The National Openings Through the Years
With the CBC News renewal process well underway, I thought it might be interesting to look at some of the opening animations of The National over the years.
This one’s pretty wild, it’s from 1978 when Knowlton Nash was still anchoring the broadcast, the description says the announcer is Allan McFee, but I can’t vouch for that.
Seven years later and the look had changed dramatically. This is a bumper for CBUT Vancouver and the opening for The National from 1985. Reminds me of Tron.
Here is a 1992 opening in which both The National and the Journal share the headlines
This is from 1996, with a headline style, more full screen viz and longer voice-overs. Both The National and The Magazine share the headlines.
Then this a year later, from 1997, the voice-overs now much shorter with sound-ups, and animations frame the visuals.
By 2002, new animations, but the same headline format with short voice-overs and quick sound-ups.
The description says this is from 2003, this may be from Newsworld, I like the sense of momentum in this version – follow the dot.
Finally the current version, thanks to Ivan for the audio version.
Which is your favourite and why? Do you favour certain elements and not others?
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My favourite is the opening just prior to the current one. While the current is the first one I’ve seen, I like the idea of opening with the Toronto city shot and mentioning that Peter is broadcasting from the CBC News center. Also, I liked all the movement – it seems to make the opening a little more energetic.
The current theme is good for ‘dramatic story setting’ theme music, but doesn’t always make me want to watch the broadcast. It also mirrors well with CBUT bumpers. Not sure about the stations across the country.
The iconic CBC voice and broadcast pioneer, Alan McPhee, is indeed the announcer who introduces The National in 1978. That he is now not known is tragic; to have his name misspelled is unforgivable.
You forgot Primetime News!
The comment about Alan McPhee is spot on. He was a giant at the CBC and he seems now almost forgotten. Even the CBC Archives site hardly has any examples of his work….
When the current opening was “unveiled”, the part when they showed the month and date somehow scared the heck out of it. I don’t know why but at least they got rid of it now.
I miss the 2003 version.
why?
Ever since inexpensive computer animation became possible in the 1980s, news channels have overused all the swooping and and exploding and multi-level transparency. You’re right about the “Tron” feel from 1985, but that overdone approach has never ended, and it’s not limited to CBC.
I’d appreciate some elegance and restraint, personally. And maybe a little less blue?
Yes, that was Allan McFee in 1978, and you had the correct spelling of his name in the first place.
There was an earlier version from 1982 of the one you show for 1985, in which the time was given, to promote the move of The National to 10:00 and the addition of The Journal. I think this was taken out later to avoid being incorrect in Newfoundland.
(I remember making a rough animation in 1982 on a Commodore VIC-20 of both the pre- and post-10:00 versions.)
I understand that the usual announcer for the 2003 version was Lisa Dalbello.
Do you have any examples of Prime Time News?
I could only find a promo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdv2HJxuxN4
Although there are a bunch of clips at the CBC archives but I couldn’t find an opening.
The image of the CN tower never played well on the prairies. I like a pan-Canadian look.
You forgot these openings…
November 11, 1979
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA-hxKUeywE
July 14, 1989 (similar to 1985 but includes a preview for “The Journal”)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr6V-PlXc-k
February 24, 1992 (includes a preview for “The Journal”)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_5eg-O7MR0
thanks Mike. I included the 1992 version in the post.
I’ve made a copy of the current National opening, WITH the audio in place, if you’re interested:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB2X-lF8bAI
But overall, good job on grouping all the National openings together.
This dates me big-time, but the first opening title sequence that really made an impact on me was the 1978 edition shown at the top. Seems as if even then, I was going to be hooked on typography and animation as an artform.
(Although the latter was already locked in, thanks to “Popeye vs. Sinbad” when I was a Real Young Kid in Manitoba, followed closely by the Charlie Brown specials.)
Oh, and to respond to what my opinions are on the National openings, the 2003-2006 verison was my favourite. The logo animation, the dot and the red line, the dramatic music, Lisa Dalbello, different night scenes of Toronto every week, it’s pretty good altogether. Although I think it would have been better if they use something else if they used a wavy verison of the world map rather than that blue coloured ball thing, in my opinion.
Second favourite, the current one, followed by the 1985 one.