Robert Abel and Associates-Logo Medley

a collection of logos created by Abel and Associates for various companies such as ABC, Hilton, Kodak, and many more

[@w6wdh]

These logos date from the 1970s and were not done with computer animation, but with motion control systems. Artwork was set up on a gimballed backlit fluorescent light box, and the camera was on a motorized dolly on a track. The effects were built up in camera with multiple frame-by-frame exposures. Everything was driven by stepper motors and Abel's own custom motion control systems. I worked there from 1972-1977 and built the minicomputer motion control system used to make the TWA logo.

[@heatherferreira4225]

Very true but Harry Marks beat him to it years before on the famous "ABC Movie of the Week" bumper. The one that carried "Nikki" by Burt Bacharach as its theme. Marks created that one by hand using slit screen in 1969 when ABC asked him to replicate the effects at the end of Kubrick's "2001"!

[@RecordSeeker]

Very cool stuff. The TWA logo is my favorite of the bunch.

[@cherrysdiy5005]

The TWA animation is genius. It just stands out in its own unique way.

[@joshuafrias2415]

So it looks like computer animation but it's not. If only I was there to see it in person. I would've loved to see those mechanisms in action.

[@edgarbeat2851]

@@heatherferreira4225 kzbin.info/www/bejne/ip-4aWuOjL6de9U James Whitney invented the slit camera from a bomber sight something along those lines back light on a turn table. 1940s ill find the vid.

[@RageTVHTX]

That Columbia Pictures logo and fanfare was my favorite! I loved seeing that as a kid. All the ABC-TV graphics from the late 70 to the mid 80s were my also my favorites

[@UpinAndIpinRPGGirls1987YT]

No! Late 80s Early 90s!

[@natsirt69]

The RCA VideoTrak is pretty awesome!

[@JeffScher]

Wow, that was amazing! Abel was really a genius. If I'm not mistaken this is all film work done with Oberry cameras and optical printers. Thanks for posting this, it's just stunning.

[@MattMcIrvin]

I'd just been indulging in nostalgia for the somewhat freaky-looking Scanimate analog video animations that were all over 1970s local TV station idents, advertising, etc. But Scanimate was the budget alternative. This motion-control film animation was what you did instead if you were willing to spend top dollar.

[@LogicSmash]

@douro20 Actually Robert Abel worked with MAGI and Information International as well on the 1982 movie Tron.

[@Ian16545]

Who's doing the music? Sounds like something Merv Griffin and Mort Lindsey would do, if you ask me...

[@douro20]

@scherfilms Actually, it's all digital computer animation, done with a Cray X-MP. Robert Abel was a real pioneer in this field. His company was the one who did all the CG animation work in the original Tron.

[@LTPTLB-Network]

1:09 French TF1 promo jingle

[@johnlander1499]

I had no idea that Rob Abel did Columbia.

[@renn__e__7912]

John Lander Same

[@Musicradio77Network]

The last is the Columbia “Sunburst” logo from 1976-81.

[@jjinnyc75]

I take it these guys also did the TF1 movie intro that resembles ABCs

[@michaelbadger1445]

I wonder what deminsion this was made in

[@Ian16545]

0:31 - This is where their jingle from PAMS' _Solid Rock_ series (cut #2) would go on the original TV ad (you can listen to it at www.normanb.net/montage/sr.mp3 - it's at 2:50).

[@cherrysdiy5005]

That TWA logo is fierce!

[@towringer]

I remember a Starburst Fruit Chews commercial from 1976 that had this same psychedelic look. "A Burst Of Fruit Flavor From The Very First Chew" . It must have been done by the Robert Abel Company. I wish someone would post it.

[@towringer]

@Bracelety Fan I found it 8 years later. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6jNaYqMZb6LmMk

[@nickalkire1187]

1:40 The Columbia Pictures sunburst logo!!

[@natsirt69]

so awesome

[@UpinAndIpinRPGGirls1987YT]

I Like Demo Reel Retro 80s/90s VaporWave

[@tapthatt2012]

too cool

[@echoistboy9]

genius....

[@estestim]

how did do the columbia pictures effects with the ray of light?

[@milesmorris9333]

What is the name of this song playing in the background anyway? It does sound very Merv Griffin-esque.

[@markasflood124]

Sounds Catchy

[@dtvcanalsksaopaulo2826]

Parece um SBT 1918

[@julianhanc8272]

1981

[@gochem3013]

1:08 Is that Ben Kenobi?

[@JoJoGunn1956]

John Huston.