Nickelodeon/Summary (2024)

Background: Nickelodeon, or simply Nick, is an American cable and satellite network, aimed at children and adolescents aged 9-16. Launched on December 1st, 1977, the network was originally founded as Pinwheel, named after a children's television show of the same name. The network was later renamed to Nickelodeon on April 1, 1979, after an early 20th century exhibition dedicated to showing projected motion pictures.

The network has its own production arm for some of its shows, as well as a movie division that was established in 1995 shortly after Viacom (now named Paramount Global; a division of National Amusem*nts, Inc.) bought the network.

1st Logo (1984-1992)[]

Nickname: "Nick ID Snippets"

Logo: There are multiple variants used:

• Fireworks: Same as the respective Nickelodeon ID. The short variant was used more commonly.
• Nick TV: Same as the respective Nickelodeon ID, but it starts at the scene where the boy leaps on the TV creature.
• Nick Box: On a cream-colored background with several random objects, we see many objects falling down and landing in a black rectangle. Then, we see the black rectangle with an orange rectangle unfolding on top of it, revealing "NICKELODEON" in the colors of the objects and in its familiar font. The rectangles form a box shape, then the "NICKELODEON" text flashes white, and a butterfly flies out of the box.
• Fish: Same as the respective Nickelodeon ID, but it starts a little before the background changes.
• Golf: Same as the respective Nickelodeon ID, but it stops as the ball goes through the winding road.
• Submarine: Same as the respective Nickelodeon ID, but it starts at the scene where the T. rex is looking around.
• Teacup: Same as the respective Nickelodeon ID, but it starts at the scene where the face starts turning transparent.
• Bikes: Same as the respective Nickelodeon ID, but it starts at the scene where the father helps his son on his tricycle.
• Clay: Same as the respective Nickelodeon ID, but it stops when the fish turns into a triangle.
• Pattycake: Same as the respective Nickelodeon ID, but it often starts at the scene where the girls press their palms on the screen.

Trivia: These logos were all based on the iconic idents for which Nickelodeon was known throughout most of the 1980s.

Variant: There was a superimposed variant of the short fireworks logo that was seen on Double Defi, the French-Canadian version of Double Dare.

FX/SFX: Depends on the variant.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show.

Music/Sounds Variant:

• On several episodes of Finders Keepers, we hear silence over the fireworks logo.
• On the video Double Dare: The Inside Scoop, we hear the fireworks logo's music.

Availability: Rare. Most of the variants can be seen on the Orlando-taped episodes of Super Sloppy Double Dare. The long fireworks version (with music) can be seen on the video Double Dare: The Inside Scoop and at the end of Double Dare: The Messiest Moments on VHS. The short fireworks version, however, appeared on the syndicated versions of Double Dare and Finders Keepers, as well as the Fox version of Family Double Dare (and even appeared on the Australian version of Double Dare after the "This program is based off of.." bumper). A short Nick Box is seen on the syndicated version of Double Dare and 1989 episodes of Super Sloppy Double Dare (both the Philadelphia and Orlando-taped episodes). The full Nick Box, however, can be seen on the video How to Throw a Double Dare Party. The golf logo can be found on some Orlando-taped SSDD episodes as well. None of these variants appear on the British and Dutch versions of Double Dare, though.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (July 10th, 1996)[]

Nickname: "Nickelodeon Shorts"

Logo: A 2D animated janitor can be seen on a fancy play stage with spotlights, looking at his hand. He suddenly realizes that the show is on, and quickly pulls down a large film cell from the top of the screen, which contains an array of legless "walking" live action pairs of khaki dress shorts on a purple background, with one big pair taking up the center. The camera quickly zooms inside the film cell, with a yellow background iris-in on just the big pair itself. A pair of crudely-drawn hands on a single orange arm with "NICKELODEON" in the middle (much like CatDog, one of the network's shows that aired around that time) stretch around the iris from above, and pull out "SHORTS" in a green-plaid color, which snaps back in place like a rubber band. The janitor can be heard sighing off-screen, with the right hand waving at the viewers as the logo irises-out to black.

FX/SFX: The janitor pulling down the film cell, the khaki shorts "walking", the arms stretching. A mix of traditional animation and chroma-key live action.

Music/Sounds: An introductory trumpet fanfare starts the logo. When the janitor realizes that the show is on, he yelps, and a record-scratch sound is heard, changing the music to a funky-sounding guitar piece with trumpets. A xylophone is heard as the camera zooms into the film cell and the arms stretch out, with a pie-splat sound effect being heard as "SHORTS" is stretched out. A sigh of relief is heard from the janitor, with flubbing mouth sounds as the hand waves to the viewer before the logo closes out.

Availability: Extinct.

