PTAS, Inc.

Background: Palm Tree Animation Studios was founded in Seattle, Washington, USA in 1976 by animator/director Elvin Right, film producer/voice actor Jack Williams, and screenwriter Joe Matthews. It was popular for making animated motion pictures and TV shows in the 1980s and 1990s. Their first motion picture was My Favorite Dragon (September 1978), distributed by Great Structure. They also made many films in from the early 1980s to the early 2000s including their most successful films Dragons vs Aliens (1985) and How to Train Your Reindeer (1986), distributed by Empire Pictures. Arlene and Gabor worked at this company in the mid-1980s. In 1994, the company was renamed PTAS, Inc. At one point in the mid-1990s, the company failed to purchase Euclid Pictures Inc. From 2006 until 2009, PTAS, Inc. reverted to its original name. Today, the studio is working on the films Rayboy 3D (Summer 2013), and Rayboy Origins (2013), and the TV series Cutedolls (2009-), which is produced in association with Frozen-Bat Animation. They also made their first computer-animated TV series Smart Invaders (2012-), which will be produced in association with Gaupire Film Company. In 2016, the studio plans on celebrating it's 40th anniversary with a newer logo..

1st Logo

(1978-1982, 1985)

Logo: This is not really a logo, only an in-credit disclaimer. We see:

produced at

PALM TREE

ANIMATION STUDIOS

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The film/TV show's closing theme.

Availability: Seen on My Favorite Dragon (September 1978), Tackis' Island (Summer 1979), and The Disco Dragon (1981) and TV shows produced by the company at the time. This was last seen on the unaired pilot episode of The Tackis Show from 1986, which is included as a bonus feature on the Season 1 DVD box set of the said show. The logo is hard to find on syndicated prints of Tackis' Island, because it has newer credits with the next logo.

Scare Factor: None.

2nd Logo

(1982-1989)

Logo: On a blue gradient background, we see a black line. Suddenly, we zoom out from the line, revealing it to be a model of the Palm Tree. The words "PALM TREE ANIMATION STUDIOS" in the Constantia font fade in on the bottom.

FX/SFX: All the animation in this logo.

Variants:

On Dragons vs Aliens (1985), the logo takes place in outer space.

On Palm Tree's TV shows from the era, the logo is fullscreen and the text reads "PALM TREE".

On syndicated prints of Tackis' Island, the logo is shortened.

On Tackis Goes To Africa, the logo's text reads "SPACE NEEDLE" and underneath reads "Presents" in a script font.

Music/Sounds: An early 80s synthesizer theme that sounds like an extended and messed-up version of the 1981 Queen Features Entertainment logo's music.

Availability: First seen after the end credits of Planet of the Dragons (1982). Also seen on the films Tackis in Outer Space (1984), Dragons vs Aliens (1985), Tackis Goes To Africa (1986), How to Train Your Reindeer (1986), Deadly Monsters (1987), Tackis' Island II (1988), Robot Dragons & Aliens (1988), and J.O.E's Big Movie (1989). This was also seen on the TV series The Tackis Show (1986-1989). On current prints of the Puyo Puyo comedy films The Mansion of Yu and Rei and Amitie in Crazy Planet, this logo is plastered over by the 1999 Tagosy Media logo.

Scare Factor: Low, the music may get to some.

3rd Logo

(October 1988-1994, 1994-1995, March 1997, June 2012)

Logo: Same as the 1982 logo, but the Palm Tree is remade in CGI.

Variants:

On Palm Tree's TV shows from 1989 to 1992, the logo is fullscreen and the text reads "PALM TREE".

On Night of the Ghosts, ghosts fly out of the Palm Tree, segueing to the opening credits of the movie.

On Tackis' Dragon Christmas Movie, the Palm Tree is decorated for Christmas. Also, it's snowing in the logo.

From 1994 until 1995, triangles were added to the background, the Palm Tree shines, and the text reads "PTAS, INC.".

FX/SFX: All the animation in this logo.

Music/Sounds: Same as the 1982 logo.

Availability: First seen on the TV special Mutant Halloween from Outer Space (October 1988). Also seen on Tackis' Island III (1989), Azzy's Big Adventure (1990), One Bee Flew Over the Spider's Web (1990), Night of the Ghosts (1991), Fish & Octopus: The Movie (1992), Tackis' Monster Christmas Movie (1992), Jake the Dragon (1993), and Tackis Goes to Hollywood (Summer 1994). This was also seen on TV shows from 1994 to 1995. It was also seen on the new film The '90s Are Everything: The Movie.

Scare Factor: Low to Medium.

4th Logo

(1992-1995)

Nickname: "Seattle Skyline", "Laser Seattle Skyline", "The Nightly Night Parody"

Logo: Same as the Nightly Night Productions logo, with "Palm Tree Animation Studios" replacing "Nighty Night Productions"

Variants:

From 1994 until 1995, the text reads "PTAS, INC.".

FX/SFX: Same as the Nightly Night Logo.

