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)

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"
 * 2018-present: "A Pentagon Company"
 * For international distribution, the byline variants are replaced by the word "INTERNATIONAL" in the Snicker font below the logo and "Distributed by" in the Wiglet font above the logo.

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.

Closing Variants:
 * At the end of Queensland films (staring with The Good Pegasus), Shires Animation Studios films (since Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem), and live-action films (since The Cramp Twins Movie), the full version of the 2011 logo plays.
 * The only three exceptions are Mary Peppers Returns (2018), The Fly Swater (2019) and Wicked Ryan 2 (2021) using the short version as closing.

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 fanfare which ends in a 5-note orchestral piece, scored by John Debney. It only used on MegaGenie, the first film with the 2011-2012 early logo.

Music/Sounds Variants:
 * On later films (From 2012-present), the music is slightly less dramatic.
 * Sometimes, it was silent.
 * Sometimes, it has the opening/closing theme.

Availability: Current. Seen on all Shires movies since MegaGenie. It even appears at the end of the American release of Magic Corn Collector (2018), but the opening logo doesn't expect to appear at the beginning.

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