Nick Jr.

Background
Nick Jr. is an American morning programming block that airs on Nickelodeon every weekday. It was launched on January 4, 1988. Nick Jr. features a lineup of shows aimed at children under eight.

Shadow Play (1989-1992)
Visuals: On a black background with a spotlight, we see two hand silhouettes moving up from the bottom of the screen. When they're in front of the spotlight, both hands start to make duck hand shadows, but after a while, the left hand makes a hand shadow of a dog instead. Both hands move around and dance for a while, before the hand on the left makes an OK sign, while the one on the right shows a thumbs up. The background then turns periwinkle, and the hand silhouettes become with "NICK" on it and blue with "JR." on it, respectively. The end result is the Nick Jr. logo (which is the same as the 1994 version, but with a "tighter" look to the shapes).

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A quick upbeat piano tune with a girl and boy talking throughout:
 * Girl: OK, let's go!
 * Boy: Hey, look! I'm a dog and I'm bigger than you! (mimics barking)
 * Girl: Oh yeah? Well, I'm a duck! (mimics quacking)
 * (they both laugh)

Dancing Stars (1989-1992)
Visuals: On a sky background with thin red-violet clouds, we see the Nick Jr. logo, as two stars wearing nightcaps (a big star with "NICK" on it and a small blue one with "JR."  on it) ballet-jumping across the screen three times. Between each time, we see silhouettes of a tree and a girl with a jump rope walking by. After the third jump, a silhouette of a cat walks by, stops, makes a weird "MEOW!" as a question mark appears above its had, and runs away. Then, the Nick Jr. stars slide in from the left and pause in a straight position.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A pizzicato piece with strings, mixed with the weird "MEOW!" from the cat, and a cartoon-style car-parking noise when the Nick Jr. logo slides into place.

Scary Night (1989-1992)
Visuals: In a dark bedroom, we see a boy in bed looking scared as he scooches under his covers. Then, we see the shadow of a cat arching its back and then a shadow of a bird flying past his window. Then, we zoom in under his bed and find the Nick Jr. logo as two cats (an cat with "NICK" on it and a blue kitten with "JR." on it) gradually come out. The boy stares at them from over the side of his bed in puzzlement.

Technique: Finger-painted 2-D effects.

Audio: Suspenseful music with a very loud cat meow and a loud crow cry, climaxing into a nice-sounding 7-note flute piece with cats meowing.

Boy and Toys (1989-1992)
Visuals: In a bedroom, a boy (different from the one in "Scary Night") winds up a box and makes a wheeled elephant toy come out, which leads it knocking down toy soldiers like dominoes. A toy solider rolls an 8-ball into the screen and past a wind-up crocodile, which bites a chicken gumball machine, making it scream and let out a gumball. The boy chews it and blows up a big pink bubble that has two circles on it (a big one with "NICK" on it and a smaller blue one with "JR." on it).

Technique: 2D animation by Olive Jar Animation.

Audio: A whimsical cartoon-sounding piece with a clarinet, bassoon, violin and percussion along with sound effects.

Elephants Drinking (1989-1992)
Visuals: On a white background, two black elephants (one large on the left and one small on the right) walk up to a waterhole. As we zoom out, we see a few palm trees. The elephants both drink from the waterhole and fill in with and blue, as well as "NICK" and "JR." respectively.

Technique: 2D computer animation by Electric Picture Works in New York.

Audio: Some tuba music overlapped with jungle sounds.

Magic Hands (1989-1992)
Visuals: On a swirly purple and magenta background, we see a pair of white hands. The right hand opens as a magic wand falls in it, and touches the left hand with it. An butterfly comes out of the left hand, and it points at the right hand, making it reveal a blue butterfly. The words "NICK" and "JR." appear on the butterflies, and the hands leave the screen.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: A guitar and flute melody with sound effects.

