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Author Topic: Favorite Title Cards  (Read 931 times)

Snowth Woogle

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Favorite Title Cards
« on: February 06, 2013, 11:39:08 pm »
Which of the classic title cards used throughout the series are your favorites?

Two of my favorites are always the popular swimming one, and the one that seemed to be phased out after the first couple of seasons or so where a freak thunderstorm pops up while Arthur grabs an umbrella.

Maybe either Earwig or Dark Bunny could shed some more insight with us: WERE there certain title cards that tended to be used more often than others? Were there any that were eventually phased out? I seem to recall one with Binky and his bubble gum popping being used pretty much for just one season. And why have the title cards been replaced altogether with dialogue-less previews of the episodes we're about to see?
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Earwig

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Re: Favorite Title Cards
« Reply #1 on: February 08, 2013, 05:20:32 pm »
The new ones on season 16 as well as the previous 2 seasons on BBC and Australia and TVO(I think) are done using a scene of the show for the animation. On PBS only season 16 does not use the classic bumpers.  I like that classic bumper term you made up here. The classic ones almost all got used the same amount but they were used based on having something to do with the show. If it was a Buster show or aliens the flying saucer one was used . If it was a show about the whole gang then the tricycle or balloon one was used.
 So Binky gum would be seen in every season however only on a Binky show unless there was show about gum which I don't recall.

The new season as well as BBC last 2 seasons changed  to the new improved bumper because the shows were released in HD outside the US. An SD classic bumper would hurt your eyes up beside the HD wallpaper and title. It would be like VHS quality coming out of a DVD player.

There were 6 made in the first season of production which was 40 shows. then a few more got added each season like the Pal Alone and Fish ones with Arthur and the same one with Brain. The balloon , the tricycle where not the original 6.

There was one with Prunella with her crystal ball make many seasons ago and it was also created from a scene in one of the shows. It was because there was no Prunella bumper.  That one was used the least I would say. Perhaps the one with the Tibble octopuses was also not used as much.

On futher thought the one with the old car (I forget the funny name of the car) dragging behind the tow truck would be the least used one of the classic style.

Each season there was an effort to try to use them all as much as the others so the same one didn't get used all the time but eventually they all became used a lot.

In the original 6 there was one called MGM where Buster roared like a lion. It also had sound variations that would have been used in the first 40 episodes. He roared like a lion,  crowed like a rooster, and a couple of other animal  or sound effect noises.

The gong one was not the original 6 but came very early. That one was animated and colored in Montreal and you can see Francine's skin tone is darker the way it is in the more recent shows. The original 6 and a few more bumpers were animated in Montreal.

The bumper wallpapers have also been repainted and look quite amazing in HD if you have a good TV check them out. They are even a little 3D ish and very vibrant. They needed to be done again in 16:9 format. The original wallpapers were scans of paintings that Marc Brown did on card. They were very bright and colorful and lost a lot like color always does when it's scanned. They were very beautiful to see the original.

On the early bumpers  the checker circle has a jiggling cycle on it but that was eventually dropped in the later ones.

The wallpapers are independant of the animation so they are mix and matched.

A few of the old ones like the ufo and Pal along or the balloon would also need to be animated out the edge of the new 16:9 format if they were to be rescanned and colored in HD. Those ones moved beyond the circle all the way to the edge of the 4:3 frame.

Sorry that's probably more than you wanted to know about bumpers. They are actually quite complicated to do for what they look like.

MCCJ

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Re: Favorite Title Cards
« Reply #2 on: February 08, 2013, 08:07:49 pm »
The new ones on season 16 as well as the previous 2 seasons on BBC and Australia and TVO(I think) are done using a scene of the show for the animation. On PBS only season 16 does not use the classic bumpers.  I like that classic bumper term you made up here. The classic ones almost all got used the same amount but they were used based on having something to do with the show. If it was a Buster show or aliens the flying saucer one was used . If it was a show about the whole gang then the tricycle or balloon one was used.
 So Binky gum would be seen in every season however only on a Binky show unless there was show about gum which I don't recall.

The new season as well as BBC last 2 seasons changed  to the new improved bumper because the shows were released in HD outside the US. An SD classic bumper would hurt your eyes up beside the HD wallpaper and title. It would be like VHS quality coming out of a DVD player.

There were 6 made in the first season of production which was 40 shows. then a few more got added each season like the Pal Alone and Fish ones with Arthur and the same one with Brain. The balloon , the tricycle where not the original 6.

