}'''" variant, an announcer says "Also available from Sony Wonder."
'''Availability:''' Rare. It can be seen on pre-1995 Nickelodeon tapes from the era, which are easily available on Amazon and eBay. The later Nickelodeon tapes (the ones that say "Nickelodeon Video") have the next logo. Also seen on VHS tapes of ''A Bunch of Munsch'', ''Dog City'', ''Wild C.A.T.S.'', ''Cadillacs and Dinosaurs'', and ''Tales from the Cryptkeeper''.
 
'''Availability:'''
'''Legacy:''' Is notable for appearing on Nickelodeon tapes prior to Viacom's purchase of Paramount.
* It can be seen on pre-1995 Nickelodeon tapes from the era, one of which is ''Ren and Stimpy: Incredibly Stupid Stories''.
* The later Nickelodeon tapes (the ones under "Nickelodeon Video") have the next logo.
* It also appears on VHS tapes of ''A Bunch of Munsch'', ''Dog City'', ''Wild C.A.T.S.'', ''Cadillacs and Dinosaurs'', and ''Tales from the Cryptkeeper'', respectively.
 
===2nd Logo (April 18, 1995-November 7, 2006; 2007; February 25, 2014-September 19, 2023)===
<tabber>
{{Gallery|align=center|mode=packed|height=175|width=
Images=
|File:Sony Wonder 1995 Early.jpg|
<gallery mode="packed" heights="175">
|File:Sonywonder laserdisc.png|
|File:Sony Wonder 1995 better.png| |File:Sony Wonder 1995 Sesame Street videos promo.png| |File:Sony_Wonder_2005Early.jpg|
File:Sonywonder laserdisc.png
|File:Sony_Wonder_Logo_(1995;_2013_Reissue).jpg|
File:Sony Wonder 1995 better.png
}}
File:Sony Wonder 1995 Sesame Street videos promo.png
{{YouTube|id=C01ky9djaes|id2=TjJT96U2Vuw|id3=WJwHtwJ8ozI}}
File:Sony_Wonder_2005.jpg
 
File:Sony_Wonder_Logo_(1995;_2013_Reissue).jpg
'''Nicknames:''' "The Ribbon", "The Sunny Ribbon", "The Sky"
</gallery>
|-|
Videos=
{{YouTube|id=dJlz0HSznIY|id2=usU1lD3RkmI|id3=nGlh8fjWaVg|id4=pwGVOAhALro|id5=TjJT96U2Vuw|id6=WJwHtwJ8ozI|id7=2oLVHWrtlt4|id8=YtiJoiSITVM}}
</tabber>
 
'''LogoVisuals:''' We seeOn a cloudy time-lapse background, playing backwards, with the Sunsun glowing behind it., Thethe word "WONDER" (in the Hermansame "AR Hermann" font, morebut simplepuffier fromand more beforesimplified), in a {{color|purple}} ribbon, flies from the top-right to the bottom of the screen, turning magenta in the process. The ribbon then turns blue when stopping at the near center, and a CGI yellow sun appears in place of the "O" in "WONDER" (and directly in front of the background's sun) via a light effect. The Sony logo fades in at the top of the ribbon as the CGI sun's rays wiggle.
ribbon, then flies from the top-right to the bottom of the screen, turning {{color||magenta|magenta}} in the process. The ribbon then turns {{color|blue}} when stopping at the near center, and we see a CGI {{color|gold|yellow}} Sun appear in place of the "O" in "WONDER" (and directly behind where the other sun resides) via a light effect. The Sony logo fades in at the top of the ribbon, while the CGI sun "wiggles." The end result is almost the same as the first logo.
 
