Contents
- 1 Background
- 2 1st Logo (1993-January 11, 2000)
- 3 2nd Logo (September 8, 1996-October 21, 2003)
- 4 3rd Logo (November 28, 1999-February 2, 2009)
- 5 4th Logo (2001-2017)
- 6 5th Logo (2004)
- 7 6th Logo (2005-February 2, 2009)
- 8 7th Logo (2013-)
Background[]
Nick Jr. Productions was the television production arm of Nickelodeon's preschool block, Nick Jr., created in 1993 to produce their own original content. They made several popular and award-winning shows, such as Blue's Clues, Dora the Explorer, Little Bear and The Backyardigans. On February 2, 2009, the production arm was folded into Nickelodeon Productions as Nick Jr. was re-branded as Nickelodeon's Play Date at the same time.
The Nick Jr. name came back to replace Play Date in 2012, though most current shows on the network continue to be produced by Nickelodeon Productions as a whole.
1st Logo (1993-January 11, 2000)[]
Nicknames: "Game Of Catch", "Holding Hands", "Air Catch", "Father and Son"
Logo: On a white background, an orange dad with "NICK" on his body and a blue child with "JR." on his body are seen making throwing motions, as if they're playing catch. The dad throws underhand and the junior throws overhand. Several black lines and curved lines are drawn, representing the motion of their arms. After a few seconds, they jump to each other and hold hands. Copyright info appears underneath for the entire duration.
Variants:
- An early variant exists where the words "Grow, Learn and Play" appear above the logo, alongside thick yellow copyright text on the bottom that reads "©1994 NICKELODEON.". This was seen on two of the first three episodes of Allegra's Window.
- On the first two Max & His Alphabet Adventures shorts and at the beginning of the Blue's Clues/Little Bear videos promo used on home media releases from 1999-2000, a still version is shown on a black background.
- On seasons 1-4 of Little Bear, as well as the Blue's Clues VHS Blue's Safari, the copyright info is absent.
- A still variant exists where the characters are in a different pose and more zoomed in.
FX/SFX: The dad and junior "throwing" and holding hands. Simple 2D animation.
Music/Sounds: A synthesized piano jingle whose notes correspond to the movements. In most cases, it uses the closing theme of the show instead.
Availability: Uncommon. This was originally used as a network 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 videotapes of Allegra's Window, Little Bear, and Gullah Gullah Island (along with the 1995 Paramount Television logo).
Editor's Note: Its simplicity and friendly tone make this a very likeable logo, especially when it closed out Little Bear.
2nd Logo (September 8, 1996-October 21, 2003)[]
Nicknames: "The Animals", "Alternate Logo", "The Blue's Clues Logo", "Different Characters", "Father and Son II"
Logo: On a black background, a variation of the Nick Jr. logo slowly fades in, with an orange and blue animal. Like the previous logo, the orange dad has "NICK" on his body, while the blue child has "JR." on their body. Copyright information appears underneath, which usually reads "Copyright ©[YEAR] VIACOM International, Inc." It then fades out after a few seconds.
Trivia:
- Some of the animals also had their own network IDs that were additionally seen at the beginning of VHS releases at the time, and were animated by several different studios and individuals.
- The "dog and puppy" variant was once used as the main logo for Nick Jr.'s website and its TV ads, with the puppy holding a green ball that read ".com".
Animals: There are many, many variants of this logo in existence using different sets of animals, which alternate per episode of Blue's Clues. The list of animals are as follows:
- Dad with child, holding hands (just like the previous logo)
- Dad holding child (similar to the next logo)
- Dad and child walking
- Dad and child running
- Cat and kitten
- Dog and puppy
- Elephants (two versions exist; one has realistic-looking elephant shapes while the other has a more cartoonish design)
- Pig and piglet
- Giraffes
- Duck and duckling
- Chicken and chick
- Rooster and chick
- Frogs
- Penguins
- Monkeys
- Kangaroo and joey
- Hippos
- Bear and cub
- Turtles
- Dinosaurs
- Lion and cub
- Porcupines
- Rabbits
- Fish
- Birds
- Seals
- Crocodiles
- Swans
Variants:
- On 1999-2001 Blue's Clues VHS releases, the copyright stamp is extended, reading "Copyright ©[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 or bone).
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: The end theme of the show.
