PBS Kids

Background : PBS Kids is a programming block and serves as the brand for most of the children's programming aired by the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the United States, established as part of PBS' "Ready To Learn" Initiative. The PTV brand was retired on September 5, 1999 and has been officially known as PBS Kids since September 6, 1999. The PBS Kids Channel was launched at the time time as the PBS Kids block and ran for six years and was largely funded by satellite TV provider DirecTV. The channel was shut down on September 26, 2005 and was replaced by PBS Kids Sprout, which was developed in partnership with Comcast Corporation (who later bought full control of the network via NBCUniversal). A new 24-hour channel was launched on January 16, 2017.

Seasons 1-4 (September 4, 1993-September 13, 1997)
Nicknames : "P-Pals", "E/i", "PBS Cartoon P-Pals", "PBS P-Pals", "This is PBS Woo-Hoo-Hoo", "Cartoon PBS P-Head", "P-Cream", "Tug of War"

Logo : On a white background, we see some crudely drawn P-heads (all like gathering together), with that one wearing a red cap and and an earring, singing "This is! P-B-SSSSSS!" while dancing. Near the end, the polka-dotted P-Head ad-libs "Woo-hoo-hooooo!" a la Michael Jackson as his cap flies off. Then, the text "PBS" in its corporate font appears in black as the cap drops back on his head, and a red P-shaped dog (whose name is P-Pet) runs across the screen, barks, then walks away.

Trivia : The logo was designed and animated by Gene Mackles, who also created the P-Pals characters for the PBS Kids programming from the era.

Variants :
 * There is a variation where the dog gives the P-head a dark blue balloon with the text "e/i" (pronounced, ee-eye, and it's short for "Educational and Informative") on it in the Comic Sans font, which was added on January 13, 1996, just after the 6th PBS ident debuted.
 * Sometimes, the logo fades out after the P-Pet barks.
 * There is a variation where the camera quickly goes through a doorway on a black background and the three color-changing P-heads are seen against the white background, with confetti falling from the top, and all three P-heads yell "Surprise!" and cheer with loud party horns heard in the background. This was a very short-lived version and was usually played in-between shows as a promo.
 * There is a long version of the "Surprise!" variant which first takes place on a black background. Then the door opens and one of the P-pals peeks in. Then it peeks out and the door closes. Then the P-Pet (from the standard version), walks through the screen and into the door. Then another P-Pal peeks in from the above and peeks out. Then the door opens and we proceed into the animation above.
 * There is another variant of the long version where some kids say "The P-Pals are coming!" 8 times, then they say "Who are the P-pals?" right before the door opens, then after the door opens and the P-Pals yell surprise they shout "The P-Pals are coming!" one last time, and then one of the kids says "Watch for them!"
 * In the Mix (1994-1997): The logo looks a bit washed out, with the brightness and contrast apparently pumped up in excess.
 * P-Cream (1993-1995): There is a variation where ice cream man was putting Ice cream called P-Cream and zoomed to a "PBS" text fading in.
 * Tug War (1995-1996): There is a variation where The P-Head Pals was playing Tug of War, the music is diferent, singing "P-B-SSSSSS! THE THE KIND OF PLACE" while dancing. Near the end, one polka-dotted P-Head ad-libs "Woo-hoo-hooooo!" a la Michael Jackson and P-Pet runs across the screen, barks, then walks away.

FX/SFX : The P-heads dancing, the cap flying off, "PBS" fading in.

Music/Sounds : A techno-pop tune with drums and a bass. The "Surprise!" variation just has loud party horns and cheering, but the long version has giggling and a door creaking.

Availability : Rare; it has a slim chance of appearing on PBS Kids shows from 1993-1999 if your local PBS station is airing them, but is usually replaced with newer logos.

February 18, 1995-March 7, 1998
Nickname : "PTV"

Logo : Over footage of kids in red and blue uniforms swinging jump ropes around, the P-head zooms in, facing left as it did until 1984. Then a stylized T, looking like three red dots across with three red dots below, zooms similarly, followed by a green square with a cutout V.

Trivia : The drum break used in this logo is known as the Funky Drummer break, originating from the drum break performed by Clyde Stubblefield in the James Brown single "Funky Drummer" (1970).

