YTV

Credits

Descriptions by
lukesams, KeepItWeird, and lovelogos

Captures by
l0gocrazed, and KeepItWeird

Editions by
l0gocrazed, lovelogos, and lukesams

Background

These are the IDs used by Canadian TV channel YTV, launched on September 1, 1988.

1st Logo (September 1, 1988-September 4, 1989)

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Visuals: There are two variations of this logo:

• On a space background, parts of a ornate circle turned on its side slowly flies into place from all sides of the screen. A layer of "glass" flies in from the bottom and settles itself on the circle. Then the circle rotates to face the camera, and we see the YTV text rotate in as well. The text "Young As You Are!" writes itself on the logo.
• Same concept as the "Young as You Are!" logo, but this time the background is a time-lapse video of clouds (a la Warner Home Video) and this time the text is "The Youth Channel" in a different font.

Variants:

• Sometimes, there is no text writing itself on the finished logo.
• Sometimes, only the tail end of the logo plays.
• One version had "Canada's Youth Channel" writing itself on.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A light synth tune with three bells and a synth bass sounder at the end. On the earliest versions (circa 1988), an electric guitar riff played at the beginning with rhythmic laser gun sounds added (and used) for a certain amount of patterns.

2nd Logo (September 5, 1989-1991)

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Visuals: On a sky background, there is a red block being cut into pieces by lasers. As they separate, we see parts of a giant circle come together and circular lights circling them. At the same time, the red blocks form the YTV logo (which is the same logo as before, with a slightly different arrangement) and they rotate to face the camera while the circle gets its "glass" covering and IT rotates to face the camera. While it's doing that, a triangle (upside down) with the words "THE SPIRIT OF" flies in from the bottom right. As the "glass" covering on the circle gets its "shines", the word "YOUTH", in neon green, writes itself on the triangle, under the "THE SPIRIT OF" text.

Variants:

• The sky sometimes varies. From 1989-1991, it used a dark blue sky background. In 1991, the sky turned sunset orange.
• Sometimes, there is no triangle with text accompanying the logo. Sometimes, the tail end (where the YTV text forms itself) plays, cutting out the lasers.
• Sometimes, a still logo is shown.

Technique: CGI.

Audio:

• 1989-1991: A light synth theme with the three bells and a synth flourish at the end plays, just like the first ID.
• 1991: A re-arranged version of the theme, this time with an electric guitar and no bells at the end.

3rd Logo (1991-1995)

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Visuals: See Variants.

Variants:

• Globe: There is a spinning globe while some tribal music plays. Then, the globe slows down, revealing the words "YTV" on it. This ID was later updated in 1995 and still aired until early-1999.
• Robot Ballet: There is a robot dancing (that has the words "YTV" on it) dances at a ballet studio, then it pirouettes to the center and bows.
• Paint: The YTV text gets splattered with paint.
• Snow Man: There is a elf running into a path with snowmen in the background, until he gets hit by a snowball, looks back to said snowmen, and walks away, revealing the snowmen giggling back, pulling up a sign with "Happy Holidays from YTV" on it. This ID also had a variant in 1995 with robots in place of snowmen.
• Snow Angel: The logo starts with 3 figures, each colored in red, blue and green, playfully running in a snow field, until throwing themselves into the snow, forming a snow angel in the shape of the YTV logo.
• Rain: There is a desert, then a rain cloud appears and makes some rain. The rain forms the YTV text and goes away, causing plants to grow.
• Boomerang: A boy decides to use the Y from the text as a boomerang, then he throws it into space, and the boy puts the Y back.
• TV Set: The same boy from before rides on the Y as a hoverboard in space, as the meteors fly past him, then he stops by the planet and jumps on the chair. He uses a remote control to switch on the TV set. It switches on, as a static has occurred and brings forth the YTV logo. A footage of several clips are played throughout.
• Tree: A boy drops the seed into the ground and moves the dirt. He uses a watering can to plant the seed, then waits for it to grow. As this happens, a tree emerges from the ground, where he notices it growing. The screen cuts to a shot of branches of the tree, forming the YTV logo.
• Cards: There are some flipping cards in different colors. Then the cards stop, forming the YTV logo.
• Teacher: A teacher explains the basics of algebra (in a gibberish language), but gets a white YTV tissue on his mouth, which silences him.
• Skull: The camera zooms around a YTV skull.
• Dinosaur: A girl has a YTV dinosaur for a pet.
• Nap: A YTV poster is sleeping. A record player playing rock music wakes it up, however.
• Viking Opera: A Viking sings opera, making the vase become broken on the floor, and gets a red YTV tissue on her mouth.
• Megaphone: A male voice speaks gibberish while making speech on P.A., then a hand reaches up and places a blue YTV tissue on the megaphone.
• Scribbles: The YTV logo is illustrated with scribbles.
• Blender: A YTV blender spins around.
• Chair: A YTV chair moves around.
• Toaster: A YTV toaster pops out a green toast saying "We'll be right back." on a green diamond.

