MTV IDs/1982

French Fries (February 19, 1982-1987)


ID: On a tablecloth with a black "M" on it, we see some fries and a hand. After an offscreen voice says "Anybody got anything to eat?", the hand squeezes some ketchup on the fries. More hands take the fries, revealing the black "M" to be the MTV logo (without the "TV"). Four fries appear and form the "TV", then ketchup appears on them.

Technique: Stop-motion animation by Colossal Pictures.

Music/Sounds: A bunch of adults (Marcy Brafman, Alan Goodman and Richard Schenkman) talking about fries and a bunch of random sound effects.

Availability: Extinct.

M Factory (February 19, 1982-1987)


ID: We see a conveyor belt with golden squares that a presser stamps onto, followed by a shot of another presser molding the squares into an outline of an "M". Then we see a row of "M"s going into a chamber with a yellow light and coming out from the other side to be stamped by two pressers that close the shape. Next we see a stamper that imprints the "TV" onto the "M", which is then colored yellow and by a paintbrush which knocks it off the conveyor belt. We cut to an assembly line where a mechanical arm holding a television set (with the "MUSIC TELEVISION" text already on it) catches the MTV symbol and displays it on its screen. The camera "cut-zooms" to show the finalized logo on a background.

Technique: 2D animation by Colossal Pictures.

Music/Sounds: An industrial version of the "One Small Step" theme.

Availability: Extinct.

Raiders of the Lost M (February 19, 1982-1987)


ID: The camera zooms into an Egyptian temple and stops in front of a golden pedestal with the "M" on top and two statues beside it. Suddenly, a laser shoots onto a scepter below and beams onto the "M" as the "TV" script appears in white and the "MUSIC TELEVISION" text appears below.

Technique: 2D animation by Colossal Pictures.

Music/Sounds: Tribal ambience followed by a laser sound effect and a synth choir when the laser shoots onto the "M".

Availability: Extinct.

Alphabet Lesson (March 26, 1982-1987)


ID: We see a man walking to the side of a large, "M", which he opens like a door. Suddenly, musical notes start flying out of it, sending him flying backwards. He crawls back to where he was and tries to close the door, but is snatched by an cane from inside of the "M" and the door closes. Then the camera zooms in on the "M" as slime crawls out from the door and morphs into the "TV", followed by the text "MUSIC TELEVISION" fading in below.

Technique: 2D animation by Perpetual Motion Pictures (now Buzzco Associates).

Music/Sounds: A narrator saying, "M. More music. MTV, more of your favorite music. MTV: Music Television," accompanied by a rock tune when the door opens and a snatching sound when it closes.

Availability: Extinct.

Club M (April 28, 1982-1987)


ID: A hand puts an "M"-shaped slice of bread onto a plate, and then puts mustard, tomatoes, ham, and lettuce on it, followed by another "M" bread slice. Finally, some "TV" peppers are placed on top, and a sliced pickle with "MUSIC TELEVISION" is placed under the bread.

Technique: Live-action footage by Broadcast Arts.

Music/Sounds: Some cartoon sound effects and restaurant background noise.

Availability: Extinct.

Freddie Buys It (June 29, 1982)


ID: On the same background as the "Bubblegum" ID, a man (Fred Seibert, founder of Fred/Alan) stands next to the already formed MTV logo, picking his nose and sticking it on the trademark ("TM") symbol. He holds his other hand out to show the finished product, only to be hit by an oncoming car, leaving him squished onto the logo. The same car backs up and squishes him once more before driving away.

Technique: Claymation by Broadcast Arts.

Music/Sounds: A pop sound, a car screech when the car enters the screen, and a squish sound for when Fred gets hit by the car.

Availability: Extinct. This ID was only shown once at a party celebrating Fred Seibert becoming vice president of MTV.

4th of July (July 1982-1987)


ID: On a beach, we see a peach and grey MTV logo lying under an umbrella on a towel based on the American flag. Fireworks are seen going off in the night sky. Once the camera zooms in enough, the towel wraps around the logo, giving it the colors of the flag.

Technique: Claymation by Broadcast Arts.

Music/Sounds: The fireworks and a cheery synth cover of "Yankee Doodle".

Availability: Extinct.

MTV Birthday (August 1-31, 1982)


ID: We see a rocketship in the clouds, landing past a monolith which is revealed to be a cake). A cake-cutting spatula takes a piece from the bottom of the cake, and the rocket crashes into the cake, forming the MTV logo with a birthday candle.

