List of PBS Kids TV IDs

One of the many things PBS Kids is remembered for is their creative bumpers for their shows. The bumpers usually appeared before the show aired. They are made by Primal Screen.

Character Idents

These bumpers always appear before the upcoming show and feature the main character of the show in the logo. Each bumper has something that represents the concept of the show.

Arthur (1999-2008)

This ident starts on an orange background with a small face. The man begins to whistle, revealing he has a large head and is using a hose, and the camera zooms out quickly outward to see a neighborhood. You notice that everything has glasses on. Then there are three girls jumping rope and a mother rocking her baby in a stroller. The PBS Kids logo appears with Arthur in it.

Note: WKNO, WFWA, WPTO WVIZ, KMOS, WPTD, WPTO, KETC, KCPT, WXXI, WNED, WHUT, WSKG, WNPT, WHYY, WLJT, WETA (when aired under the national PBS feed), WTTW, WXEL, KNPB, WIPB, WVUT and Idaho Public Television used this.

Barney and Friends (1999-2016)

In this ident, Dash and Dot are walking in a yellow setting. They go by flowers, cars, and houses. The last one of each of those is purple. Dot says, "Wow!", then Dash says "Whoa!" and then he sees Barney in the PBS Kids logo. In the background, you can see purple dots coming out from behind the logo at a steady rhythm.

Note: WKNO, WFWA, WPTO WVIZ, KMOS, WPTD, WPTO, KETC, KCPT, WXXI, WNED, WHUT, WSKG, WNPT, WHYY, WLJT, WETA (when aired under the national PBS feed), WTTW, WXEL, KNPB, KLRN, WIPB, WVUT and Idaho Public Television used this.

Between the Lions (2000-2011?)

Dot and Dash go to a library. They sneak through bookshelves and take out half a row of books. Theo’s tail (or a bit in James in Liberty's Kids Ident) is seen behind the bookshelf. It immediately zooms to the PBS Kids logo with Theo in it. The background is transparent, overlapping shapes.

Note: WFWA, WLJT, WSKG, WPTO, WETA (when aired under the national PBS feed), WTTW, WNPT and Idaho Public Television used this.

Note: The Liberty's Kids version of this ID is a ThinkTV exclusive.

Caillou (2000-2020)

This one shows Dash holding a kite, Dot riding on a bicycle, and the sun in the sky singing. The sun zooms in when the kite passes. Caillou is seen inside the logo with a sunshine background.

Note: WFWA, WLJT, WETA (when aired under the national PBS feed), WTTW, WSKG, WNPT and Idaho Public Television used this.

Note: KAWE & KAWB (Lakeland PBS, Brainerd/Bemidji, Minnesota) utilized this intro well into the mid-2010s, but deleted the Caillou logo and replaced it with the Lakeland Kids logo

Clifford the Big Red Dog (2000-2013)

This one shows an artist painting a simple picture (only filling the page with one color). He tries yellow, blue, and finally red. Clifford is behind the picture and goes in the logo. Splashes of primary colors are in the background.

Note: WFWA, WBGU, WLJT, WETA (when aired under the national PBS feed), WTTW, WPTO, WMHT, WSKG, WNPT and Idaho Public Television used this.

Corduroy (2000-2001)

In this one, there is a person riding a train, but his button popped out and bounced along the city. It then zooms in on us and the logo appears. The PBS Kids logo is seen with Corduroy in it. The background is button patterns coming out of the logo.

Note: All the PBS stations used this when the Bookworm Bunch was aired under the national PBS feed.

Dragon Tales (2000-2010)

This one shows the dragons playing instruments with their tails (Ord is playing a drum kit, Cassie is playing a triangle and Zak and Wheezie are playing some bongo drums). Ord appears in the logo with sound waves in the background.

Note: WFWA, WBGU, WLJT, WPTO WETA (when aired under the national PBS feed), WTTW, WNPT, WSKG, WMHT, and Idaho Public Television used this.

Note: KAWE & KAWB (Lakeland PBS, Brainerd/Bemidji, Minnesota) utilized this intro well into the mid-2010s, but deleted the Dragon Tales logo and replaced it with the Lakeland Kids logo.

Elliot Moose (2000-2001)

In this one a bird passes by a train conductor, Godzilla bootleg, trumpet, and an old sailboat. They go left from the screen while the bird goes right which causes the PBS Kids logo to appear with Elliot Moose in it. The background is like the Windows XP Vortex desktop background, with a lighter shade of blue.

