Nelvana/Summary

Background
Nelvana was founded in 1971 in Canada by Michael Hirsh (now in the directory of Frederator Studios), Patrick Loubert and Clive A. Smith to produce and distribute children's animated shows and movies originally. The original specials the company produced (from 1977 to 1980) were distributed by Viacom Enterprises. Until 1985, the company did not have a animated logo separate from the credits at the end of their shows, instead using an in-credit version of its logo. Today, it's a subsidiary of the Canadian media company Corus Entertainment. From now on, Nelvana has all licensed properties on all characters based on original products and books and it's been the longest-living animation studio based in Toronto, Ontario. the company also had an international division to distribute programs and movies internationally.

Trivia
The company's name originally came from a female Canadian comic book superhero from the 1940s named Nelvana of the Northern Lights, but the three decided to use a polar bear instead for a logo in order to avoid confusion.

1st Logo (December 6, 1977-present)
Nickname : "Pre-Polar Bear"

Logo : It's only an in-credit text that reads: "A Nelvana Limited Production". For co-produced shows and TV specials, the name of the company is seen below the Nelvana text.

FX/SFX : None.

Music/Sounds : The closing theme of the show.

Availability : Common. Seen on Nelvana shows and TV specials, starting with A Cosmic Christmas.

Editor's Note : None.

2nd Logo (October 15, 1978-April 2, 1988)
Nicknames : "The Polar Bear"

Logo : On a black background, we see an in-credit version of the Polar Bear looking up at the star, as seen on Nelvana shows from 1985-2004, but without an arch. "NELVANA", "NELVANA LIMITED", or "A NELVANA PRODUCTION" is seen below, sometimes with copyright info below.

FX/SFX : None.

Music/Sounds : Either the beginning or the ending theme of the movie, probably silence, or probably the ending theme of the show.

Availability : Appeared at the beginning or end of Nelvana-produced films from the period, beginning with The Devil and Daniel Mouse. This was also seen on Rock & Rule, The Care Bears Movie, and Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation. Also seen on the Star Wars: Droids cartoon show, the live-action series The Edison Twins, and early 80s prints of Nelvana's early animated TV specials (A Cosmic Christmas didn't feature the logo, nor did the Strawberry Shortcake specials or other co-productions with Those Characters from Cleveland). This was used in tandem with the next logo from 1985 until 1986.

Editor's Note : None.

3rd Logo (September 14, 1985-November 7, 2003)
Nicknames : "The Polar Bear II", "Neon Polar Bear"

Logo : On a black background, a blue  square with a  red   outline and a white  star in the center flies from the top right of the screen, gradually enlarging and turning counterclockwise to fit the screen as the star multiplies into a seven star semicircle outline. The text "NELVANA" appears below the semicircle in red. The star outline shines from left to right, and the pinnacle star sends a shower of light (which starts off neon yellow, but turns neon blue ) down the center of the semicircle. "NELVANA" lights up in orange, and the shower of light unfolds to the left, turning into a neon blue polar bear looking up.

