DePatie-Freleng Enterprises
By Kris Starring
Background: The men of the company are David DePatie and Friz Freleng. Famous for Pink Panther, the company released theatrical cartoons under Warner Bros. from 1963 to 1967, then United Artists from 1967 on into the 70's. After Freleng's departure in 1980, the company was sold to Marvel as their new animation division in 1981.
1st
Logo
(1963-1969)
Logo: On a black screen, we see the yellow text
"DePATIE FRELENG and MIRISCH FILMS INC PRESENT" appear,
along with two red dots in the spaces between "FILMS INC
PRESENT."
FX: The letters appearing.
Music: The opening theme to the show.
Availability: Appears on theatrical Pink Panther cartoons
when someone decides to show them.
Scare Factor: Low
2nd
Logo
(1969-Mid 70's)
Nickname: "DFE Films"
Logo: We see a maroon colored screen, you can barely see a
giant black "DFE" (with the letters F and E connected
in the middle) in the center of the screen. The letters begin to
fill one by one with a flowing assortment of colors. The
"DFE" zooms out to reveal the "FE" is
connected to what appears to be an abstract ending of a
paintbrush, which has the maroon word "films" inside.
The screen then turns navy blue, with a light gray DFE Films
logo, a light green with a black DFE Films, then back to a navy
blue screen with a light gray DFE Films. Finally, the screen goes
back to the normal color scheme.
FX: The "DFE" zooming out and the flowing
colors.
Cheesy Factor: OK, where should I begin? The color scheme
is butt-ugly for one thing, the flowing colors looks like someone
is dragging cut-out construction paper from behind. And what's
with the screen suddenly changing colors?
Music: A brass score that appears to be in synchronization
with the logo's animations.
Availability: Appears on early 70's episodes of the TV
Pink Panther cartoons when someone decides to show them.
Scare Factor: Median, some may be caught off guard by the
abrupt change in color or by the theme, but it's mainly just an
eyesore.
3rd
Logo
(Mid 70's-1981)
Logo: At the end of the credits, we see the DFE Films logo
(as in Logo 2). Below it we see the text "A DEPATIE-FRELENG
PRODUCTION"
FX: None, it's in-credit. Appeared superimposed on The
Barkleys, otherwise placed on a background in the color scheme of
the show's credits (i.e. pink on Pink Panther).
Music: The closing theme to the show.
Availability: Should still show up when DFE shows from the
late 70's are reran, as it is in-credit and usually left alone.
Scare Factor: Low