Sunbow
Productions
Written and Compiled by
Nicholas Aczel and Adam P.
1st Logo
(1980-1983)
Logo: The symbol emerges from the top corner of the screen and zooms down chryon-rollercoaster style. It then curves to the middle of the screen. The logo appears as a sun motif, with the company name "SUNBOW PRODUCTIONS" surrounding an orangy circle. The words appear as the sun's rays, in a typeface similar to the "Jeopardy!" font.
FX/Cheesy Factor: The zooming in of the logo, with the chryon trail.
Sound Effects: A high "whoosh" effect, followed by an obscure keyboard-type chime that has a "wow" sound to it.
Availability: So far, it's been confirmed that this logo has appeared only on the first 3 seasons of "The Great Space Coaster". In short, it has rare written all over it.
Scare Factor: Minimum.
2nd Logo
(1984-1994)
Nickname: "80s Sun"
Logo: On a shady blue BG, 4 dots of light fly from the midpoint of each side of the screen and merge in the middle, exploding into a huge ball of orange light that fades to reveal the Sunbow logo identical to the previous logo, but with a brighter orange colorcast and tamer outlines. The logo "shines."
FX/Cheesy Factor: The dots of light merging, the orange light, the logo "shining," kinda passe looked at today but pretty cool animation effects for the time.
Music: A short, somber keyboard tune with two dings at the end when the logo shines.
Availability: Seen
on "G.I.Joe: The Movie," any others?
Scare Factor: Minimal, the gloomy music and dark
background don’t exactly make for a clean mix.
3rd Logo
(1994-)
Nickname: "90s
Sun"
Logo: On a black BG, we see the dark blue text
SUNB W
ENTERTAINMENT
A sun rises from between the "B" and "W," casting a light on the rest of the logo.
FX: The sun rising, pretty simple but effective animation.
Music: A dramatic
five-note woodwind fanfare.
Availability: Appears on "Salty’s
Lighthouse" on The Learning Channel and on videocassettes of
"The Tick" cartoon series.
Scare Factor: Low, the dramatic music might catch some off guard, otherwise this is a cute logo.
SUNBOW/MARVEL
PRODUCTIONS
(1983-1986)
Nickname: "The Comet/CGI MP"
Logo: On a dark blue background, a stylized "MP" (larger version of the first Marvel Productions logo, but without the yellow) quickly zooms backwards, placing itself on the bottom half of the screen. When the "MP" is in place, a flash of light reveals the words "MARVEL PRODUCTIONS LTD." in a rounded white font, along with the words "A CADENCE COMPANY" underneath in a smaller font. At the same time, a spark forms an orange ball of light on the top half of the screen, which fades to reveal the Sunbow logo (an orange circle with the words "SUNBOW PRODUCTIONS" surrounding it in a "Jeopardy!"-like font, appearing as the sun's rays). When both logos are in place, a very bright sparkle shines on the edge of the "P" in the Marvel Productions logo.
FX/Cheesy Factor: The "MP" zooming backwards, orange ball of light revealing the Sunbow logo, flashing effects.
Music: None.
Availability: Can be seen on reruns of "G.I. Joe" on Cartoon Network. Also originally seen at the end of 1984-85 episodes of "Transformers".
Scare Factor: Low; the animation might get to some people.