Magical Elves

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


Background

This is Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz's production company, founded in 2001, though both would leave in 2019. In 2014, the Welsh entertainment group Tinopolis purchased the company.

1st Logo (December 7, 2005- )

Visuals: On a royal purple background with a vignete, an animated elf (only white outline) flies up from the bottom of the screen while doing a pirouette move as sparkly stars encircle them. As they land on their feet and strike a pose, resembling a shrug combined with a left crouch. a large white disk, with a smaller ring surrounding it and a abstract "m" on it appears from the left and rolls around the front of the screen, and then settling underneath the elf. "MAGICAL ELVES, INC." then slides in from the left in a white font designed to appear ancient, as the elf finishes their pose. The disk then flashes, followed by the elf winking.

Variants:

  • Early Variant: From its debut to early 2006, the logo was notably a lot simpler with cheaper-looking animation. The background had a cracked look to it, the elf's animations were jankier and also faded in while it was twirling, the disk simply zooms out while revolving, and the text simply cuts in. The elf also looked slightly different, having visible underwear and a belly button.
  • On the pilot of Treasure Hunters, the disc and company name are already in place, leaving the elf to simply do its animations.
  • On their website before it was updated, a Flash recreation of this logo was presented when you entered the site.
  • Usually the logo would cut out at the end to the next company's logo.
  • From 2013 onwards, the word "INC." is removed, which makes it now read "MAGICAL ELVES". The text is also bigger.
  • Starting in 2015, the byline "A Tinopolis Company' appears swiping in from the left side of the screen.
  • A still variant on a black background exists.
  • A special animated variation at the end of the closing credits of Air Guitar Nation is seen, featuring the elf filled with white and a purple outline. The elf starts to tap its foot before it starts to perform air guitar to the end theme.
  • Sometimes the logo can be shortened.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: A giggling sound effect is heard along with a reverse cymbal clash, and then three sparkling sounds. Otherwise, it's silent or the ending theme plays over.

Availability: It debuted on the second season of Project Runway, which premiered on December 7, 2005. It was also seen on reality shows that they produced such as Online Dating Rituals of the American Man, and Work of Art: The Next Great Artist, among others.

2nd Logo (2021-)


Visuals: On a white background is three elves, one with a television camera connecting to a TV set and inside there is the circle with the letter "M" on it which is in fact the circle from the first logo inside, one sitting on a director's chair with a microphone and one holding a board. Then all three of the elves swiping away into the TV screen and the circle with the letter "M" on it zooms in the middle when the background changes into purple. The text "MAGICAL ELVES" with the Tinopolis byline appears in a sliding effect appears underneath the circle.

Variant: Most of the time, the logo occurs in credit as a small rectangle.

Technique: Traditional animation.

Audio: A xylophone tune with a reverse laser sound when the TV turns on and 3 laser sounds as the elves swipe away into the TV screen. Otherwise, it's the closing theme.

Availability: Appeared on some TV specials produced with Peacock, like Top Chef: Family Style, Olympic Highlights with Kevin Hart and Snoop Dogg and Snoop and Martha’s Very Tasty Halloween.

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