'''Variants:'''
*An <u>early version</u> of this logo mostly exists on Nickelodeon tapes such as ''Rocko's Modern Christmas'', ''Aaahh!!! Real Monsters: Monsters Night Out'', and ''Ren & Stimpy: Nothing But Shorts''. The light effect barely moves and is much brighter, and the sun is a much yellower golden. The background itself is also darker.
*On some tapes and DVDs, alongside television shows, there is a short version which starts with the logo being formed. This can mainly be found on trailers.
**On <u>Side A of the 1995 ''The Ren and Stimpy Show: The Essential Collection - Classics I & II'' LaserDisc</u>, the logo is in a higher quality and the sun is more orange.
*An early version of this logo mostly exists on Nickelodeon tapes such as ''Rocko's Modern Christmas'', ''Aaahh!!! Real Monsters: Monsters Night Out'', and ''Ren & Stimpy: Nothing But Shorts.'' The light effect barely moves and is much brighter, and the sun is a much yellower golden. The background itself is also darker, which was changed on later releases. The sun also became a brighter yellow-orange.
**On <u>''Big Bird Sings''</u>, there are no fades at the beginning or end of the logo.
*On Side A of the 1995 ''The Ren and Stimpy Show: The Essential Collection - Classics I & II'' LaserDisc, the logo is in a much higher quality and the sun is more orange.
*The color of the CGI yellow sun in "WONDER" can vary.
*On ''Big Bird Sings'', there are no fades at the beginning or end of the logo.
**On nearly all Sony Wonder releases, the CGI sun is in golden-yellow.
* A still widescreen version of the logo with a different cloud background has been spotted on the 2014 DVD of ''The Swan Princess: A Royal Family Tale'' and the 2016 DVD of ''The Swan Princess: Princess Tomorrow, Pirate Today,'' among very few other current ''Swan Princess'' titles.
*The color of the CGI yellow sun in "WONDER" can vary. On nearly all Sony Wonder releases, the CGI sun is in golden-yellow. *On many ''Sesame Street'' VHS releases from late 1996-early 1998, such as ''Sing Yourself Sillier At the Movies'' and ''Kids' Guide to Life: Telling the Truth'', the CGI sun is in orange-yellow orange. On early 1996 ''Sesame Street'' VHS releases such as ''Elmocize'' and ''Rock & Roll'', the logo appears brighter, making the CGI sun appear in a white-tinted color.
**On early 1996 ''Sesame Street'' VHS releases such as ''Elmocize'' and ''Rock & Roll'', the logo appears brighter, making the CGI sun appear in a white-tinted color.
*Three short versions exist:
**One that starts at the beginning of the ribbon's animation (seen on ''A Rugrats Passover'').
**One where the logo is already formed (mainly on <u>trailers</u>, but can be seen on some tapes and DVDs, alongside television shows).
***On the Greek release of ''Rainbow Fish'', the already-formed logo has its animation stop near the end of its runtime.
**One that starts where the ribbon stops in the center (seen on [[CINAR]] shows like ''Caillou'' and ''Zoboomafoo'', alongside shows like ''Mega Babies'' and the third season of ''The Kidsongs Television Show'').
*For ''Kidsongs'' VHS releases, the transition choice is either fade-then-cut or the other way around, depending on whether this logo plays before or after the 3rd [[Together Again Productions|TAP logo]].
*On widescreentrailers DVDfor releases''Sesame fromStreet'' theVHS tapes and companycassettes, the logo is centeredalready onformed awith lightonly bluethe clouds in the background, moving. The ''Sesame Street Video and isAudio'' "blended"trailer, however, intohas it in lower quality and, in one of the cheapestshots, is lazily overlaid on top of a wayCRT possibletelevision.
*On a Brazilian ''Enchanted Tales'' advertisement, the advertised VHS tapes are in front of a still of the logo's background (from the beginning of the logo). Once the tapes fade out, the background fades to a warp-speed version of the logo.
*On the 1999 VHS of ''Little Witch'', an SME copyright notice (in the Impact font) can be seen after the logo fades out.
*On ''Generation O!'', the "www.generationO.com" URL appears underneath the logo. The logo was either fullscreen or boxed inside the credits.
*On the Greek release of ''Rainbow Fish'', the already-formed logo has its animation stop near the end of its runtime.
*On widescreen [[Classic Media]] DVD releases, the logo is centered on a light blue background, and is "blended" into it in the cheapest way possible.
*Two short versions exist:
*Starting in 2014, with ''The Swan Princess: A Royal Family Tale'', the logo was redone in widescreen. It's a still image, sporting a different cloud background and a slightly different Sony logo.
**One that begins where the ribbon stops in the center (seen on Canadian releases of [[PBS Kids]] shows like ''Caillou'' and ''Zoboomafoo'', alongside TV shows like ''Mega Babies'' and the third season of ''The Kidsongs Television Show'').
**One where we fade in as the ribbon animation begins (seen on ''A Rugrats Passover'').
*On trailers for ''Sesame Street'' VHS tapes and cassettes, the logo is already formed with only the clouds in the background moving. The ''Sesame Street Video and Audio'' trailer, however, has it in obvious jagged jpeg quality.
*On ''Generation O!'', the "www.generationO.com" URL appears underneath the logo.
*Starting in 2014 with ''The Swan Princess: A Royal Family Tale'', the logo is still, widescreen and has a different cloud background.
 
