Logo descriptions by bigladiesman
Videos by newave and bigladiesman

Background: Founded around 1966 by Rafael Vara, Estudios Vara was an animation studio based in Madrid and almost devoted to the production of theatrical shorts based on the comic-book characters Mortadelo y Filemón (known Clever & Smart in most foreign countries and celebrating their 50th anniversary on 2008), though they made some stints at adult animation. They ceased activity by 1971. For further info, check IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/company/co0047852/


1st Logo
(1966-1971)

Nicknames: "VE", "The Filmstrip and the Football"

Logo: On a dark blue background we see a white-red stylized filmstrip which looks like an E (thanks to a red oval in the middle section of the logo, which serves as the middle part of the "E") and a V merged together. The camera zooms out and the words "Estudios Vara" appear in white on the right side of the screen. A while after, the word "Presenta" appears below "Estudios Vara".

FX: Does a zoom out from painted cardboard count as FX?

Cheesy Factor: Just the words "Estudios Vara" appearing.

Music/Sounds: The intro of C&S cartoons theme, by composer Rafael Ibarbia.

Availability: Can be found on Spanish DVD releases of Clever & Smart shorts.

Scare Factor: None; even though the logo looks a lot like the S from Hell, it's totally harmless.



2nd logo
(1968-1970)

Nicknames: "Psychdelic Blue", "KA-BOOOOM", "Homer Wants to Destroy All Beatniks"

Logo: On a black background, we see a close-up of a psychdelic-style frame coloured in two shades of blue surrounding a light blue circle with the text "Estudios" in IMPACT font and "VARA" in a bold, fancy font coloured in white with narrow black stripes and decorated with green asparagus-like motives. The logo zooms out until reaching the center of the screen. Then animated golden motives move through the circle to leave the word "PRESENTA" in black, with a psychdelic light blue and white background. Just then, the screen "blows away" with an animated explosion, leaving a cloud of smoke (or debris or whatever is it meant to represent). When the cloud dissipates, we see the title of the movie.

Variant: There was a variant with the explosion being a bit extended, and with a different sound.

FX: The psychdelic animated motives and the animated explosion.

Cheesy Factor: I've never seen such a '60s logo in my life! A real product of its time, no doubt about it.

Music/Sounds: A drumroll when the logo zooms out, then a loud fanfare that increases in pitch when "presenta" appears, and finally, a loud explosion. The variant has a horn-driven, circus-like fanfare and no explosion sound. Instead, the fanfare sounds again as the logo blows away.

Availability: Scarce; keep in mind that as far as I know, it's a custom logo for two compilations of C&S short cartoons. A bit tough to find on DVD (one of the compilations is out on DVD in Spain). Must be found on old VHS releases from IVS.

Scare Factor: High; the psychdelic motives and the explosion can give the chills to more than one.



3rd Logo
(1971) Nickname: "Narrow Line"

Logo: On a black background, a narrow white line passes by from left to right, splitting the screen in two. In the higher part of it, the words "UNA PRODUCCIÓN DE" fade in. Then in the lower part, the same logo from before (in light blue) and the words "Estudios Vara" (in white) fade in as well.

FX: The animation of the line, the text and logo fading in.

Cheesy Factor: None; this is a pretty clean logo.

Music/Sounds: A stereotypical oriental-sounding jingle, used on underwater scenes in the cartoons. The composer is, again, Rafael Ibarbia.

Availability: As far as we know, this logo has been spotted just once: on all releases of Clever & Smart feature film "El armario del tiempo" (The Cabinet of Time).

Scare Factor: Low; the dark atmosphere and mysterious music can unnerve more than one, but otherwise it's pretty tame and even soothing.