Studio B Productions

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


Background

Studio B Productions was a Canadian animation studio that was founded in 1988 by Blair Peters and Chris Bartleman in Vancouver, British Columbia. On December 4, 2007, it was acquired by DHX Media, Ltd. and became a subsidiary of it. On September 8, 2010, the studio and its subsidiaries were renamed throughout the past several months: Studio B Productions Inc. and Studio B (Animation Service) Productions Inc. became DHX Media (Vancouver) Ltd. and DHX Media Studio (Vancouver) Ltd. respectively on December 22, 2010, and Studio B Holdings Inc. was renamed DHX Media (Vancouver Prod) Ltd. on January 11, 2011. In 2016, the former Studio B Productions team was relocated to a new facility in Vancouver. The new building also houses the former Nerd Corps Entertainment (a 3D CGI studio which DHX Media acquired in 2014).



1st Logo (September 18, 1996-August 10, 1999)


Visuals: Against a dark blue-red gradient background is a drawing of a blue television set with a wall plug next to it. Under it are the words "Studio B" in a script font (called "Rage Italic") with "PRODUCTIONS" in spaced-out letters with a black line above it, below. In the screen of the TV set, there is a static screen, which is cleared up with static. Lightning circuits into its antennas, causing the static screen to turn into a black filmstrip "B" on a yellow screen in the center of the TV set.

Technique: 2D traditional animation.

Audio: A buzzing sound for the messy screen (à la the 1996 Nickelodeon Productions logo), followed by a wizard's "wish" sound. Sometimes, it's the end theme of the show/special.

Availability: Seen on season 2 of both Savage Dragon and Ned's Newt. Also seen on Little Witch and Snowden: Raggedy Ann & Andy's Adventure.

2nd Logo (September 9, 1999-March 20, 2005)

Visuals: On a yellow/white background is the same animation of the TV set from before, but the TV is colored gray instead of blue and the lightning has a blue glow. After the animation finishes, the words "Studio B" appear below the TV set, in the same font as before, but in black.

Variant: On the PC game Rockett's First Dance, this logo shares the screen with the logo for Mercury Filmworks. The Studio B logo is present in a white circle, including the text "P R O D U C T I O N S".

Technique: 2D traditional animation.

Audio: Same as the previous logo.

Availability:

  • Appears on Yvon of the Yukon and D'Myna Leagues, which is often followed by either the YTV logo or the CTV logo.
  • Also appeared on Yakkity Yak, which was last seen on Nicktoons Network (now Nicktoons).
  • The audio variant can be seen on D'Myna Leagues and season 3 of What About Mimi?.
  • It also appeared on Rockett's First Dance, which Studio B helped design.

3rd Logo (January 11, 2005-October 3, 2011)

Visuals: On a purple wallpaper background filled with a set of little B's is the same colored television set as the second logo, but minus the wall plug, which now bounces when a red electricity zaps to the antennas. In the screen of the TV set is the same static screen as before, which fades into a yellow screen. A "B" now zooms up inside the TV set, as the words "STUDIO B PRODUCTIONS" fade in underneath the TV set. A registered trademark appears the upper-left next the TV.

Variants:

  • There is a widescreen version of the logo, as well as a pan & scan version of the logo.
  • On My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, the logo is still.
  • Starting on September 1, 2008, the byline "A DHX Media Ltd. Company" with "INC." appears under the logo. There is also a still version of this.
    • On Kid vs. Kat shorts, there's a still in-credit version without "INC." along with Jetix Europe and YTV logos.
  • A still in-credit version with the word "INC." appears with the Hasbro Studios logo on the Japanese dub of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

Technique: 2D flash animation which likely looks like Blair Peters' animation style.

Audio: A variety of crazy, cartoony sounds, consisting of zapping, a boing and popping. Some shows and specials have the ending theme play over it.

Availability:

  • The logo debuted on Reader Rabbit: Wordville Soup and Reader Rabbit: The Great Alphabet Race.
  • Seen on shows such as the first three seasons of Martha Speaks, Class of the Titans, Being Ian, Kid vs. Kat, The Amazing Adrenalini Brothers, and Pucca.
  • The still version of the 2008 logo appears on the first season (as well as the two-part premiere of the second season) of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
  • Also seen on the direct to video special The Legend of Frosty the Snowman, as well as the Edgar and Ellen shorts when last reran on Nicktoons Network.
Studio B Productions
DHX Media