Fishbowl Diver (1990-1994)
Visuals: On a sky blue background, we see a teenage boy in swim trunks and a diving mask climbing up a diving board ladder and getting ready to dive into a gigantic fish bowl. In the fish bowl, 2 fish (a big one and a small blue one) and the boy staring at the camera. The fish swim near each other to reveal the Nick Jr. logo.

Technique: 2D animation by Olive Jar Animation.

Audio: A slightly Latin-style piano, rock bass and marimba jingle with tambourines beating in the background along with scuba-diving sounds.

Gears (1990)
Visuals:: Two orange and blue balls go through an assembly line where they get turned into Nick Jr. gears.

Technique: 2D animation

Audio: "Knees Up" by Ronald Aspery.

Kangaroos (July 1990-1993)
Visuals: An kangaroo leaps into a living room from above. The kangaroo takes a lot of things out of her pouch, including a giant blue baby kangaroo. The blue kangaroo drops an and blue barbell on the  kangaroo, then it falls to the floor (with the "NICK JR." text on it now visible) and both kangaroos look at it.

Technique: Clay animation.

Audio: Bouncy stock piano music which is accompanied by sound effects.

Refrigerator (1990-1994)
Visuals: In a kitchen, two kids wearing Nick Jr. shirts walk to their refrigerator. The kids open the refrigerator and an animated character comes out.


 * Ghost: The kids find a Casper-esque ghost wearing a deerstalker and a necktie and holding a sandwich. Just as he is about to take a bite out of the sandwich, the kids shout "BOO!" at him, upon which he screams, scattering the pieces of the sandwich, and closes the refrigerator while stammering "Nick Jr.!"
 * Artist: An artist's hand paints the kids into animated kids who say "Nick Jr.!"
 * Elephant: Nick pulls out an elephant holding peanut butter. They laugh as the elephant says "Nick...Jr.!"
 * Fish: A fish with a top hat and cane comes out of the refrigerator. The kids and fish strike a pose as the fish and a smaller one that comes out of the hat say "Nick...Jr.!"
 * Fairy: A fairy comes out of the refrigerator and casts a crown onto Jr.

Technique: Live-action produced by Fred/Alan and directed by Noel Frankel, combined with cel animation produced by Van Allen Animation.

Audio: A funky beat composed with the E-mu Proteus/1 "Stereo Piano" preset, then a stinger that depends on the variant.
 * Artist: A French folk tune composed with a synth accordion preset and the artist speaking gibberish.
 * Fish: The fish saying "Hey!" and a Disney zing-out whistle sound accompanied by a triumphant fanfare, along with "bubbling" sounds.

Marching Ants (1990-1994)
Visuals: On a white background, we see a closeup of two ants carrying and blue crumbs. More ants are shown carrying crumbs in two lines. The screen pans over to reveal the ants marching into a big, "NICK" castle and a smaller blue "JR." castle.

Technique: 2D computer animation produced by Electric Picture Works.

Audio: A dramatic horn fanfare with marching sounds following the closeup, and then violin music as the Nick Jr. logo appears.

Clouds (1990-1993)
Visuals: On a blurry sky background, we see two big CGI clouds (an  one and a smaller blue one) and the letters of "NICK JR." rotating near the camera hanging on strings (like a mobile above a baby crib). After a few seconds, all nine objects meet each other in the center and form the familiar logo.

Technique: CGI by Electric Picture Works.

Audio: A music box and wind chime sounder.

Fish Eating Seaweed (1991-1993)
Visuals: On a white background, we see two black dots pop up in the center. Then, the dots "morph" into two drawings of fish. Some orange and blue seaweed appears below them. When the fish eat it, the bigger one fills in with and the smaller one with blue, forming the Nick Jr. logo.

Technique: 2D computer animation by Electric Picture Works in New York that uses the exact same technique as "Elephants".

Audio: Two synthesized pogo stick sounds, then a dramatic synthesized harp sounder, two more pogo stick sounds and a peaceful synth-harp riff.