'''Technique:''' CGI with some live-action footage.
'''FX/SFX:''' The ribbon flying in and the sun and the Sony text both appearing. For the still widescreen version, none.
 
'''Music/SoundsAudio:''' When the logo starts, we hear a riveting string note beingis held out, and when the ribbon appears, descending harp notes play in-sync with the ribbon. As the ribbon is in its position with the sun appearing, a brief flute melody plays in D major, and when the Sony logo appears, everything rises to a majestic note in B♭ major complete with tubular bells that slowly stops once the logo fades.; Thisthis is all synthesized. Guy Moon composed the entirely-synthesized music, with some samples produced on the E-mu Proteus 2 Orchestral digital synthesizer.
 
'''Music/SoundsAudio Variants:'''
*For <u>the early version</u> of the logo, some of the instruments are moremuch quietquieter. This variant only lasted for a few months, as ''Tales from the Whoop: Hot Rod Brown, Class Clown'', released on August 8, 1995, was the first Nickelodeonknown VHS to use the normal music.
*On Canadian releases, an announcer will say "Look for these great products now available from Sony Wonder."
*On Brazilian releases, a different announcer says "Sony Wonder apresentar."
*For certain Sesame Street VHS tapes, a echo/reverb effect is added. Same goes for the [[Sesame Workshop#4th Logo (November 16, 1983-July 8, 1997)|CTW "Sparks" logo]] following it.
*For certain Sesame Street VHS tapes, an echo/reverb effect is added. Same goes for the [[Children's Television Workshop|CTW "Sparks" logo]] following it.
*On TV shows, only the last half of the tune plays.
**In some cases, like certain episodes of ''Fat Dog Mendoza'', the music starts a little late.
**For ''Generation O!'', the music fades out faster than usual.
*At the end of the ''Sesame Street Video and Audio'' trailer, the theme starts near the harp, making it off-sync to the logo's animation.
*In some cases, it's either the advertisement music or opening/ending theme of a show/feature.
*At the end of ''Timothy Tweedle'', the logo's music starts very late, due to its music and the ''Balmur Entertainment'' music being swapped. However, inside the movie's contents contains a version with the logo order fixed.
*Being their only release to use this variant, onOn the 2003 DVD releases of ''Zoe's Dance Moves'' and ''Elmo's World: The Great Outdoors,'' a whoosh panning from the right to the left can be heard during the ribbon's movement, along with a twinkle during the bell portionbells. The VHS releasereleases didn't have this, as itthey used the normal music.
*On ''The Swan Princess: A Fairy Tale is Born'', the logo is silent.
 