FX/SFX : The live-action footage, and the computer-generated animation.

Music/Sounds/Voiceovers : A catchy drum beat, with an announcer calling out each letter as they appear.

Availability : Extinct. Seen on some shows aimed at older children during the era, such as Reading Rainbow and reruns of Square One TV.

Season 8 (September 5, 1998-February 20, 1999)
Nicknames : "The P-Head", "P-Head Passes the Trapdoor", "The Gathering"

Logo : A blue P-Head was holding an analog curtain, passes off the trapdoor, and finally the P-Head Pals run in on a white background, but now they looks around; puzzled.

Trivia : The 1998 PBS Kids made its final sign-off on September 5, 1999.

FX/SFX : The blue P-head, and the P-Head Pals.

Music/Sounds : A cheetah roar when the P-Head yells, mechanic tapes when the latter holds an analog curtain and passes off the trapdoor, and finally the spring sofa noise.

Availability : Extinct.

Season 9 (September 4, 1999-August 31, 2000)
Nicknames : "Dot and Dash", "PBS Kids Girl", "PBS Kids Boy", "Doink! PBS Kids!"

Logo :
 * Dash : On a lime green background, we see a close-up of an eye. The eye blinks. After that, the camera zooms out to reveal a boy named Dash wearing a white short-sleeved T shirt. Then, he points his finger in the head and scratches his head trying to think about something. A great big smile on his face appears and says “Doink!”, and then the background becomes a green circle with Dash's face on it, and a white thought bubble appears with the letters PBS growing until it reaches the bubble ending on a pink striped background. The URL address for PBS Kids appears at the bottom left corner of the screen.

Trivia : Variants : FX/SFX : 2D animation.
 * Dot : On the same lime green background as Dash, there is a pathway at the bottom of the screen, and a girl named Dot runs up to the screen, wearing a long sleeved red shirt, black pants and white shoes. Once she reached the screen, a great big smile on her face appears, then the background becomes a green circle with Dot's face on it, and a white thought bubble appears with the letters PBS growing until it reaches the bubble ending on a multi colored striped background colored pink, yellow and blue.
 * This logo was designed by Richard McGuire (an artist that creates PBS Kids-style characters for the magazine The New Yorker, although he has created PBS Kids-style characters long before this logo was introduced) and animated at Lee Hunt Associates.
 * On September 6, 1999, four new idents for PBS Kids (including these 2 idents) were introduced. For the first few weeks, they were used in tandem with the first logo. Eventually, they replaced the first logo. However, some PBS stations used the previous logo until 2002.
 * There is a variation of this logo used for international prints of PBS Kids shows. In this variant, the background is black, the entire logo is removed except for the word "PBS" and the words "PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH" in the Comic Sans font appear above the words "PBS". This variant appears instead of the funding credits and the end of international prints of most PBS Kids shows. The start of the international prints of PBS Kids shows cut out the funding credits entirely, meaning it goes straight into the respective show's intro.
 * On VHS and DVD releases of PBS Kids shows, the word "kidsvideo" appears below the logo. Both Dot and Dash were used for both variants. But beginning in October 2006 starting with the PBS Kids 3 pack DVD set (which included Sagwa the Chinese Siamese Cat, George Shrinks and Zoboomafoo), the Dot version of the PBS Kidsvideo logo was dropped leaving only the Dash version of the PBS Kidsvideo logo with the Dot audio at the beginning and end.

Music/Sounds : A catchy 4-note a cappella tune sung by a specific gender of kids, depending on each variant; the Dot variation has a chorus of young girls, and the Dash version is sung by boys. At the end of both (and other variants) idents, a "doink" sound is heard and they all end up eventually singing "PBS Kids!". None, or the closing theme of the respective show for the International "Produced In Association With" variant.

Availability : Uncommon. While seen on older prints of PBS Kids shows, it is becoming incredibly hard to find on TV, due to heavy plastering by newer logos, though given its long run of 14 years, it shouldn't be too hard to find on recordings and or video releases. The "kidsvideo" variant can be seen on so many good shosw. PBS updated and remastered all currently aired prints of the latter in September of 2018, but both variants are still intact on their respective episodes.

