Background: After Argosy Media lost the rights to "Road Rash" and several other live-action TV series to Cairo Pictures, they hired Cairo animators Ellen Peck and Paul Lopez to create a new theatrical cartoon series. The series ran from 1984-2006 and from 2008-present. They were distributed by Paramount Pictures (1984-89), Universal Pictures (1989-93), Visual Arts Pictures (1993-98) and Entertainment One Pictures (1998-2006). Argosy's own Cairo/MTM Motion Pictures Distribution company distributed the cartoons after 2008.
1st Logo (1984-1989)[]
Opening Title: On a red background, the words "PARAMOUNT PICTURES presents AN" are at the top of the screen. The words "ARGOSY PICTURES" are below them in a cartoonish font, and the words "CARTOON" below them. In the middle is the cartoon's title. Below the title is the phrase "AN ELLEN PECK/PAUL LOPEZ PRODUCTION". The copyright date is at the very bottom. On either side of the words are Aaron and Salli respectively. Once the card fades out, the title remains on screen for a few more seconds before fading out completely.
Opening Title Variants:
- On early 1990s reissue prints from Universal Pictures, the card was redrawn with "PARAMOUNT PICTURES presents AN" replaced by "UNIVERSAL STUDIOS presents AN".
- On current prints of Put It In The Kitty, because the copyright notice is out of view, a new copyright is chyroned in below "CARTOON" and "AN ELLEN PECK/PAUL LOPEZ PRODUCTION".
Closing Title: On a red background, a circle with the words "THE END" is placed in the middle of the screen. The words "AN ARGOSY PICTURES CARTOON" are above the logo and "DISTRIBUTED BY PARAMOUNT PICTURES" is on the bottom. Aaron and Salli are leaning against the logo.
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: Either the cartoon's opening/closing score or silence.
Availability: Uncommon.
Editor’s Note: None.
2nd Logo (1989-1993)[]
Opening Title: On a light blue background, the words "UNIVERSAL STUDIOS presents an ARGOSY PICTURES cartoon" are on top (the words are outlined in black; "ARGOSY PICTURES" is in the same font as in the last logo). The cartoon's title is seen on in the middle of the screen. MPAA and copyright information are below on either side of the screen. Aaron and Salli are on both sides of the screen holding up the text. Like the last logo, the title remains onscreen for a few seconds while the rest of the card faded out.
Closing Title: On a red background, a circle with the words "THE END" is placed in the middle of the screen. The words "AN ARGOSY PICTURES CARTOON" are above the logo and "DISTRIBUTED BY UNIVERSAL PICTURES" is on the bottom with the small words "AN MCA COMPANY" just below that. Aaron and Salli are on either side of the logo with their names captioned below them.
Closing Title Variant: The first cartoons with this logo contain a slightly modified version of the closing title from the previous logo.
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: An arrangement of "Yakety Sax".
Availability: Extremely rare. The logo is plastered on reissue prints on television and by false recreations on DVD releases. The original titles for Attack of the 50-Foot Soldier were seen on Argosy Network in the 2000s, with all Universal references cropped. The last cartoon to use these titles was Orange Gus in Australia (the last Argosy cartoon distributed by Universal Pictures).
Editor’s Note: None.
3rd Logo (1993)[]
1st screen: On a navy blue screen, we see the head of Aaron zooming up from the center of the screen. The screen gets brighter until the head zooms up to a comfortable distance with a sunburst twirling behind it. After a few seconds, it cuts right to the second screen.
2nd screen: On a theater stage with a curtain covered with stars are Aaron and Salli holding up the cartoon's title. Above the title is "ELLEN PECK presents AN ARGOSY PICTURES CARTOON" and below it is "DISTRIBUTED BY VISUAL ARTS". Below it all is the MPAA symbol and the copyright information. The cartoon's title also remains on screen for a few seconds after the rest of the card fades out.
Closing Title: On the same stage background, Aaron and Salli hold up a black circle reading "THE END". Above it is "AN ARGOSY PICTURES CARTOON" and below it is "DISTRIBUTED BY VISUAL ARTS".
