Nick Jr. Productions/Main Idea

## **Background**

Nick Jr. Productions was a television production arm of Nick Jr. founded in 1993. In the late-2010's, all of the Nick Jr. Productions logos including the 6th one, are on-screen before the end of every TV show as Nick Jr. did split screening credits since 2003-2012.

### **(1993-2000)**

Nicknames: "Game Of Catch", "Holding Hands", "Air Catch", "Father and Son"

Logo: On a white background, we see an orange dad with "NICK" on his body and a blue child with "JR" on his body, making a "throwing" motion, like they are playing catch, with the copyright info (Varies) below. The orange person throws underhand and the blue person throws overhand. Several black lines and curved lines are drawn, tracing the motion of their arms. They jump to each other and hold their hands together.

Variants:

* On the first two *Max & His Alphabet Adventures* shorts and at the beginning of the *Blue's Clues*/*Little Bear* videos promo (Seen on 1999-2000 VHSs, including *Blue's Clues*), a still version is shown on a black background.
* On 1993-1994 episodes of *Eureeka's Castle*, the words "Grow, Learn and Play" appear above the logo.
* On 1995-2000 episodes of *Little Bear*, as well as the *Blue's Clues* VHS *Blue's Safari,* the copyright notice isn't seen.

FX/SFX: Simple animation.

Music/Sounds: Sometimes, a synthesized piano jingle whose notes corresponded to the movements (similar to the 2nd Touchstone Television logo). Usually, the closing theme of the show ends over.

Availability: This was originally used as a Nick Jr. ID. Appeared on several shows of the era, such as *Gullah Gullah Island* and *Allegra's Window*. It was also seen at the end of the 2000 VHS of *Blue's Clues: Blue's Safari*, instead of the next logo. This logo is uncommon today and can be seen on *Little Bear* and *Gullah Gullah Island* on their VHS releases and on the Noggin app, as well as VHS releases of Allegra's Window, Gullah Gullah Island, and Little Bear (along with the 1995 Paramount Television logo).

### **(July 16, 1995-March 2, 2004)**

Nicknames: "The Animals", "Alternate Logo", "The Blue's Clues Logo", "Different Characters", "Father and Son II"

Logo: On a black background, we see a picture of the Nick Jr. logo (it varies in shape, like Nickelodeon's). The parent has "NICK" on it's body when his/her child has "JR" on it's body. It fades out after 3-4 seconds. The copyright stamp in the logo reads "© [YEAR] VIACOM International, INC.", or sometimes not at all.

Animals: The animals/mammals in the logo vary for each episode that has this logo (even episodes that have the same pair of creatures) from the following:

* Cats (Seen on What Is Blue Afraid Of, and Occupations in U.K.)
* Dogs (Seen on Blue's ABCs, and Art Appreciation)
* Elephants (2 versions)
	+ version 1: (Seen on Blue's News, The Lost Episode, Blue's Sad Day in unknown region, Geography in U.K. & Portugal, and Playing Store in U.K.)
	+ version 2: (Seen on international prints of Oswald)
* Pigs (Seen on Blue's Favorite Song, What Does Blue Wanna Do on a Rainy Day?, and Mechanics!)
* Giraffes (Seen on Blue's Senses, What Does Blue Want to Make out of Recycled Things in Portugal, and Hide and Seek)
* Ducks (Seen on Math and Nurture)
* Chicken and chick (Seen on What Does Blue Want to Make, Blue's Senses in U.K., and Weight & Balance)
* Rooster and chick (Seen on Thankful, What Does Blue Want to Build in U.K., and Blue's Experiments in U.K.)
* Frogs (Seen only on The Trying Game)
* Penguins (Seen on A Snowy Day, and Inventions in U.K.)
* Monkeys (Seen on What Time is it For Blue, Blue's Story Time, and What Does Blue Want to Do With Her Picture)
* Kangaroos (Seen on Blue Wants to Play a Song Game, Blue's Sad Day, Blue's Big Holiday, and Nature in U.K.)
* Hippos (Seen only on What's That Sound)
* Bears (Seen on What Story Does Blue Want To Play, and What Is Blue Trying to Do)
* Turtles (Seen on Blue's Birthday, and Thankful in France)
* Dinosaurs (Seen on Adventures in Art, What Was Blue's Dream About, and Blue's Big Mystery in U.K.)
* Lions (Seen on Blue's Big Pajama Party, and Blocks in U.K.)
* Porcupines (Seen on Tickety's Favorite Nursery Rhyme and Anatomy in U.K.)
* Rabbits (Seen on Blue Is Frustrated, Environments in U.K., Adventure in Portugal, and Superfriends in U.K.)
* Fishies (Seen on What Does Blue Need, Blue Goes To The Beach, The Grow Show, What Does Blue Want to Make out of Recycled Things, Hide and Seek in Portugal, Animal Behavior, Pool Party in U.K., and Imagine Nation in Singapore and Portugal)
* Birds (Seen on Pretend Time, What Does Blue Want to Build, and What Did Blue See)
* An adult with a child holding hands together (Seen on Snack Time, and What Experiment Does Blue Want to Try)
* An adult giving love to a child (Seen on Mailbox's Birthday, Tickety's Favorite Nursery Rhyme in Singapore, Magenta Comes Over, Mascots Get The Sniffles, Blue's Big Treasure Hunt, and Shy in U.K.)
* An adult and a child skipping (Seen on Pretend Time in U.K., Blue Wants To Play A Game, What Story Does Blue Want To Play in U.K., and Blue's Surprise at Two O'Clock)
* An adult and a child jumping (Seen on What Game Does Blue Want to Learn and Draw Along With Blue)

Variants:

* On 1999-2001 *Blue's Clues* VHS releases, the copyright stamp is extended, reading "©[YEAR] Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Blue's Clues and all related titles, logos, and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc."
* Starting in 2001, several *Blue's Clues* VHS and DVD releases use a silent version of the logo without the copyright stamp, although on the VHS release of *Blue's Big Musical*, the copyright stamp remains intact and is followed by the "Just for Me!" ending. Also, on the VHS releases of *Blue's Story Time* and *Arts & Crafts*, the regular end theme plays. This variant is usually followed by a Nickelodeon logo (either the haypile/pasta/scribble or bone).

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The end theme of the show that precedes this logo. However, on "What is Blue Afraid Of?," a soft meow can be heard accompanied by the end theme.

Availability: Appeared on *Blue's Clues*. It is retained when rerun on Nick Jr. (formerly "Noggin"), and appears alongside the 1995 Paramount Domestic Television logo on its VHS releases, excluding *Blue's Birthday*, *Blue's Discoveries*, and *Blue's Safari*. Although *Blue's Clues* was the only show to air this logo on TV, the silent version without the copyright stamp can also be found on some VHS and DVD releases of *Dora the Explorer* and *Little Bill*. It premiered on the first episode of the series, "Snack Time," and the last TV episode to use this was "Blue's Big Holiday." Starting in August 2001, it was also seen on international prints of Oswald.

### **(October 31, 1999-)**

Nicknames: "Father and Son III", "The Clay Logo"

Logo: On a yellow "swirly" background, we see an orange dad and a child, both with "NICK" and "JR" on their bodies. The two people bounce around as the word "Productions", in a childish multicolored font with a little red heart on the letter "I", forms. The two people are both hugging together after the logo completely forms.

Variants:

* On 2001-2003 episodes of *Little Bear* and some episodes of *Dora the Explorer*, it is slightly speed-up and the music begins halfway in the "Boing!" sound.
* On *Little Bill*, *Whoopi's Littleburg* and *Robert Sedita Show*, a copyright notice is seen at the bottom. First, the trademark info fades in-and-out. And then the copyright info fades in.
* On at least one episode of *Oswald*, there is a copyright stamp below in black that reads "A Production between HIT Entertainment PLC and Nickelodeon ©(YEAR) HIT Entertainment PLC and Viacom International, Inc.