Chicks (1991-1993)
Visuals: A rooster crows as the background behind it changes from black to. A hen on a white background leaves its nest, as two chicks hatch out of the eggs in the nest, an one with the word "NICK" on it, and a blue one with  "JR.". The hen then peeks back into view in astonishment.

Technique: 2D computer animation by Electric Picture Works.

Audio: A harmonica imitating a rooster crow, then short banjo, cuica, guiro, and flute sections.

Blocks (1992-1994)
Visuals: A girl and boy are building a tower of blocks as other kids comment offscreen. When the boy finishes it by putting the green triangle block on top of the orange cylinder block, the tower falls down. Among the last blocks to land on the floor are an orange rectangle "NICK" block and a blue square "JR." block that land next to each other as the kids laugh.

Technique: Live-action.

Audio: Kids commenting and then laughing at the end.

Final Note
In September 1994, Face became the first host of Nick Jr., officially retiring the old bumpers and IDs and launching new ones.

Dizzy (1994-2002)
Visuals: On a white background, we see an father with the word "NICK" on him standing on the left. Then, a blue boy with "JR." on him comes spinning out from the back left spinning like a tornado (not unlike the Looney Tunes character Taz the Tasmanian Devil or the transformation sequence in The Mask). As the father watches him, the boy stops dizzily and poses with him.

Technique: CGI by DMA Animation.

Audio: A whimsical, playful synth-flute/trombone piece with the wind blowing as the boy is twirling.

Availability: Appeared on the VHS releases of Gullah Gullah Island: Feelings, Little Bear: Parties And Picnics, Wide Awake at Eureeka's Castle, Little Bear: Meet Little Bear and Little Bear: Family Tales.

Piano (1994-2002)
Visuals: We see the father and blue boy standing on a piano. They each take turns jumping on the piano keys, then they jump onto the piano's rim.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A piano playing along with a child laughing.

Availability: Seen on Sing Along With Eureeka's Castle, Storytime Sing-Along, Sing Along with Allegra and Lindi and Sing Along with Gullah Gullah Island. These VHS tapes have been out of print since the late '90s and fetch high prices online.

Candy Land (1994-2001)
Visuals: We see the father and blue boy running along a game board. Then, they spin at one of the spaces and get into their normal position.

Trivia: The game board that the father and boy are running on is similar to the Candy Land board game (hence why the bumper is called Candy Land).

Technique: CGI by DMA Animation.

Audio: Carousel-like music, followed by a spinning noise and one final note.

Availability: Seen on the VHS releases Allegra's Window: Play Along with Allegra & Friends and Gullah Gullah Island: Play Along with Binyah & Friends.

Air Guitar (1994-2000)
Visuals: On a white background, the father and blue boy pretend to play guitars to rock and roll music.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A short jazz-rock tune.

Hula Dancers (1994-Spring 2002)
Visuals: The father and blue boy, wearing grass skirts, do a hula dance on the beach in a tropical island.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A short piece of Hawaiian-style music.

Egyptian (1994-2002)
Visuals: The father and blue boy do an Egyptian dance in an Egyptian environment while hieroglyphics above them scroll to the left.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A short piece of Egyptian-style music.

Snow Globe (1994-Spring 2002)
Visuals: In a snow globe, we see the normal Nick Jr. logo. Then the snow globe is shaken, and we zoom out to see that the father and blue boy are standing on a white background and looking at the snow globe, with the father holding it. They look at it before they turn towards the screen and the boy waves.

Technique: CGI by DMA Animation.

Audio: The snow globe's synthesized sound effect, followed by a calm harp/flute riff.

Availability: Appears on Allegra's Window: Waiting For Grandma, Allegra's Window: Allegra's Christmas and Christmas At Eureeka's Castle on VHS-all of which have been out of print since the late '90s and are hard to find. On DVD, it appears on the Nick Jr. Holiday sampler DVD.

