Universal Animation Studios

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


Background

In 2005, Universal Cartoon Studios was renamed to Universal Animation Studios.

Logo (February 10, 2006-March 17, 2022)


Visuals: The first element shown is a more animated version of the "UNIVERSAL" text revolving around the earth as it appears from the blackness to view from the left side (unlike the right side in the movie counterpart's logo), causing the globe to shine and the glow to appear behind it. The text shines once while it revolves. However, it continues to revolve after the fanfare is over, and the globe and the text gets squeezed so tight that the glow behind the globe disappears and the "UNIVERSAL" text spins around the earth at a fast pace. When it stops spinning, the globe is colored even more vividly and the "UNIVERSAL" text is now white with an orange border. Then, "ANIMATION STUDIOS", in orange, appears traveling from behind the globe letter-by-letter, making a stop under the logo. Then, a comet comes from the top-right side and travels around the earth, causing the glow to appear again behind the globe. The globe shines.

Variants:

  • On Curious George (the 2006 film), the logo is brighter. Also, the text (and the outlines on it) is in lime green. It's likely an early variant.
  • On The Land Before Time TV series (including DVD releases), the shorter variant starts with the logo already formed, and the comet going around the earth is intact.
  • On Curious George (the TV series), a still artwork version of the logo is seen.

Technique: CGI produced by Riverstreet Productions and animated by Blur Studio.

Audio: At the start, it has the last part of the 1997 Universal Pictures logo theme by Jerry Goldsmith, then some squeezing sounds and whooshes as the globe spins around. When the globe becomes animated, there is a muted trumpet note, four synth notes (each with a "wah" effect), and a majestic bell tune with a big whoosh noise as the comet flies by that ends with a choir. It was composed by Gregory Smith and Made Music Studio.

Audio Variants:

  • On Curious George (the 2006 film), there is an additional sound for the "ANIMATION STUDIOS" text running in (a woodblock being struck multiple times) and George (voice provided by Frank Welker) is heard chattering at the end after the music finishes.
  • In other cases, it uses the closing theme of any show.
  • On The Land Before Time: The Great Day of the Flyers, the sound effects are different. Also, it has the instrumental version of "Flip, Flap and Fly" ending over it.

Availability: It first appeared at the end of Curious George (the 2006 film) and also appears on its direct-to-video/streaming sequels - Follow that Monkey!, Back to the Jungle, Royal Monkey, Go West, Go Wild and Cape Ahoy.

  • It also appears at the end of The Land Before Time sequels - The Great Day of the Flyers, The Wisdom of Friends, and Journey of the Brave.
  • The short version appeared on the short-lived The Land Before Time TV series on Cartoon Network, and is also still intact on DVD releases of the show as well as reruns on Universal Kids.
  • The still artwork version appears on the 2006 Curious George TV series on PBS and last seen on the show's final episode, entitled "Sloth / Saved by the Bells".
    • It is also intact on DVD releases of said show.
  • Despite the fact that Universal debuted their current logo in 2012 (and eventually this division in 2021), the existing animated version continued to be used throughout the 2010s and into the 2020s, with its most recent appearance being on the aforementioned Curious George: Cape Ahoy. It is currently unknown when it will appear again as it has probably been replaced by the Universal 1440 Entertainment logo.
  • Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You, Bobbleheads: The Movie, Woody Woodpecker and its sequel Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp, Dinosaur Train: Adventure Island and Ready Jet Go: Space Camp do not use this logo, even though this company was mentioned in the copyright info in the ending credits for the former two; Universal Animation Studios had no involvement with the latter three films.
Universal Cartoon Studios
Universal Animation Studios
Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.