Trivia: The music in "Globe" is a sample of "Jenjela Runyenje" by the National Percussion Group of Kenya. The song is also sampled on the soundtracks of the games Sonic Rush ("Jeh Jeh Rocket") and Crash Bandicoot ("The Great Gate/Native Fortress").

Technique: CGI and live-action. Most of these IDs were done at Big-Blue-Dot in Boston, MA.

Audio: It depends on the variant.

4th Logo (1995-2000)

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Visuals: There is an event happening that eventually leads to a creature with the YTV logo on it appearing. This is sometimes preceded by an animation of the words "Keep It Weird" zooming in and out over a green swirly background.

Variants (IDs):

• Fly: A YTV fly buzzes around, and then it throws up on the screen.
• Basketball: A YTV basketball turns into a square.
• Chair: An updated version of the YTV chair crashes into a field and a stop sign, and onto a road.
• Beetle: A beetle with the YTV logo on it explores a museum, and finds out he's on a TV at the museum.
• Hot Rod: A YTV car jumps around, then licks the screen.
• Nose Gum: A student tries to get some YTV gum of of his nose, but he can't.
• Sticky Gum: A boy is chewing gum, and the teacher says to "hand it over". The boy pulls out his gum, making the kids feel disgusted. He pulls out even more gum, and even the teacher gets disgusted. Then the word "YTV" appears on the gum.
• Robot: A robot with the YTV logo flies around in space. First aired 1999.
• Spring Helmet: A helmet with the YTV logo on it attached to a spring gets stuck to the ground and pulls itself up. First aired 1999.
• Electric Snail: A snail with electricity flowing through its shell looks around then jumps to the sound of an old phone. First aired 1998.
• Octopus: An octopus with the YTV logo on it falls to the ground. First aired 1996.
• Skull: An updated version of the YTV skull laughs at us. Aired during Halloween.
• Skate: A YTV skateboard spins around.

Variants (Bumpers):

• Dog: A dog takes off his head, says "yoo-hoo" and puts it back. Then a YTV scorpion appears. First aired 1998.
• Nose Push: A girl's teeth turn into piano keys, mouths appear on her face, and she turns into a machine. Then a YTV scorpion appears. First aired 1998.
• Caveman: A caveman rubs a stick near a fire.....until some steam turns it into a weird thing. Then the words "Keep it Weird" and a YTV fly appear. First aired 1998.
• Egg: A chicken's egg hatches into a chef with a chicken, causing the chicken to fall down. Then a YTV Hot Rod car appears. First aired 1998.
• Apple: A teacher eats an apple (and the worm in it!). Then the words "Keep it Weird" and a YTV scorpion appear. First aired 1998.
• Kites: The kites of two boys get into a fight. Then a YTV scorpion appears. First aired 1998.
• Hair Salon Series: Someone at a hair salon has something odd happen to their hair/head every time. First aired 1998.
• Car Wash: Girls activate a giant car wash (one of them has a washing machine). Then the words "Keep it Weird" and a YTV robot appear. First aired 1999.
• Nobody's Nerd: A boy drinks a milkshake with a girl and now he's "nobody's nerd". Then the words "Keep it Weird" and a YTV robot appears. First aired 1999.
• Rose's Nose: A clip of a girl with a hose for a nose, followed by the YTV robot. First aired 1999.
• Living in a Twister: The clip shows conjoined siblings living inside of a twister. Then a YTV robot appears. First aired 1999.
• Jack in the Box: Two people twist a jack-in-the-box and a human head pops out. Then a YTV robot appears. First aired 1999.
• Ceiling: Someone opens a can of soda (pop) and literally 'pops' to the ceiling. Then a YTV robot appears. First aired 1999.
• Vacuum Dog: A boy feeds treats to a vacuum that acts like a dog. Then a YTV robot appears. First aired 1999.
• Rocket Powered Leech: A leech with a jet pack flies around in a security cage. Then a YTV robot appears. First aired 1999.
• Hot Snot: A boiling green substance in a security cage. Followed by the YTV robot. First aired in 1999.