Note: All the PBS stations used this when the Bookworm Bunch was aired under the national PBS feed.

George Shrinks (2000-2007)

You see a toy plane flying in a yard. It flies in the window and George comes out. He goes inside the PBS logo with flower pedals as the background.

Note: All the PBS stations used this when the Bookworm Bunch was aired under the national PBS feed. Also, WFWA, WLJT, WTTW, WPTO, WNPT, and Idaho Public Television used this for the individual PBS version of the show.

Note: KAWE & KAWB (Lakeland PBS, Brainerd/Bemidji, Minnesota) utilized this intro well into the mid-2010s, but deleted the George Shrinks logo and replaced it with the Lakeland Kids logo. They also started the indent with the plane landing at the flower, not when the plane is flying in the air.

Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse (2000-2015)

Animals perfom inside a circus, then we go to a cannon and a clown juggling balls, forming the PBS Kids logo with Marvin in it. There are four squiggly lines that make the background.

Note: All the PBS stations used this when the Bookworm Bunch was aired under the national PBS feed.

PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch (2000-2004)

This identity shows a worm looking in a microscope at amebas that look like microscopic letters. While the worm looks at them, they divide and spell the word, "BOOKWORM". The Bookworm Bunch logo zooms out from the circle and shows the main characters of the Bookworm Bunch shows in the background, surrounded by other kids. 

Season one version

Season two version

Sesame Street (Since 1999)

In this one a dog is seen. He is thinking of a fire hydrant. The hydrant thinks of a robot. The robot thinks of Dash (in purple instead of green) turning a key. Dash thinks of Elmo, then finally Elmo thinks of himself in the PBS Kids logo. The background is filled with purple spirals.

Note: WKNO, WFWA, WPTO, WVIZ, KMOS, WPTD, WPTO, KETC, KCPT, WXXI, WNED, WSKG, WNPT, WHYY, WLJT, WETA (when aired under the national PBS feed), WTTW, WXEL, KNPB, WIPB, WVUT and Idaho Public Television used this.

Seven Little Monsters (2000-2005)

Dash and Dot are in a green hallway with seven doors. They open each door. Each monster has a door containing items representing their individual personalities. (For example, One has a door with sports equipment inside of it). Five's door then opens last with a donut rolling out of Seven's door. The PBS Kids logo appears with Five inside. Two green swirls make the background.

Note: All the PBS stations used this when the Bookworm Bunch was aired under the national PBS feed.

Teletubbies (1999-2008?)

This starts with a bird that sees a yellow hill with a worm on it. In reality, it is Laa-Laa's loop on her head. He pulls at it and he flings himself to Dipsy's head and spins around, then goes right through Tinky Winky triangle. And finally, he ends up on Po's head and tries to go through her circle but can't. Then four logos appear with each Teletubby in one. The background is a different variant of the Dash ident.

Note: WKNO, WFWA, WVIZ, WPTO KMOS, WPTD, WPTO, KETC, KCPT, WXXI, WNED, WMHT, WNPT, WHYY, WLJT, WSKG, WETA (when aired under the national PBS feed), WTTW, WXEL, KNPB, KLRN, WIPB, WVUT and Idaho Public Television used this.

Note: KAWE & KAWB utilized this intro well into the mid-2010s, but deleted the Teletubbies logo and replaced it with the KAWE/KAWB logo. Also, they start it at the point where the bird gets stuck in Po's 'antenna', not at the beginning where the bird gets stuck in LaLa's 'antenna'.

Timothy Goes to School (2000-2002)

A lunchbox appears (with the Dot logo on it) with an apple, a sandwich, bug juice, and a granola bar. The lunchbox gets closed with Timothy in the logo. The background at the end is a pastel purple & pink kaleidoscope flower effect. Timothy is eating for almost the whole ident.

Note: All the PBS stations used this when the Bookworm Bunch was aired under the national PBS feed.

Wishbone (since 1999)

A book gets opened. You see a pirate on a sailboat, a cowgirl on a horse, and then Frankenstein’s Monster get out of the book. The book suddenly closes because of Wishbone and the monster gets sucked in. It immediately zooms to the PBS logo with Wishbone in it. The background is like the Dot ident but instead of moving, the lines get bigger and smaller.

Note: WKNO, WVIZ, KMOS, WPTO WPTD, WPTO, KETC, KCPT, WXXI, WNED, WSKG, WNPT, WHYY, WLJT, KNPB, WIPB, WVUT and Idaho Public Television used this.