'''Availability:'''
'''Availability:''' Common. It can be seen on many Sony Wonder tapes and DVDs from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s, along with TV shows as well.
* It can be seen on many Sony Wonder VHS and DVD releases from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s, along with TV shows as well.
* Tapes and DVDs that can feature this include ''Sesame Street'' videos, later ''Arthur'' releases, and specials from Golden Books Family Entertainment/Classic Media (though on VHS tapes, it mainly appeared at the end).
* SomeVHS of theand lastDVD releases tothat usecan feature this logoinclude were''Sesame theStreet'' 2006videos, VHSlater ''Arthur'' releases, ofand ''Sesamespecials Street:from Guess[[Golden ThatBooks ShapeFamily AndEntertainment]]/Classic Color'',Media ''Elmo's(though Pottyon Time''VHS tapes, andit ''Elmo'smainly World:appeared Reach forat the Sky!''end).
* Some of the last releases to use this logo were the 2006 VHS releases of ''Sesame Street: Guess That Shape And Color'', ''Elmo's Potty Time'', and ''Elmo's World: Reach for the Sky!'', respectively.
* The "blended" widescreen variant can be found on the DVD release of ''The Legend of Frosty the Snowman'' (the 2005 special) and the 2006 ''Here Comes Peter Cottontail: The Movie'' DVD. However, don't expect this to appear on any Big Idea tapes or DVDs they released.
* The "blended" widescreen variant can be found on the DVD release of ''The Legend of Frosty the Snowman'' (the 2005 special) and the 2006 ''Here Comes Peter Cottontail: The Movie'' DVD, respectively.
* The short version is ultra rare. It was seen on international TV airings of ''Generation O!'' years ago, as well as the third season of ''The Kidsongs Television Show''. Also seen on ''Mega Babies'' following the [[CinéGroupe (Canada)|CinéGroupe]] and Landmark Ent. Group logos and ''Fat Dog Mendoza'', as well as Canadian releases of a few [[PBS Kids]] shows like ''Caillou'' and ''Zoboomafoo''. It also appears on Tubi's print of ''Santa Mouse and the Ratdeer''.
* The short version was seen on international TV airings of ''Generation O!'' years ago, as well as the third season of ''The Kidsongs Television Show''.
* It made appearances on the Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's releases of ''Holly Hobbie And Friends'' - ''Surprise Party'', "Christmas Wishes" and "Best Friends Forever", released after Sony Wonder transitioned to SPHE. The third special - "Secret Adventures", uses the next logo.
** It is also seen on the ''Mega Babies'', ''Fat Dog Mendoza'', ''Hoyt'n Andy's Sportsbender'', as well as Canadian releases of CINAR shows like ''Caillou'' and ''Zoboomafoo''. It also appears on Tubi's print of ''Santa Mouse and the Ratdeer''.
* The logo returned in 2014 with ''The Swan Princess: A Royal Family Tale'' and ''The Swan Princess: Princess Tomorrow, Pirate Today'' (the Christmas special has the Stage 6 Films logo instead).
* It also made appearances on the [[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]]'s releases of three of the four ''Holly Hobbie And Friends'' specials - ''Surprise Party'', "Christmas Wishes" and "Best Friends Forever" - released after Sony Wonder transitioned to SPHE.
** The third special - "Secret Adventures" - uses the next logo.
* The logo returned in 2014 with the CGI ''Swan Princess'' films beginning with ''A Royal Family Tale'' and ending with ''Far Longer than Forever'' (''Christmas'' has the [[Stage 6 Films]] logo instead). This version of the logo also appeared on ''Honey Girls''.
* It also appears on several UK VHS releases from [[Maverick Entertainment]], such as the 2001 UK VHS release of ''Transformers: The Movie Special Collector's Edition'' as well.
 
'''Legacy:''' A nostalgic logo for those that grew up with it, though it gained some notoriety for the unofficial low-quality "edits" on [[YouTube]].
 
===3rd Logo (November 14, 2006-August 28, 2007)===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:Sony Wonder 2006.jpg
File:Sony Wonder (2007).png
</gallery>
{{YouTube|id=DuzUDCHluak7FqjchHjf2A|id2=ju1wE3rgztU}}
{{guidance detail|reason=flashing(0:01)}}
 
'''Visuals:''' On a white background, a crudely drawn gold circle zooms in incredibly close to the screen, then pans back, followed by rapid flashing. Several lines appear across the circle, turning it into a sun (same design as the previous logo, but slightly redrawn and with ten rays instead of nine), then spin around. The rays blur, then are re-drawn. The sun bounces to the middle of the screen, where the text "SONY", in its corporate font, slides in from the left and bumps the logo. "WONDER", also in the Sony logo font, then slides in from the right and makes the logo positioned correctly. The sun rays spin around one more time and stop. Their website URL (in {{color|grey|grey}}) then fades in under "WONDER."
'''Nicknames:''' "Cheesy Sun", "Flash Sun", "Twirling Sun"
 
