MTV Production Development

Background

MTV Productions was the original film and television production arm of American cable network MTV. It was founded in 1991 to produce television shows for the network. In 2003, it was rebranded as MTV Production Development after the film production arm was split off a year earlier and renamed to MTV Films. In 2018, the division was restructured as MTV Studios, which soon merged with MTV Films and became MTV Entertainment Studios in 2021.

MTV Productions

1st Logo (June 2, 1991-January 1, 1995)

Logo: On a swirling background with blue water droplets (from the intro of Liquid Television), we see the MTV logo in a red gradient with "TV" and "MUSIC TELEVISION" in white. The logo zooms in slowly and tilts to the right.

Technique: 2D animation.

Music/Sounds: The ending theme of the show.

Availability: Rare. Only seen on Liquid Television.

2nd Logo (October 25, 1993-June 23, 1995)

Logo: It's a shortened version of the MTV "Mirror" bumper of the era, but with "PRODUCTIONS" appearing below.

Technique: Same as the MTV "Mirror" bumper.

Music/Sounds: The ending theme of the show.

Availability: Rare. Only seen on The Jon Stewart Show.

Final Note: From 1995-2003, most MTV shows used either an in-credit notice or a shortened version of the 1996 MTV Films logo.

MTV Production Development

(2003-2019)

Logo: We see a shot of some grass with the silhouettes of (presumably) a camera crew. Then the MTV logo appears, followed by the stenciled text "Production" and "Development" and a copyright stamp below it (all in white).

Variants:

There is a version that takes place on a beach, with waves crashing into the sand.
There is another version that takes place near a swimming pool.
There is a rare variant where the words "Production Development" and the copyright stamp appear at the same time.
Sometimes, the logo is shortened or played in warp speed.
Sometimes, the logo is still.
In 2010, the logo was updated with the newer MTV logo.
In 2011, the copyright stamp now mentions Viacom Media Networks instead of MTV Networks, due to a rebrand.
On Teen Wolf, the logo is shortened to a tenth of a second.
On the 2009 TV special Steve-O: Demise and Rise, the logo is superimposed on part of the ending scene from Jackass: The Movie, featuring Steve-O in his old man costume.

Technique: Live-action footage.

Music/Sounds: An ambient piano theme with the sound of a sprinkler and crickets chirping, or the ending theme of the show.

Music/Sounds Variants:

On the beach version, the sound of seagulls and waves crashing is heard with the music.
On the swimming pool version, only the sound of water is heard.
On The Substitute, the music is sped up.
After mid-episode breaks on Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory and Ridiculousness, Rob Dyrdek was heard over the logo as a continuity announcer. This is sometimes retained on reruns.

Availability: It was seen on most MTV original shows such as Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory, Jersey Shore, Teen Wolf, Awkward and Ridiculousness, among others from 2003 to 2019.

Legacy: This logo is well-remembered by people who grew up watching Teen Wolf and Jersey Shore, as well as other MTV shows of the time.

MTV Production Development

MTV Entertainment Studios

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