Season 10 (September 1, 2000-August 31, 2008)
Nickname : "The PBS Kids Bubble"

Logo : We see the PBS Kids logo from before (most often Dash) placed against a background that differs on the variant. Often, Dash is replaced by a character from a PBS Kids show (mostly the kids from Zoom) or a kid depending on the variant.

FX/SFX : A combination of live-action, animation, and chroma-key technology.

Music/Sounds : Depends on the variant.

Availability : Extinct. Seen on old bumpers for PBS Kids in the 2000s. Check your old tapes for them.

Season 11 (September 4, 2000-August 27, 2001)
Nicknames : "Transform", "Dot and Dash II", "PBS Kids Girl II", "PBS Kids Boy II", "Doink! PBS Kids II", "Tiger, Octopus, and Astronaut", "Caveman, Scuba Diver, and Robot"

Logo : The 1st ident of the set is Dash, the boy, who is at first a caveman, then a scuba diver, and then a robot. He grabs the letters "PBS", and the circular PBS Kids logo is shown. There is no "doink" or similar sound in this ident. Blue bubbles are shaking on a pale spring bud background. The 2nd one is Dot, the girl, who is at first a tiger, then an octopus, and finally an astronaut. After that, the circular PBS Kids logo is shown on a background with stars. Also, like the 2nd logo at the lower left hand of the screen, the URL address for PBS Kids will appear like before.

Variant : On international prints of PBS Kids shows (mainly from the Bookworm Bunch programming block), as well as the series George Shrinks (animated in Japan), Seven Little Monsters, The Berenstain Bears (the 2003 version) and Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse, there is a variation in which the logo is a still picture of the Astronaut part of this logo. However, the logo is slightly off-center and Dash in his robot form is replaced with the words "Produced In Association With" and the PBS "Circle P-Head" logo below. A French variant of this logo also exists.

Trivia : This logo was animated at Lee Hunt Associates.

FX/SFX : Same as the 3rd logo.

Music/Sounds : Some kids softly scatting the music from the 1999 logo at first accompanied by a synthesizer, then a weird bubbling-up-like rocket ship sound effect, something that suspiciously sounds more like "DOY!" than "doink!" (strangely only heard on the Dot ident), and then the kids singing "PBS Kids!" in a higher tone than the previous logo. None, or the respective show's closing theme for the international variant.

Availability : Same as the 3rd logo. Seen on all children's programming from 2000 to 2001 on PBS; However,the Dot variant appeared on Twitch.tv's print of 'Episode #1526', and the Dash variant is retained on PBS airings of 'Episode #1482', including the 2018 remastered version.

Season 12 (August 28-November 5, 2001)
Nicknames : "The Switcher", "The Button", "The Doink! Button", "Dot and Dash VII", "PBS Kids Girl VII", "PBS Kids Boy VII", "Doink! PBS Kids VII"

Logo : We start by seeing two halves of the screen separated by a black line with what appears to be a button in its center. Dash is on the left side of the screen, while Dot is on the right. Dot is shown as a shadow. She then presses the button, turning Dash into a shadow of a chicken, then Dash presses the button, turning Dot into an umbrella. Then the two keep pressing the button, transforming Dash into a flower, a bear, and an arrow, as well as transforming Dot into a hammer and a rabbit. Then the two keep pressing the button rapidly back and forth until they both turn into shadows of things (Dash is a ball while Dot is a fly). When this happens, the screen is no longer separated, the shadows are on a yellow background, and the circular PBS Kids logo is at the top of the screen and is smaller than usual. We then fade out.

FX/SFX : Same as the last 3 logos.

Music/Sounds : As the button is pressed, we hear "Doink!" noises. When the button is pressed rapidly, the "Doink!" noise is also rapidly heard until we hear a laser-like noise which brings us to Dot and Dash both turning into shadows of things. We then hear the 4 notes of the PBS Kids jingle being played by a bubbly synth, followed by the "PBS Kids!" part of the jingle, which is scatted by synchronized "Doink!" noises.

