Motion Pictures S.A.

Background

Motion Pictures S.A. is an independent production and distribution company, founded in 1977 by Enrique Uviedo Herrera, and based in Barcelona. They're mostly known as being the Spanish distributors of many well known TV cartoons, mostly from DIC Entertainment (Heathcliff, Dennis the Menace, etc.), but also from other companies like New World. Other times, they are known for producing 2D and CGI animated shows, like Raindrop, Telmo and Tula, LMN'S, Glumpers, Pumpkin Reports, and various other programs.

1st (known) Logo (Late 1980s-Late 1990s)

Visuals: On a white background, the words "Motion" and "Pictures" write themselves in a Brush Stroke MT font. Their shadows are visible on the background. Then two orange deformed parallelograms slide from the center top and bottom sections of the screen, as a triangle, in orange as well, comes from the left, forming a Motown-like Futura Black D "M".

Variants:

On some films like The Neverending Story, the logo was still. This rendition was pretty common.
On The Tale of the Stinking Military Service, the logo is superimposed into the film's opening intro sequence. This version also animates smoothly.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: The series' closing theme.

Availability: It tends to appear on all re-runs of shows from their catalog, but exclusively in Spanish stations, of course. It was also seen on the film The Tale of the Stinking Military Service.

2nd Logo (Late 1990s-2000s)

Visuals: On a black background, a golden triangle zooms in leaving a blurry trail, followed by two deformed parallelograms, forming the M from the previous logo. Then a red blur appears and, after spinning a little, places itself in the middle of the screen, revealing the text "Motion Pictures, S.A." (in the same font as the previous logo). This logo was used for feature films distributed by the company.

Variant: There's an abridged, silent version for TV shows.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A synthesizer tune.

Availability: Can be seen on movies distributed by this company like La Dolce Vita.

3rd Logo (2000-2006)

Visuals: On a black background, there is a rectangular creature walk to the center of the screen. It opens a door with a button behind it. It presses the button and a spotlight activates while a line carrying a sleeping triangle comes down. The rectangular yells at it to wake up and it instructs the triangle to stand next to it (which it does). Another rectangular creature slides in next to the others and the spotlight dies out and restarts again, showing the abstract M (sans eyes). The text "Motion Pictures S.A." appears in a blue Brush Script MT font, which flickers. A blue line is beneath the M, which proceeds to fade out.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A jazz tune, which is actually the 1958-1960 UPA opening music.

Availability: It was seen on Spanish prints of Patrol 03 and Raindrop: Water is Adventure. It also appeared on the Spanish dub of Martin Matin.

4th Logo (2006-2021)

Visuals: On the black background, the abstract M, but now slightly redesigned, pops out piece-by-piece. Then, the text "Motion Pictures Presenta" in a white Brush Script MT font, with "Presenta" in smaller letters, fades in below.

Variants:

On preschool-oriented shows, the M is green.
On shows made for children between the ages of 5 and 12 years of age, the M is sky blue.
Starting in 2009, the company name and "M" are now vermilion and in a new font. The text is also smaller and "Presenta" isn't there.

Technique: CGI produced by Anera Films.

Audio: A 5-note whistle tune, which was repeated thanks to the tuba, both followed up by a single note and a happy xylophone tune. Composed by Miquel Tejada.

Availability: The 2009 version was seen on YouTube prints of Raindrop: Water is Adventure, and on Van Dogh, Glumpers, Pumpkin Reports, and Mya Go. The green preschool variant appears on some educational and informative shows, including Zumbers and Telmo & Tula: Arts & Crafts (though the latter isn't a preschool-oriented show), while the blue 5-12-year old variant appears on LMN'S: Adventures in the Microworld, the Alex series (Alex in the Magic Orchard, Alex and the Music, Alex in the Sea, and Alex in the Jungle), Boom and Reds, Green Light: Traffic Safety, and Telmo and Tula: Little Cooks, among others. The green, blue, and 2009 vermilion variants are no longer current. It can seen on their YouTube channel, and on their Animotion channels (on each and every single full episode of every show they've produced).