Technique: 2D animation by George Griffin.

Music/Sounds: A new version of the music from the "One Small Step" ID.

Availability: Extinct; this ID only aired during the month of MTV's first birthday.

M Motel (August 6, 1982-1989)


ID: At night, we see a pink neon motel sign with the "M" from the MTV logo as one of the letters. The sign below it changes to read "NO VACANCY", "NO POOL", "NO KITCHENETTES", "NO PHONES", and "NO ESCAPE". Finally, the "MUSIC TELEVISION" text appears, along with a white neon version of "TV" inside the "M".

Technique: Live-action footage by Colossal Pictures.

Music/Sounds: An ominous synth theme, with crickets, passing cars and the buzzing of the neon light.

Availability: Extinct.

Reindeer (December 1982-1987)


ID: On a black background, a reindeer approaches a large present near a Christmas tree. Two children enter and unwrap the present as the reindeer flies off, revealing the MTV logo inside. A Santa hat appears on the logo as the tree glows.

Technique: 2D animation by Colossal Pictures.

Music/Sounds: The children giggling and the present being unwrapped; ringing jingle bells are heard throughout.

Availability: Extinct; was only shown around Christmastime.

Santa (December 1982-1987)


ID: In the night sky over a town, we see Santa and his reindeer fly across as an MTV shaped gift flies towards the screen and positions to the center.

Technique: 2D animation.

Music/Sounds: Santa is heard saying "Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas!" which is followed by a snippet of the song "Jingle Bell Rock".

Availability: Extinct; only shown during Christmastime.

Altered M (June 29, 1982-1987)


ID: In a hallway, a flash of light spawns an MTV logo in the center. It bangs against the wall several times until it becomes normal, the background fading to black as it does.

Technique: A mix of 2D and 3D animation.

Music/Sounds: A distorted synth tune.

Availability: Extinct.

Atomic Era (July 16, 1982-1987)


ID: In a retro styled house, we see the MTV logo playing on a television, when the entire room gets covered in several designs and graphs. The logo then becomes the center of the atomic structure diagram as we zoom into it.

Technique: 2D animation by Colossal Pictures.

Music/Sounds: In the first half, a relaxing lounge tune is heard, before jarringly switching to an electric guitar riff for the end.

Availability: Extinct.

Cosmic Crash (1982-1987)


ID: From space, we zoom into the United States until we fly over a suburban neighborhood. We fade to the rooftop of one house, where a yellow MTV logo crashes through like a meteor, the house left in ashes.

Technique: A blend of stop-motion and 2D animation by Broadcast Arts.

Music/Sounds: A distorted whoosh as we go through space and a loud crash during the meteor part.

Availability: Extinct.

Clock (1982-1987)


ID: On a background, we see a yellow wind-up clock. The camera pans around to show the inside of it, which is composed of M-shaped gears and switches. One of the gears has the text "MUSIC TELEVISION" imprinted on it just below one of the "M"s, and a silver lightning bolt appears on the "M" before morphing into "TV".

Technique: Stop-motion animation by Broadcast Arts.

Music/Sounds: The ticking of a clock accompanied by mechanical sounds and an announcer saying, "Around the clock, the music never stops. MTV: Music Television."

Availability: Extinct.

Clouds (1982-1987)


ID: On a hazy blue background, we see a yellow cube flying into view as black clouds fly in front of it. The cube morphs into a yellow "M" as "TV" in black materializes and most of the clouds settle onto the "M" while the others disappear. The text "MUSIC TELEVISION" in yellow materializes and zooms out to its proper spot under the logo.

Technique: A mix of 2D animation and claymation by Broadcast Arts.

Music/Sounds: A reggae tune accompanied by the sound of rushing wind.

Availability: Extinct.

Construction Worker (July 26, 1982-1989)


ID: We see a construction worker in front of a steel structure saying, "Take her back, back this way! Up a bit! OK!" as an offscreen crane lifts several steel bars behind him. Then he says, "Let her go!", followed by a giant metal MTV logo (with "TV" in ) falling on him and squishing him down to his hat. The man, now reduced to a hat and shoes, shuffles away as the "MUSIC TELEVISION" text in white appears.

Technique: Stop-motion animation by Edward Bakst Productions.

Music/Sounds: The construction worker (voiced by Alan Goodman) talking, followed by a crash sound and a rubbing sound as the hat walks away.

