Gecko Studios

Background

This was an animation production company launched by Elliot Strange in 1987. The launch of the studio coincided with the early production stages for the syndicated episodes for The Halloween Gang. Strange would be appointed the head writer for the show's syndication package, but sought more creative control due to disappointment with the ABC television network regarding censorship as well as mandates for ongoing animated productions for the 1987 season. Strange would become the executive producer for the show's syndication package, and would launch his own production company and studio to outsource animation production to overseas studios. Initially made to fulfill production obligations on The Halloween Gang, the company would expand to general productions, but found very little success. Compounded by blacklisting by the big three networks, Strange would sell his company, and publish a book detailing his experiences. He would move to Paradise, Nevada and take residence in the MGM Grand Hotel, where he would become a poker player as well as a golfer. He would also launch profiles on deviantArt, NewGrounds and YouTube to produce content, notably a short series known as Lemonade, only to vanish some time in 2009 with those believing he had died. Throughout the 2020s, cryptic messages would be posted on Strange's socials as part of an ARG and he would reveal that he had sought to come out of retirement with a new project, using the game as a deciding factor. In 2022, Strange formed an alliance with comedian Wyatt Cenac, which would lead to the production Uncle Smith for Hulu, which faced backlash from the Smith family as well as threats of litigation from their company Westbrook Studios. It led the series to be put on indefinite hiatus, but following the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, it further jeopardized the fate of the series.

1st Logo

(1988-1993)

Logo: On a grey background, we see a non-painted girl adorned in a hoodie walking in from the left of the screen. The stacked text "Gecko Studios" in a grey puffy font slides in, catching the girl off guard. She would later get her senses back and lean on the text and give a glazed look.

FX/SFX: Hand drawn animation.

Music/Sounds/Trivia: A female voice saying "Whatev-OH!", "Whatever...." The voice was provided by actress Christa Denton.

Availability: Extinct. Appeared on reruns of syndicated and season 1 episodes of The Halloween Gang on Nickelodeon throughout Halloween night, and debuted on the show's primetime special The Celtic Connection.

2nd Logo

(1998-2000, 2023)

Logo: Against a picture of a shoreline, we see two girls crouched by the company name in a stacked fashion, each letter set in different individual fonts. Two women are seen peering from behind with scowls.

Variant: This would be remastered in 2023, to feature cleaner artwork and the background having a filtered effect. On its only use it was put next to the logo for Amalgamated Bear.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on the short-lived The Halloween Kids and the unsold pilot Rockett to Earth.

Background
This was a joint handle launched by Strange and Larry Houston in 1997, used in productions where both would work together; Strange would handle character designs while Houston would handle storyboards. While Gecko Studios itself would become defunct in 2000, the name was used well into 2002 due to legal obligation.

1st Logo (1997-2002)
Logo: Against a red background with a burning city skyline, we see a torn wire fence with a yellow sign on it, containing an angry-looking cartoony gecko. Above everything is the army-stencil text "STRANGE HOUSTON"

Variant(s): An animated version exists where the logo zooms up as the flames begin to form.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None or the closing theme. The variant had a distorted chip-tune, ending with a woman saying "Now look at me when I'm talking to you boy!"

Availability: Appeared on the short-lived The Hallows and Green Jean (2002). The animated version appeared on the video game Green Jean 2: Enter the Nega-Jean.

GEGRIZ
Logo: Against a black background, we see a orange arched window leading to a night sky, which contains the characters from the previous Gecko Studios logo, along with the cartoonish gecko and a bear. An arched doorway leading to a row of stairs and an orange path leading to the bottom right corner is also visible. "GEGRIZ" is at the bottom right. This is set to the left of the logo for Hermit House.

Trivia: GEGRIZ is essentially an amalgamate of Gecko Studios and Cenac's Amalgamated Bear.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None or the closing theme.

Availability: Seen on Uncle Smith.