Variants : FX/SFX : The light effects, animated in a beautiful combination of 2D animation and early CG that holds up 30 years later.
 * There are filmed and videotaped versions.
 * The short version, which is more common, starts off with the stars shining and the "shower of light" animation. This plays in warp speed on Eek! the Cat before the compressed or split-screen credits. This is slowed down on some episodes of Babar, The Adventures of Tintin, and Beetlejuice: The Animated Series.
 * A longer version was seen on some theatrical releases of the era, including Babar: The Movie and Care Bears: Adventure in Wonderland. After the logo forms, the polar bear stands on its hind legs for a second before assuming its normal position, then all seven stars disappear. Depending on the film, the background will either be the usual blue (as seen on Babar: The Movie), or black (as seen on Care Bears: Adventure in Wonderland).
 * The 1988 TV special Clifford the Big Red Dog has a rare gradient background variant with the logo rotating on screen from the center. Some episodes of Care Bears have this shortened.
 * Later episodes of T and T had the logo quickly rotating to the left to reveal the Qintex Entertainment logo (current prints as seen on the YTV Direct YouTube channel have this variant plastered by the 6th logo).
 * On Fievel's American Tails, a long version of the logo is shown on the top right corner along with the 1991 Amblin Television logo on the top left and the short 1991-2006 Universal Cartoon Studios logo on the bottom center.
 * On Family Dog, this logo was shown on the left alongside with the 1991 Amblin Television logo on the right (without the switch-off part).
 * On the German dub of the 1993 animated special The Incredible Crash Dummies, this logo was shown on the left alongside the Lamb & Company logo.
 * On some episodes of Blazing Dragons, this logo was shown on the left, alongside with the Ellipse Programme logo on the right.
 * On season 4 episodes of Eek! Stravaganza (episodes with Klutter), this logo is shown in split screen on the left alongside with the 1989-1998 Film Roman logo on the right.
 * The restored HD prints of The Adventures of Tintin seen on the series' foreign Blu-ray release feature a bizarre variant of the "slowed-down" short version; here, the image has been shrunk down to the center of the screen (presumably a side effect of not having the logo's original negatives or tape to restore from and the series' conversion to widescreen).
 * On a promo for The Adventures of Tintin, the logo was shown on the right, alongside with the Ellipse Programme logo on the left. Here, the polar bear and stars are white, and the “NELVANA” text is green.

Music/Sounds : An ascending whoosh and a dramatic synth theme, followed by a thunderclap as "NELVANA" lights up. For most of Nelvana's '90s shows, the end theme played over it, it was silent, or it uses the standard theme.

Music/Sounds Variants :


 * Sometimes, a mystical twinkling sound with a thunderclap played. Seen on original airings of My Pet Monster, as well as international prints of some specials and shows distributed.
 * On Babar: The Movie, a loud whoosh is heard, followed by some dreamy "chime" sounds, then another whoosh.
 * On Care Bears: Adventure in Wonderland, a dreamy synth theme is heard with a whooshing sound & wind chimes.

Availability : Rare to uncommon. Plastering with the 2004 logo has impacted its availability, but it's still easy to find. Seen on The Magic School Bus, and the Nelvana version of the Care Bears. The theatrical version can be seen on the DVD release of Babar: The Movie. Also found on Beetlejuice: The Animated Series, and the pilot episode of Donkey Kong Country, "I Spy With My Hairy Eye". Netflix's prints of The Adventures of Tintin retained it, as well as the 2006 DVD releases; depending on the region, the Blu-Ray release will either feature the normal "slowed-down" variant, or the shrunken-down version.

Editor's Note : This is a favorite of many, especially ones that grew up with children's programming during this time.

Final Note : Most shows had this logo until 1997 (after being used in tandem with the 4th logo below) when they then switched to the next logo. However, even though the logo retired in 1996, Little Bear continued to use the logo until its end in 2002, and earlier episodes of Franklin used this logo from its debut in 1997, until sometime in 1999.

4th Logo (September 4, 1995-July 30, 2005)
Nicknames: "The Polar Bear III", "Space Polar Bear"

Logo : On a space background, there is a flash of light and the Nelvana logo appears in CGI on the background looking similar to the 1st logo, with some exceptions: the seven star semicircle has a blue  chrome outline, as does the polar bear and the "NELVANA" text. A comet flies from the right, and as it passes the pinnacle star and the 2nd star to the left in the semicircle, each star lights up.