There was one with Prunella with her crystal ball make many seasons ago and it was also created from a scene in one of the shows. It was because there was no Prunella bumper.  That one was used the least I would say. Perhaps the one with the Tibble octopuses was also not used as much.

On futher thought the one with the old car (I forget the funny name of the car) dragging behind the tow truck would be the least used one of the classic style.

Each season there was an effort to try to use them all as much as the others so the same one didn't get used all the time but eventually they all became used a lot.

In the original 6 there was one called MGM where Buster roared like a lion. It also had sound variations that would have been used in the first 40 episodes. He roared like a lion,  crowed like a rooster, and a couple of other animal  or sound effect noises.

The gong one was not the original 6 but came very early. That one was animated and colored in Montreal and you can see Francine's skin tone is darker the way it is in the more recent shows. The original 6 and a few more bumpers were animated in Montreal.

The bumper wallpapers have also been repainted and look quite amazing in HD if you have a good TV check them out. They are even a little 3D ish and very vibrant. They needed to be done again in 16:9 format. The original wallpapers were scans of paintings that Marc Brown did on card. They were very bright and colorful and lost a lot like color always does when it's scanned. They were very beautiful to see the original.

On the early bumpers  the checker circle has a jiggling cycle on it but that was eventually dropped in the later ones.

The wallpapers are independant of the animation so they are mix and matched.

A few of the old ones like the ufo and Pal along or the balloon would also need to be animated out the edge of the new 16:9 format if they were to be rescanned and colored in HD. Those ones moved beyond the circle all the way to the edge of the 4:3 frame.

Sorry that's probably more than you wanted to know about bumpers. They are actually quite complicated to do for what they look like.

I've heard somethings that look good are not easy to create.

Snowth Woogle

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Re: Favorite Title Cards
« Reply #3 on: February 08, 2013, 08:32:09 pm »
HD is a myth. All they do is just crop it into a widescreen format, and say it's superior quality, but it isn't. Seriously, Sesame Street used to be video taped, and the picture quality (particular of the 90s and 2000s) looked MUCH better than the "HD" episodes of today, which are fuzzy... then again, a lot of shows that used to be filmed or taped that are now "HD" are fuzzy... so yeah, I don't see why cropping something into 16:9 makes it "superior" quality... I don't understand why everything has to be cropped 16:9 anyway, that's where you lose 25% of your picture, not the other way around...

This article actually sheds light on that subject matter. Though, for the record, unlike the author, I have a newer TV that lets you adjust the picture format to get rid of the black bars in widescreen. Oh yeah, and it's "HD" as well.
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Mr. Rocketburn

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Re: Favorite Title Cards
« Reply #4 on: February 08, 2013, 11:09:04 pm »
Very interesting read, Earwig.  :)

My favorite title card is the "Magnifying Glass" one where Buster sticks his head through it and goes "Hey!"

Was anyone else watching long enough to remember when the episode titles were not read aloud? I think those original prints still air in other countries, because a lot of the Season 1 recordings on YouTube are like that. Does anyone know exactly when they started doing the title voiceovers and when they added them to the Season 1 reruns? I'm assuming it was as soon as Season 2 started, but I thought I remembered seeing some Season 2 episodes that did not have the voiceovers. This was also around the time Random House started selling Arthur VHS's, so some episodes on those didn't have the voiceovers while some did.

Earwig

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Re: Favorite Title Cards
« Reply #5 on: February 11, 2013, 08:55:26 pm »
Of the classic bumpers the least used one was the Emu car being dragged across the screen. I was trying to think of the name of the car in my last post but it was The Emu. It was in 2 shows I think . Pick a Car any Car and one other that I don;t recall what the name was. Perhaps someone else recalls. Just had to get that off my chest.

Earwig

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Re: Favorite Title Cards
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2013, 09:20:39 pm »
Of the classic bumpers the least used one was the Emu car being dragged across the screen. I was trying to think of the name of the car in my last post but it was The Emu. It was in 2 shows I think . Pick a Car any Car and one other that I don;t recall what the name was. Perhaps someone else recalls. Just had to get that off my chest.
The full title is "1972 three-door Canberra Emu" and I remember that the guy was giving Francine and her dad a ride in Elwood City Turns 100.