Availability: Extinct.

Dot to Dot (September 27, 1982-1989)


ID: On a paper background, a figure composed of balls, lines and other random shapes throws a pink ball at a wall with numbers on it, forming the first part of the MTV logo. It then throws a ball, which creates the middle part, followed by a  ball, which finishes the "M". Then, the "MUSIC TELEVISION" text appears in, followed by "TV" in yellow wiping in.

Technique: A mix of 2D animation and CGI by Silver Cloud Productions.

Music/Sounds: An instrumental synth tune composed by Bill Johnson, with cymbals when the ball hits the wall.

Availability: Extinct.

Legacy: This ID is notable for its meshing of different styles of animation.

24/7 (1982-1986?)


ID: TBA

Technique: 2D animation by Colossal Pictures.

Music/Sounds: An instrumental rock tune.

Availability: Extinct.

Escape (1982-1987)


ID: Against a white background, the MTV logo assembles itself until it turns light blue and red. We truck back from the logo as it positions itself on a black background.

Technique: CGI animation by Colossal Pictures.

Music/Sounds: Same as "Clouds".

Availability: Extinct.

Hairy M (1982-1987)


ID: In a bathroom, we see a peach, hair-covered M breathing. A can of shaving cream with a human arm slides by to spray "TV" on the M before leaving.

Technique: Claymation by Broadcast Arts.

Music/Sounds: The M breathing and the cream being applied.

Availability: Extinct.

Hell Freezes Over (1982-1988)


ID: We see three blocks of ice fly against a light blue background. They stop above each other and shatter. The last shatter pierces the floor, causing flames to come out and for a black and orange MTV logo to float out.

Technique: 2D animation by Colossal Pictures.

Music/Sounds: The ice shattering, flames crackling. Underneath, a rock jingle.

Availability: Extinct.

Jukebox (1982-1987)


ID: A black and white couple are seen dancing to music on a jukebox, which transforms into a record player and then into a television with the MTV logo on it. The dancers fade away as we zoom toward the TV.

Technique: A mix of live-action and 2D animation.

Music/Sounds: A swinging rockabilly tune that changes to hard rock before finishing with a synth-rock tune.

Availability: Extinct.

Magnetic (1982-1987)


ID: Against a metallic background, many metal objects stick to the background and form into a giant yellow M. At the last moment, a television falls on the M and forms a red "TV".

Technique: Stop-motion animation.

Music/Sounds: Just metallic clanging.

Availability: Extinct.

Music Through Video (1982-1985)
ID: TBA

Technique: 2D animation.

Music/Sounds:' A male announcer says "You're watching the first channel devoted to bringing you music through video. MTV: Music Television." When the TV turns, a rock stinger plays.

Availability: Extinct.

Operation (1982-1987)


ID: A group of surgeons are seen taking items such as speaker and receiver into their operation. After they're done, it's revealed they made a television with the MTV logo on it acting like a heart.

Technique: 2D animation by Buzzco Associates.

Music/Sounds:' The surgeons listing off the items, followed by a male voice-over saying "Now your stereo system is complete. MTV: Music Television."

Availability: Extinct.

Saturday Concert (1982-1987)


We see several people entering a music concert and taking their seats. The music pumps up and the people cheer. The curtains pull back to reveal a large TV set with the MTV logo in it with the text "Saturday Concert" below.

Technique: 2D animation by Colossal Pictures.

Music/Sounds: Chatter from the audience members and a rock score that plays as the people cheer.

Availability: Extinct.

Spaceship (1982-1986)


IDs: A duo of idents revolving around some spacemen getting into bizarre adventures that end with them watching MTV.

Technique: Stop motion.

Music/Sounds: The men grunting and some space music.

Availability: Extinct.

Sunday Special (1982-1987)


ID: We see a green man in a black suit at a golden control panel. He attempts to get the MTV Sunday Special logo to appear, but instead brings forth parodies of the Columbia, MGM, and Paramount logos before getting the right one, which bears a resemblance to the 20th Century Fox logo. Happy, the man puts on a top hat, jumps in front of the logo and uses a wand to turn himself into the words "Sunday Special".

Technique: 2D animation by Colossal Pictures.

Music/Sounds: A whimsical tune at the start along with various cartoon sounds. When the logo proper appears, a soundalike of the Fox theme is heard.

Availability: Extinct.