MTV/1986

Art (1986-1990)


Visuals: In a black and white artist's room, an alarm clock rings and an M in a picture frame jumps out. The room suddenly transforms into a colorful landscape after the M lands on a tube of paint, to which a red "TV" splatters on the M. The glass from the table tips over, its contents turning yellow, submerging the M into that color. After it reappears, some storm clouds strike the logo with bolts of lightning before the logo returns to the room, now entirely in color.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: An upbeat synth tune and various cartoon sound effects.

Doris (1986-1989)


IDs: In one, a woman named Doris holds up a cartoon involving a couple being bothered by some teens jamming to MTV. In another, an unknown man holds a cartoon with a businessman morphing into Elvis Presley playing the piano.

Technique: Live-action and 2D animation, produced by The Ink Tank. Animated by Tony Eastman, directed by Robert O. Blechman, and outsourced to Animus Productions.

Audio: A jamming rock tune.

Flipbook (1986-1990)


Visuals: In a forest, a person is seen scouring through a flipbook which forms a cartoon of the MTV logo forming through a TNT blast.

Technique: Stop-motion by Fred Miles.

Audio: The flipbook and the explosion.

Jackpot (1986-1990)


Visuals: There is a slot machine being activated. One of the images featured is the MTV logo. At the end, a match is almost made with two logos and a malfunctioning third slot; the machine is clunked and a win is given.

Technique: 2D animation by Olive Jar Animation.

Audio: Just the slot machine.

Masks (1986-1990)


Visuals: On a black background, there are two face masks with eyes and mouths. Then a square with a face appears on a scribble grunts, followed by two cubism-esque face masks. A yellow scribble with a face and hair appears and screams, followed by two more cubism-esque face masks. A hexagon with a face appears on a scribble and swallows the screen. A tye-dyed MTV logo zooms in.

Technique: Cut-out animation produced by Olive Jar Animation.

Audio: Tribal drumbeats along with the shapes screaming.

M Hood (1986-1990)


Visuals: Our POV is on the hood of a car with a "TV" hood ornament driving down various landscapes. Eventually, it comes a stop in front of a building with a motor parts billboard. The letter M in "Motors" lines up with the ornament, forming the MTV logo.

Technique: Sped up live-action by Fred Miles.

Audio: A warbly synth tune.

M Mollusk (1986-1992)


Visuals: We see some grass grow, which is followed by a snail sliding through the grass, removing it like a lawnmower and forming an M. Some mushrooms grow near the cut grass and form a white "TV", completing the logo.

Technique: Stop-motion by Colossal Pictures.

Audio: Jungle music and sounds.

M Shadows (1986-1991)


Visuals: We see the shadow of an "M" show up across a building. Some graffiti artists appear and spray paint on the building when the shadow appears. When the shadow is halfway there, the graffiti artists spray paint the MTV logo and by the time their done, the shadow was gone too. The words "MUSIC TELEVISION" appear under the logo.

Technique: Time-lapse footage by Colossal Pictures.

Audio: A quick hip hop beat.

Paintbox (1986-1990)


Visuals: On a stage, a red crayon draws an outline of the letter M. Then, a paintbrush splatters the area, painting the M yellow. A spray can then completes the logo by spraying a red "TV" on it.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: An 80s pop tune and various cartoon sounds.

Pavarotti (1986-1990)


Visuals: There is an opera singer holding a long note as the camera zooms into his mouth. Inside is a light show and the MTV logo which flashes green and orange.

Technique: 2D animation by Piera Grandesso and directed by Robert O. Blechman.

Audio: The singer holding a note, and an odd scream when the logo flashes.

Skyscraper (1986-1990)


Visuals: A man is shown on a television playing guitar. The camera zooms out to reveal that the TV is in an MTV shaped apartment.

Technique: 2D animation by Fred Miles.

Audio: Rock guitar music with synth hits at the end.

Sneak Preview Video (1986-1990)


Visuals: The Earth squeezes through a TV set and reveals the MTV logo on it. A sudden explosion occurs from up top causing the words "World Premiere" to appear in smoke.

Technique: 2D animation by The Ink Tank and directed by Robert O. Blechman.

Audio: A drumroll when the logo starts, followed by a trumpet fanfare when the MTV logo shows up, and lastly, an explosion sound and a synth tune.

Wild Gorilla (1986-1991)


Visuals: At a zoo, there is a destroyed cage. We pan to a tree then pan up to reveal an MTV logo styled to look like a gorilla moving around on a branch.

Technique: Claymation by Olive Jar Animation.

Audio: Various zoo patrons panicking and the MTV gorilla hooting and panting.

Top Of The Hour 1986 (1986-1987)
Visuals: Unknown

Technique: A blend of photomontage and 2D in the first and live-action in the other.

Audio: Unknown