The Art of HA!

The HA! TV Comedy Network Logo 1990-1991

US $38

The logo that laughed back.
(Fun while it lasted!).

"Comedy doesn't repeat itself cleanly. Laughter overlaps. It interrupts. It arrives early or late or too loud."

In 1990, HBO had planted its flag in the "comedy territory," and MTV Networks had nothing—less than zero. What they did have was an attitude, a target, and a logo. The Art of HA! chronicles the brief, brilliant flash of the HA! TV Comedy Network, a "fighting brand" designed to be a "hit record" in a world of boring "albums".

Created by the pioneers behind the identities of MTV and Nickelodeon, HA! was more than a channel; it was a radical experiment in television branding. Through insightful essays by Fred Seibert and Alan Goodman, this book reveals the philosophy behind a logo that was built to "perform"—to move, to shout, and to change because laughter itself refuses to settle.

Inside this visual history:

  • The Elastic Identity: Discover how the HA! mark, designed by Noel Frankel, anticipated the kinetic nature of a motion-picture medium.

  • The Animation Auteurs: A deep dive into collaborations with legendary houses like Charlex, (Colossal) Pictures, and International Rocketship.

  • The Creative Anarchy: The story of how "two young men" used a logo and an attitude to take on the giants of cable.

Though it eventually merged to become Comedy Central, HA! proved that television brands are plural and kinetic by design. This book documents that moment of creative assurance—not as nostalgia, but as evidence of how television identities should be made.

#16 in the FredFilms Professional Library

About the authors:

Fred Seibert is a media entrepreneur and a leading independent animation producer (“Adventure Time,” “Castlevania,” “Bee and PuppyCat,” “The Fairly OddParents”). As the first creative director of MTV and the last president of Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, he has founded influential companies including Frederator Studios and Next New Networks.

Alan Goodman is a founding member of the MTV team and played a key role in the relaunch and growth of Nickelodeon. With over 45 years of experience in entertainment, he helped invent, launch, and consult for numerous television networks. He currently focuses on sensitive data management and works as a professional actor.

The Art of HA! The HA! TV Comedy Network Logo 1990-1991

Paperback available on Amazon. Preview a PDF on Scribd.

  • 292 pages

  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.44”x 7.44”