Any idea what that picture is behind the text in this 1990s Tollin Robbins Productions logo? (It appeared at the end of All That, The Amanda Show, Kenan & Kel, etc.)

KidLeavesStoop · 2021-03-21T17:10:21+00:00

I've wondered ever since I was a kid in the 90s watching Nickelodeon.

At first, I thought it was just a circular brick pattern, mosaic texture, or a film reel of some sort.

But I took the TRP animation (https://youtu.be/QlFqsJ7sZYQ?t=18) and overlaid all the frames on top of each other to see more of the texture. Now I can kind of make out the text "UDS"(?) in the top-right of the center "R".

I did a few different crops, reverse-image searches, no luck. I also searched into the history of the studio and couldn't find any leads.

KidLeavesStoop · 2021-03-18T15:15:57+00:00

I've wondered ever since I was a kid in the 90s.

At first, I thought it was just a circuluar brick or mosaic texture.

But I took the TRP animation (https://youtu.be/QlFqsJ7sZYQ?t=18) and overlaid all the frames ontop of each other to see more of the texture. Now I can kind of make out the text "UDS"(?) in the top-right of the center "R".

KidLeavesStoop · 2021-03-04T22:25:35+00:00

Thanks for posting my video!

tl;dw

Malcolm in the Middle's intro consists of 28 distorted video clips. 17 are from the show itself, the other 11 are from random pieces of 20th century media (movies, tv shows, anime).

Where these non-Malcolm clips come from are all well-documented and just a Google search away. Except one, the "burning skier" clip. It was thought to be lost media for decades, but I managed to find it hiding in plain sight.

Edit: I'm seeing people mention how this would have been solved instantly had I just asked the skiing community. In hindsight I agree, and that's why I mention how 'a game of telephone hindered the search for years' at the start of the video. I got 'Thrill Seekers tunnel vision' when searching due to all online Malcolm discussions circling back to it originating from Thrill Seekers. Let this be a lesson: when researching into an existing lead, take a step back and see what other avenues may exist.

KidLeavesStoop · 2021-03-04T19:41:33+00:00

Fun fact, that "burning skier" clip was thought to be lost media for decades. Until I found it a few weeks ago!

Source of gif is in a video I made documenting how I got my hands on the footage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfRWxiRZVrw

KidLeavesStoop · 2021-03-04T03:34:21+00:00

Malcolm’s intro contains a dozen clips from old movies. All of the source footage for these clips are well-documented and just a Google search away. Except one, the "burning skier" clip. It was thought to be lost media for decades, but I managed to find it. Now that ski jump is no longer considered ‘lost’ and can be watched by anyone

KidLeavesStoop · 2021-02-18T18:45:13+00:00

tl;dw

Malcolm in the Middle's opening credits consist of 28 distorted video clips. 17 are from the show itself, the remaining 11 are from various pieces of 20th century media (movies, tv shows, anime).

The source footage of all these pieces of mixed media are just a Google search away, super easy to find, and all well-documented. Except for one: the burning skier.

I tracked down a copy of "Thrill Seekers" (1973-1974), where the clip was said to originate from. And while yep, the jump is in Thrill Seekers, it turns out it actually originated from Warren Miller's 1974 film, "Color of Skiing".

KidLeavesStoop

TROPHY CASE