Toaster (1994-2002)
Visuals: We see a toaster, then the father and blue boy bounce out of it, and we see a salt shaker staring at them as they jump. They both bounce onto the ground and get into their normal position.

Technique: CGI by DMA Animation.

Audio: A trumpet combined with a brief boogie-woogie riff and several sound effects such as the toaster rattling, a Hanna-Barbera "boing", and a ricochet sound.

Availability: Only known to have been found on the Allegra's Window: Small is Beautiful VHS, which has been out of print since the late '90s and is hard to find.

Parade (1994-2001)
Visuals: In a city, we see two gigantic parade balloons of the father and blue boy, forming the logo. As they're pulled towards the screen by strings,, , pink and magenta confetti flies around them and the shot then freezes before fading out.

Technique: CGI by DMA Animation.

Audio: Synthesized band music overlapped with a voice shouting "Hooray, hooray, hip hip hooray!" and high-pitched laughing, followed by the Hanna-Barbera "boing" sound when the shot freezes.

Availability: Was almost exclusively used within commercial breaks on Nick Jr. during the period.

Bounce (1994-2003)
Visuals: We pan up to a sky background. We see the father and blue boy alternately jumping and somersaulting in the air from an off-camera trampoline. Then we pan down as the two hold hands together as they descend.

Technique: CGI by DMA Animation.

Audio: Kids giggling, then a banjo skiffle near the end.

Availability: Can be seen on Gullah Gullah Island: Binyah's Surprise and some Little Bear tapes. It was also Nick Jr.'s default DVD logo from 2002 to 2003, where it can be seen on releases such as Blue's Clues: Blue's Big Band and Dora the Explorer: Meet Diego.

Winter ID (December 1994-January 1998)
Visuals: We see an aurora in a black forest. Then, an moon with "NICK" on it appears. A cow then appears and jumps over the moon while a blue comet with "JR." on it appears.

Technique: 2D animation by Chris Harvey (a.k.a. V. Owen Bush).

Audio: A quiet synthesizer tune along with a cow mooing.

Cats (1995-2002)
Visuals: On the floor of a living room with an armchair on the right side, we see a big cat with "NICK" on it playing with a ball of lime green yarn. A blue kitten with "JR." on it pops out of the yarn. They rub on each other lovingly and snuggle up together.

Technique: 2D animation produced by Funline Animation Inc.

Audio: A peaceful celesta/Rhodes piano tune overlapped with a reverberated synth-bass "pin drop" sound effect, a high-octave xylophone tingle and the kitten meowing and purring. This ends in a 3-note tune, which would later be used for a majority of Nick Jr.'s bumpers from the time.

Availability: Seen on the VHS releases of Blue's Clues: Story Time and Little Bear: Friends.

Elephants (1995-2002)
Visuals: On a mostly black background, we see a big elephant with "NICK" on it, and a blue elephant calf with "JR." on it (not the same ones as the "Elephants Drinking" logo) looking at each other. Suddenly, the background changes into what looks like a circus, with Broadway lights, and -orange yellow curtains on the top of the screen. The elephants start to dance, as the big elephant swings the calf up with his trunk. Then, the calf runs around the big elephant, as the background turns into a peaceful purple color with a light yellow frame around it and stars moving inside, and both the elephants get into their position.

Technique: A mix of 2D animation and claymation.

Audio: A drumroll followed by some circus-style music, fading into a peaceful 3-note xylophone-like tune.

Availability: It appeared on the Blue's Clues: Blue's Birthday VHS.

Dinosaurs (1995-2002)
Visuals: In a jungle, we see an dinosaur with "NICK" on it looking for some food, then a little blue dinosaur with "JR." on it pops out from the tree. It falls and slides down the one's body, then runs to the  dinosaur, and they roar at each other.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: Prehistoric-style music, with stock cartoon sounds and two roars at the end.

Audio Variants: Sometimes, it has the audio from the "Paper Bags" ID.

