Written and Compiled by Jason Jones, Matt Williams, Matt Anscher, Nicholas Aczel and John Coffey
Logo captures by Eric S., Wisp2007, sega3dmm, V of Doom and others
Editions by Mr. Logo Lord, Shadeed A. Kelly and V of Doom


Background: Disney's TV output from 1954 until 1981 (the anthology series, Zorro, Mickey Mouse Club) had no in-credit disclaimer for Walt Disney Productions at all; also, it didn't have its own television arm until 1983. The name Disney obviously required no indication, unlike other studios. Syndication of Disney product was done by SFM. The original Mickey Mouse Club, The Mouse Factory, and the 1970s revival of MMC were the only programs made available through syndication; in the days before the Disney Channel, the lesser movies and the short cartoons were seen only on the anthology series, while the animated films and first-tier live-action films were, of course, re-issued to theatres). When the anthology series moved to CBS, however, this changed.


1st Logo
(1981-1985)

Logo: This is not really a logo, only an in-credit disclaimer, much like Tandem Production was. It was in the same font as the credits. In 1983 the wording changed to "Walt Disney Pictures" from "Walt Disney Productions".

FX: None; this was an in-credit disclaimer.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show.

Availability: Fairly rare. Seen on 1981-1983 anthology series episodes (when the show was titled "Walt Disney") and on the Disney Channel Valentine's Day compilation of cartoon material entitled From Disney With Love. Since these are no longer on TDC, one must look for the commercially released (but long out of print) videotapes of the anthology series (the episodes being The Hunter and the Rock Star and The Ranger of Brownstone). It may or may not have been used on the few short-lived series the studio produced for CBS in 1982 and 1983 (Herbie the Love Bug, Gun Shy, Small and Frye, Zorro and Son); I have no idea, as these shows are never seen anymore. The site www.billcotter.com has information on all TV produced by Disney and its subsidiary labels.

Scare Factor: None to low, depending on the music being used. The dark background combined with the end music (a disco version of "When You Wish Upon a Star", arranged by Frank Gari) on the 1981-1983 anthology episodes used to get to me.



2nd Logo
(1985-)

Nicknames: "The Castle", "Blue Castle", "Magic Kingdom", "Disney"

Logo: A shortened version of the Walt Disney Pictures logo, starting with the white ball of light , then extending out to form the word "Walt Disney" but with the word "Television" below it instead. A white circular line is drawn over the castle.

Variants:

• In 1998, the URL www.disney.com is seen below. There is no flash on this variant, the castle and the "Walt Disney" name was already formed.
• There is also another variant without the web page byline and cuts out the flash too. This was also used with the DISTRIBUTED BY BUENA VISTA INTERNATIONAL logo.

FX: The "flash" (if applicable), the drawing with the line.

Cheesy Factor: Simple 2-D 80s animations. For the later years, it's enhanced.

Music/Sounds: From 1985-1988 had a light 6-note synth tune, the 5th note particularly rolled. In some Disney shows, it had a bell being rapidly a la the piano. Starting in 1988, a six-note orchestral fanfare based on "When You Wish Upon A Star" was heard. In 2008, the fanfare was sightly redone.

Music/Sound Variants:

• Sometimes seen with the 1985 Buena Vista Television jingle.
• On Disney's The Mighty Ducks, it used the 1995 Buena Vista Television theme.

Availability: Common, seen on lots of family shows on ABC, The Disney Channel, ABC Family, Toon Disney and various channels with shows from Disney.

Scare Factor: Low, varies depending on what you think of the music variant being used, but is one of the world’s most popular logos.



3rd Logo
(1985-2006)

Nicknames: "Abstract Castle", "Blue BG & Rainbow Castle", "Multicolored Kingdom"

See Buena Vista Television for description.



4th Logo
(1988)

Nicknames: "Sixty Years of Mickey with You", "Happy Birthday Mickey"

Logo: On a yellow background, we see Mickey, in a tuxedo, stand on a blue filmstrip with Steamboat Willie in it, over a pink circle with the words "SIXTY YEARS WITH YOU" in it. There is a green ribbon behind him reading "MICKEY". Underneath is the blue text "WALT DISNEY Television", with "Walt Disney" in the corporate "Disney" font.

FX: All the animation in this logo.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show.

Availability: Rare. Was seen on The Golden Anniversary of Snow White when it aired on The Magical World of Disney in 1988.

Scare Factor: None.



5th Logo
(1990-1995)

Nicknames: "Abstract Castle", "Black BG & Rainbow Castle", "Multicolored Kingdom"

See Buena Vista Television for description.



6th Logo
(1991-1992)

Nickname: "Goofy Filmstrip"

See Buena Vista Television for description.