FX/SFX: Stop-motion claymation.

Music/Sounds: First, we hear the parent and his son laughing and a Hanna-Barbera BOING sound, over the jumping animations. Then, after they stop jumping, it turns into a tuba rendition of the song "Nick Jr is Just for Me," followed by a xylophone ring.

Availability: Common. It can be seen on pre-2005 episodes of shows like *Blue's Clues*, *Little Bill (The first show to use this logo),* *Oswald*, and *The Backyardigans* on Nick Jr. and post-2009 episodes of *Dora the Explorer* and *Robert Sedita* on Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and Noggin. It plasters over the 2nd logo at the end of the first three episodes on the DVD release of *Blue's Clues: Blue's Biggest Stories*. This also plasters over the 6th logo when the Nick Jr. block aired newer episodes of *Dora the Explorer* and Robert Sedita Show (especially on their primetime specials). Recently kept this logo without plastering only on Nickelodeon.

### **(2001-2009)**

Nickname: "Father and Son IV"

Logo: Essentially the same as the 1st logo, but it is still.

Variant: On some shows done by the company, the logo is in a small white square and/or the words "Join in" are under the logo.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The ending theme of the show, or in other cases, none.

Availability: Uncommon. This logo can be seen on select episodes of *Fifi and the FlowerTots* and *Roary the Racing Car*. Also seen on on 2002-2004 episodes of *Thomas and Friends* (UK), Seasons 1-3 (1st half) of Peppa Pig and Season 1 of *Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom* on Nick Jr.

### **(January 26, 2004)**

Nicknames: "Nick Jr. Frogs"

Logo: On a green background, we see two frogs, one orange and one blue. Then, a fly appears, and the orange frog tries to catch it twice, but then the blue frog catches it. The orange frog gets surprised, and laughs with the blue frog as the words "NICK JR" appear on the frogs, Then the word "PRODUCTIONS" comes in sparkling.

FX/SFX: 2D animation.

Music/Sounds: A strange fantasy tune, and the frogs giggling at the end.

Availability: Only seen on the original airing of the *Dora the Explorer* special "Dora's Pirate Adventure".

### **(September 6, 2005-)**

Nicknames: "Father and Son V", "Father and Son on Water", "The Puddle"

Logo: On a light blue/green gradient background, we see an orange dad, and a blue child, both playing on a puddle. Then, after they jump around and splash in the puddle, the words "NICK JR" can be seen on both bodies like the 1st logo, while the word "productions" appears below. The two boys are hugging together again after the company's name appears.

Variants: Here is a list of the variations of this logo:

* On most shows including *The Wonder Pets!*, the logo starts with the orange parent and blue child jumping.
* There exists a second-longer version which has a different laugh and the puddle appears after 0.5 seconds. It has a xylophone remix of the old "Nick Jr. is just for me!" jingle.
* On the *Blue's Clues* 10th Anniversary special *Behind the Clues: 10 Years with Blue*, a copyright notice is shown.

FX/SFX: Flash animation (see the previous logo), produced at Primal Screen, Atlanta, GA.

Music/Sounds: A nice piece of music played by a violin and an oboe or on some occasions, a xylophone remix of the old Nick Jr.'s "Just for me" jingle.

Music/Sounds Variant: On the *Dora the Explorer* primetime specials "Dora's World Adventure" and "Dora Saves the Mermaids," the audio from the 1999 logo is used.

Availability: Pretty common. The short version of the logo was seen on *The Wonder Pets!* and most other shows, excluding *Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!* and *Olivia*, although the long version can be seen on *Go, Diego, Go!* and *The Backyardigans* (though the latter show instead uses the closing theme). Unfortunately, this logo is kept fpr now. Also seen on *Behind the Clues: 10 Years With Blue.*