Technique: Mostly 2D, CGI, live-action or clay animation by YTV's in-house team for the bumpers, while the IDs were made in CGI by Buzz Image Group in Montreal, QC.

Audio: It depends on the variant.

• The 1998-1999 idents use an eerie, space-like theme.
• The 1999-2000 idents use Klaxon car horn and boing sounds, accompanied by an announcer saying "Keep it weird on YTV!".
• The Electric Snail variant uses trapping sounds with a screech sound and a telephone ringing.

5th Logo (2000-2006)

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Visuals: See Variants. Starting around 2006, a selection of the following idents replaced the original text with the text from the YTV logo at the time.

Variants (IDs):

• Three Eyes: A monster with three eyes and the YTV logo swings back and forth before landing on the ground. First aired 2000.
• Rattle Runner: A green monster with the YTV logo on its side runs and then trips. It then jumps back up and rattles its tail. First aired 2000.
• Opera: A monster with two mouths and the YTV logo sings an opera. First aired 2000.
• Sick: A monster with the YTV logo flies and sneezes. First aired 2000.
• Chicken: A one-eyed creature with three legs and a giant pouch with the YTV logo, vaguely resembling a chicken, rolls around before uncurling. It hops around in the center for the remainder of the bumper. First aired 2003.
• Bug: A creature resembling a bug laughs, then it turns around, revealing the YTV logo.

Variants (Bumpers):

• Balloon Alien: An alien inflates and deflates; followed by the Three Eyes. First aired 2000.
• Gassy DJ: A monster disk jockey with lots of gas plays with turn tables; followed by the Rattle Runner. First aired 2000.
• Show Off Robot: A robot shows off its parts; followed by the Three Eyes. First aired 2000.
• Eye Hammers: A creature with several eye holes plays 'Whack-A-Mole' with its eyes; followed by the Sick. First aired 2000.
• Yo-Yo: A creature with several arms uses its head as a yo-yo; followed by the Three Eyes. First aired 2000.
• Birthday Cake: A person inhales their birthday cake; followed by the Sick. First aired 2000.

Technique: 2D, CGI, stop-motion or live-action animation by YTV's in-house team for the bumpers, while the IDs were made in CGI by Buzz Image Group in Montreal, QC.

Audio:

• Chicken: It starts with the sound effect "Sound Ideas, SPIN, CARTOON - SPIN COMMOTION"; this is followed by some high-pitched singing with a synthesizer imitating a "boing", a brief humming sound accompanied by synth-bells (resembling those in the 2000 Sony Interactive Entertainment logo) and a xylophone tune.

6th Logo (September 5, 2005-August 30, 2009)

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Visuals: See Variants.

Variants:

• Generic: Same as the 2007 YTV Originals logo, but the byline is absent. First aired 2005.
• Curling: A girl is playing curling, until a giant YTV logo destroys the game. First aired 2006.
• Dog: A guy is playing fetch with his dog, using a YTV ball. First aired 2006.
• Burp: A girl drinks up a YTV soda and burps, causing a wreck. First aired 2006.
• Shield: A boy uses the YTV logo as a shield.
• Godzilla: A giant YTV logo terrorizes a city. First aired 2006.
• Indiana Jones: The Indiana Jones "boulder" scene is parodied with the YTV logo as the boulder. First aired 2006.
• Bubblegum: Two girls blow YTV bubbles over a lake. First aired 2006.
• UFO: An UFO invades a town, and the YTV logo. First aired 2006.
• Hammer Throw: A boy is in the center of a sandy stadium, spinning a black rope with the YTV logo (as the hammer) on it. As he lets go of the rope, the boy hits his head on the sand and flies (due to the rope being tied to his foot). As the boy is screaming, we get a close-up then it cuts back to the sand-filled stadium and the YTV logo appears as it hit the sand. The boy falls on the YTV logo (causing it to tilt), then it goes back to being straight as the boy falls head first onto the sand. First aired 2006.

Technique: CGI by The Ebeling Group in Los Angeles, CA, as well as Troika Design Group in Los Angeles, CA.

Audio: It depends on the variant.