Filmation Associates

Background
Filmation Associates started out in commercials in 1962; however, this was fully established as a production company one year later not only to produce animated shows, but also some live-action shows. In 1969, TelePrompTer Corporation acquired Filmation, who had later merged with Westinghouse Broadcasting Company in 1981. Filmation was later shut down by Group W in 1989 after attempting to sell Filmation to the L'Oréal Group, but L'Oréal kept its library. The bulk of the company's back catalog is currently owned by NBCUniversal on behalf of DreamWorks Animation, with the following exceptions: The Brady Kids, Star Trek: The Animated Series, and The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse and Heckle & Jeckle (currently owned by CBS Television Studios, and distributed by CBS Television Distribution), Journey to the Center of the Earth and Fantastic Voyage (owned by 20th Century Fox Television with 20th Television distributing it), and The Tom & Jerry Comedy Show and the DC Comics properties (owned by Warner Bros. Entertainment, the former title via Turner Entertainment Co.).

1st Logo (September 10, 1966-1972)
Nicknames: "The Happy-O Face", "> : )"

Logo: In the ending credits of shows, the text would appear superimposed. The company is referred to as being "Produced at FILMATION ASSOCIATES in Hollywood," with the capitalized text being the Filmation logo at the time. The Filmation logo consists of "FILMATION" in a stretched font, with "FILM" filled in with color and the rest being an outline. The "O", however, is instead replaced with a circle with a smiling face and a large, V-shaped arrow above it. The copyright stamp appears below the logo.

Variants: Following TelePrompTer's acquisition in 1969, the byline "A TELEPROMPTER COMPANY" is seen below in place of "in Hollywood." Starting with The Hardy Boys in 1969, the names of producers Lou Scheimer and Norm Prescott would rotate before this logo appears. The rotation was done so that neither name would be "on top" (i.e. equal billing). Sometimes, "ASSOCIATES" is stretched out to fit the length of the Filmation logo, which is all filled up. An in-credit notice of Filmation (without either the TelePrompTer byline or "ASSOCIATES") can be seen in the 1971 TV movie Aesop's Fables. From 1966-1969 the logo had a larger, upside down arrow under the happy face and "ASSOCIATES" under "FILM" and squashed between it and a large rectangle. The opening version has it white on a black background and "PRESENTS" in a blue childish font.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: Accompanied by the show's ending theme music.

Availability: Still seen on shows like The Archies and The Groovie Goolies, whenever someone decides to show them, most recently on RTV. Also preserved on DVD releases of The Archies and The New Adventures of Superman.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (September 9, 1972-December 21, 1974)


Nickname: "The Happy-O Face II"

Logo: Like the logo variation above, in the ending credits of shows, the text would appear superimposed. The words are shortened to "A FILMATION PRODUCTION," and Filmation (1972)the logo now usually has the letters filled. The TelePrompTer byline and the copyright information appears below the logo.

Variant: The byline was dropped in 1973.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: Accompanied by the show's ending theme music.

Availability: Still seen on shows like Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids on Bounce TV, The Brady Kids, and The Archies, whenever someone decides to show them. This can be seen on Fat Albert and The Archie Show DVDs, as well as Star Trek: The Animated Series on DVD and Netflix. Recently seen on The U.S. of Archie on RTV.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Logo (September 6, 1975-December 11, 1982)
Filmation - CLG WikiFilmation (1976)Filmation Productions (1975)Filmation (1976) Filmation Production (1980)Filmation/SFM Entertainment (in-credit) (1982)

Nicknames: "The Happy-O Face III", "The Happy-O Face Combining"

Logo: Against a black background, four sets of the word "FILMATION" emerge from all four sides of the screen to combine into one single "FILMATION." All the letters outside of the first four are outlined, and the happy-faced O from the 1st logo appears. "A" appears over the "FILMATION" name, and "PRODUCTION" appears under it.

Variants: The normal logo animation is sometimes superimposed over the end-credit sequence of the show. The letters may sometimes be all outlines. A copyright stamp may be seen under the logo. A still in-credit variant can be seen in the 1982 game show pilot The Origins Game.

FX/SFX: The name merging from all directions. For The Origins Game variant, the in-credit text zooms in from the center to its place.

Music/Sounds: Accompanied by the show's ending theme music.

Availability: Still seen on shows like Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids on Bounce TV. Retained on DVD releases of the company's live-action output from the era (Isis, (the original) Ghost Busters, Space Academy, and Jason of Star Command). Also seen on The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse.

Editor's Note: None.

4th Logo (1981?-1983?)
Filmation Associates (1981?)Filmation (1980s?, in-credit)

Logo: On a light purple background, we see the word "FILMATION" in the Group W Anklepants font. The word "FILM" is fully white, and the rest of the letters are in outline. Below the logo is a small byline that reads "A DIVISION OF GROUP W PRODUCTIONS/WESTINGHOUSE BROADCASTING AND CABLE INC." Below the byline is an address and phone number, with the British phone number as well.

Variant: A superimposed version exists.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Pretty much extinct. The only known sources are at the end of a promo for Blackstar, which was found on a UK Popeye video by Select Video/Video Gems UK and on a later print of the 1972 TV movie Daffy Duck and Porky Pig Meet the Groovie Goolies.

Editor's Note: None.

5th Logo (September 3, 1983-February 24, 1988, May 28, 1993)
Filmation (1983)Filmation 1983 AFilmation (1984)Filmation PresentsFilmation (1986)

Nicknames: "Flashing Letters", "Rainbow Letters"

Logo: Against a black background, a white ball of light brings forth the letters in the word "FILMATION" (in Anklepants font, commonly used on most Group W programming). They are all in rainbow colors (which do differ from time to time), and all the letters outside of the first four are in outline. In the opening, the word "PRESENTS" appears under the logo. At the end, "A" appears over it and "PRESENTATION" under. In 1986, the word "Presents" is written in paintbrush script, and the colors appear to be "duller" (though this could be due to film deterioration). On occasion, no text is seen above or below the logo.

FX/SFX: The name being spelled out. The music (see below) adds to the effect.

Music/Sounds: Described as a "downward scale on a xylophone" that gives a tumbling effect to the spelling of the name. Ends with a ding for the extra words. Sometimes uses the closing theme of the show.

Music/Sounds Variants: The script version uses a "dreamier" rendition of the music. On The Adventures of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, the first few beats of the theme song play after the logo animation finishes. After the logo fades out and the opening sequence actually starts up, those first six beats replay as the theme song starts up correctly.

Availability: Still seen on shows like The Adventures of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids on Teletoon Retro in Canada and Bounce TV, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, She-Ra: Princess of Power, and Ghostbusters on Qubo and RTV. Retained on the Bravestarr, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, She-Ra, Princess of Power, and The Adventures of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids DVD sets.It's also intact on the UK Right Entertainment DVD of Pinnochio and the Emperor of the Night and the 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment DVD of Happily Ever After.

Editor's Note: Low.