DreamWorks Classics

Background
DreamWorks Classics (known as DreamWorks Distribution on-screen) was established as Classic Media by Eric Ellenbogen and John Engelman in 2000 to handle acquisitions, new productions and licensing of older cartoon and live action properties globally. In 2007, the company was acquired by Entertainment Rights, which resulted in financial difficulties. In April 2009, Entertainment Rights was acquired by a new company called "Boomerang Media, L.L.C.", also founded by Ellenbogen and Engelman themselves with backing from private equity firm GTCR, and then a month later, Entertainment Rights was folded into Classic Media. Their library consists of properties that they acquired from other companies, including Rankin-Bass, United Productions of America, Harvey Entertainment, Golden Books Family Entertainment, Big Idea Entertainment, and Entertainment Rights. In 2012, DreamWorks Animation acquired the company for $155 million, and renamed it DreamWorks Classics, and the 2016 NBCUniversal acquisition of DWA turned DreamWorks Classics into a subsidiary of theirs. Regardless, the Classic Media name is still used on-screen in tandem with the DreamWorks Classics/Distribution name.

1st Logo (2001-2002)


Nickname: "The Swirl"

Logo: Over a white background, we see the black text "C L A S S I C" in a spaced-out font, with " MEDIA " to the bottom in a smaller font, where the SSI bit is. Then, a swirl forms from the beginning to the end through a smokey effect.

FX/SFX: The swirl forming.

Music/Sounds: A loud swooshing sound.

Availability: Very rare.
 * Appears on some prints of Rankin-Bass material.
 * It also appeared on a few early DVD releases from Sony Wonder, such as the first 2 volumes of Madeline (titled "The Best Episodes Ever!").
 * Recently, it was spotted at the start of Casper and Wendy's Ghostly Adventures on IMDB TV.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (2002-)
Nickname: "The Kid Balloon"

Logo: Over a white background, we see a plain balloon shape facing on the top-right, with a smiling face drawn onto it as well as hair and cheeks. The text "Classic Media" is at the bottom of the balloon with the kid balloon in place of the dot of the "I" in "Media".

Variants:
 * Earlier on, the logo was much smaller.
 * From 2007-2009, "An Entertainment Rights group company" is seen below the logo.
 * Superimposed/in-credit versions are found on some shows.
 * At the end of Postman Pat: The Movie and the making-of feature for said movie, the logo is seen in a white rectangle on a black background.

FX/SFX: The fade in and fade out.

Music/Sounds: Usually none, but in other cases, it's usually the closing theme of the TV show.

Availability: Common.
 * Can be seen on the pre-1974 Rankin-Bass Christmas specials such as Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman, and it usually plasters the Broadway Video logo on current airings of Frosty Returns.
 * Appears on licensed games as well, for instance on Where's Waldo? for the Wii.
 * The superimposed and in-credit variants appear on Tinga Tinga Tales, the 2005 adaptation of Gerald McBoing Boing, later episodes of Guess with Jess and the 2nd season of Postman Pat: Special Delivery Service.
 * Even though the company changed their name to DreamWorks Classics, this logo still remains in use in tandem with the DreamWorks Classics/Distribution logo.

Editor's Note: A clean, but boring logo; some may dislike it for occasionally plastering the Rankin-Bass logo.

(2015-)


Logo: In the end credits of the show on a white background, we see the DreamWorks Animation print logo with the boy on the moon, but “DISTRIBUTION” replaces “ANIMATION SKG”.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The ending theme of the show.

Availability: Currently seen on the 3rd series of both Raa Raa the Noisy Lion and Postman Pat: Special Delivery Service.

Editor's Note: None.