Zoboomafoo (1999-2019)

This one begins with a giraffe going to a tree branch. He tries to grab some leaves, but flings himself to the ground (which is shown about three seconds later). Then leaves end up in an elephant's trunk, and a wild cat jumps in and grabs them. He continues running until Zoboo's arm appears and grabs the leaves. Then Zoboo is in the logo with three tall quadrilaterals behind him. They are yellow, pink and gold with a black outline around them.

Note: WKNO, WFWA, WPTO WVIZ, WMHT, KMOS, WPTD, WPTO, WSKG, KETC, KCPT, WXXI, WNED, WNPT, WHYY, WLJT, WETA (when aired under the national PBS feed), WTTW, WXEL, KNPB, WIPB, WVUT and Idaho Public Television used this.

Note: KAWE & KAWB utilized this intro well into the mid-2010s, but deleted the Zoboomafoo logo and replaced it with the KAWE/KAWB logo. They also start it at the point where the elephant has the leaves and deletes the scene with the giraffe.

ZOOM (1999-2007)

This one is a little different from the others. It has Dash's profile while walking. He thinks about a lion, an alien, a spaceship and finally PBS. Dash is inside the logo next to the show's logo, surrounded by other kids in different colored bubbles.

Note: WFWA, WETA (when aired under the national PBS feed), Idaho Public Television, Georgia Public Broadcasting, and Connecticut Public Television used this.

Note: KAWE & KAWB utilized this intro well into the mid-2010s, but deleted the Zoom logo and replaced it with the KAWE/KAWB logo.

Generic Character IDs

Here is a list of station idents that were shown on some programs:

007: Dot is walking in a green background and Dash walking in a pink background. Then Dash climbs a staircase. Dash trips when he reaches the top of the stairs, but gets up, pulls out a pair of binoculars and looks through them. He looks through it and sees Dot. After that, a character appears in the PBS Kids logo to promote the upcoming show. Adventures from the Book of Virtues (until 2000), Dragon Tales (until 2000), Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (until 2000), Between the Lions (Early), Jay Jay the Jet Plane (Early), Clifford the Big Red Dog (Early), Theodore Tugboat (until 2000), The Noddy Shop (until 2000), The Puzzle Place, Tots TV (until 2000), Kidsongs, The Charlie Horse Music Pizza, Wimzie's House (until 2000), Reading Rainbow (until 2000), and Kratts' Creatures use this ident. The background shows three kinds of circles coming from the logo: light blue ones, pink ones, and light blue ones floating from the logo.

Shadow Play: Dash is making shadow puppets with his hands. He then makes a circle with his hands, causing the PBS Kids logo to appear with orange ovals moving around in the background. Cyberchase (the Hacker), The Noddy Shop/Make Way for Noddy (Noddy), It's a Big Big World (Snook), Jakers! (Piggley), Boohbah (Zumbah), and Theodore Tugboat (Theodore) used this ident.

Boohbah ident

Cyberchase ident

It's a Big Big World ident

Jakers! ident

Noddy ident

Theodore Tugboat

Note: WFWA, WPTO, WMHT, WETA (when aired under the national PBS feed) and WLJT used these. KCET and WBGU used the It's a Big Big World ident.

Sea Life: You can see a crab who is on the beach then floats down in the ocean. Octopi, jellyfish, fish, starfish, and seahorses are swimming around. Still following the crab she reaches her home and air bubbles float up. They make the PBS Kids logo appear. In the background you'll see the bubbles coming out from behind the logo. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (Fred Rogers), Jay Jay the Jet Plane (Jay Jay), Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat (Sagwa), The Berenstain Bears (Mama Bear), Anne of Green Gables (Anne), and Thomas and Friends (Thomas) use this ident.

The Berenstain Bears (Mama Bear)

Jay Jay the Jet Plane (Jay Jay)

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (Fred Rogers)

Sagwa the Chinese Siamese Cat (Sagwa)

Anne of Green Gables: The Animated Series

Thomas & Friends

Note: WFWA, WPTO, WMHT, WETA (when aired under the national PBS feed) and WLJT used these. KCET and WMHT used the Thomas and Friends ident.

Note: KAWE & KAWB utilized this intro well into the mid-2010s, but deleted the character logos and replaced them with the KAWE/KAWB logo.

