PBS Kids/Summary

NOTE: This is a work in progress.

Background: PBS Kids is a programming block and serves as the brand for most of the children's programming aired by the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the United States, established as part of PBS' "Ready To Learn" Initiative. The block was launched as PTV on September 10, 1993 to repackage PBS' existing children's programming, which at the time included Barney & Friends and Sesame Street, among several other shows. The PTV brand was retired on September 5, 1999 and has been officially known as PBS Kids since September 6, 1999. The PBS Kids Channel was launched at the time time as the PBS Kids block and ran for six years and was largely funded by satellite TV provider DirecTV. The channel was shut down on September 26, 2005 and was replaced by PBS Kids Sprout, which was developed in partnership with Comcast Corporation (who later bought full control of the network via NBCUniversal). However, another PBS Kids Channel is expected to launch in late 2016.

=== 1st Logo (September 10, 1993-September 5, 1999) ===

Nicknames: "Dot and Dash III", "PBS Kids Girl III", "PBS Kids Boy III", "Doink! PBS Kids III"

Logo: The 1st ident of the set is Dash, the boy, who is seen ice-skating. Suddenly he feels the ground shake and he stops. Then, the camera pans out to reveal that he is in a snow globe, which is held by Dot, with completely different powder blue colored skin, who giggles, "Doink!" Snowflakes are seen during the circular PBS Kids logo. The 2nd one shows Dash looking in his fish bowl to find himself as an orange fish. After a second, he gets swallowed by Dot as a green fish and the circular PBS Kids logo is shown. There are bubbles in this background.

Trivia: This logo was animated at Primal Screen.

FX/SFX: Dash ice-skating, the zoom out, the snowflakes on the snow globe bumper. Dash looking in his fish bowl, the bubbles, the fish on the fish bumper.

Music/Sounds: A whimsical 6-note vibraphone tune for the snow variant and no music for the fish variant. The fish variant has some bubbling sounds followed by a boy scatting the 1999 jingle circle-lipped, as if to imitate a fish. Both end with what you hear above.

Availability: Seen on 2002-2008 prints of PBS Kids programming. Like before, the second ident appears on a few Arthur DVDs by Sony Wonder (such as Arthur's Tooth).

Scare Factor: Same as 4th logo.

===6th logo (November 25, 2005)===

Logo: Dot and Dash do a certain activity before the PBS Kids logo is shown (or not at all).

Dots

Sports

Sandcastle

Bugs

FX/ Depends

Music/Sounds: The audio from the 1999 PBS Kids Dot logo, or a short ditty.

Availability: Seen on the PBS Kids Big Big Friend Day special.

Scare Factor Same as 4th logo.

===7th logo (September 4, 2006)===

Logo: It's just a strange object before the PBS Kids logo is shown.

Music/Sounds. The audio from the 4th logo in a lower pitch, with no kids.

Availability. Seen on the PBS Kids Preschool Block.

===8th Logo (September 1, 2008-October 7, 2013)===

Nicknames: "Dot and Dash IV", "PBS Kids Girl IV", "PBS Kids Boy IV", "Doink! PBS Kids IV"

Logo: The logo shows Dot and Dash doing a certain activity, before the PBS Kids circular logo is shown.

Variants: Here are some of the variations of the activities included:
 * Telescopes
 * Fireflies
 * Rock climbing
 * Picnics
 * Gardens
 * Magnets
 * Fireworks
 * Swimming
 * Ants
 * Daffodil
 * Balloon
 * Sandbox
 * Camera
 * Carrots
 * There are also two rare Valentine's Day variants used in 2009. Dash's version has him blowing up a pink balloon and Dot's version has her receiving Valentine's cards in the mailbox. Both versions end with the PBS Kids circle logo on a hot magenta/cerise-textured BG while hearts are cascading in the BG.

Trivia: This logo was designed and animated at Primal Screen, who also did the previous logo.

FX/SFX: A mix of 2-D and cut-out animation.

Music/Sounds: The 2nd ident's jingle once again, but without the kids chanting at the end. Often a single kid simply says "PBS Kids." The musical instruments these variants are played with vary depending on the activity, exactly like the 9th PBS Ident. The VD variants however have totally different music, ending with a group of kids yelling "Happy Valentine's Day!", then a single kid says "From PBS Kids."
 * Sandbox has a bassoon, vibraphone, synth-organ and a tuba.
 * Daffodil has a vibraphone and tuba.
 * Fireflies has a synth-bassoon.
 * Camera has a slit drum and marimba.
 * Fireworks has a hang, timpani, snare drum and bass violin.
 * Carrots has a synth-organ.
 * Sheep has a banjo.
 * Balloon has a mandobass and percussion.
 * Dash's Valentine's Day variant has a jazzy bass violin pizzicato tune with drums beating. Dot's VD variant has a South American-style folk dance tune with conga drums, piano and acoustic guitar.

Availability: Currently used on 2008-2013 prints PBS Kids programming. This logo first aired on Sid The Science Kid.

Scare Factor: Same as 4th logo.

===9th Logo (October 7, 2013- )===

Nicknames: "Dot, Dee, and Del", ""PBS Kids Boy V", "Doink! PBS Kids V"

Logo: In the same purpose as the 6th logo, the logo shows Dot, Dee, and Del doing a certain activity, before the PBS Kids circular logo is shown. Also, Dash's PBS Kids logo is seen on every variation, meaning that the Dot version is retired.

Variants: Here are some of the variations of the activities included:
 * Zipline
 * Beehive
 * Forest Run
 * Magnet
 * Moonwalk
 * Ping Pong
 * Power of 10
 * Cave
 * Band Parade
 * Trampoline
 * Yo-yo
 * Lemonade
 * France
 * Bubbles
 * Rockstar
 * Piano
 * Frisbee

Trivia: This logo was designed and animated at Primal Screen, who also did the previous two logos.

FX/SFX: 2D flat animation that is quite similar to the 2nd logo.

Music/Sounds: The music from the 2nd logo is used again, but without the kids chanting or the kid saying "PBS Kids" at the end. Like the previous logo, the musical instruments these variants are played with vary depending on the activity, exactly like the 9th PBS Ident. Also, the 2nd logo's theme can be heard in different pitches.

Availability: Currently used on PBS Kids programming. First aired on Peg+Cat.

Scare Factor: Absolutely none. These idents are too cute and humorous to be considered scary.