Will Vinton Studios

Will Vinton Studios (formerly known as Will Vinton Productions, Inc.) was a stop-motion animation production company by Will Vinton, formed in 1975. After being acquired by Phil Knight in 2002, it would be briefly renamed to Vinton Studios before being rebranded again as Laika in 2005.

1st Logo (July 18, 1980-April 1992)

Visuals: On a black/gray gradient background is the text "WILL VINTON PRODUCTIONS" in gold with a smaller "INC." on its side at the end. The text is between two pairs of lines with a star at the top line. After a few seconds, "Claymation" is written out in blue below. A registered trademark "®" symbol is added at the end.

Variants:

• There is an in-credit variant that ends with the logo on a black background. The company name is in blue, and "Claymation" and the star are orange. The "®" is also much smaller, and near the top of the "N".
• On A Claymation Christmas Celebration, the logo is on a black/red background, and the company name is in green.

Technique: Analog computer animation.

Audio: A flourishing synth fanfare with a "ding" as the "®" is added. The in-credit version uses the end theme of the show.

Audio Variant: There is a musical variation which is heard on The Raisins Sold Out, which consists of an ascending piano tune, ending with a voice saying "R" as the registered trademark symbol appears.

Availability: Can be seen on old tapes of Will Vinton claymation specials, such as those with the California Raisins.

2nd Logo (September 16-December 9, 1989)

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Visuals: On a navy blue-to-bluish gray gradient background, there's a granite square in the middle. Above the square is "Created by" in a cursive font. In the square is "WiLL ViNTON" in blocky letters colored in an orange-to-yellow gradient set atop the word "PRODUCTIONS" in a orange Times New Roman font. In the bottom right-hand corner stands A.C., the vocalist for the California Raisins, holding his left hand toward the logo as if showing it off.

Variant: A variant exists with a chryoned-in copyright notice, reading "©1989 Will Vinton Productions, Inc." on the bottom of the screen.

Technique: A still image done in the show's animation style.

Audio: The end theme of the show.

Availability: Available on all episodes of the short-lived The California Raisin Show on DVD.

3rd Logo (1993-2003)

Visuals: On a gray/white gradient background is the text:

WILL VINTON
S T U D I O S

in purple. "WILL VINTON" is written in a sparkling script font similar to the Walt Disney logo, while "S T U D I O S" is sandwiched between two red lines.

Variant: On The Online Adventures of Ozzie the Elf, the logo (without the sparkling) is on a plain white background with "A" and "Production".

Technique: Analog computer animation.

Audio: The closing theme of the show.

Availability: Seen on TV shows and specials of the time, such as The PJs and Gary & Mike. It also appears on the pilots for Slacker Cats and The Boyer Brothers.

Will Vinton Studios

Laika