Book Transformation: A pig transforms into various animals including a bird, a cricket, a fish, and finally a Stegosaurus in the shape of a book, which opens to reveal the PBS logo with a character inside it to promote the upcoming show. Reading Rainbow (LeVar Burton), Clifford's Puppy Days (Little Clifford), and Adventures from the Book of Virtues (Annie) used this ident.

Adventures from the Book of Virtues

Cliford's Puppy Days ident

Reading Rainbow ident

* Note: WFWA, WPTO, WMHT, WETA (when aired under the national PBS feed), WLJT and ThinkTV used these.

Note: KAWE & KAWB utilized this intro well into the mid-2010s, but deleted the character logo and replaced it with the KAWE/KAWB logo. Also, they start it at the point where the stegosaurus turns into a book and deletes the beginning portion of the indent.

Next-On Idents

PBS Kids has also created next-on idents for their shows. In these, the kids announce what's coming up next.

Pinball

The first schedule ident is consisting of a pinball machine. A hand pulls the handle, and the pinball flings upwards and goes through various Pinball obstacles and the ball lands on top of the the center of the circle which opens the screen and clips from the show appear. The main character is shown in the circle. Arthur (Arthur is in the circle), The Berenstain Bears (Mama Bear), Between the Lions (Lionel), Reading Rainbow (LeVar Burton), Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat (Sagwa), Zoboomafoo (Zoboo), and ZOOM (Caroline Botelho) use this. Liberty's Kids (Sarah, James, Henri), and from the Book of Virtues (Plato) also use this. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (Fred Rogers; TPT only) also use this.

Note: WFWA, WBGU, WNED, WNPT, WETA (when aired under the national PBS feed), WTTW, WSKG, WOSU, WYES, WCMU, WMHT, WITF, TPT, KNCT, and GPB used these.

Racecar Donut

The second schedule one is two cars racing each other. A set of double doors with the PBS Kids logo opens and shows what's coming up next. Then the doors close from the back and the camera views zooms out and a green circle with the show title appears. Once again the main character is shown in the circle. Clifford (Clifford and Puppy Clifford), Cyberchase (Jackie, Matt, Inez and Digit), Dragon Tales (Ord), George Shrinks (George), Jay Jay the Jet Plane (Jay Jay), It's a Big Big World (Snook) and Sesame Street (Elmo) used this bumper. PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch (George Shrinks) also used this when the program aired in the weekends.

• Note: WFWA, WBGU, WSKG, WCMU, WNED, WNPT, WPTO, WETA (when aired under the national PBS feed), WTTW, WOSU, WYES, WMHT, WITF, KNCT and GPB used these.

Jack-in-the-Box

The third ident is jack-in-the-box. Dot turns the crank until the background rectangle slides all the way off and shows what's coming up next. Then she turns the crank again. Then a clown comes out. Instead of Pop Goes the Weasel the PBS Kids theme is heard and a child is heard saying lollipop. The clown is holding a sign with a green circle (which is in the shape of the stated lollipop). As always of course the green circle has the main character in it. This one does not have the program title. Barney & Friends (Barney), Boohbah (Zumbah), Bob the Builder (Bob), Caillou (Caillou), Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks (Piggley),  Mister Rogers (Fred Rogers), Thomas & Friends (Thomas), Teletubbies (Po), and Anne of Green Gables (Anne) used this.

• Note: WKNO, WFWA, WBGU, WNED, WPTO WNPT, WETA (when aired under the national PBS feed), WSKG, WCMU, WTTW, WOSU, WYES, WMHT, WITF, KNCT, GPB and WGBH used these. KCET and WMHT used the Thomas and Friends schedule.

Bookworm Bunch

In the Bookworm Bunch schedule block either Dash or Dot presses a button. The machine hand grabs a book and drops in the TV machine and content from the upcoming show appears. Then it opens the book to see the green circle with the show title and the main character. Corduroy (Corduroy), Timothy Goes to School (Timothy), Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse (Marvin), Elliot Moose (Elliot Moose), Seven Little Monsters (Five), and George Shrinks (George). Then the title of the block appears.

Note: All the PBS stations used these when the Bookworm Bunch was aired under the national PBS feed.

Generally, the pinball table ident is directed to older children viewers, the jack-in-the-box for younger viewers and the car race is for in between ages. Some stations show these idents.