Availability : Extinct. This is a rare ID which was shown on Martin Luther King Day of 2006 (January 16, 2006). Recently appeared during a 2015 PBS Kids broadcast on the WFWA station. This was also used as a local ID on certain PBS stations starting in 1999.

Season 13 (August 29, 2001-March 31, 2002)
Nicknames:  "Dot and Dash III", "PBS Kids Girl III", "PBS Kids Boy III", "Doink! PBS Kids III"

Logo:  The 1st ident of the set is Dash, the boy, who is seen ice-skating on a pond. Suddenly, he feels the ground shake and he stops. Then, the camera pans out to reveal that he is in a snow globe, which is held by Dot, who giggles, "Doink!" Snowflakes are seen during the circular PBS Kids logo. The 2nd one shows Dash looking in his fishbowl to find himself as an orange fish. After a second, he gets swallowed by Dot as a green fish and the circular PBS Kids logo is shown. There are bubbles in the background.

Variants: Trivia:  This logo was animated at Primal Screen.
 * There is a prototype variant of the snow globe bumper where the color of the background is a bit darker, the pond has a slightly different shape, the animation is different and less smooth, the snowflakes are brighter and bigger, and "KIDS" is below the circular logo.
 * A version of the fish bumper also has "KIDS" below the circular logo; however, there are no other changes.

FX/SFX:  Dash ice-skating, the zoom out, the snowflakes on the snow globe bumper. Dash looking in his fishbowl, the bubbles, the fish on the fish bumper.

Music/Sounds: A whimsical 10-note vibraphone tune for the snow variant and no music for the fish variant. The fish variant has some bubbling sounds followed by a boy scatting the 1999 jingle circle-lipped as if to imitate a fish. Both end with the doink sound and the kids saying the company name.

Availability:  Scarce. Seen on 2000-2013 prints of PBS Kids programming. Like before, the second ident appears on a few DVDs by Sony Wonder.

Season 14 (September 4-November 30, 2002)
Nicknames : "Sports", "Dot and Dash IV", "PBS Kids Girl IV", "PBS Kids Boy IV", "Doink! PBS Kids IV"

Logo : We first see a soccer ball being kicked to our left by Dash, wearing a blue and black uniform. Then the soccer ball turns into a tennis ball, which Dot, wearing a white and pink tennis uniform, hits with a tennis racket. The ball turns into a baseball, which Dash, now in a blue uniform and helmet, hits with a bat. The ball then flies past a scoreboard with the circular PBS Kids logo on it and out of the stadium.

FX/SFX : The animation.

Music/Sounds : Same as the 2nd logo's Dot variant. In the end, we hear a crowd cheering.

Availability : Extinct.

Season 15 (September 6-December 25, 2003)
Nicknames : "Wrapping Paper", "Dot and Dash V", "PBS Kids Girl V", PBS Kids Boy V", "Doink! PBS Kids V"

Logo : We see Dot and Dash walking through what appears to be a factory. Then, we see a roll of polka-dotted wrapping paper, which the two roll up by its end. With it, the circular PBS Kids logo flies in.

FX/SFX : Same as before.

Music/Sounds : Same as before with no other sound effects.

Availability : Same as before.

Season 16 (September 4-November 27, 2004)
Nicknames : "Sand Castles", "Dot and Dash VI", "PBS Kids Girl VI", "PBS Kids Boy VI", "Doink! PBS Kids VI"

Logo : On a bright sunny background in a beach-like setting, we see Dash in a bathing suit and sandals. To the right of him is a sandcastle that he built. He tries to show it off to Dot but then he is surprised as the camera zooms out to reveal Dot's sand structure, which is a sphinx with her head on it. She dusts off her hands as Dash looks in awe at her structure. Then we fade to the circular PBS Kids logo.

FX/SFX : Same as the last 2 logos.

Music/Sounds : Same as before.

Availability : Same as the last 2 logos.

Season 17 (September 5, 2005-March 28, 2009)
Nicknames:  "Logo of Boredom", "Logo that Looks like an In-Credit Logo"

Logo:  We see the words "THIS PROGRAM WAS PARTIALLY FUNDED BY" with PBS Kids (with KIDS above, not in the logo) logo above.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds:  The closing theme of the show.

