Squirrel/Mole Studios

Background: In 1971, Squirrel/Mole Studios was formed on the top floor of the now-demolished Donovan (Motown) Building in Detroit, Michigan by Robby London (who would later ironically be credited in the Squirrel/Mole Studios/DiC Entertainment co-production Super Mario World in 1991), Martin Ward and future CLG member MattBr to produce and distribute children's animated shows and movies originally. Their first two full-length animated motion pictures were the 1972 film Space Christmas and the 1973 film Disco Puppies, both distributed by 20th Century Fox. Until 1985, the company did not have a animated logo separate from the credits at the end of their shows, instead using an in-credit version of their logo (Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole standing looking at us without the filmstrip (the "filmstrip" was used sometimes between 1977 and 1985 and as the official outside logo from 1985 until 2004)) and "SQUIRREL/MOLE STUDIOS" below. During the Supreme Jersey (1982-1985) days, Squirrel/Mole Studios produced the animated Manhattan Mouse shorts, consisting of 52. After those initial skits, Squirrel/Mole Studios produced the TV series Daniel Duck (1985-1987), 1985 film Secret Squirrel Movie and the 1988 films Secret Squirrel Movie II: The Next Generation and The Ford Twins. In 1988, Squirrel/Mole Studios was purchased by DiC Entertainment, in this era famous for their most successful animated TV series, The Luigi Show (1988-1992), the Secret Squirrel shorts on 2 Stupid Dogs (1993-1994, during the first season) and the short-lived 1991 animated TV series Super Mario World. Squirrel/Mole Studios again became independent in 2001. The company is currently producing the TV series Another Secret Squirrel Series (2009-), Super Mario Galaxy (2008-) and a Secret Squirrel/Super Mario crossover series set to air in 2012, all created by DiC founder Andy Heyward. The company is also working on the film Another Secret Squirrel Movie, set for a 2012 release. In 1983, The Ultimate Enterprise Studios bought Squirrel/Mole Studios & its subsidiaries for $5,000, & now it's a division of that said company.

1st Logo

(1972-)

Logo: It's only an in-credit text that reads: "A Squirrel/Mole Studios Production". For co-produced shows and TV specials, the name of the company is seen below the Squirrel/Mole Studios text.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show.

Availability: Seen on Squirrel/Mole Studios shows and TV specials, starting with Space Christmas.

Scare Factor: None.

2nd Logo

(1978-1986)

Nickname: "Secret & Morocco"

Logo: On a black background, we see an in-credit version of the company's logo (Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole, in their classic Hanna-Barbera appearances, standing and looking at us) as seen on Squirrel/Mole Studios shows from 1985-2004, but without a filmstrip. "SQUIRREL/MOLE", "SQUIRREL/MOLE STUDIOS" or "A SQUIRREL/MOLE STUDIOS PRODUCTION" is seen below, sometimes with copyright info below.

Trivia: In 1978, Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole became the official mascots of Squirrel/Mole Studios.

FX/SFX: None.

Cheesy Factor: The in-credit Secret & Morocco scrolling up on Mario Bros. is very choppy.

Music/Sounds: Either the beginning or the ending theme of the movie, silence (I think) or probably the ending theme of the show

Availability: Appeared at the beginning or end of Squirrel/Mole Studios-produced films from the 70's and 80's, beginning with Horton Hedgehog. This was also seen on the 1985 film Secret Squirrel Movie, the animated series Daniel Duck and and early-80's prints of Squirrel/Mole Studios early animated TV specials. This was used in tandem with the next logo from 1985 until 1986. Also seen in the 1984 movie Mario Bros. before the Ultimate Enterprise Studios "Snap" logo.

Scare Factor: None to low, depending on the logo variant, but generally it's BORING.

3rd Logo

(1985-2000)

Nicknames: "Secret & Morocco II", "Neon Secret & Morocco" "Nelvana's Clone"

Logo: On a black background, a blue square with a red outline and a white filmstrip in the center flies from the top right of the screen, gradually enlarging and turning counterclockwise to fit the screen as the filmstrip extends to the width of the screen. The text "SQUIRREL/MOLE STUDIOS" appears in the filmstrip in red. The filmstrip shines from left to right. "SQUIRREL/MOLE STUDIOS" lights up in orange and neon outlines of Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole (still in their classic Hanna-Barbera appearances, later in their 2 Stupid Dogs appearances starting 1993) appear standing and looking at us.

