VideoNow

Background: VideoNow was a line of portable video players produced by Hasbro subsidiary Tiger Electronics. The debut VideoNow was first released in 2003. The systems used discs called PVDs, a special format that only stored 30 minutes of video per disc (hence why most PVDs released were episodes of TV series; some movies were released on PVD, often split into three discs), used the left channel for video storage, and played at 15 frames per second. Although faulty (for one example, it notoriously lacked skip protection), it sold well, leading to four more new models: VideoNow Color, which played color discs; VideoNow Jr., a model for children made by Playskool which had a tougher packaging and more durable PVDs; VideoNow XP, which added minigames related to the program; and VideoNow Color FX, which was just Color models with a transparent shell. The line was discontinued in 2007.

1st Logo (VideoNow) (2003-2004)

Logo: We zoom out from the hole of a disc as the text "VIDEONOW", in a stylized font, spins around it to the center of the screen. The disc flattens into a stylized circle while the text follows suit, and the word "TIGER", also in a stylized font that's oddly not its corporate logo font, wipes in at the bottom right corner of the finished product.

FX/SFX: The text spinning and the logo flattening.

Music/Sounds: A synthesized glissando, ending in a whoosh and a deep bass note.

Availability: Rare. Seen at the beginning of black-and-white PVDs from the time when played on the original VideoNow, or on the later Color and XP models.

Editor's Note: Not a badly-animated logo, but the limited capabilities of PVDs result in this logo looking grainy and primitive.

2nd Logo (VideoNow Color) (2004-2007)

Logo: Like before, we zoom out from the middle of a DVD, now in brighter colors, as we see the stylized text "VIDEONOW" (which is now in a similar but different font, in blue with gray outlines and with the "D" and both the "O"s stylized to look like a TV) spin around the disc a la Vin de Bona Productions before halting in the center. The text and disc flatten, and the 2004 Tiger Electronics logo flies in in the same position as before. Then, a rainbow oval with the blue text "COLOR" in it flips underneath "VIDEONOW", and the background goes from black to a rippling background of rainbow circles.

FX/SFX: The text spinning, the logo flattening, the oval flipping, and the background rippling.

Music/Sounds: Starts with the same synth glissando and whoosh as before, followed by a loud zap as the oval flips in and a lusher rendition of the glissando.

Availability: More common than before due to the VideoNow Color's longer lifespan, but still pretty rare. Can be seen on VideoNow Color discs from the time when played on a VideoNow Color, VideoNow Color FX, or a VideoNow XP.

Editor's Note: TBA

3rd Logo (VideoNow XP) (2005-2007)

Logo: On a black background, a rippling object zooms out to the middle of the screen. As the rippling dies down, it turns out to be the VideoNow logo, which is now black with a white outline. As the logo shines, several rainbow ripples appear behind the logo, and they grow to fill the entire background after a white light flashes behind it. The Tiger Electronics logo fades in in its same position as before.

FX/SFX: The rippling.

Music/Sounds: Same as the last logo.

Availability: Rare. Can be seen on VideoNow XP discs when played on a VideoNow XP, VideoNow Color, or VideoNow Color FX.

Editor's Note: TBA