Variants :
 * There is an extended version of this logo which has a more delayed zoom-out. It ends with the logo animating backwards, but without the animation of the comet. It can be found on Cardcaptors: The Movie.
 * An even shorter version of the logo starting from when the comet flies from the right exists. Sometimes this is played in slow/delayed motion.
 * Some episodes of Donkey Kong Country have a still shot of this logo.
 * There is a theatrical variant. A five-pointed star flashes in the distance on a much cleaner-looking starfield and the Nelvana logo (which looks more metallic and the stars around the arch aren't as visible), which is turned on its side, flies toward the screen and flips upright. A variant on the 3rd logo's polar bear animation (with it standing on its' hind legs briefly) plays while it flips toward us. The logo sparkles a bit in the end. It was seen on two movies; 1997's Pippi Longstocking, and 1999's Babar: King of the Elephants.
 * Starting in September 30th, 2001, after Corus Entertainment acquired it, the byline "Nelvana is a C O r U s  Entertainment Company" was added (with "C O r <span style="color:rgb(255,0,0);font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">U <span style="color:rgb(0,0,255);font-family:Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">s " written in its corporate font).
 * For international distribution, it's on a black BG and "Distributed By" and "INTERNATIONAL" (or, very rarely, "International") were chyroned in above and below the logo, respectively. A Corus Entertainment byline was added in 2002.
 * The URL "www.nelvana.com" was sometimes added below or above the logo, starting in 1997.
 * There is a filmed version of this logo.
 * The words "A PRODUCTION OF ALLIANCE ATLANTIS", "PRODUCED BY NELVANA LTD. CANADA IN ASSOCIATION WITH", or "AN ALLIANCE ATLANTIS COMMUNICATIONS PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE CANADIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION" Sometimes in-credit version of the logo.
 * There is a promo version of the logo, featured in Birdz, Tales from the Crypt, Ned's Newt and Flying Rhino Junior High.
 * An in-credit variant exsits. The words "IN ASSOCIATION WITH NELVANA LTD. CANADA" appear below the logo.
 * An in-credit version has appeared on Tales From the Crypt on the final episode (and the only animated one), "The Third Pig". It also appears on the 1997 Pippi Longstocking series with the AB Svensk Filmindustri, TaurusFilm, and TFC Trickompany Filmproduktion GmbH logos.
 * On the Japanese dub of Donkey Kong Country, the bylineless version appears in-credit and animated in the custom ending theme.

FX/SFX : Excellent use of CGI on the starry background, <span style="color:rgb(0,0,255);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">blue  chrome, and the comet flying.

Music/Sounds : The end theme of a show, the generic network theme, or silence. In 2002, the same music from the 3rd logo seen on Babar: The Movie was used on some shows, but sometimes, only the first note (a "WHOOSH" sound) was played. This was used on the extended variant of the logo.

Availability : Uncommon, once again, due to plastering with the 2004 logo, but it's still easy to find. First seen on The NeverEnding Story: The Animated Adventures of Bastian Balthazar Bux. It can be seen on early episodes of Cyberchase, Rolie Polie Olie, Max and Ruby, post-1999 episodes of Franklin, and international prints of The Fairly OddParents, among others. Also found on their English version of the anime Cardcaptor Sakura, known initially as Cardcaptors, as well as All New Tales from the Cryptkeeper. The extended variant where the logo plays in reverse at the end can be found on Cardcaptors: The Movie. This logo was even spotted on Seasons 1-2 of the Ace Ventura animated series, and the short-lived Waynehead. The "Nebular Polar Bear in Space" variant was shown on the DVD of "Friendship Collection: Making New Friends" released by Funimation Entertainment. Beyblade G-Revolution kept this logo until it's end in 2005.

Editor's Note : Another popular logo seen on kids programming of the time period.

5th Logo (September 22, 2001-August 20, 2004)
Nicknames : "The Polar Bear IV", "Still Polar Bear", "Polar Bear of Boredom"

Logo : On a <span style="color:rgb(230,230,230);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">white  background, we see the seven star semicircle, polar bear, and "NELVANA" text as from the previous logo but with a dark blue outline. Underneath the "NELVANA" is the URL "www.nelvana.com", and underneath that is the byline "A CORUS™ Entertainment Company" (written exactly like the way you see it). Sometimes, the byline will instead be stylized as "A CORUS Entertainment Company" (in non-italics).