Music/Sounds: TBA.

Availability: Seen only on The New Tackis Show (1992-1994 episodes), Fish & Octopus (1992-1997, 1992-1995 episodes only), and The Danny & Johnny Hour (1992-1994).

Scare Factor: Low to Medium.

5th Logo

(1994-1995)

Logo: On a black background, we see a dark blue silhouette of the Palm Tree. The company's name in the Smack font zooms in fast.

Variants:

On Dorothie and the Magic Reindeer Egg, the Palm Tree is on fire.

There was a rare variant of this logo where it strangely was silent and all it said was PTAS. This variant was only seen on the last episode of The New Tackis Show (September 1994).

Trivia: This logo was remade for the video game Tackis in Outer Space (1995, SDES and Rega Genesis).

FX/SFX: The zooming.

Music/Sounds: A loud bang when the company's name zooms in.

Availability: Rare; seen after the closing credits of some movies such as Dorothie and the Magic Reindeer Egg (1994) and Tackis in Outer Space (1984, theatrical re-release in 1995). This was also seen on the last episode of The New Tackis Show (September 1994), the only TV show to use this logo.

Scare Factor: Medium to High because of the scary font and the loud bang. High to NIGHTMARE for the Drakey and the Magic Dragon Egg variant. None for the last episode of The New Ickis Show variant, though you might think of the loud bang.

6th Logo

(1995-1998, April 21, 2000, August 10, 2001)

Nickname: "The TGI Pictures Parody"

Logo: Same as the 1990s TGI Pictures logo, but the radio tree is replaced by the Palm Tree, and lightning bolts and soundwaves come from the top of it.

Trivia:

The Crose code heard in this logo transmitted this message: PALM TREE

On the short version of this logo, the Crose code transmitted: PTAS

Variants:

On early releases that used this logo, the text "PALM TREE ANIMATION STUDIOS" appears below the Palm Tree.

On the trailer for AAAHH!!! Real Dragons: The Movie, the background is black and the Palm Tree gets struck by lightning.

Starting on January 1997, the sky background was different.

FX/SFX: Mid-1990s CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: A series of Crose code beeps, accompanied by an Eurodance version of the 1982 logo's music. Sometimes, there is a voiceover saying "This is a PTAS presentation."

Availability: Common. This logo was seen on most PTAS releases from 1995 to 1998, including the 1998 theatrical re-release of the My Favorite Dragon (1978). This logo was also seen on 1995-1997 episodes of Fish & Octopus, in which the logo appears both in-credit and as a closing logo.

Scare Factor: Minimal.

7th Logo

(1998-2002)

Logo: Same as the 1975-1976 Artist Entertainment logo, but the text is pink. Also, the Transjapan byline is removed, the text reads "PTAS, INC." in the Balloon font, the text zooms out and the Palm Tree zooms in.

FX/SFX: 1976-style animation.

Music/Sounds: TBA.

Availability: Common. Also seen on some episodes of Star Goofs (1997-2005).

Scare Factor: None.

8th Logo

(2002-2006)

Logo: Same as the 1976 Triangle Shower Films logo, but the falling triangles are replaced by the Palm Tree, and "STAR SHOWER" reads "PTAS, INC.".

FX/SFX: 1980s-style animation.

Music/Sounds: A synthesized fanfare that sounds like an extended, high-pitched, and messed-up version of the 1985 Silver Book Video logo's music (first version), accompanied by a whoosh and some jingling sounds.

Availability: Common.

Scare Factor: None.

9th Logo

(2006-2009)

Logo: Same as the 1972 CBP Features logo, but the background is black-purple gradient, the girls are replaced by the Palm Tree, "CBP FEATURES" reads "Palm Tree" in a golden ITC Blaze font, and the Hesker Communications byline reads "ANIMATION STUDIOS" in orange and in the ITC Korinna font.

FX/SFX: 1980s-style animation.

Music/Sounds: It sounds like a synthesized peaceful, yet majestic tune.

Availability: Common.

Scare Factor: None.

10th Logo

(2009-2012, December 2013)

Logo: Same as the 1989 CBS logo, but it is in slow motion. Also, the C-Head is replaced by a dark green Palm Tree and "CBS" reads "PTAS, INC.".

FX/SFX: 90s-style CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: TBA.

Availability: Common.

Scare Factor: None.

11th Logo

(2012-)

Logo: Same as the 2002 Mastermation Animation logo, but it is in slow motion. Also, the white cube forms the Palm Tree, the text is on the right, and the text reads "ptas inc." in the Data 70 font.

FX/SFX: 2000s-style animation.

Music/Sounds: It sounds like an extended version of the 1982 logo's theme.

Availability: Current. Seen on current movies PTAS is making, and is seen on 2012 episodes of Cutedolls (2009-) & Smart Invaders (2012-). It appears both in-credit and as a closing logo. It will be seen on Tackis Wars (2013-), which is produced in association with Euclid Pictures Inc.

Scare Factor: None.