Paramount Pictures Cartoon Logo Gallery
DISCLAIMERS:
This page not associated with Paramount Pictures Corporation. All logos on this page are trademarks of Paramount Pictures Corporation. Material on this page, falls under "Fair Use".
Note, should a graphic fail to load, right click on it, and scroll to "Show Picture". If that doesn't work, try again. Thanks. Note, left click on photos, to see some of them in their full screen glory.
PARAMOUNT'S LONG CARTOON HISTORY
Thanks to the companies featured on this site, not too many people remember that Paramount Pictures had a cartoon department, but they did. But now that Cartoon Network is showing Popeye cartoons with original titles, people may wonder about Paramount's long cartoon history.
Actually, it started when Paramount was officially known as the "Famous Players-Lasky Corp.", with Paramount as their name in ads. J.R. Bray, noted animation pioneer, agreed to distribute his films through Paramount in the early 1920's. Soon afterward, Bray switched to Goldwyn.
In the late 20's, Paramount aligned themselves with two producers of cartoons. Max Fleischer and Charles Mintz. Mintz was the producer of Krazy Kat, while Fleischer had the "Inkwell Imps", featuring Koko the Clown. Fleischer's distribution arrangement with Paramount-Famous-Lasky, was arranged by Alfred Weiss.
The first Fleischer Paramount cartoon logo, was actually during the opening credits. The byline read "Alfred Weiss Presents". The mountain logo was small, and covered by "A Paramount Picture". Some featured a mini logo, which survives to this day, as U.M.&M. didn't really notice that logo.
Weiss turned out to be a crook, but Paramount bailed out Fleischer. As part of the deal, Paramount owned most of the stock of Fleischer Studios as well as the copyrights. When sound came along, Mintz left for Columbia, leaving Fleischer as the sole provider of animated cartoons.
Paramount's first sound cartoon star was Bimbo, but he was soon replaced by Betty Boop. By this time, the openings bore "Max Fleischer Presents".
Black and white Paramount logo from a Popeye cartoon.
Black and white Paramount logo from a Betty Boop cartoon, courtesy of Jerry Beck's Cartoon Research site.
By this time, Paramount, now known as the Paramount-Publix Corporation, had filed for bankruptcy. During this time, they acquired a new cartoon star, Popeye. So in 1933, Popeye premiered. This year was also special, as the Betty Boop cartoon openings included the Paramount mountain minus stars and "A Paramount Picture". In addition, the cartoons bore the copyright of "Paramount Productions, Inc."
During this time, Fleischer started making "Color Classics". He also developed a unique process in which cartoon backgrounds were actually three dimensional objects. Thus a new disclaimer appeared on several Paramount cartoon logos: "PATENT PENDING FOR SPECIAL PROCESSES USED IN THIS PRODUCTION
Redrawn Paramount logo from Protek the Weakest. Note, the new 3-D process patent disclaimer at the bottom of the logo. In case anyone was wondering, it reads "STERE0PTICAL PROCESS AND APPARATUS PATENTED, PATENT NUMBER 2054414"
Paramount was out of bankruptcy by this time, and now the copyrights were "PARAMOUNT PICTURES, INC." Also, "Adolph Zukor presents" bylines were present. Also, by this time, Fleischer was now making his color cartoons in Technicolor.
First Paramount Technicolor cartoon logo.
In 1938, Fleischer Studios, whose name was never mentioned on the titles of the cartoons, but instead on posters, moved to Miami and made a feature film, Gulliver's Travels. By this time, the copyright notices were now in the Paramount font, and the opening byline for the first time read "Paramount Presents".
Betty Boop had retired by this time, leaving Popeye as the principal cartoon star at Paramount.
Paramount B&W logo used for later Popeye B&W shorts, courtesy of Jerry Beck's Cartoon Research site
In 1941, Paramount released Mr. Bug Goes to Town, Fleischer's second animated feature. It flopped. However, Paramount encouraged Fleischer to produce some Superman cartoons. In late 1941, Superman premiered in Technicolor.
Technicolor Logo used from 1939-1943. Used on the Superman cartoons. Note the same disclaimer at the bottom of the logo, as for "Protek the Weakerist.
But not even the Man of Steel could save the Fleischers from being ousted in 1942. Paramount renamed the operation "Famous Studios", and moved the studio to New York. The following season brought changes. All cartoons were now in color, including Popeye. Superman was canceled. In addition, Little Lulu debuted as a Paramount star.
, Paramount logo from an early Little Lulu short. Popeye shorts opened with a similar spinning star opening, which would continue for the duration of the Popeye series.
Paramount's other cartoon logo from the 1943-1945 era.
But Famous Studios was not the sole provider of animated cartoons for Paramount Pictures. In 1941, producer George Pal started his Puppetoon series for Paramount. This series featured stop motion animation.
Paramount's logo for the George Pal Puppetoons.
Famous Studios also debuted a logo of their own in 1946. This familar logo was seen for several years, and survives on NTA prints of Paramount cartoons. This particular logo is from a Screen Song cartoon.
Paramount debuted many cartoon stars during this period. Casper, Little Audrey, as well as Herman and Katnip made their debuts in the late 40's.
1949 cartoon logo. Paramount Pictures, Inc. divested itself of the theaters that they owned, and now the copyrights were now "Paramount Pictures Corporation".
Paramount's 1950 cartoon logo.
Logo used for 1950's Noveltoon cartoons. There would be a zoomback to reveal a jack in the box with this Paramount logo on the side. When Harvey Films bought the post 1950 cartoons from Paramount, they did a variation of this logo, and this opening may have inspired Harvey's logo.
The production of cartoon series continued through the 1950's. By this time, television came around, and the cartoon backlog was sold to various television distributors. In 1956, Famous Studios was renamed Paramount Cartoon Studios. Below, the Paramount cartoon logos of that time.
Popeye was retired in 1957. Also, in 1959, the Harvey comic characters retired from theatrical distribution. Paramount continued producing cartoons until 1967, when their new owner, Gulf+Western, closed the studio.
Below, Paramount's 1960's cartoon logo.
Click here to return to the main CDS page.
Black and white Paramount logo from a Betty Boop cartoon, courtesy of Jerry Beck's Cartoon Research site.
Redrawn Paramount logo from Protek the Weakest. Note, the new 3-D process patent disclaimer at the bottom of the logo. In case anyone was wondering, it reads "STERE0PTICAL PROCESS AND APPARATUS PATENTED, PATENT NUMBER 2054414"
First Paramount Technicolor cartoon logo. 
Paramount B&W logo used for later Popeye B&W shorts, courtesy of Jerry Beck's Cartoon Research site
Technicolor Logo used from 1939-1943. Used on the Superman cartoons. Note the same disclaimer at the bottom of the logo, as for "Protek the Weakerist.
, Paramount logo from an early Little Lulu short. Popeye shorts opened with a similar spinning star opening, which would continue for the duration of the Popeye series. 
Paramount's other cartoon logo from the 1943-1945 era.
Paramount's logo for the George Pal Puppetoons. 
1949 cartoon logo. Paramount Pictures, Inc. divested itself of the theaters that they owned, and now the copyrights were now "Paramount Pictures Corporation". 
Paramount's 1950 cartoon logo.
Logo used for 1950's Noveltoon cartoons. There would be a zoomback to reveal a jack in the box with this Paramount logo on the side. When Harvey Films bought the post 1950 cartoons from Paramount, they did a variation of this logo, and this opening may have inspired Harvey's logo.