FX/SFX: The zooming of the Aaron head.
Music/Sounds: On the first screen is a slide-whistle sound as the head zooms up followed by a long chord and a "crash" sound. The second screen features an arrangement of "Yakety Sax".
Availability: Extremely rare. The first screen is retained on DVD releases, but the second screen is replaced with a generic title card. The logo is usually plastered by reissue titles on television with the music and sounds intact.
Editor’s Note: None.
4th Logo (1993-1995)[]
1st screen: We see the head of Aaron on a sunburst background in the center of the screen.
2nd screen: Same as the 3rd logo, except the cartoon's title usually zooms up to the center of the screen after the card fades out.
Variant: On 2000s reissues of Argosy cartoons, the sunburst background was modified and has a smooth gradient texture. The second screen is modified to be open matte, with Aaron and Salli smaller.
Closing Title: Same as the 3rd logo.
FX/SFX: None.
Music/Sounds: A majestic horn fanfare, followed by "Yakety Sax".
Availability: Extremely rare. The first screen is retained on DVD releases, but the second screen is plastered with a generic title card. The logo is usually plastered by reissue titles on television with the music and sounds intact.
Editor’s Note: None
5th Logo (1995-1998)[]
1st screen: Same as the 3rd logo, only there is no animation.
2nd screen: Aaron and Salli's designs have been updated to the ones used on TV, there are no stars on the curtain, the text is in a slightly different font and the card now crossfades to a black background with the title closer up.
Closing Title: An updated version of the 3rd logo, except the phrase "LUCASFILM LTD. THX SOUND SYSTEM" (in its corporate logo) is seen. A copyright notice may appear below.
Variants:
- The first cartoons with this logo have the second and closing titles from the 3rd logo.
- A version without Visual Arts references were used on mid to late 2000s reissue prints.
- On Who, What, Were, Aaron, Aaron and Salli are replaced by Longtail and Pupper Puppy.
FX/SFX: The crossfade to the larger title.
Music/Sounds: Yakety Sax.
Availability: Extinct. These aren't seen on DVD prints or other current prints.
Editor’s Note: None.
6th Logo (1998-2006)[]
1st screen: A new Aaron head is placed in front of a yellow sunburst.
2nd screen: On a red background is the phrase "AN ARGOSY MEDIA CARTOON". Below it is "DISTRIBUTED BY ENTERTAINMENT ONE PICTURES", followed by the MPAA symbol and copyright information. The screen then crossfades into the cartoon's title.
Closing Title: In a yellow circle outline is the phrase "AN ARGOSY MEDIA CARTOON" followed by a line with "THE END" below it. On the very bottom is "Distributed by ENTERTAINMENT ONE PICTURES" followed by "A RECORDS ON WHEELS COMPANY".
Variant: On Hole in One, the phrase is "ELLEN PECK presents an ARGOSY MEDIA CARTOON".
FX/SFX: The sunburst background.
Music/Sounds: The opening/closing score of the cartoon.
Availability: Very common. Appears on DVD releases of several late 1990s Argosy cartoons, though a small number have them plastered by reissue titles.
Editor’s Note: None.
7th Logo (2008-)[]
1st screen: Same as the 6th logo, but the lines are thinner.
2nd screen: Same as the 6th logo but on a red textured background, the EOne text is replaced with "Distributed by Cairo/MTM Pictures Inc.", the fonts have changed and the copyright is smaller.
Closing Title: In a blue circle outline is the phrase "AN ARGOSY MEDIA CARTOON" followed by a line with "THE END" below it. On the very bottom is "Distributed by Cairo/MTM Pictures", followed by "A Division of Cairo/MTM Entertainment", followed by "An Argosy Media Company".
Variants:
- A version without the Cairo/MTM text is seen on re-releases.
- Starting in 2011, the Cairo/MTM references are removed.
FX/SFX: Same as the 6th logo.
Music/Sounds: Yakety Sax.
Availability: Very common.
Editor’s Note: None.