Availability: The version with the "Paper Bags" audio was found on Blue's Clues: Blue's Discoveries and some Little Bear tapes.

Penguins (1996-2002)
Visuals: In what looks like Antarctica with a rising sun against a white sky, we see two penguins, a big penguin with "NICK" on it, and a blue penguin chick with "JR." on it, slipping around on the ice. The chick runs to the bigger penguin and bumps into it. The bigger penguin then runs to the chick and bumps into it as well. The bigger penguin then grabs the chick as they embrace one another and hug. As the two penguins pose, the background changes into a black starry night.

Technique: A mix of 2D animation and claymation.

Audio: A spacey-like theme, with sounds of the penguins running, and hugging.

Availability: It appeared on the Little Bear: Goodnight Little Bear and Little Bear: Winter Tales VHS tapes.

Fish (1996-2001)
Visuals: In the ocean, many different colors of fish swim in different directions. Then, a big fish with "NICK" on it, followed by a smaller blue fish with "JR." on it, swims in from the left. As another fish swims by from the left, the two fish called swim and play with each other. As the last fish swims off from the left, the fish get into their position, blowing bubbles.

Technique: 2D animation produced by Funline Animation Inc.

Audio: A harp sound, and a bass tune, then those instruments together, including what sounds like a piano and a xylophone, playing a tune that includes the Nick Jr theme at the end. Finally, the xylophone plays the last three notes of the Nick Jr. theme by itself. Sound effects include the fish swimming, and blowing bubbles.

Availability: It appeared on VHS tapes and DVDs of its time, notably including Blue's Clues: Blue's Big Pajama Party.

Snowman (1996-2001)
Visuals: On a piece of paper, an snowman with and a smaller blue snowman are stenciled, and soon becomes a winter background. The smaller snowman throws a snowball at the larger snowman with "NICK" appearing on it and laughs, and then the larger snowman also throws a snowball at the smaller snowman with "JR." appearing on it, and they both position together.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: Winter music, with bells jingling, and the snowmen throwing snowballs.

Pigs (1996-2002)
Visuals: In what looks like a farm, we see a big pig and a blue piglet playing in a puddle of water, both covered in mud. The bigger pig splashes in the water to reveal the word "NICK" on it, and the piglet does the same, revealing "JR." instead. Then, the two pigs shake the water off. They then walk to each other and snuggle, getting into position once again.

Technique: 2D animation produced by Funline Animation Inc.

Audio: A bluegrass theme with banjos and harmonicas, along with the SFX of the pigs snorting and splashing in the water and shaking the water off.

Availability: This logo was common in its time, but not anymore. You can still find it on old VHS tapes and DVDs. One of those is Blue's Clues: Rhythm and Blue.

Monkeys (1996-2001)
Visuals: In a jungle, we see a big monkey with "NICK" on it and a blue infant monkey with "JR." on it both swinging around on some vines hanging from the top of the screen. The infant stops temporarily and watches the bigger monkey swing as a banana falls out from behind him. Then they swing together and stop to pose as the Nick Jr. logo.

Technique: CGI cut-out animation.

Audio: A funky panpipe and bongo drum tune with the monkey sounds and jungle SFX in the background.

Kangaroos (1996-2002)
Visuals: In what looks like the Outback, a blue joey with "JR." on it hops out of a larger kangaroo with "NICK" on it's pouch, then the two begin hopping through the outback before they stop and begin cuddling with each other.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: The corresponding sound effects accompanied by a didgeridoo theme that ends with a harp sound.

Polar Bears (1996-2002)
Visuals: In a snowy environment, we see a blue polar bear cub with "JR." on it standing at the top of a hill, as a big polar bear with "NICK" waves at it. The polar bear cub slides down the hill, and the big polar bear watches him crash into a pile of snow. The polar bear cub snow tunnels back to the big polar bear, who catches it, and they cuddle together.

