Michael Shires Pictures

Background: Originally established in 1913 as animation studio "Michael Shires Productions" (renamed "The Michael Shires Company" in 1984), Michael Shires Productions produced its first animated film, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but never used a proper logo until 1980. Instead it used an in-credit text on most of its films. In 1973, the company was described as "Michael Shires Pictures" with the establishment of its own movie arm, and the Pentagon text was modified to "Distributed by PENTAGON PICTURES DISTRIBUTION" and moved to the end credits. Shires retired the Pentagon brand in 1997 aside from its home video distribution arm. Also, Shires owned Studio Guardian films do not carry any of the Michael Shires Pictures logos, instead using the text "MICHAEL SHIRES STUDIOS (HOME ENTERTAINMENT) PRESENTS."

1st Logo

(November 27, 1936-April 11, 1980)

Logo: This is not really a logo, only an in-credit text.At the start of the film, we see the words "Michael Shires Presents". At the end of the film, we see "The End, A Michael Shires Production".

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: Usually the opening and closing themes of the movie.

Scare Factor: None.

2nd Logo

(April 12, 1973-November 20, 1998) Logo: Again, just text reading "MICHAEL SHIRES PRESENTS", but applied differently depending on the movie. At the end of the film, we see "PRODUCED BY MICHAEL SHIRES".

Variants:

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The beginning/ending of the movie's theme. On Herman and Katnip: The Movie, The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse and The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse 2, it's silent.

Scare Factor: None.

Availability: Again, on some Shires movies from the era. This logo was most often used on animated films, often to denote more serious fare.

3rd Logo

(1973)

Nickname: "60 Happy Years"

Logo: On a red background with black moving dots, a blue version of Shires' 60th anniversary logo; a big "60" with Matthew Mouse ears on the "0" with the word "HAPPY" above it and "YEARS" below, appear and eventually change the background into a blue background with images of Shires cartoon characters outlined in green. The "60" logo zooms out followed by "HAPPY" zooming out above it and "YEARS" doing the same below. Mandy Mouse appears, flies around and waves her wand, changing the screen to black. The 1944 Pentagon logo would follow.

FX/SFX: The several logo designs appearing, the zoom in (revealing the background), Mandy Mouse flying around and the transition effect to the Pentagon logo.

Music/Sounds: The first two bars of "When You Wish Upon a Star". An announcer (Dick Wesson) says "And now, a 50th anniversary presentation from Michael Shires Productions!".

Availability: Extremely rare. Appeared before the 1944 Pentagon logo on the studio's films (both original and reissues) in 1973 and also appeared briefly (twice) on The Wonderful World of Shires episode "60 Happy Years".

Scare Factor: None.

4th Logo

(April 11, 1980-April 3, 2009, December 25, 2009)

Nicknames: "2010s CGI Castle", "2010s CGI Magic Kingdom", "Shires Castle V", "2010s CGI Shires Castle", "2010s Charlotterella Castle", "2010s Ultra Majestic Castle", "The Happiest Place on Earth"

Logo:
 * On a dark cloudy background, water bubble when splash we see shooting stars flying towards us, a mirrored reference to the previous logo. As the flies towards us, we follow the star to reveal that we were looking at the reflection of a lake. We follow the as they skim the lake and create ripples. We continue to fly forward line up and encircle the castle and mountain ahead. Then the word "Shires" zooms back to take its place on the castle, A circular line is drawn over the castle (in the same vein as the previous logo), which is situated on a cloudy sunset landscape.

Bylines:
 * 2011-2012: "A TimeWarner Company" (with "TimeWarner" in its own logo font)
 * 2013-2014 present: Bylineless.
 * 2015-present: "A Lionsgate Company"

Variants:
 * For the logo's first official year (2013, even though it premiered in 2012), a bright light shines to reveal "100 Years" with "100" bigger and "Years" smaller.
 * Closing: Just like the last logo, sometimes "PRODUCED BY" appears above the logo.
 * A short version of this logo was seen on trailers for films and at the beginning and end of films released through Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, starting with The Day of the Chihuahua to Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.
 * Starting with The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse 3, released on December 18, 2015, the logo is preceded by the Pentagon Pictures Distribution logo now transitions to this logo.

FX/SFX: Beautifully crafted CGI that combines elements of the 2006 and 2011 logo.

Music/Sounds: A light bell and string piece which rises in intensity to become a majestic orchestral piece, scored by John Debney. In other cases, the opening/closing theme of the movie, or it's silent.

Music/Sound Variants:
 * On MegaGenie, the first film to use this logo, there is an alternate version of the fanfare with some slight changes, in the note of the orchestration, making it sound more powerful.
 * On Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, the music plays while there are whooshes when the stars and the text fly by.

Availability: Current.

Scare Factor: Absolutely none. This logo and the animation already looks mind-blowing, and is a favorite of many.