Satin City

Background

Satin City is a production company founded in 1991 by Linwood Boomer, who is best known for producing Malcolm in the Middle, as well as the failed American adaptation of Red Dwarf (the latter had a placeholder logo for the company). The company didn't have an official logo until 2000.

Logo (January 9, 2000-May 14, 2006)

Visuals: On a teal gradient background, the script word "Satin" appears from left to right, then cuts in and out several times (along with a transparent turquoise copy) and appears very out-of-focus. The spaced-out text "CITY" in a white color appears below letter-by-letter. In the background, some teal buildings (shaped like tubes) with purple tips are also drawn in.

Later Variant: Starting with season 4, the logo gained a grungier appearance throughout. The background is enhanced, "Satin" draws in and flashes, the buildings have thicker outlines and darker colors and "CITY" re-draws several times.

Trivia: This logo was created 3 months after the original record date of the show's pilot.

Variants:

A warp-speed version of the logo exists on certain season 1 episodes.
Sometimes, the logo is brighter.

Technique: 2D computer animation by WunderFilm.

Audio: A two-note bass that segues into a synth chord rising to a higher tone. Composed by Angie Rubin.

Audio Variants:

On the pilot episode (with the exception of the Netflix prints), a bang starts it off (sourced from the end of Malcolm in the Middle).
The warp-speed version uses a strange-sounding synth chord (sourced from one of the music cues in Malcolm in the Middle). This is also sometimes used on the regular version.
- This cue plays in the episode "Red Dress" in the scene where Lois pulls the titular dress out of the toilet.

Availability: Seen on Malcolm in the Middle. The original variant tends not to be shown on post-2002 prints of seasons 1-3, instead being plastered with the later variant from seasons 4-7. Certain home releases preserve it.