FX/SFX : None.

Music/Sounds : None. In other cases, the end theme of a show or the generic network theme.

Availability : Rare. This was used as an alternate logo in tandem with the previous one between 2001 and 2004.
 * On first-run shows, it appears on season 1 of Cyberchase on PBS, and later episodes of Maggie and the Ferocious Beast (Nick Jr. reruns kept the logo intact, but on Qubo, this logo was deleted).
 * It also appears on some international episodes of The Fairly OddParents. One example is the episode "Boy Toy"/"Inspection Detection" from the UK DVD release "Boys in the Band" (the other episodes use the "INTERNATIONAL" variant of the previous logo).
 * The version with normal font byline appeared on the GBA game Beyblade V-Force.

Editor's Note : It's a clean but boring logo.

6th Logo (September 2, 2004- )
Nicknames : "The Polar Bear V", "Aurora Polar Bear", "Polar Bear of Boredom II", "Polar Bear of Annoyance", "Plastering Polar Bear"

Logo : On a black background, we see the text "NELVANA" with a byline underneath it. A white polar bear then flies onto the screen and then stops onto the text. It bumps a star onto the screen, which twinkles, and a <span style="color:rgb(235,235,235);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:normal;">white  haze of light forms and dissipates behind the logo. The logo looks similar to the in-credit logo seen before 1985.

Bylines :
 * 2004-: The byline reads "A CORUS(TM) ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY", all in capital letters, and in the same font used in the alternate 2003 logo.
 * Alternate variant, 2004-2018: Because of parent company Corus Entertainment Inc.'s "growth" in it's company (hence the "Inc." for incorporated), the byline reads "A Corus(TM) Entertainment Inc. Company"(exactly like that).

Variants:
 * A more common variant begins with the star already on the screen and the polar bear bumping it.
 * Sometimes, the haze is absent for the standard logo.
 * A variant exists with the words "A NELVANA PRODUCTION" above the polar bear. The haze is absent.
 * On international airings of Grossology, there is a version in which the polar bear gets slimed. This variant was only seen on international and Qubo airings of said show, instead of the usual haze.
 * There is a variation where "INTERNATIONAL", in a rounded rectangle, is sandwiched in between the company name and the byline. A superimposed version of this variant can be found on the credits for Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure.
 * A still version of the logo exists, which was seen on at least the original U.S. airings of Grossology on Discovery Kids/The Hub (now Discovery Family).
 * There is an extremely rare still variant without the star, and it appears on current prints of the first episode of Committed.
 * Some reruns of Corduroy have the logo starting after the star is bumped.
 * There's a superimposed variant with the in-credit text "Distributed by Nelvana Enterprises Inc." above it. Once again, the haze is absent. Sometimes, it shares the screen with the Treehouse logo. So far, this variant also exists on Max and Ruby.
 * On Handy Manny, it uses the same variant "A NELVANA PRODUCTION" over the logo, except the haze does appear as usual. The 2004 byline is also seen under the logo.
 * On My Friend Rabbit, the logo "stalls" a bit, where the polar bear does not bump the star exactly when first seen, after that, the animation is seen as usual. The 2004 byline is seen here, also.
 * Starting with season 5 episodes of Cyberchase, the logo starts when the polar bear walks forward right after jumping onto the logo.
 * The logo appeared on Beyblade G-Revolution, the game for GBA. The bear is placed to the left, and there's an "INTERNATIONAL" plate below. Another game, Bakugan: Rise of the Resistance, shows the logo in outlines.
 * Sometimes, the logo is bylineless.
 * There is a variant where "DIGITAL" replaces the byline.
 * Occasionally, the 2004 byline is in gray.
 * On Life with Boys, the logo has smoother animation, but no haze.
 * On season 1 of Horrid Henry, the words "IN ASSOCIATION WITH" is above the logo.
 * There is a strangely-filmed variant of the full logo that was spotted on a Polish 35mm print of Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure.
 * On Nickelodeon/Nicktoons Network airings of Wayside, the logo is shifted upwards.
 * On Wishfart, when the polar bear bumps a star, the rainbow flies away with the words "Produced in Association with" above. It zooms across the screen, transitioning to the Bejuba Entertainment logo. The haze has been therefore absent.
 * On Lucky Duck, there is a bubble transition to the logo. No haze is shown.
 * At the end of a trailer for Care Bears: Journey to Joke-a-lot, there is a very short version which starts when the haze disappears.
 * On the trailer of the failed series Formula RC (which can be found on Pipeline Studios's Vimeo account), the polar bear is wearing a cybernetic glasses. After it bumps the star, it settles down when the star turns red, yellow and green. The "N"s are acting like car tires, then the polar bear drives away as the star spins.
 * Starting in 2021, a widescreen version of the logo with the 2004 italicized byline is color-corrected, sharpened and upscaled to a true 1080p resolution. This is because the logo has been completely remastered for its newly enhanced variant. On the newly upcoming 2021 later prints of Braceface, as well as Babar, Dog City, The Berenstain Bears and Jane and the Dragon (all of which are digitally remastered in High Definition for 16:9 prints), both the 1985 and 1995 logos will be plastered with this on current releases.
 * On Channel 5 "Milkshake!" airings of the first two seasons of Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends, the Nelvana logo is seen at the top left, The Absolute Digital Pictures logo is seen at the top right, the Callaway Arts & Entertainment logo is seen at the bottom left and the Teletoon "Oval Smile" logo is seen at the bottom right. All logos takes place on a black background. Also, the logos are still. On Channel 5 "Milkshake!" airings of the third and final season of the said show, it's the same as the first two seasons, except the Teletoon "Oval Smile" logo at the bottom right is replaced with the 1997 Treehouse "YTV's Sister" logo. Also, the word "Treehouse" in a green decorative font with yellow trim.

