Playskool Films

Background: This timeline focuseson one question: What if ABC For Kids Never Existed?

Originally established in1953 as "The Playskool Company"(renamed simply "Playskool" in 1999), The Playskool Company established hits such as Playschool,butnever used a proper logo until 1998. Instead it used an in-credit text on most of its films. In 1996,the company was described as "Playskool Films" with the establishment of its own movie and TV arm, and the Eight Network text was modified to "Distributed by EIGHT NETWORK FILM DISTRIBUTION" and moved to the end credits. Playskool retired the Eight Network brand in 2016 aside from itshome videodistributionarm.

1st Logo

(July 8, 1966-June 21, 1998)

Logo:This is not really a logo, only an in-credit text.At the start of the film/episode, we see the words "Playskool Presents" or"Playskool Enterprises Presents". At the end of the film, we see "The End, A Playskool Production" or"The End, Playskool Enterprises".

Variants:

On the early episodes ofPlayschool(the first time this logo was used), the text reads "A Playskool FEATURE Production". The end title has the ABC logo in the background with the words "A Playskool FEATURE Presentation".

From 1995 to 1998, the studio's theatrical product under the Playskool name had simply "Playskool Films" at the end of the credits. No "the end", as the practice of using these two words at the closing of TV and movies had pretty much ceased by now.

On some episodes of Pingu, the text reads as "British Broadcasting Corporation and Playskool Films present", as both films were distributed in Britain by the BBC and internationally by Playskool.

On some shows, the episodes' title is seen on the end title.

Sometimes, only "The End" is seen. Some examples are episodes of Sesame Street from the 70s.

Some episodes ofMr Mendoes not have the "A Playskool Production" text at the end title.

"The End" was absent on some 80s content.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: Usually the opening and closing themes of the episode.

Availability: Still saved on classic Playskool kids shows of the era.

Editor's Note: Will evoke fond memories of Playskool and their classic content, and the days of old-fashioned opening credits and "THE END" notices.

2nd Logo (30th Anniversary)

(1986)

Nickname: "30 Happy Years"

Logo: On a red background we see the number "30" zooming in. "HAPPY" and "YEARS" follow. Clips of Sesame Street, Playschool, and many other shows aired are played. The 1974 Eight Networklogo would follow.

FX/SFX: Everything

Music/Sounds: An instrumental of the Playschool theme. An announcer (Dick Wesson) says "And now, a 30th anniversary presentation from Playskool Films!".

Availability: Extremely rare.

Editor's Note: TBA

3rd Logo

(October 7, 1996-December 25, 2007)

Logo: Again, just text reading "PLAYSKOOL FILMS", but applied differently depending on the movie:

Variants:

Barney's Great Adventurefeatures the "PlaySkool" script logo ingreen, on a space-like background (and is the first to do so).

The Wiggles Moviehas the text in abluerectangular box with awhiteoutline around it.

Piglet's Big Moviehas the word "Presents" fades below the logo.

On a black background, the words '' PLAYSKOOL FILMS" inblue,or orange,or white,is seen.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The beginning of the movie's theme. OnA Far Off PlaceandThe Three Musketeers, it's silent.

Availability: Again, on some Disney movies from the era. This logo was most often used on direct to DVD or cinema films, often to denote more serious fare. Sometimes preceded or plastered by the 1998 logo. The logo, however, came back in 2000 on trailers.

Editor's Note: This tends to be regarded as overtly simple and plain for a Disney logo.

4th Logo

(April 3, 1998-December 12, 2015)

Logo: On a waterbackdrop, the camera pans to the sky as a shower of light passes from the left to the right, forming a Playschool house. A fingers then touches the sky and forms a ripple effect, which then extends out to form the words "PLAYSKOOL" in the P22 Daddy Ohip font. The word "FILMS", in a Wiglet font, fades in underneath. The words glow.

Trivia:

The font used is based on the Wiggles.

The house seen in this logo was later used by the company in July 1998 to promote the company's 30th anniversary.

Although in 2000, Playskool switched its newer animated movies from stop-motion to CGI, this logo was still animated using stop-motion until at least the middle of 2014, even though two digitally-animated versions of this logo debuted in 2003 and 2009 respectively.

Variants:

Some prints ofAnthony's Friendshow the house in pure white. Some versions of the 1998-2000 variant show the house in alight blue/white gradient.

The size of the logo may vary.

From 1998 until 2014, the logo is filmed and made with traditional stop-motion animation, while from 2004 until 2015, the logo is videotaped and made with CGI.

There is a variation used from 2003 until 2015 in which the light forming the house and the glow are a little transparent, the flash forming the word "PLAYSKOOL" is a little brighter, and the word "FILMS" fades in more quicker.

Prior to 2000, the glow happens longer. Also there is a pause after the initial glow before the shower of light descends, and the flash from the house door starts immediately after the house has been formed.

There is a variation of this logo where the animation is slow and choppy, and the "shower of light" is not as apparent (it looks more like somebody sliding a sheet ofbluepaper down to form the house logo). A smoother version of this variant debuted in 2000.

When classic Playskool content was re-released in the 2000s, the text"RESTORED IN HIGH DEFINITION", in the font used for "FILMS", is shown before the logo.

FX/SFX: The "glowing castle", the "flash", and the drawing of the line.

Music/Sounds: An instrumental of the Playschool theme played with an acousticguitar.

Availability: Was very common in the past, as it was used for 17 years, but is now uncommon, bordering on rare, as many recent prints (both TV and home media) have plastered this with the 2015 logo.

The first film to use this wasBarney's Great Adventure, and this logo has been put in front of almost every subsequent Playskool film and TV show until the logo's retirement on current releases in late 2015. The first TV episode to use this logo was Anthony's Friend.

The 2000 "filmed" version of this logo was first seen on season 2 ofDora the Explorerand made its final appearance on Season 2 of Ready, Steady, Wiggle!.

The 2003 "videotaped" version first appeared (full version) on the earliest episodes ofJakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks, which began airing in September 7, 2003, and made its final TV appearance at the end of the first episode ofWishenpoof!, aired on August 15, 2015.

Editor's Note: Probably the most beloved Playskool logo, due to its longevity and appearing at the front of the studio's classic content

5th Logo

(April 15, 2000)

Logo: On a very shadycadet bluebackground, we see "PlaySkool" write itself. "FILMS" appears under as the logo shines.

FX/SFX: Typical 2000 animation.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Only known to appear at the end of some episodes of the Wiggles Season 2. Also seen on a Animated spot for said film.

Editor's Note:TBA

6th Logo

(November 19, 2004-June 29, 2016)

Logo: On abluebackground, the camera flies out underneath a 3D CGIhouse. When the logo zooms out, the logo proceeds as normal, but the "PlaySkool" text is more three-dimensional, and the glow looks more realistic. Along with that, the glow is much slower than the 4th logo.

Trivia: This is pretty much a CGI remake of the 1999 logo, although the way the house appears is much different.

TBA!