Technique: CGI by Steve Speer.

Audio: A jazzy vibraphone theme with the polar bear cub sliding, and a bouncing sound effect when it crashes into a pile of snow.

Availability: Seen on the Gullah Gullah Island: Christmas VHS, which is very hard to find and has been out of print since the late '90s.

Lions (1997-2002)
Visuals: In the jungle, we see a big lion with "NICK" on it, and a blue lion cub with "JR." on it roaming. The cub lets out a small roar, looks at its father, then roars again, louder. Then they stop, and the father lion roars loudly. Then the cub roars so loudly that the plants behind them shake. They continue to roam.

Technique: Claymation by Funline Animation Inc.

Audio: A panpipe-like sound, along with stock lion roar sound effects.

Availability: It's no longer on TV, like most of these bumpers. It appears on Blue's Clues: Blue's Big Treasure Hunt.

Seals (1997-2001)
Visuals: Underwater, we see a big seal with "NICK" on it and a blue seal pup with "JR.", swimming past some underwater structures, a waving mermaid, a random non-moving scuba diver, some seahorses and other decorations. They meet each other and snuggle together.

Technique: CGI by Steve Speer.

Audio: A synth-flute/kettledrum tune and some seal sounds.

Hippos (1997-2002)
Visuals: In an African savanna, we see a big hippo with "NICK" on it eating grass, along with a blue hippo calf with "JR." looking at a fly. The fly buzzes around them as the camera pans over to some flowers in the middle of a field. After both hippos walk into frame from the left, the big hippo sniffs at the flowers only for the calf to eat them, along with the fly. The calf snuggles up to the bigger hippo and spits out the fly, after which a new flower regrows in place of the three flowers eaten.

Trivia: The ident was completed on December 15, 1996.

Technique: Claymation by Webster Colcord.

Audio: Some Rhodes piano, drum and bass clarinet music overlapped with the sound of the fly buzzing.

Availability: Can be seen on the Nick Jr. VHS opening from 2000-2004.

Crocodiles (1997-2002)
Visuals: In the middle of a swamp, we see an crocodile with "NICK" climb onto a rock to bask in the sunlight. We then see a smaller blue crocodile with "JR." attempting to climb onto the same rock, nearly slipping off. The small crocodile snuggles up next to the bigger one and smile before they both rest.

Trivia:
 * The ident was completed on January 5, 1997.
 * Webster Colcord found some behind the scenes photos, and stills of the original 35mm neg of this bumper (along with the Hippos bumper) on his Instagram.

Technique: Claymation by Webster Colcord.

Audio: A tropical sounding jaw harp and synth-flute tune with cricket sounds in the background.

Frogs (1997-2002)
Visuals: Above a pond with lily pads, we see a big frog with "NICK" on it and a smaller blue frog with "JR." hopping around. Then the small frog dives into the pond, and the big one croaks. The small frog then comes out of the water before it hops next to the big one, as they both pose.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A jazzy vibraphone/bass fiddle tune with bouncing and frog sound effects.

Availability: Found on the Little Bear: Summertime Tales, Blue's Clues: ABCs and 123s and Blue's Clues: Arts and Crafts VHS.

Chickens (1997-2000)
Visuals: In a barn, we see a nest and zoom out from it. As a big hen with "NICK" on it watches, one of the eggs hatches and walks to the left with its legs sticking out before it bumps into a wall, breaking the eggshell to reveal a blue chick with "JR.". The chick walks towards the hen and stands near it.

Technique: CGI by Steve Speer.

Audio: Country/bluegrass music with the egg cracking and chicken sound effects.

Rabbits (1997-2001)
Visuals: On a chalkboard background, we see two scribbles, an one and a blue one. They grow in size and the words "NICK" and "JR." appear on them. The scribbles turn into two rabbits that hop to the center to the screen and dance.

Technique: 2D animation produced by Lester Films.

Audio: Children talking, along with some generic music.