FX/SFX: Appears to be a combination of combination of Flash animation and 2D computer graphics.

Music/Sounds: Usually, the end theme of a show or the generic network theme plays over, but sometimes this logo has its own music, a nice 3-note guitar theme (composed by Neil Parfitt) with a ding sound and child laughing (presumably voiced by either Sarah Gadon or Brianna Gentilella) towards the end.

Music/Sounds Variants:
 * Shows plastering the 1985 logo may use one of two themes instead of the normal music. This appears on newer prints of T and T and My Pet Monster.
 * A long version exists. It uses the extended version of the theme, complete with synth notes in the beginning of the sound.
 * For the Grossology variant, the first two guitar notes are heard, but it's interrupted by the sound of slime splashing and dripping.
 * In some cases, the logo is silent.
 * For the Care Bears: Journey to Joke-a-lot trailer variant, we hear the audio variant of the 4th logo.
 * Sometimes, the child's laughter is absent.
 * On The Adventures of Chuck and Friends, the music is sped up without the laughter.
 * On The Stanley Dynamic and Bubble Guppies, the last part of the music plays without the laughter. On the latter show's episode "The Arctic Life!", we hear this music along with the ending of the song "This is the Arctic Life".
 * On Spliced, it's the stock sound "Sound Ideas, BIRD, ROOSTER - MORNING CALL, ANIMAL 01", used in the show's theme song. However, Entrée's quotes can be heard in every episode, as well as Two-Legs Joe's quotes.
 * On the trailer of the failed series Formula RC, the driving sounds were heard.

Availability: Very common. This logo is mainly used to plaster older Nelvana logos. It's currently used in tandem with the 8th logo. This was shown on all current Nelvana shows, such as The Backyardigans, Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends, Grossology, Babar and the Adventures of Badou, Handy Manny, and Wayside. It also appears tacked onto the end of some shows that had older Nelvana logos, such as Babar, Bob and Margaret, Wild C.A.T.S., and The Adventures of Tintin. Also, older Horrid Henry DVD's had this logo. This logo also plasters the 3rd logo on The Magic School Bus: The Complete Series DVD box set, released in 2012. It was also seen on season 1 episodes of The ZhuZhus (including its Polly and the ZhuZhu Pets pilot season). The Grossology variant surprisingly appeared on a Captain Flamingo promo.

