Vanguard Animation

Credits

Compiled by
Michael Bass, AlbertoTheMonkey, EnormousRat, DannyTheMuppetMan, SubparMario63 and TheLogoFan2004

Background

Vanguard Animation is an American animation studio founded in 2002 by John H. Williams (known for producing the first two Shrek films) and Neil Braun. The company signed a deal with Ealing Studios to produce animated films and signed a US distribution deal with The Walt Disney Studios to fill in the void of Pixar after their initial partnership expired. The following year, the company sold a minority stake to IDT Entertainment. After Valiant (Vanguard's first film) underperformed at the box office, the company parted ways with Disney and since then, their films have been distributed by different distributors. Ironically, one of their titles, Space Chimps, is now also held by Disney, due to their acquisition of its distributor, 20th Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios).

1st Logo (March 25, 2005-September 18, 2008)

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Visuals: On a turquoise-textured solidate background, there are the letters of "VANGUARD" coming (jumping, rolling, tottering) in. Each is made from clay-like material and some attachments. They bounce around before standing still. After the letters bounce into place, the white word "ANIMATION" falls down.  

Variants:

• On Happily N'Ever After, the logo is a bit darker and fades in and out at the beginning and end of the sequence respectively.
• On Space Chimps for DS, the logo is still on a white background.

Technique: CGI.

Audio:

• On Valiant, the opening theme of the movie plays over.
• On Happily N'Ever After, the bouncing of the letters and words, accompanied by various cartoon sounds.
• On Space Chimps for the DS, it's silent.

Availability: Only seen on Valiant, Happily N'Ever After and the Space Chimps game for the Nintendo DS (the film itself uses the next logo).

2nd Logo (July 18, 2008)

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Visuals: On a blue background, the word "VANGUARD", in its usual font, resides at the center of the screen. Then, a robotic arm (the Infinity probe from the movie) pushes the logo into a liquid metal-type substance (called Freznar, which is from the planet Malgor, also from the movie). The text then comes back up, but now all silver. The probe disappears.

Variant: On international releases of Space Chimps, the animation in the probe is slightly different, stiffer and more robotic, and the drop shadow on the Vanguard logo is absent. Also, the text "A Vanguard Animation Film" in silver also appears below the Vanguard logo at the end. At the end of the film, it is still, both on the US and international prints. This variant also applies to the PS2 game, but with the smoother animation of the US variant.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The opening theme of the movie for the US variant, and the sounds of the probe for international prints and the PS2 variant of the Space Chimps video game. At the end of Space Chimps, it is silent.

Availability: Seen on Space Chimps and its PlayStation 2 game.

3rd Logo (May 28, 2010-August 14, 2020)

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Visuals: Just the "VANGUARD" word in the same manner as the last two logos zooming in on a black background. This blends in with other logos that appear at the beginning of their newer movies, starting with Gnome Alone.

Variant: On Space Chimps 2: Zartog Strikes Back, the logo is on a white background and doesn't zoom in.

Technique: A still, digital graphic.

Audio: The opening theme of the movie.

Availability: Seen on movies from Space Chimps 2: Zartog Strikes Back to Fearless. Get Squirrely doesn't use the logo, instead using the one below.

4th Logo (June 26, 2015-November 4, 2016)

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Visuals: A white filmstrip with the words "VANGUARD" and "FILMS" resides in a black background. "VANGUARD" is in a green, grungy font, and "FILMS" appears on it's right side, tilted. The words "In conjunction with" appear above.

Technique: A still, digital graphic.

Audio: The opening theme of the movie, which is different on the international version.

Availability: It was only ever seen on A.C.O.R.N.S: Operation Crackdown, known internationally as Get Squirrely.

5th Logo (December 19, 2020-)

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Visuals: On a white background, there are the words "VAN UARD" and "animation" and a crudely-drawn eye with a light green iris in the center. "VAN" and "UARD" are inbetween the eye and "animation" is seen below "UARD". The eye looks left and right before blinking and a "G" appearing instead of the pupil. The "G" zooms in and back, and resides in the center of the iris, and has a light yellow aura around it. The black "G" turns pink for a split second, before the eye loses its eyelashes and closes.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: None or the closing theme of the film.

Availability: Seen on Vanguard's website since around 2020. Also seen at the end of Rally Road Racers.