Variants:

Starting in 1987, the byline "a DiC Entertainment company" appears at the same time as and below "SQUIRREL/MOLE STUDIOS".

The short version, which is more common, starts off with the filmstrip shining. This plays in warp speed (with the byline) on The Luigi Show before the compressed or split-screen credits. This is slowed down (even with the byline) on various shows too.

On Super Mario World there is a special, rare variant of this logo where Secret says "Goodbye!", then Morocco says "Thanks for watching this show!" to the viewers. Then it cuts to the DiC (which at the time owned Squirrel/Mole Studios) "Kid in Bed" logo.

On 1990's prints of Inspector Gadget there is a rare variant with a dark background and creepy music (some whooshing sounds with wind chimes and dramatic synth music) and the characters speak the same dialogue as the Super Mario World variant. Again, it then cuts to the DiC "Kid in Bed".

The 1989 TV series The Super Mario Bros. Super Show has a rare gradient background variant with the logo turning accompanied by a mystical twinkling sound with a thunderclap. This variant is shown in the center along with the 1986-1989 Viacom "V of Steel" logo on the top and the DiC "Kid in Bed" at the bottom. Shows distributed outside North America also used this variant.

On Dunbar Dog, this logo was shown on the left alongside with the Jumbo Pictures logo on the right.

On Medical Challenge, the logo is still and there was no thunderclap.

On Doug, the thunderclap is quieter than the rest.

On The Chicken Eagle Show, the thunderclap was replaced by a loud horn.

FX/SFX: The light effects.

Music/Sounds: A dramatic rising synth tune as the logo flies up, followed by a thunderclap as "SQUIRREL/MOLE STUDIOS" lights up. For most of Squirrel/Mole's 1990's shows, the end theme played over it, or it was silent.

Availability: Rare; the short version can still be seen on 1997-2000 episodes of Pokémon and early episodes of Mario & Yoshi in the Morning on CW's VortexxSaturday morning block. Also seen on The Luigi Show (whenever reran) and VHS releases of 2 Stupid Dogs and on VHS and DVD Releases of Inspector Gadget. The long version can be seen on the recent DVD release of Super Mario World. Also found on all episodes of Medical Challenge after the Ultimate Enterprise Studios "Snap" logo. The "loud horn" variant was seen on The Chicken Eagle Show.

Scare Factor: Minimal; pretty much depends on the ending theme shown.

Final Note: Most shows had this logo until 1997 (after being used in tandem with the 4th logo below) when they then switched to the next logo. However, even though the logo officially ended in 1996, Mario & Yoshi in the Morning continued to use the logo until it's end in 2000 and earlier episodes of Pokémon used this logo from it's debut in 1997, until sometime in 1999.

4th Logo

(1996-2004)

Nicknames: "Secret & Morocco III", "Space Secret & Morocco" "Another Nelvana Clone"

Logo: On a space background, there is a flash of light and the Squirrel/Mole Studios logo appears in CGI on the background looking similar to the 1st logo, with some exceptions: the filmstrip has a blue chrome outline, as well as the "SQUIRREL/MOLE STUDIOS" and Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole are no longer outlines and now colored, but still in 2D. A comet flies from the right.

Trivia: Originally, Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole in this logo were cel animated, starting in 2001 they became digitally animated. Also it made a surprising appearance on The Yoshi Show though it aired in 1995. This could be a plastering mistake.

Variants:

A few cartoons produced or distributed by Squirrel/Mole Studios had their ending theme play over it. The short version of the ending theme playing over it can be seen on later episodes of Mega Man and Pokémon.

There is a rare extended version of this logo which has a more delayed zoom-out. It ends with the logo animating backwards.

An even shorter version of the logo exists on the pilot episode of New Conker Adventures.

From 1996 until 2001, the logo had the byline "a DiC Entertainment company", similar to the previous logo.

For international distribution, it's on a black BG and "Distributed By" and "INTERNATIONAL" were chyroned in above and below the logo respectively.