Editor's Note: It's an okay and cute logo, but it's considered annoying by some due to its omnipresence. Nevertheless, those that grew up with this logo may consider this memorable.

7th Logo (2004-2013)
Nickname: "The Polar Bear VI", "Cheesy Polar Bear", "Space Polar Bear Wannabe", "Pre-New Polar Bear"

Logo: On the backdrop of zooming starfield, we see the small white polar bear with a dark blue outline. Underneath it is the big word "NELVANA" in the same color scheme as the bear with a byline "A CORUS ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY" with a TM mark at the top-right next to "CORUS". A comet shoots at the right bringing forth a flash to reveal a star (Also in a color scheme of the bear and "NELVANA"), which is next to the bear.

Variants:
 * There exists an extended version that animates just like the 4th logo's extended version, but cheaper looking and having the text move into place.
 * There is a still in-credit version with the bear and star shifted slightly to the left.

FX/SFX: CGI for the starfield and the comet. FX for the flashing star.

Music/Sounds: Same as the 4th logo.

Availability: Extremely rare. This was recently discovered on the 2005 DVD release of Braceface: Turning 13 (plastering the 4th logo), a 2004 compilation DVD called Nelvana's Friendship Collection: Making New Friends, and on a 2004 VHS release (and possibly DVD) of Beyblade G-Revolution called "Beginning of the End?", all from Funimation Entertainment. It's currently unknown if this was on Nelvana's other home media releases. The in-credit version can be found on seasons 4-5 of Max & Ruby.

Editor's Note: None.

8th Logo (June 25, 2017-present)
Nickname: "The Polar Bear VII", "New Polar Bear"

Logo: On a blue background (later white), we see the polar bear in blue with a white outline and the new "nelvana" text in the 2016 Corus Entertainment logo's font, in white being drawn out. The star is at the bottom of the bear, jumps up and spins, then lands. The polar bear bumps it, causing the colors to reverse. Then the text at the bottom middle of the polar bear changes from white to blue. A tiny, registered trademark symbol appears next to the company's name right at the bottom as well.

Variants:
 * A long version exists. On a blue background, the light blue tubes draws the "nel". When the "vana" draws in, the tubes draws the polar bear. The animation continues as usual.
 * On Esme & Roy, it is already-formed and still.
 * On Ollie's Pack, the short version has the Corus byline seen below the logo.
 * An in-credit opening version exists.
 * A French version has the byline translated in "Une compagnie de Corus". This can be found on the French dub of season 7 episodes of Max & Ruby (and possibly others).

FX/SFX: The star jumping, spinning, the bump, and the invert, which are nicely done in Flash animation.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme to the show. The long version has a dreamy 7-note synth theme.

Music/Sounds Variant: On Bravest Warriors, the theme trails into the Corus logo.

Availability: Current. Was first seen on their website, and made its official debut on Hotel Transylvania: The Series. Also appears on newer TV shows by the company like Bravest Warriors, Mysticons, Go Away Unicorn!, Corn & Peg, Agent Binky: Pets of the Universe, The Dog & Pony Show, Ollie's Pack and as well on other contents of shows. The full logo was first seen on Zhu's News - Pumped Up Zhus, which can be seen on YTV's official YouTube channel. It was also seen on the final season of Max & Ruby and seasons 2 and 3 of Ranger RobDo not expect this logo to be seen on Elinor Wonders Why on PBS Kids, because the company only worked with Joey So for the episode "The Seed of an Idea".

Editor's Note: It is certainly one of the many "simplified" logos of recent times. It is nicer than most, however.