Schedule Idents

Here is a list of them:

Bubble Faces: It shows Dash and Dot's faces in bubbles and they pop opening their mouths. A window appears with clips from a show that's coming up next. Adventures from the Book of Virtues, The Berenstain Bears (KMOS only), Caillou, The Noddy Shop, Theodore Tugboat and Kratts' Creatures used this.

Adventures From the Book of Virtues (1999)

Berenstain Bears (2004)

Caillou (2000)

Kratts' Creatures (1999)

The Noddy Shop (1999)

Theodore Tugboat (1999)

Science Lab: It shows a science lab and on the screen shows clips from a show that's coming up next. Arthur, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Reading Rainbow, Between the Lions (WKNO only), Clifford's Puppy Days (WKNO only), and Liberty's Kids (WKNO only) used this.

Arthur

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Reading Rainbow

PBS Kids: Bokkworm Bunch

Elephant: It shows a circus train with a train conductor and circus animals all leading up to a circus elephant with a carpet around her. Inside the carpet, it shows clips from a show that's coming up next. Dragon Tales, Sesame Street, Barney and Friends, Caillou (WKNO only), Clifford the Big Red Dog (WKNO only), and Hello Mr. Chuck (WKNO only) used this.

Dragon Tales

Sesame Street

Barney & Friends

Lion: It shows a lion opening its' mouth. Inside the mouth, we see clips from a show that's coming up next. Between the Lions, Tots TV, Zoboomafoo, and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (WKNO only) used this.

Between the Lions

Tots TV

Zoboomafoo

Candy: It shows two Dots eating candy at a candy factory. The Dots blow bubblegum to the screen and inside the bubblegum, we see clips from a show that's coming up next. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Teletubbies, ZOOM, The Puzzle Place, Jakers! (WKNO only), Thomas and Friends (WKNO only), The Zula Patrol (WKNO only), It's a Big Big World (WKNO only), and Clifford the Big Red Dog (WTTW only) used this. PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch also used this when the program aired in the weekends.

Mister Rogers Neighborhood

Teletubbies

ZOOM

Rube Goldberg Mouse Trap: It shows a Rube Goldberg Mouse Trap that activates. On the screen, it shows a puzzle board with puzzle pieces of characters from random PBS Kids shows. When the puzzle board is complete, it shows a main character from a PBS Kids show that's coming up next. Arthur (Arthur is on the screen), Wishbone (Wishbone), Kratts' Creatures (Chris and Martin Kratt), Sesame Street (Elmo), Clifford the Big Red Dog (Clifford), Between the Lions (Leona), ZOOM (Caroline), Adventures from the Book of Virtues (Annie), Zoboomafoo (Zoboo), Wimzie's House (Wimzie), and Cyberchase (Jackie, Matt and Inez) used this.

Arthur (WNPT)

Between The Lions (WNPT)

Zoboomafoo (WNPT)

Clifford the Big Red Dog (WNPT)

Cyberchase (WNET)

Everyone's a Winner: It shows a wheel with a picture of kids' faces on it spinning around. When the wheel slows down, it gradually stops and selects a panel that shows the main character from a PBS Kids show that's coming up next. Barney and Friends (Barney is on the wheel), Teletubbies (Po), Reading Rainbow (LeVar Burton), Dooley and Pals (Dooley) for SCETV Kids, Dragon Tales (Ord), Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (Mister Rogers), Caillou (Caillou), Plaza Sésamo (Abelardo Montoya), Theodore Tugboat (Theodore Tugboat), Noddy (Noddy), and Tots TV (Tillie) used this.

Barney and Friends (WNPT)

Caillou (WNPT)

Teletubbies (TPT)

Dragon Tales (WNPT)

Ferris Wheel: It shows a carnival with kids riding on a roller coaster and a clown with balloons. One of the balloons float away and then to a ferris wheel. On the ferris wheel, Dash grabs the balloon and puts it over his face with the PBS Kids logo with Dash on it. Next to the ferris wheel is a TV screen, and on the screen are clips from a show that's coming up next. Clifford the Big Red Dog (WNIN only), Cyberchase (WFWA only), Sesame Street (WLIW only) and Rosie and Jim (WLIW only) used this.

Clifford the Big Red Dog (WNIN)

Cyberchase (2002 WFWA)

In another, Miss Lori and Hooper know what's coming up next on PBS Kids.

Some stations use the schedules or idents as station idents. For example: WCET. WPTO

PBS Kids - Be More Inspired by Lee Hunt (1999)

A PBSK montage by Lee Hunt (1999)