Monsters (1997-2002)
Visuals: On a table, we see a piece of paper filled with a big scribble with "NICK" on it and, surrounded by crayons. As a blue scribble with "JR." on it comes up, a pair of scissors cuts out the  scribble into a large, bizarre-looking shape, meant to resemble a "monster." The background darkens as the the blue scribble goggles and the two pose together.

Technique: A mix of live stop-motion work and computer effects. Animated by Funline Animation.

Audio: A beautiful, dramatic synthesized piano stinger with the blue scribble giggling.

Audio Variant: A more commonly used version has the sound of children talking instead of music, along with cartoony sound effects, and a high-pitched giggle at the very end.

Availability: The variant appears on the VHS release of Little Bear: Little Goblin Bear.

Dogs (1997-1999)
Visuals: In a backyard, a blue puppy with "JR." on it runs into a flower garden, waking up a sleeping dog with "NICK" and making him search for it. The dog can't find the puppy at the flowers, since the puppy is at the big dog's doghouse. The dogs chase each other around a tree, then the dog finds the puppy and they pose together.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Rather dramatic music with a calmer finish, and dog sound effects.

Availability: It appears on an unknown Gullah Gullah Island VHS.

Swans (1997)
Visuals: In a pond on a night background, an swan with "NICk" on it swims. A blue swan with "JR." on it tugs on it, and speeds off, then it returns and they embrace each other.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Music with the swans whistling.

Horses (1997)
Visuals: On a paper flip book, an horse with "NICK" on it is drawn by a paintbrush gallops on grass. A blue foal with "JR." approaches it and they both nuzzle.

Technique: Traditional animation produced by Funline Animation, Inc.

Audio: Music with horse sound effects.

Audio Variant: There is another variant with an acoustic guitar theme.

Ducks (1997)
Visuals: An duck with "NICK" and a blue duckling with "JR." are walking. The duckling sees a butterfly and chases after it but falls into the pond and struggles in the water, and is helped up the the larger duck.

Technique: Traditional animation.

Audio: Music with the ducks quacking.

Giraffes (1997)
Visuals: In a jungle, a blue giraffe calf with "JR." on it tries to reach reach pears on a tree, eventually making a pile of them them fall down. An giraffe with "NICK" comes and they both hop to each other.

Technique: CGI animation.

Audio: Jungle music.

Ostrich Blocks (1998-2001)
Visuals: We see some blocks moving around on a floor, to reveal an ostrich (with "NICK" written on its wings) and a blue egg. The egg then morphs into a blue ostrich chick (with "JR." on its wings). The ostriches get together and blink.

Technique: Stop-motion animation by Funline Animation Inc.

Audio: A short tune played on a toy piano and sounds of the blocks moving and kids playing, along a boy saying "It's an egg." "It's a baby.", and a girl saying "Quack quack quack quack quack quack quack quack!" and a blinking sound at the end.

Audio Variant: A workprint of this ID also included the girl saying "Hi duckie!" and "It's a baby duck!" and didn't include the kids playing sound.

Paper Bags (1998)
Visuals: On a table, we see an bag and a blue bag. The bags try a couple looks from a shoebox with an assortment of craft items and then put on the words, "NICK" and "JR.", and look great.

Technique: Stop-motion animation.

Audio: A short tune played on a toy piano and sounds of the children talking.

Snakes (1999-2002)
Visuals: On a table background, we see a game of Connect the Dots in progress with a line and a blue line. The lines are drawn and keep moving up until they soon merge. When they merge, the two lines get colored (one with "NICK" and the other blue with "JR.") to be revealed as snakes. They soon loop around each other and start rubbing against each other

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A little boy saying "4-5-6" followed by a little girl saying "Hey, come back here! Where's the next number?" Then they proceed to laugh. Finally, the little girl says "It's a snake! That's pretty good." While all this happens, a drum beat is played followed by a "desert-like" version of the last 3 notes of the Nick Jr. jingle.

