MTV/1991

Alien Autopsy (1991-1993)
Visuals: There is the same countdown effect from the "Alien Operation Game" ID. Then a group of doctors are seen carefully putting down an alien and severing its black eyelids. Then, a doctor gets a medical supply to cut open the alien's stomach (a drip of blood can be seen leaking before the stomach is open). The doctors then dig inside the alien, only for them to find luminescence reflecting. Then, the MTV logo with /yellow colors is pulled out by one of the doctors, much to its disgust.

Technique: Live-action with a bit of claymation by Octopus Creations Inc. Produced and directed by Robert J. Marino.

Audio: A theme which is lacking the silly nature from "Alien Operation Game", accompanied with a voiceover saying "Roswell, New Mexico. Two casualties were recovered from the wreckage of an unidentified flying object. The doctors on duty that day were delegated to the supreme responsibility of documenting mankind's first recorded contact with an alien species. What is this? Amazingly, there seems to be luminescence emanating from inside the cavity itself! Any guesses as good as another as to what this perplexing icon represents." If you listen closely, a heartbeat can be heard at the end.

Anatomy X-Ray (1991-1996)


Visuals: Unknown

Technique: Stop-motion by John Schnall.

Audio: Unknown

Availability:' Extinct.

Boo (1991-1995)


Visuals: Unknown

Technique: Stop-motion by Miles Flanagan, Mole Hill and Mark Slater.

Audio: Unknown

Availability:' Extinct.

Dairy (1991-1995)


Visuals: Unknown

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: Unknown

Doubloon (1991-1995)


Visuals: Unknown

Technique: 2D animation by Passion Pictures.

Audio: Unknown

Dog Food (1991-1994)
Visuals: Unknown

Technique: Stop-motion by Olive Jar Animation.

Audio: Unknown

Dreams of Clarence (1991-1996)


Visuals: Unknown

Technique: 2D animation by Dario Duran.

Audio: Unknown

Enemies (1991-1993)
Visuals: Unknown

Technique: 2D animation by Bill Plympton.

Audio: Unknown

Frying Pan (1991-1996)


Visuals: Unknown

Technique: 2D animation by Tom Larsen.

Audio: Unknown

Gangster (1991-1996)
Visuals: Unknown

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: Unknown

Houdini (1991-1995)
Visuals: Unknown

Technique: Stop-motion and live-action by Colossal Pictures.

Audio: Unknown

Shed the Jungle, Shun the Cow (1991-1995)


Visuals: Unknown

Technique: 2D animation by Joe Murray.

Audio: Unknown

Legacy: This ident was referenced in the intro to Murray's cartoon Rocko's Modern Life.

Metamorphosis (1991-1994)
Visuals: Unknown

Technique: Photomontage.

Audio: Unknown

Mirror (1991-1995)


Visuals: Unknown... Suddenly, there are two dressed men pulling chains away from each other, causing a box to materialize and stretch in until it forms a square shape. The screen then cuts to a wide shot of the two men and the box, revealing that the chains are actually connected to the ends of the box. The men continue pulling, causing the box to split and form the familiar MTV "Big M" logo. When it's completely formed, the stylized "TV" letters fade in on the right side of the "M" at the same time as "MUSIC TELEVISION", which is seen below in Helvetica.

Technique: Stop-motion by Wolfgang and Christoph Lauenstein.

Audio: First, there is a strange eerie tune with sounds of water. Then, sounds of dragging are heard when the men are pulling the box and an echoing thud when the logo is completely formed.

Availability: A short version of this bumper was also used by MTV Productions and MTV Home Video during the 1990s.

Musical Shapes (1991-1996)


Visuals: Unknown

Technique A mix of 2D and CG.

Audio: Unknown

Peter Lorre (1991-1996)


Visuals: Throughout the ident only shows Peter Lorre himself walking while confusingly looked at the back of his suit having the MTV logo imprinted on it.

Technique: Cut-out animation.

Audio: Unknown

Trivia: This ident is referencing the 1931 Fritz Lang movie, M, a movie which the titular character starred in, which the letter M can be seen written on the back of Lorre's suit. With the M being written on his back and the letter M is the starting letter of MTV, it's likely this movie was chosen to be referenced.

Pig (1991-1995)


Visuals: Unknown

Technique: A blend of claymation and 2D by Movie Magic.

Audio: Unknown

Playhead (1991-1995)
Visuals: Unknown

Technique: 2D animation by Gabriela Gruber.

Audio: Unknown

Rubber Stamps (1991-1994)
Visuals: Unknown

Technique: A blend of cut-out animation and 2D by Lisa Crafts, based on a series of Sesame Street shorts she produced around the same time.

Audio: Unknown

Scanner (1991-1995)
Visuals: Unknown

Technique: Stop-motion animation by Steve Newman.

Audio: Unknown

Star (1991-1995)


Visuals: Unknown

Technique: Stop-motion by John Taylor.

Audio: Unknown

Thief (1991-1996)


Visuals: Unknown

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: Unknown

Amazing Place (1991-1995)


Visuals: Unknown

Technique: 2D animation by Flip Johnson.

Audio: Unknown

Cereal (1991-1995)
Visuals: Unknown

Technique: A blend of live-action and 2D animation by Olive Jar Animation.

Audio: Unknown

Metal Machine (1991-1995)


Visuals: There is a seemingly metal centipede moving around a junkyard at night. It crawls into a hole and it becomes an insect-like flying robot. It then flies, and a red/ dragon with a centipede-like body. Said dragon chases the flying robot around the junkyard. The robot gets in a machine/castle, which closes its gate. The dragon tries to get in, but fails. The robot flies around the castle until finding a power source and activating it. Electricity runs through the machine/castle, and wheels and drills on it turn. At the lower part, "legs" pull part of the machine/castle out and it becomes shaped like an "M". The "TV" is made with other parts on the machine/castle.

Technique: Stop-motion by John Peyson.

Audio: Unknown

Legacy: Though considered by creepy by some, many considered this a cool logo.

Top of the Hour 1991 (1991-1992)


Visuals: Unknown

Technique: An elaborate live-action setup by Colossal Pictures.

Audio: Unknown