The entire time, the rays wiggle around (a la the [[Tom Snyder Productions]] logo and the animation style of the Cartoon Network series, ''Ed, Edd, 'n Eddy'').
'''Logo:''' On a white background, we see a crudely drawn gold circle that zooms incredibly close to the screen, then pans back, followed by rapid flashing. Several lines appear across the circle, turning it into a sun, then spin around. The lines blur, then are re-drawn. The sun bounces to the middle of the screen, where the text "SONY", in its corporate font, slides in from the left and bumps the logo. "WONDER", also in the Sony logo font, then slides in from the right and makes the logo positioned correctly. The sun rays spin around one more time and wiggle around (just like the animation style of the [[Cartoon Network]] show ''Ed, Edd n Eddy'').
 
'''Technique:''' Computer animation commissioned by Bemis Balkind.
'''Byline:''' On a few releases, the byline "'''A Sony Pictures Entertainment / Kids Music Company'''" in the same font as the next logo faded in underneath the logo. Used in tandem with the URL variant below.
 
'''Audio:''' A quick jet zooming sound, then multiple xylophone notes and a "TWING!" as the circular sun zooms back. As the sun spins around, several drum taps play out to represent a wheel spinning, then three bouncing sounds. Two "dwong" sounds are heard as the Sony Wonder logo is finally formed, followed by an ascending twinkle.
'''Variant:''' On some releases, the text "sonywonder.com" (in grey) fades in under the "WONDER" text.
 
'''Availability:''' This logo was rather short-lived.
'''FX/SFX:''' Computer animation by Bemis Balkind.
* It appears on these ''Sesame Street'' releases: ''A Sesame Street Christmas Carol'', ''Elmo's World: What Makes You Happy?'' and ''Sesame Beginnings: Moving Together''.
 
* It also likely appears on the documentary ''The World According to Sesame Street'' as well.
'''Music/Sounds:''' We hear a quick jet zooming sound, then multiple xylophone notes and a "TWING!" as the circular sun zooms back. As the sun spins around, we hear several drum taps, then three bouncing sounds. Two "dwong" sounds are heard as the Sony Wonder logo is finally formed, followed by an ascending twinkle.
* It also appears on several Canadian ''Caillou'' DVD releases from this time such as ''Caillou The Builder'' and ''Caillou The Brave''.
 
'''Availability:''' Rare. This logo was rather short-lived:
* It appears on these ''Sesame Street'' releases: ''A Sesame Street Christmas Carol'', ''Elmo's World: What Makes You Happy?'' and ''Sesame Beginnings: Moving Together''. It likely appears on the documentary ''The World According to Sesame Street'' as well.
* It also appears on several Canadian ''Caillou'' DVDs from this time such as ''Caillou The Builder'' and ''Caillou The Brave''.
* After the label transitioned off to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, it made a later appearance on the reissue of ''Holly Hobbie & Friends: Secret Adventures''.
 
Line 165 ⟶ 145:
File:Sony Wonder 2009 logo RARE.png
</gallery>
{{YouTube|id=6DQOQOlz4JI}}
 
'''Visuals:''' On a blue-and-pink, lighted environment background filled with with auras and bubbles (likely a stock image), the text "'''{{Font|Helvetica|Sony wonder}}'''" in a bold white Helvetica font is in the near center of the screen.
'''Nicknames:''' "The Generic Background", "The Text of Laziness" "In-Credit Sony Wonder" "Cheapy Wonder II"
 
'''Logo:''' On a lighted environment background (similar to the website at the time), we see white words that spell "Sony wonder", in the same plain, bold font like the print logo at the time (with a black drop-shadow at the right) on the center of the screen.
 
'''Technique:''' Fading effects.
'''FX/SFX:''' None, except the fade in and out.
 
'''Music/SoundsAudio:''' None.
 
'''Availability:''' Extremely rare. It was only seen on ''Playmobil: The Secret of Pirate Island''.
 