Music/Sounds Variant: On the episode "What is Blue Afraid Of?" (which uses the "cat and kitten" variant), a soft meow can be heard over the end theme as the logo fades in.
Availability: Common.
- Appears on Blue's Clues in its many forms. It premiered on the first episode of the series, "Snack Time" (using the "holding hands" variant), and was last used on the season 3 episode "Blue's Big Holiday" (using the "kangaroo and joey" variant) before switching to the next logo on later episodes.
- It is retained when the show reruns on Nick Jr., and appears alongside the 1995 Paramount 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 was also seen on international prints of Oswald.
Editor's Note: The use of multiple variants was a pretty clever move for the show.
3rd Logo (November 28, 1999-February 2, 2009)[]
Nicknames: "Father and Son III", "The Clay Logo"
Logo: On a yellow "swirly" background, the same orange dad and blue junior from the previous two logos are seen bouncing around. Junior does a backflip before jumping up into the dad's left arm and hugging, freezing the both into place. As this happens, the word "Productions" (in a childish multicolored font with a little red heart on the letter "I") forms below from bouncing letters.
Trivia: The logo was created by claymation filmmaker Webster Colcord (who made other network IDs for Nickelodeon at the time and previously assisted Craig Bartlett on his precursor Hey Arnold! claymation shorts), and was filmed in 40mm by Ed Navarro on September 9th, 1999 in a small studio in Colcord's house. In December 2022, Colcord uploaded a short never-before-seen test reel of the logo, and also announced on his Vimeo page that he had rediscovered the clay models used in the making of this logo in his basement, and shared pictures of them in their now-dilapidated state. Nick's arm was separated, and Jr.'s head had gone missing. Colcord also stated that once he finds Jr.'s head, he plans on getting the models restored sometime to their former glory.
Variants:
- A prototype still variant exists where the logo is in 2D, the background is plain, and "Productions" is in a different font with a green dot replacing the heart.
- On season 5 episodes of Little Bear and some episodes of Dora the Explorer, it is slightly sped-up with the music beginning halfway into the "Boing!" sound.
- On Little Bill, a copyright notice is seen at the bottom. First, trademark info fades in and out. 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."
- On Webster Colcord's test reel, the logo is in open-matte, and the "Productions" text is absent.
FX/SFX: The dad and son jumping, the letters bouncing and forming. Stop-motion claymation by Webster Colcord.
Music/Sounds: A bongo rhythm and a tuba playing a rendition of the Nick Jr. "Just for me!" theme, accompanied by kids laughing and a Hanna-Barbera "BOING!" sound when they jump. Mixed at Clack Sound Studios.
Music/Sounds Variants:
- On season 1 episodes of The Backyardigans, the ending theme plays over it.
- On Whoopi’s Littleburg and Webster Colcord's test reel, the logo is silent.
- On a DVD print of the Dora the Explorer episode "Swiper the Explorer," one second of the ending theme plays over it, followed by the logo's music. TV airings had this logo with the music starting regularly without the end theme.
- On shows such as Blue’s Clues and Little Bill, the end theme crossfades into the logo's theme.
Availability: Common.
- It can be seen on pre-2005 episodes of shows like Little Bill (the first show to use this logo), Blue's Clues (starting with the season 3 episode "Pool Party"), Oswald, season 1 of The Backyardigans, and pre-2009 episodes of Dora the Explorer.
- It plasters the previous 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 (especially on their primetime specials).
- Recently plastered over with the 2008 Nickelodeon logo without the copyright stamp only on Nickelodeon.
Editor's Note: A favorite of those who grew up watching Nick Jr. shows in the early 2000's. The backstory surrounding the rediscovery of the clay models in December 2022 is also quite interesting.
4th Logo (2001-2017)[]
Nickname: "Father and Son IV", "Nick Jr Text"
Logo: Essentially the same as the 2nd logo (holding hands), but it is still and in-credit.
Variants:
- On some shows until 2010, the logo is in a small white square and/or the words "Join in TV" are under the logo.
- Starting in 2010, the 2009 Nick Jr. logo is used instead.
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: Either silent or the end theme of the show.
Availability: Uncommon.
- This logo can be seen on select episodes of Fifi and the FlowerTots and Roary the Racing Car.