• It was only found at the beginning of theatrical showings of Harriet the Spy, preceding the pilot episode for the then-upcoming Nickelodeon show Hey Arnold. While the pilot episode is available to watch on the Hey Arnold: The Complete Series box set as a bonus feature, that version uses no logo at the start, as it is sourced from a network print.
• The logo was long-thought to have been lost, but was recently rediscovered in a (since claimed and removed) YouTube upload of the theatrical version of the Hey Arnold pilot in November 2023. It can be viewed here.

Editor's Note: A very creative and (quite literally) humorous logo from Nickelodeon. It's a shame, though, that it never saw exposure outside of theatrical showings of Harriet the Spy.

3rd Logo (1996-2003)[]

Logo: A CGI ball appears on a black background and them forms a "NICKELODEON" splat, which resembles the Nicktoons version, but with smaller text.

Variants:

• On Yakkity Yak, the logo is shortened and it has a copyright for Nickelodeon Australia below in orange.
• There's a rare still variant that was only seen on a trailer for Harriet the Spy and the teaser trailer for The Rugrats Movie.

FX/SFX: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: Three bouncing noises, followed by a splatting noise. Sometimes, it plays the closing theme of the show or trailer.

Availabilty: Rare. The animated version was only seen on Yakkity Yak and the Fat Files shorts. The still version of the Nickelodeon logo was only seen on the trailer for Harriet the Spy and the teaser trailer for The Rugrats Movie.

Editor's Note: None.

4th Logo (September 28, 2009-March 11, 2017 (2009-present for home media releases))[]

Nickname: "Litebulb"

Logo: Essentially the same as the 2009 Nickelodeon Productions logo, but excluding the word "PRODUCTIONS".

Variants:

• On Open Heart and the 14th season of Degrassi, the word "ORIGINALS" replaces "PRODUCTIONS".
• On the end of every Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Nicktoons, etc. DVD release, only the copyright stamp is shown.
• Widescreen and fullscreen variants exist.

FX/SFX: Same as the 2009 Nickelodeon Productions logo.

Music/Sounds: Same as the 2009 Nickelodeon Productions logo.

Availability: Common. Although split-screen airings now use the 2009 Nickelodeon Productions logo, it's still seen at the start of post-2009 Nickelodeon DVDs, and sometimes at the end of Nickelodeon shows like Rabbids: Invasion. The "Originals" variant appears on Degrassi starting with the 14th season and Open Heart (Canadian airings of these two shows replace this logo with that of a Canadian channel).

Editor's Note: None.

5th Logo (September 21, 2010-April 13, 2012)[]

Logo: Same as the 2009 Nickelodeon Digital logo, but is still, the copyright notice is removed, and "NICKELODEON" is shortened to "NICK".

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show.

Availabilty: Very rare. It was only seen on Artzooka!, but Qubo broadcasts edited this out. It was kept intact when POP in the UK aired this series in 2013, however.

Editor's Note: None.

6th Logo (2013?-present)[]

Nickname: "Litebulb"

Logo: Just the current Nickelodeon logo on a white background.

Variants:

• On Pinky Malinky, the titular character is seen running and jumping around the logo.
• On Glitch Techs, the logo is seen in an arcade machine along with a score counter above it and the blinking text "PRESS START" below it. The logo also glitches a little.
• Before the start of Netflix prints of Nickelodeon shows, each letter of the logo pops-up one-by-one, as the camera zooms out.
• There is a version where the logo is smaller and the color scheme is reversed (the logo is white, while the background is orange).
• Another smaller version exists without the reversed color scheme.
• On many shows, the logo is in-credit.
• At the end of Paw Patrol: The Movie, the logo is on a black background.

FX/SFX: Usually none. except for the animation in the two custom Netflix variants:

• Pinky Malinky variant: Pinky running and jumping around the logo.
• Glitch Techs variant: The logo glitching and the "PRESS START" text blinking.

Music/Sounds: The ending theme of the show or none.

Music/Sounds Variants:

• On Pinky Malinky, we hear the opening theme of the show along with Pinky laughing, then saying "I can't" and screaming "WHOA!".
• On Glitch Techs, some video game sound effects are heard.
• The opening logo has a different rendition of the last five notes of the Nickelodeon theme.

Availabilty: Current. Appears on Ollie's Pack. The reversed color scheme version can be found on Becca's Bunch. The smaller variant with the normal colours can be seen on Deer Squad. The custom animated variants are seen before the Netflix original shows Pinky Malinky and Glitch Techs. The in-credit variant is very common and can be found on shows such as Make It Pop, Star Falls, Ride, Max & Shred, Dorg van Dango, Massive Monster Mayhem and the 2019 version of The Adventures of Paddington.

Editor's Note: None.