Wow you have a great memory for obscure details. Good on you. The 3 door Canberra Emu. It sounds like such an obsolete automobile. It's funny to read the name. that must be a Peter Hirsch script. It's such a sad sounding car. :D

Crossover Dreamer

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Re: Favorite Title Cards
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2013, 10:04:51 pm »
I like most of them, but for the one where D.W. is a superhero, I miss how the announcer says, "It's Super Sister!"

I wonder why they decided to do a variation of the swimming title card with Brain season 3, when in season 2 we learn that he's afraid of the water.

I also like the foreign version of the title card for "In My Africa." It's the scene where D.W., Cheikh, and Brain are crossing the street.
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Earwig

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Re: Favorite Title Cards
« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2013, 10:13:50 pm »
Interesting you point out the street crossing bumper in My Africa.I forgot about that.  No one noticed that but it is a parody(copy) of the Beatle's  Abbey Road album cover. A point never noticed on fan sites up to now. Good eye.

LovingBeagles

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Re: Favorite Title Cards
« Reply #9 on: February 18, 2013, 12:36:14 am »
I like the Arthur swimming one, the magnifying glass one, the one with the kids "hatching" from the center circle, and the hot-air balloon one with the kids and Mr. Read.

I am a little disappointed that they replaced the original title cards with scenes from the episodes. In fact, I'm not sure, but I think they were inconsistent with it in much later seasons, switching between classic title cards and scenes. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Earwig

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Re: Favorite Title Cards
« Reply #10 on: February 18, 2013, 09:48:15 am »
I like the Arthur swimming one, the magnifying glass one, the one with the kids "hatching" from the center circle, and the hot-air balloon one with the kids and Mr. Read.

I am a little disappointed that they replaced the original title cards with scenes from the episodes. In fact, I'm not sure, but I think they were inconsistent with it in much later seasons, switching between classic title cards and scenes. Correct me if I'm wrong.

The season 14 and 15 are consistant. However you may be watching a mix of both the international and the PBS version of the shows. In season 14 and 15 only the international broadcasters aired the true 1080 HD version of the series. The HD versions had the funky opening as well as scenes from the show in the bumpers. PBS  aired the  SD up-res vesion of the show with the classic bumpers.

LovingBeagles

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Re: Favorite Title Cards
« Reply #11 on: February 18, 2013, 12:35:58 pm »
I like the Arthur swimming one, the magnifying glass one, the one with the kids "hatching" from the center circle, and the hot-air balloon one with the kids and Mr. Read.

I am a little disappointed that they replaced the original title cards with scenes from the episodes. In fact, I'm not sure, but I think they were inconsistent with it in much later seasons, switching between classic title cards and scenes. Correct me if I'm wrong.

The season 14 and 15 are consistant. However you may be watching a mix of both the international and the PBS version of the shows. In season 14 and 15 only the international broadcasters aired the true 1080 HD version of the series. The HD versions had the funky opening as well as scenes from the show in the bumpers. PBS  aired the  SD up-res vesion of the show with the classic bumpers.

That could be it. If memory serves, there were a few times in the later seasons where they aired a scene while the others aired a classic title card. The only one I can clearly remember though is the first time I watched "Falafelosophy". It featured Sue Ellen talking to a mini-Neil Gaiman who was sitting on her falafel. My first thought was, "Huh, that's weird, this one has a scene from the episode, unlike the others." I didn't take into consideration the whole PBS vs International thing. That may be it. Interesting!

Earwig

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Re: Favorite Title Cards
« Reply #12 on: February 18, 2013, 12:50:46 pm »
I like the Arthur swimming one, the magnifying glass one, the one with the kids "hatching" from the center circle, and the hot-air balloon one with the kids and Mr. Read.

I am a little disappointed that they replaced the original title cards with scenes from the episodes. In fact, I'm not sure, but I think they were inconsistent with it in much later seasons, switching between classic title cards and scenes. Correct me if I'm wrong.

The season 14 and 15 are consistant. However you may be watching a mix of both the international and the PBS version of the shows. In season 14 and 15 only the international broadcasters aired the true 1080 HD version of the series. The HD versions had the funky opening as well as scenes from the show in the bumpers. PBS  aired the  SD up-res vesion of the show with the classic bumpers.

That could be it. If memory serves, there were a few times in the later seasons where they aired a scene while the others aired a classic title card. The only one I can clearly remember though is the first time I watched "Falafelosophy". It featured Sue Ellen talking to a mini-Neil Gaiman who was sitting on her falafel. My first thought was, "Huh, that's weird, this one has a scene from the episode, unlike the others." I didn't take into consideration the whole PBS vs International thing. That may be it. Interesting!