Availability:  Only seen on Curious George.

Season 18 (September 1, 2008-October 5, 2013)
Nicknames:  "Dot and Dash VI", "PBS Kids Girl VIII", "PBS Kids Boy VIII"

Logo:  The logo shows Dot and Dash doing a certain activity before the PBS Kids circular logo is shown with the URL elsewhere on the screen.

Variants:  Here are some of the variations of the activities included: Trivia:  This logo was designed and animated at Primal Screen, who also did the 6th logo.
 * Telescopes
 * Fireflies
 * Rock climbing
 * Picnics
 * Gardens
 * Magnets
 * Fireworks
 * Swimming
 * Ants
 * Daffodil
 * Balloon
 * Sandbox
 * Camera
 * Carrots
 * There are also two rare Valentine's Day variants used in 2009. Dash's version has him blowing up a pink balloon and Dot's version has her receiving Valentine's cards in the mailbox. Both versions end with the PBS Kids circle logo on a hot magenta/cerise-textured BG while hearts are cascading in the BG.

FX/SFX:  A mix of 2D and cut-out animation.

Music/Sounds:  The 2nd ident's jingle once again, but without the kids chanting at the end. Often a single kid simply says "PBS Kids." The musical instruments these variants are played with vary depending on the activity, exactly like the 9th PBS ident. The VD variants, however, have different music, ending with a group of kids yelling "Happy Valentine's Day!", then a single kid says "From PBS Kids." Availability:  Uncommon, bordering on rare. Currently used on 2008-2013 prints of PBS Kids programming, but older prints are becoming increasingly rare to find due to constant "repackaging" (plastering) of prints to contain newer logos.
 * Sandbox has a bassoon, vibraphone, synth-organ, and a tuba.
 * Daffodil has a vibraphone and tuba.
 * Fireflies has a synth-bassoon.
 * Camera has a slit drum and marimba.
 * Fireworks has a hang, timpani, snare drum, and bass violin.
 * Carrots has a synth-organ.
 * Sheep has a banjo.
 * Balloon has a mandobass and percussion.
 * Dash's Valentine's Day variant has a jazzy bass violin pizzicato tune with drums beating. Dot's VD variant has a South American-style folk dance tune with conga drums, piano, and acoustic guitar.

Season 19-present (October 7, 2013- )
Nicknames:  "Dot, Dee, and Del", "PBS Kids Boy IX", "PBS Kids Girl IX"

Logo:  In the same purpose as the previous logo, the logo shows a redesigned Dot, along with two new characters, Dee and Del, doing a certain activity, before the PBS Kids circular logo is shown, but Dash is in the 1999 design. Also, Dash's PBS Kids logo is seen on every variation, meaning that the Dot version is retired.

Variants:  Like the previous logo, here are some of the variations of the activities included: Trivia:  This logo was designed and animated at Primal Screen, who also did the 6th logo as well as the previous logo.
 * Zipline
 * Beehive
 * Forest Run
 * Magnet
 * Moonwalk
 * Ping Pong
 * Power of 10
 * Cave
 * Band Parade
 * Trampoline
 * Yo-yo
 * Lemonade
 * France
 * Bubbles
 * Rockstar
 * Piano
 * Frisbee
 * There is also a variant seen on episodes of Let's Go Luna where a colorful yoyo is seen spinning on a light blue background. Suddenly, the yoyo's string disappears and the yoyo morphs into the PBS Kids circular logo with Dash in it (TVO Kids and National Geographic Kids airings of this show don't have this logo appearing at all).

FX/SFX:  2D flat animation that is quite similar to the 2nd logo.

Music/Sounds:  The music from the 2nd logo is used again, but without the kids chanting or the kid saying "PBS Kids" at the end. Like the previous logo, the musical instruments these variants are played with vary depending on the activity, exactly like the 9th PBS Ident. Also, the 2nd logo's theme can be heard in different pitches. The Let's Go Luna variant just has the ending theme of the show.

Availability: Don't expect to see this on the older Saturday morning package, however—episodes from that package retain the classic Dash and Dot logos.