- Also seen on on 2002-04 episodes of Thomas & Friends (UK), Seasons 1-5 of Peppa Pig and Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom on Nick Jr.
5th Logo (2004)[]
Nicknames: "Nick Jr. Frogs"
Logo: On a green background, an orange and blue frog are seen. Then, a fly appears, and the orange frog tries to catch it twice, but then the blue frog catches it first. This surprises the orange frog, and laughs with the blue frog as the words "NICK JR" appear on their bodies. Finally, the word "PRODUCTIONS" comes in sparkling.
FX/SFX: The frogs trying to catch the fly, the text coming in. 2D flash animation.
Music/Sounds: A strange fantasy tune with the frogs giggling at the end.
Availability: Extinct. This was intended to replace the 3rd logo, but wound up going unused. It's rumored to have been seen on the world premiere airing of the Dora the Explorer special "Dora's Pirate Adventure", though this remains unconfirmed.
Editor's Note: The animation is somewhat limited and unpolished. It may have been a failed attempt at replacing the 3rd logo, considering that VHS and DVD releases of Nick Jr. shows at the time also used a similar logo featuring frogs.
6th Logo (2005-February 2, 2009)[]
Nicknames: "Father and Son V", "Father and Son on Water", "The Puddle"
Logo: On a light blue-green gradient background, an orange dad and blue child are seen playing on a puddle. Then, after some jumping and splashing for a bit, the words "NICK" and "JR." are seen on their respective bodies, while the word "productions" also appears below. The two hug as the logo finishes.
Variants:
- On most shows including The Wonder Pets! and 2007 episodes of Go, Diego, Go!, the logo starts with the dad and child jumping.
- There exists a slightly extended version which has the puddle appear after half a second.
- On the Blue's Clues 10th Anniversary special Behind the Clues: 10 Years with Blue, a copyright notice is shown.
- A seasonal variant seen during Christmas 2006 has the blue child make a snowflake come out of the puddle a second after the logo starts.
FX/SFX: The dad and child playing in the puddle, the text fading. Flash animation produced at Primal Screen in Atlanta, GA.
Music/Sounds: A nice piece of music played by a violin and oboe, accompanied by puddle splashing sounds and kids laughing.
Music/Sounds Variants:
- The extended version has a xylophone remix of Nick Jr.'s "Just for me" jingle with a different laugh track.
- On The Backyardigans and Behind The Clues: 10 Years with Blue, it uses the end theme of the program.
- On the Blue's Room episode "Knights of the Snack Table," the music is high-pitched.
- On the Dora the Explorer primetime specials "Dora's World Adventure" and "Dora Saves the Mermaids," the audio from the 3rd logo is heard.
Availability: Common.
- The short version of the logo was seen on The Wonder Pets! and most other shows of the period, excluding Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! and Olivia.
- The long version can be seen on Go, Diego, Go! and season 2 of The Backyardigans.
- Also seen on the special Behind the Clues: 10 Years With Blue.
- This also appears on 2005-2010 prints of LazyTown episodes (except on physical media, where it's replaced with the Nickelodeon haypile logo). Post-2010 prints of those episodes edit this out, as Nickelodeon lost the rights to broadcast the series around that time.
Editor's Note: A nice logo with good flash animation.
7th Logo (2013-)[]
Logo: On a white background, with green hills, we see orange stripes with a blue curve around it. A yellow road is below. Suddenly, Bubble Puppy from Bubble Guppies pokes up at us. It zooms out to reveal a multi-colored doorway. Molly then swims with three orange fish behind her. She giggles and then swims away. Nonny shows up clapping his hands, and we zoom out again. Oona pops up and claps as well. Dora and Boots are shown dancing around with each other. Then, Team Umizoomi (Milli, Geo and Bot) is shown dancing as well. We pan to the left to see trees and the words "nickjr." in 3D, with Mr. Grouper below it.
FX/SFX: All the characters appearing, then the pan. It's all CGI, except for Dora, Bot, Milli and Geo's animation.
Music/Sounds: An upbeat tune.
Availability: Uncommon, as this only appears on TV reruns.
- Seen on reruns of most old Nick Jr. shows. On most home media/streaming releases of these, the original logos are usually kept or, rarely, plastered by the 2009 Nickelodeon Productions logo.
- Post-2009 shows use the current Nickelodeon Productions logo instead.