Sometimes, between 2001 and 2004 the URL www.squirrelmolestudios.com would be chyroned in below the logo.

On Rocket Launcher and the City of Thieves, Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole wear a policeman's hat.

FX/SFX: Excellent use of CGI on the starry background, blue chrome and the comet flying. And great 2D animation too on Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole.

Music/Sounds: The end theme of a show, the generic network theme or silence.

Music/Sounds Variant: In 2002, some shows had Secret & Morocco speak the same dialogue as the previous logo's Super Mario World variant. Sometimes, only Morocco spoke. This was used on the extended variant of the logo.

Availability: Uncommon. The best way to find it is on PBS reruns of older Cyberchase episodes after the Nelvana logo, international prints of The Legend of Zelda: Ocrina of Time on Disney Channel, North American reruns of Mega Man and Pokémon on Cartoon Network, among others.

Scare Factor: None to minimal; great CGI, nothing to worry about. May get a little higher when the music is added and the spark flying, however.

5th Logo

(2001-2004)

Nicknames: "Secret & Morocco IV", "Still Secret & Morocco"

Logo: On a white background, we see the same filmstrip, text and Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole characters as the previous logo but with a dark blue outline. Underneath the "SQUIRREL/MOLE STUDIOS" is the URL www.squirrelmolestudios.com.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None. In other cases, the end theme of a show or the generic network theme.

Availability: It was used as an alternate logo between 2001 and 2004. It appears on PBS reruns of 2003 Cyberchase episodes, cross-fading from the Nelvana logo. It also appeared on some episodes of Pokémon on Cartoon Networkand Super Mario Sunshine.

Scare Factor: None; it's a clean and BORING logo.

6th Logo

(2004- )

Nicknames: "Secret & Morocco V", "Secret & Morocco in front of Northern Lights"

Logo: On a black background, we see lights similar to those you see along the Canadian Arctic coast form and Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole watch a filmstrip appear from the lights. The filmstrip then turns and bump into Secret and Morocco, knocking them down and they say "Hey!". Then they stand up and grin. Under all this is "SQUIRREL/MOLE STUDIOS" and the URL www.squirrelmolestudios.com appears under that.

Variants:

Sometimes no lights are shown for the standard logo.

There is a longer version where Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole walk in while watching the filmstrip, then Secret bumps into Morocco and Morocco says "Hey!". Sometimes, no lights are shown.

A variant exists with the words "A SQUIRREL/MOLE STUDIOS PRODUCTION" above Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole. There are no lights on this variant.

Starting in 2005, the byline "In a division of Ultimate Enterprise Studios" appears under the logo.

On The Jetsons Kids, Elroy and Orbitty replaces Secret Squirrel and Teddy-2 and Squeap replaces Morocco Mole, all of them does the same manner as the two. Also, the Canadian Arctic coast was replaced with Orbit City (a setting from The Jetsons).

A red background variant was seen on The Hub reruns of The Ryo the Cat Show.

FX/SFX: Modern-day 2D computer graphics.

Music/Sounds: Usually the end theme of a show or the generic network theme plays over. On the Another Secret Squirrel Series episode Escape from Quarkatraz (aired November 22, 2009 as a S1 episode) the logo is silent due to a 10 second commodive silence for Michael Jackson's death inJune 25, 2009, the other logos (except for Ultimate Enterprise Studios) were in silence as well.

Availability: Common on all current Squirrel/Mole Studios shows, such as Another Secret Squirrel Series and Super Mario Galaxy on Qubo and The Hub. It sometimes plasters older Squirrel/Mole Studios logos as is the case on Boomerang's current reruns of 2 Stupid Dogs and will be the case when The Hub begins rerun airings of Super Mario World, New Conker Adventures and Dunbar Dog in September 2012. It was also seen on the DVD re-releases of Snap's World (after the Ultimate Enterprise Studios "Snap" logo) and The Jetsons Kids. Also seen on The Hub reruns of The Ryo the Cat Show.

Scare Factor: Low; the sudden bump and they "Hey!" look a little freaky, but should be OK. The silent variant is low to medium; you may expect a sudden noise to scare you.