You might have an exception there. I would need to got check what PBS aired now. It's possible it had a new bumper just for that one show because were no Sue Ellen bumpers in the classic ones and also wgbh might have wanted to feature Neil. You aren't confusing it will the special thanks to Neil Gaimon scene on the end of the show are you?

LovingBeagles

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Re: Favorite Title Cards
« Reply #13 on: February 18, 2013, 12:59:56 pm »
I like the Arthur swimming one, the magnifying glass one, the one with the kids "hatching" from the center circle, and the hot-air balloon one with the kids and Mr. Read.

I am a little disappointed that they replaced the original title cards with scenes from the episodes. In fact, I'm not sure, but I think they were inconsistent with it in much later seasons, switching between classic title cards and scenes. Correct me if I'm wrong.

The season 14 and 15 are consistant. However you may be watching a mix of both the international and the PBS version of the shows. In season 14 and 15 only the international broadcasters aired the true 1080 HD version of the series. The HD versions had the funky opening as well as scenes from the show in the bumpers. PBS  aired the  SD up-res vesion of the show with the classic bumpers.

That could be it. If memory serves, there were a few times in the later seasons where they aired a scene while the others aired a classic title card. The only one I can clearly remember though is the first time I watched "Falafelosophy". It featured Sue Ellen talking to a mini-Neil Gaiman who was sitting on her falafel. My first thought was, "Huh, that's weird, this one has a scene from the episode, unlike the others." I didn't take into consideration the whole PBS vs International thing. That may be it. Interesting!

You might have an exception there. I would need to got check what PBS aired now. It's possible it had a new bumper just for that one show because were no Sue Ellen bumpers in the classic ones and also wgbh might have wanted to feature Neil. You aren't confusing it will the special thanks to Neil Gaimon scene on the end of the show are you?

According to the Arthur Wiki, usually the Sue Ellen title card is the Slot Machine one (Arthur pulls the lever and either Muffy's, George's, or Sue Ellen's face appears). Also according to that Wiki, this was the title card used for that episode, even though I'm POSITIVE that the title card I saw featured the imaginary Neil Gaiman on the falafel (to answer your question).

Earwig

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Re: Favorite Title Cards
« Reply #14 on: February 18, 2013, 01:15:31 pm »
I like the Arthur swimming one, the magnifying glass one, the one with the kids "hatching" from the center circle, and the hot-air balloon one with the kids and Mr. Read.

I am a little disappointed that they replaced the original title cards with scenes from the episodes. In fact, I'm not sure, but I think they were inconsistent with it in much later seasons, switching between classic title cards and scenes. Correct me if I'm wrong.

The season 14 and 15 are consistant. However you may be watching a mix of both the international and the PBS version of the shows. In season 14 and 15 only the international broadcasters aired the true 1080 HD version of the series. The HD versions had the funky opening as well as scenes from the show in the bumpers. PBS  aired the  SD up-res vesion of the show with the classic bumpers.

That could be it. If memory serves, there were a few times in the later seasons where they aired a scene while the others aired a classic title card. The only one I can clearly remember though is the first time I watched "Falafelosophy". It featured Sue Ellen talking to a mini-Neil Gaiman who was sitting on her falafel. My first thought was, "Huh, that's weird, this one has a scene from the episode, unlike the others." I didn't take into consideration the whole PBS vs International thing. That may be it. Interesting!

You might have an exception there. I would need to got check what PBS aired now. It's possible it had a new bumper just for that one show because were no Sue Ellen bumpers in the classic ones and also wgbh might have wanted to feature Neil. You aren't confusing it will the special thanks to Neil Gaimon scene on the end of the show are you?

According to the Arthur Wiki, usually the Sue Ellen title card is the Slot Machine one (Arthur pulls the lever and either Muffy's, George's, or Sue Ellen's face appears). Also according to that Wiki, this was the title card used for that episode, even though I'm POSITIVE that the title card I saw featured the imaginary Neil Gaiman on the falafel (to answer your question).

That makes sense. I forgot about the Sue Ellen lottery one. You probably watched an international bumper with Neil Gaimon in it. Is it possible you saw it on Youtube or from TVO in Ontario? There were some hi quality posts on YouTube from Australia. They actually were online before the shows aired in the US. Yikes.