{{Chronology|[[Sony Kids' Video]]}}
{{Navbox-Sony}}{{Animation-Navbox}}
[[Category:Logos with content warnings for flashing images]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:American home entertainment logos]]
Line 185 ⟶ 166:
[[Category:Sony Pictures Entertainment]]
[[Category:Sony Corporation]]
[[Category:Logos with music by Guy Moon]]
[[Category:English-language logos]]

Latest revision as of 18:51, 26 October 2024


Credits
Descriptions by
Logoboy95 and others

Captures by
Logoboy95 and others

Editions by
Shadeed A. Kelly, KirbyGuy2001, Michael Kenchington and others

Video captures courtesy of
FanCentralNetwork, statefairshows, Luke2505, originalsboy11, and LogosForTheWin


Background

Sony Wonder was the children's music and home video arm of Sony Music Entertainment, originally formed in 1992 as "Sony Kids' Music/Video". In 1993, Sony Wonder began distributing Nickelodeon videos until 1996, when their license with Nickelodeon expired. In 1995, the company began distributing Kidsongs video releases after acquiring the rights from KidVision until 1998, and Sesame Workshop releases from 1995 to 2007, as well as Arthur videos from 2000 to 2006. By 1997, they distributed videos from Golden Books Family Entertainment, which became Classic Media in 2002.

Sony Wonder also had a TV division, which produced and distributed TV shows. This division of the company purchased Sunbow Entertainment in 1998, but in October 2000 the company sold their TV division including Sunbow to Germany's TV-Loonland AG.

On March 13, 2007, Sony BMG Music Entertainment announced they would shut down Sony Wonder so that they can focus on their central music businesses; it would be moved to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment as an in-name-only division on June 20, 2007. The company was completely merged into SPHE in 2020, and a majority of its kids' content is now handled by Sony Pictures Animation and Sony Pictures Television Kids. The releases by Classic Media (now part of NBCUniversal) and Sesame Workshop were then transferred to Genius Products. From 2010 to 2018, Sesame Street DVDs were distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, and since late 2018, they have been released by Shout! Factory Kids.


Contents

1st Logo (July 1993-April 11, 1995) 2nd Logo (April 18, 1995-2007; February 25, 2014-September 19, 2023) 3rd Logo (November 14, 2006-August 28, 2007) 4th Logo (October 13, 2009)


1st Logo (July 1993-April 11, 1995)


Visuals: On a pale blue background, a dark blue Sony logo is seen slightly above the center. At the same time, a teal box falls from the top to the bottom-middle of the screen, squeezing in as it does so. Once it hits the bottom, it bounces back up, spreading itself out, and stops below "SONY", revealing the word "WONDER" in the AR Hermann font.

Variants:

  • In some cases with the credits of See How They Grow, the logo is still and just fades in and out.
  • On the 1994 VHS release of Jim Lee's Wild C.A.T.S. Cry of the Coda, the still logo is seen with the words "ALSO AVAILABLE FROM" above it in the same color as the Sony logo. This is after the initial logo's sequence ends.

Technique: Computer graphics.

Audio: Either the opening/closing theme of the program or silence.

Audio Variant: For the "ALSO AVAILABLE FROM" variant, an announcer says "Also available from Sony Wonder."

Availability:

  • It can be seen on pre-1995 Nickelodeon tapes from the era, one of which is Ren and Stimpy: Incredibly Stupid Stories.
  • The later Nickelodeon tapes (the ones under "Nickelodeon Video") have the next logo.
  • It also appears on VHS tapes of A Bunch of Munsch, Dog City, Wild C.A.T.S., Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, and Tales from the Cryptkeeper, respectively.

2nd Logo (April 18, 1995-2007; February 25, 2014-September 19, 2023)

Visuals: On a cloudy time-lapse background, playing backwards with the sun glowing behind it, the word "WONDER" (in the same "AR Hermann" font, but puffier and more simplified), in a purple ribbon, flies from the top-right to the bottom of the screen, turning magenta in the process. The ribbon then turns blue when stopping at the near center, and a CGI yellow sun appears in place of the "O" in "WONDER" (and directly in front of the background's sun) via a light effect. The Sony logo fades in at the top of the ribbon as the CGI sun's rays wiggle.

