Universal Cartoons

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum




1st Logo (September 2, 1929-1931)


Visuals: It's almost the same as the movie logo of the 1920s, except it's a cartoon version and a still logo.

Technique: A hand-drawn graphic.

Audio: The closing theme of the cartoon.

Availability: Seen at the end of the Walter Lantz-produced Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons.

2nd Logo (1932-1936)

Visuals: "The End" is seen on the upper left corner, and a globe, with clouds, is seen on the lower right corner, as in some of the movies from the 1930s. The words "IT'S A UNIVERSAL CARTOON" in capital letters overlap the globe.

Technique: Printed card.

Audio: See 1st logo.

Availability: Seen on cartoons from that era. [Examples?]

3rd Logo (August 15, 1938-December 15, 1947)

Visuals: Same as the movie logo.

Variant: On later cartoons, this logo is blue-tinted.

Closing Titles: On a blue, red or customized background, "A WALTER LANTZ CARTUNE" is seen above the screen in very small letters. Below the text, the following variants:

  • The early ending involved some credits and "The End" on the bottom.
  • The second variant doesn't have the credits, the "The End" words are bigger and in a different script. Also, Walter Lantz is billed as "Walt Lantz" in some shorts.
    • On Air Raid Warden (1942), Ration Bored and Pass the Biscuits Mirandy! (both 1943), the second ending is shown with the phrase "BUY MORE WAR BONDS FOR VICTORY". The latter has a plate of grenade biscuits replace “The End”.
  • The third variant, more common than the other, the "The End" is smaller and the Screen Cartoonists Guild logo is seen on the bottom.

Technique: Same as the movie logo.

Audio: The opening theme of the cartoon.

Availability: Seen on some early Woody Woodpecker cartoons, as well as the infamous Scrub Me Mama With A Boogie Beat.

4th Logo (January 22, 1951-March 13, 1964)

Visuals: Same as the movie logo.

Technique: Same as the movie logo.

Audio: The opening theme of the cartoon.

Availability: Seen on Woody Woodpecker cartoons from the era. Usually it was seen on Chilly Willy cartoons on Boomerang.

5th Logo (April 10, 1964-September 1, 1972)

Visuals: Same as the movie logo, but short.

Technique: Same as the movie logo.

Audio: The opening theme of the cartoon.

Availability:

  • Universal Cartoons managed to survive into the 1970s unlike other major film company cartoon divisions.
  • Seen on some Chilly Willy cartoons syndicated on television.
  • It can also be seen on later Woody Woodpecker cartoons as well.
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