Original Productions

Background

Original Productions, LLC is a television production company based in Burbank, California. It was founded in 1999 by Thom Beers. On February 19, 2009, FremantleMedia acquired 75% of Original Productions for $50 million.

Contents

1st Logo (August 2, 2000-2009)	2nd Logo (2009-2021)	3rd Logo (2021-)

1st Logo (August 2, 2000-2009)

Visuals: On a white background, enclosed in a thin black border, a film reel zooms out and settles in the top left corner of the screen. The text "riginal" wipes in, the film reel forming the "O" in "Original", and then the word "Productions" wipes in at the same time. The web address "www.origprod.com" wipes in at the same time as the text. The "LLC" word fades in.

Early Variant: An early version exists on Discovery Channel wrestling VHS tapes: the web address and black border were absent and the whole animation was significantly more zoomed-out. On some of the aforementioned VHS tapes, the copyright notice is seen at the bottom.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: A kid (likely a chorus of kids) singing "It's original!" in a sing-song tone.

For the early version, the end theme plays over it.

Availability: The early variant was seen only on Discovery Channel wrestling VHS tapes. The later variant is seen on the first season of 1000 Ways to Die and Black Gold.

2nd Logo (2009-2021)

Visuals: Over a black background, what looks like a giant smudge of blue chalk is seen, with "Original Productions" in a white chalk like font written on it and the byline "A FremantleMedia Company" at the bottom.

Variants:

There is an early bylineless variant with the words aligned horizontally and a different smudge, reading "Original Productions, LLC".
On Quit Your Day Job, both words of the name as well as the smudge all slide into place. The byline (which differently reads "A FREMANTLE COMPANY") appears one letter at a time.
In 2018, the smudge is in 2D, the background is white and the company name is now in a bold font, as well as a different FremantleMedia byline.

Technique: A still graphic. 2D computer animation for the 2016 variant.

Audio: The same jingle from the previous logo. Starting in 2016, none or the closing theme.

Availability: Seen on season 2-onwards episodes of 1000 Ways to Die, as well as the pilot of its failed spinoff 1000 Ways to Lie. Also seen on Badlands, Storage Wars Texas, Whisker Wars, Black Gold, America's Lost Treasures, Verminators, Swords: Life on the Line and Quit Your Day Job. Despite their massive output, the company usually just uses an in-credit notice.

3rd Logo (2021-)

On a black background
On a black background (alternate)
On a white background

Visuals: On a black background is the text "ORIGINAL PRODUCTIONS" in close-up. The camera then zooms out as a lens flare shines it. The Fremantle byline ("Fremantle" being the logo) appears at the bottom.

Variants:

Sometimes, the Fremantle byline may be either smaller or larger.
A still version exists.
A short version exists.
A white background version exists.

Technique: 2D digital animation.

Audio: None or the closing theme.

Availability: Seen on newer shows by the company, including Phat Tuesdays: The Era of Hip Hop Comedy.