Variants:

  • An early version of this logo mostly exists on Nickelodeon tapes such as Rocko's Modern Christmas, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters: Monsters Night Out, and Ren & Stimpy: Nothing But Shorts. The light effect barely moves and is much brighter, and the sun is a much yellower golden. The background itself is also darker.
    • On Side A of the 1995 The Ren and Stimpy Show: The Essential Collection - Classics I & II LaserDisc, the logo is in a higher quality and the sun is more orange.
    • On Big Bird Sings, there are no fades at the beginning or end of the logo.
  • The color of the CGI yellow sun in "WONDER" can vary.
    • On nearly all Sony Wonder releases, the CGI sun is in golden-yellow.
    • On many Sesame Street VHS releases from late 1996-early 1998, such as Sing Yourself Sillier At the Movies and Kids' Guide to Life: Telling the Truth, the CGI sun is in orange-yellow orange.
    • On early 1996 Sesame Street VHS releases such as Elmocize and Rock & Roll, the logo appears brighter, making the CGI sun appear in a white-tinted color.
  • Three short versions exist:
    • One that starts at the beginning of the ribbon's animation (seen on A Rugrats Passover).
    • One where the logo is already formed (mainly on trailers, but can be seen on some tapes and DVDs, alongside television shows).
      • On the Greek release of Rainbow Fish, the already-formed logo has its animation stop near the end of its runtime.
    • One that starts where the ribbon stops in the center (seen on CINAR shows like Caillou and Zoboomafoo, alongside shows like Mega Babies and the third season of The Kidsongs Television Show).
  • For Kidsongs VHS releases, the transition choice is either fade-then-cut or the other way around, depending on whether this logo plays before or after the 3rd TAP logo.
  • On trailers for Sesame Street VHS tapes and cassettes, the logo is already formed with only the clouds in the background moving. The Sesame Street Video and Audio trailer, however, has it in lower quality and, in one of the shots, is lazily overlaid on top of a CRT television.
  • On a Brazilian Enchanted Tales advertisement, the advertised VHS tapes are in front of a still of the logo's background (from the beginning of the logo). Once the tapes fade out, the background fades to a warp-speed version of the logo.
  • On the 1999 VHS of Little Witch, an SME copyright notice (in the Impact font) can be seen after the logo fades out.
  • On Generation O!, the "www.generationO.com" URL appears underneath the logo. The logo was either fullscreen or boxed inside the credits.
  • On widescreen Classic Media DVD releases, the logo is centered on a light blue background, and is "blended" into it in the cheapest way possible.
  • Starting in 2014, with The Swan Princess: A Royal Family Tale, the logo was redone in widescreen. It's a still image, sporting a different cloud background and a slightly different Sony logo.

Technique: CGI with some live-action footage.

Audio: When the logo starts, a riveting string note is held out, and when the ribbon appears, descending harp notes play in-sync with the ribbon. As the ribbon is in its position with the sun appearing, a brief flute melody plays in D major, and when the Sony logo appears, everything rises to a majestic note in B♭ major complete with tubular bells that slowly stops once the logo fades; this is all synthesized. Guy Moon composed the entirely-synthesized music, with some samples produced on the E-mu Proteus 2 Orchestral digital synthesizer.

Audio Variants:

  • For the early version of the logo, some of the instruments are much quieter. This variant only lasted for a few months, as Tales from the Whoop: Hot Rod Brown, Class Clown, released on August 8, 1995, was the first known VHS to use the normal music.
  • On Canadian releases, an announcer will say "Look for these great products now available from Sony Wonder."
  • On Brazilian releases, a different announcer says "Sony Wonder apresentar."
  • For certain Sesame Street VHS tapes, an echo/reverb effect is added. Same goes for the CTW "Sparks" logo following it.
  • On TV shows, only the last half of the tune plays.
    • In some cases, like certain episodes of Fat Dog Mendoza, the music starts a little late.
    • For Generation O!, the music fades out faster than usual.
  • At the end of the Sesame Street Video and Audio trailer, the theme starts near the harp, making it off-sync to the logo's animation.
  • In some cases, it's either the advertisement music or opening/ending theme of a show/feature.
  • At the end of Timothy Tweedle, the logo's music starts late, due to its music and the Balmur Entertainment music being swapped. However, inside the movie's contents contains a version with the logo order fixed.
  • On the 2003 DVD releases of Zoe's Dance Moves and Elmo's World: The Great Outdoors, a whoosh panning from the right to the left can be heard during the ribbon's movement, along with a twinkle during the bells. The VHS releases didn't have this, as they used the normal music.
  • On The Swan Princess: A Fairy Tale is Born, the logo is silent.

