Disney Channel (Feature Presentation Bumpers)

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


1st Bumper (1983-1984)

Visuals: There is a medieval castle and some trees on a sunny day. The trees slide offscreen as the camera slowly zooms in towards the castle, with birds flying above the castle's spires. We soon fade to the front doors of the castle, which have the then current Disney Channel logo emblazoned above them. The doors open up and reveal a gleaming stream of light. After we have gone into the doors, a screen fades in containing the shiny words "THE DISNEY CHANNEL" with "FEATURE PRESENTATION" below, the top word in bigger letters than the bottom word, all on an evening rural background. The text shines.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A triumphant horn/trumpet fanfare, which crescendoes as the doors open up. We then hear a xylophone-like strum when "PRESENTATION" shines.

2nd Bumper (1985)

Visuals: On a magenta/pink gradient background of Mickey head emblems which are shining, there is a blue gradient filmreel move from the right to the left, and then from the left to the right of the screen. As the filmreel moves left to right, on it are various scenes of Disney films up to 1985, which play out. As the filmreel leaves the screen, behind it, the silver text "A DISNEY CHANNEL FEATURE PRESENTATION" slides onto the screen before turning to face the viewer and settle in the center. The text shines.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: A mid-80s style rock/synth tune, with a male announcer saying "And now, a Disney Channel feature presentation."

3rd Bumper (1986-1990)

Visuals: On a background of either sped-up clouds, a sped-up sunset or fireworks, there is the Disney Channel Mickey head emblem of the time, in gold, fade in and zoom in until it is in a comfortable position. Below it, the words "A DiSNEY Channel Feature Presentation" (with "DiSNEY" in the corporate script font) fade in.

Technique: Live-action background footage, combined with simple 2D animation as the logo appears.

Audio: Either one of these was used, depending on the variant shown:

  • Clouds: Beginning with a rapid orchestral crescendo, a 13-note horn/trumpet melody is heard which grows louder on the last note before cutting off ("Open Market A" by Dick Walter, from the KPM music library). This went on to be reused in the FastPlay bumper almost 1 1/2 decades later.
  • Sunset: A jazzy trumpet fanfare.
  • Fireworks: A triumphant orchestral fanfare.

4th Bumper (1990s)

Visuals: On a yellow background, Mickey Mouse's face appears in the top left corner with each circle containing lines dividing the shapes into quarters. A number of lines draw across the screen and the background turns purple as the words "Feature Presentation" appear below.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A typical 1990s funk/pop tune.

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