Background[]
OBM Group Studio is an American animation and visual effects studio founded in 1991 by Kevin O'Brien, Christopher Beasley, and Harold McDean. Based in Chicago, Illinois, the studio originally specialized in computer game development before expanding into the animation industry in the early 2000s. The company's first project was an art program named "Go Paint!", released in 1992, and its first animated projects were the 2002 "Garrett The Wolf" Faygo commercials, and the CGI 2003 Tootsie Pop "Mr. Owl and Friends" commercials. The company is perhaps best known for animating a majority of the Bookmotions shorts.
Logo (1993-)[]
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Visuals: On a white background, there is a red button on a green rectangle on the right side of the screen. A blue stick-figure, a brown Z-shaped character with light brown arms and legs, and a green box with a Leprechaun hat walk in from the left side of the screen, and shortly after stopping in the center, the stick-figure presses the button, saying "Let me see...". Suddenly, the three characters begin to shake, with the brown one asking "What's happening?!" before all three of them turn into the letters "O", "M", and "B" (with the "B" being in a Roman typeface) and spiral around the background (which fades to black) before getting into position and stopping in the middle of the screen. A flash occurs below the three letters, which dims to reveal the words "GROUP STUDIO" in white. The final logo looks like this:
Variants:
- Prior to 1995, a still version was used. This variant continues to be used, usually as a closing variant.
- A short version exists, which starts after the characters turn into the letters in the company name.
- Another short version exists, which starts when the flash occurs below the three letters.
- The logo was later reanimated at a higher frame rate.
- On the short variants, the words "Produced at" or "Produced in Chicago at" may appear above the logo in red, or the words "IN ASSOCIATION WITH" may appear below. Some times, both rows of text may appear.
Technique: 2D computer animation.
Audio: The characters' footsteps, dialogue, and body movements, a "ding" when the stick figure presses the button, "pop" noises when they turn into the letters in the company name, and the same synth-chime theme used in the 1995 VCI logo for the latter half of the logo.
Availability: The still variant's debut was on the game Abacus-Dabra: A Math Magic Show. The animated variant debuted on Garrett The Wolf’s Preschool Adventure, and later appeared on other edutainment games from the company. Can also be found on some Bookmotions shorts such as A Call For A New Alphabet, Joe Lion’s Big Boots, Little Robots, Harry and the Haunted House, and Ms. Blanche the Spotless Cow.
Legacy: The logo may start off innocent, but the transformations of the characters, followed by the sudden change of tone and atmosphere, all compile to make a logo that has been known to cause nightmares for many children. But aside from that, this logo is considered nostalgic for people who grew up with the games they made, or Bookmotions shorts.