Availability:

  • It can be seen on many Sony Wonder VHS and DVD releases from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s, along with TV shows as well.
  • VHS and DVD releases that can feature this include Sesame Street videos, later Arthur releases, and specials from Golden Books Family Entertainment/Classic Media (though on VHS tapes, it mainly appeared at the end).
  • Some of the last releases to use this logo were the 2006 VHS releases of Sesame Street: Guess That Shape And Color, Elmo's Potty Time, and Elmo's World: Reach for the Sky!, respectively.
  • The "blended" widescreen variant can be found on the DVD release of The Legend of Frosty the Snowman (the 2005 special) and the 2006 Here Comes Peter Cottontail: The Movie DVD, respectively.
  • The short version was seen on international TV airings of Generation O! years ago, as well as the third season of The Kidsongs Television Show.
    • It is also seen on the Mega Babies, Fat Dog Mendoza, Hoyt'n Andy's Sportsbender, as well as Canadian releases of CINAR shows like Caillou and Zoboomafoo. It also appears on Tubi's print of Santa Mouse and the Ratdeer.
  • It also made appearances on the Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's releases of three of the four Holly Hobbie And Friends specials - Surprise Party, "Christmas Wishes" and "Best Friends Forever" - released after Sony Wonder transitioned to SPHE.
    • The third special - "Secret Adventures" - uses the next logo.
  • The logo returned in 2014 with the CGI Swan Princess films beginning with A Royal Family Tale and ending with Far Longer than Forever (Christmas has the Stage 6 Films logo instead). This version of the logo also appeared on Honey Girls.
  • It also appears on several UK VHS releases from Maverick Entertainment, such as the 2001 UK VHS release of Transformers: The Movie Special Collector's Edition as well.

Legacy: A nostalgic logo for those that grew up with it, though it gained some notoriety for the unofficial low-quality "edits" on YouTube.

3rd Logo (November 14, 2006-August 28, 2007)



Visuals: On a white background, a crudely drawn gold circle zooms in incredibly close to the screen, then pans back, followed by rapid flashing. Several lines appear across the circle, turning it into a sun (same design as the previous logo, but slightly redrawn and with ten rays instead of nine), then spin around. The rays blur, then are re-drawn. The sun bounces to the middle of the screen, where the text "SONY", in its corporate font, slides in from the left and bumps the logo. "WONDER", also in the Sony logo font, then slides in from the right and makes the logo positioned correctly. The sun rays spin around one more time and stop. Their website URL (in grey) then fades in under "WONDER."

The entire time, the rays wiggle around (a la the Tom Snyder Productions logo and the animation style of the Cartoon Network series, Ed, Edd, 'n Eddy).

Technique: Computer animation commissioned by Bemis Balkind.

Audio: A quick jet zooming sound, then multiple xylophone notes and a "TWING!" as the circular sun zooms back. As the sun spins around, several drum taps play out to represent a wheel spinning, then three bouncing sounds. Two "dwong" sounds are heard as the Sony Wonder logo is finally formed, followed by an ascending twinkle.

Availability: This logo was rather short-lived.

  • It appears on these Sesame Street releases: A Sesame Street Christmas Carol, Elmo's World: What Makes You Happy? and Sesame Beginnings: Moving Together.
  • It also likely appears on the documentary The World According to Sesame Street as well.
  • It also appears on several Canadian Caillou DVD releases from this time such as Caillou The Builder and Caillou The Brave.
  • After the label transitioned off to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, it made a later appearance on the reissue of Holly Hobbie & Friends: Secret Adventures.

4th Logo (October 13, 2009)


Visuals: On a blue-and-pink, lighted environment background filled with with auras and bubbles (likely a stock image), the text "Sony wonder" in a bold white Helvetica font is in the near center of the screen.

Technique: Fading effects.

Audio: None.

Availability: It was only seen on Playmobil: The Secret of Pirate Island.

◄ Sony Kids' Video
Sony Wonder
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