Hula Elephants (2000-2002)
Visuals: On a tropical desert island, we see two anthropomorphic elephants wearing hula skirts and leis, a big one playing a ukulele and a smaller one dancing to the music. A wave then crashes onto the island and submerges the two elephants. When the wave recedes, two different looking elephants appear, an one with "NICK" and a blue one with "JR".

Technique: 2D animation by John Serpentelli

Audio: A cheerful Hawaiian sounding ukulele melody, along with the sound of waves crashing.

Final Note
In 2002, Nick Jr. began excising the usage of bumpers, following a rebrand of their on-air look the previous year, and focused mainly on their Face segments and other interstitial/pre-show bumpers. September 2003 saw a re-design of Face and another re-branding of their image, as well as new bumpers.

Frogs (September 2003-2004)
Visuals: In a swamp, we see three lily pads (the back two have lotuses on them). A frog and a small blue frog hop on the lily pads until they stop hopping on the front lily pad. The frog croaks three times before pausing for 1 second. Then the blue frog croaks loudly while the frog has a wavy scared look on his face. The two frogs then smile at each other while "NICK" fades in on the frog while "JR." fades on the blue frog.

Trivia: This would later become the basis of the 3rd Nick Jr. Home Video Opening ID.

Variants:
 * Two short versions exist: One where the frogs are already on the lily pads and shrink to the bottom right corner after the logo forms, and another where the water is dark blue. The animation is unchanged.
 * In both versions, the frogs continue to move when "NICK" and "JR." fade in, to the point where the words overlap both of the frogs' mouths. Also, another blue frog can be seen behind the blue one when it croaks.

Technique: 2D Flash animation.

Audio: Bouncing sound effects, the frogs croaking (which is changed in the short version), and a synth pad (which was the channel's "theme" between September 2003 and September 2004). Sometimes, a male announcer says "There's more Nick Jr. hopping your way after this!"

Crocodiles (September 2003-2004)
Visuals: In a swamp, we see a blue crocodile swimming in the water. It climbs up a rock and onto the head of an crocodile. The blue one hops off, and the two crocodiles smile at each other as the words "NICK" and "JR." fade in on them.

Technique: Simple animation.

Audio: A glissando, then a synth pad note when the crocodiles smile at each other. Sometimes, a female announcer says "There's more Nick Jr. coming up, and up, and up!"

Mice (September 2003-2004)
Visuals: In a mouse house, we see some cheese, and a little blue mouse. Then an mouse appears, and they both lay the cheese down and eat it. The words "NICK" and "JR." fade in on them and the mouse hiccups.

Variant: A short version exists, starting with the mice eating the cheese. The logo fades in and the mouse hiccups, then it zooms to the bottom right corner and fades to a "Nick Jr. Play Along" interstitial.

Technique: Simple animation.

Audio: A 5-note theme with a "SQUEAK" sound at the end.

Cats (September 2003-2004)
Visuals: In a backyard, we see a blue kitten and an cat, walking through the backyard. They sit down and meow as the logo fades in.

Technique: Simple animation.

Audio: The cats meowing the "Where I Play to Learn" jingle. Sometimes, a female announcer says "We'll be right back with more Nick Jr.!"

Robots (September 2003-2004)
Visuals: In a football game, we see 2 robots, one and one blue. The blue robot is looking at a football while the robot cheers. The blue robot tries to throw it and scores, as the robot hops to him and throws the football. The football bounces, then the robot gives the blue robot a hug, and the logo fades in on them.

Trivia: This originally was used as a station ID and a break bumper.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A crowd cheering, 8-bit chiptune music, some kids cheering and a Disney-esque "boing". Sometimes, a robot voice says "There is more Nick Jr. coming up after this."

Final Note
In October 2004, Nick Jr. dropped this set of bumpers as well as Face, in favor of the new mascot Piper O'Possum.