WTTW

WTTW is a PBS affiliate located in Chicago, Illinois. It's one of two PBS stations serving the Chicago area, with the other being WYIN (Lakeshore PBS) and formerly WYCC.

1st Logo (May 1979-1987)

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Visuals: The camera backs away from a painting of the Chicago skyline with a fast-moving, partly cloudy carmine sky behind it. Then, pale purple-blue streaks shoot towards the sky parallel to the buildings, and the painting fades to black. The streaks are revealed to belong to the top half of the blue text "WTTW" in an outlined Helvetica font, which moves to the top of the screen to make room for the bottom half zooming into view. This is followed by the text "Chicago" zooming out underneath in the same manner, and the word "presents" in a smaller Helvetica font fades in under the logo.

Variants:

• A shortened version starts at the logo zooming out. This version began primary use in 1984.
• A shortened version that omits "presents" exists.

Technique: Cel animation that transitions into computer animation (for the text), done by Midocean Motion Pictures.

Audio: A Moog synth drone, overtop the sound of wind, followed by a somber 5-note synth-violin theme that syncs up with the parts of the text zooming out.

Audio Variants:

• A rerecorded version of the music, using more advanced synths and starting at the second note of the theme, began use around 1986.
• Very rarely, the shortened version may use the opening music of the program.

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2nd Logo (September 28, 1987-2006)

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Visuals: On a black-blue gradient background, there is a close-up of a glass ball, which reflects a birds-eye view of the skyline of Chicago. It starts to zoom away from the camera, as "WTTW Chicago" (stacked vertically) text in Times font moves into frame tilted at an angle. Both objects zoom into the center of the frame, with the ball losing its reflection and zooming out for a few more seconds to dot the "i" in "Chicago".

Technique: CGI animated at 30p.

Audio: A 7-note synthesized chime tune, backed by a synth cello drone, done using a Roland D-50 synthesizer with the "Fantasia" patch.

Audio Variants:

• Sometimes the first note is shorter and the last note is longer.
• When the logo first appeared, a synth choir tune was heard.
• On the third season of Lamb Chop's Play-Along!, a 4-note synth chime tune was heard (an alternate take).

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3rd Logo (1987-1996)

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Visuals: On a black-blue gradient background (much like the previous logo/ident), the text "A PRESENTATION OF" (in Futura) and "WTTW/Chicago" (in Bodoni) slide in from opposite sides of the screen.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A three-note synth tune that was used on the station's idents during this time.

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4th Logo (September 1-26, 1997)

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Visuals: On a background of the Earth, there is "WTTW Chicago" in Helvetica. On top of the logo, "Produced in Association with" is written.

Technique: A still computer graphic.

Audio: The final note of the 1986 Together Again Productions jingle.

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5th Logo (1997-2001)

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Visuals: On a water background, "WTTW" turns to face the camera with a sun shining over the letters, which dies down by the time "Chicago" fades in. The end result is similar to the last logo/ident but on a water background.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A synthesized piano/string tune. A male announcer says "Produced in Chicago by WTTW".

Audio Variants:

• A version without the announcer exists.
• Handy Ma'am with Beverly DeJulio has its closing theme playing over the audio.

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6th Logo (2006-August 12, 2016)

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Visuals: A blue background opens up to show a blue and white gradient bar, bordered by golden lines. "wttwN" zooms out and settles itself in front of a light cyan gradient background. "national" appears below the "N".

Trivia: The branding was made by Troika Design Group.

Variant: On WordWorld, the logo is on a white background with the first part playing in warp speed.

Technique: Computer animation.

Audio: A cymbal crash, followed by four piano notes, backed up by guitar strumming and drums.

Audio Variant: On WordWorld, the closing theme is heard.

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7th Logo (May 14, 2011-2017)

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Visuals: On a black background, the center opens up to a bar with a picture of Chicago's skyline in it. "wttw" from the last logo/ident zooms out into place. Blue lines emerge from the bar. "CHICAGO" appears letter-by-letter below with a fading effect.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Either the music from the 6th logo or an inspiring tune backed up by drumbeats, with some similarities.

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8th Logo (November 25, 2015-April 3, 2025)

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Visuals: On a transparent white background, some people are seen standing around the Cloud Gate sculpture. "wttw" in blue swings into place and "CHICAGO" appears below the bar. A transparent rainbow bar appears during the animation.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The closing theme of the show.

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9th Logo (2022?-)

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Visuals: On a black and white video of the DuSable Bridge, with the text "WTTW" next to the PBS logo, there are 4 bars which are all slightly transparent.

The first is blue and dotted on the top-left. the second is red and completely filled on the right side. the third is orange and curved, and the last one is blue and this time completely filled.

The dotted blue one extends to take over the left side, the filled blue one forms a diagonal line from the middle-left to the bottom-middle, the orange one extends from the bottom-right to the top-left and the red one extends to the entire right side.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: A fast-paced yet calm 20-note synth tune with drums, or an upbeat 5-note string tune with drums.

Availability: Seen on programs by WTTW like Chicago Stories.