Contender Entertainment Group

Background
Contender Entertainment was created in 1995 as a British home video company. It was acquired by E1 Entertainment in 2007. On 16th March 2009, the company rebranded with the new name E1 UK.

1st Logo (1995-1999)


Nicknames: "Press Play", "Buttons"

Logo: On a gray-white gradient background, a dark red square is seen inside a frame, representing a stop button on a VCR. The frame then flashes to change it to a pause button, then to a play button, and finally to a fast forward button. One of the arrows on the button slides to the right. Both arrows get incorporated to the text "contender" in Optima font, which casts a shadow. The now empty button fades out.

FX/SFX: Limited animation.

Music/Sounds: A hip hop/breakbeat tune, with a lead flute, along with synths, and a small brass section with a horn is heard at the end.

Availability: Rare. Releases utilizing the logo are out of print, but it can be seen on pre-1999 Art Attack and Zzzap! VHS tapes. Tapes released between 1999 and 2000 only contain the Nippers or Bonkers logos, both serving as sub-divisions of Contender that traded until 2003.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (2000-2006)


Nickname: "Enlighten"

Logo: On a space background, a star zooms slightly forward with the reflection of the red eagle in the logo. A row of blue stars zoom out with the reflection of a red eagle, along with comets and other stars. The view rotates on an angle and the eagle is drawn with an L-shaped ledge and dash. The view then pans back to normal and many lines form the company name "CONTENDER ENTERTAINMENT GROUP". A ripple forms the company URL below, while the star in the stylized "E" spins with a flash.

Variants:
 * There exists a shortened version, only seen on Tractor Tom.
 * On the first season of Peppa Pig, the logo is in-credit.
 * A still version of this logo exists at the end of some UK VHS tapes. The still version is usually lasted either 5 seconds before the logo fades out to black, or 30 seconds before the logo cuts to black. Other UK VHS tapes have the normal logo at the beginning as well as the end.

FX/SFX: Well-made and colorful CGI, a huge improvement from the previous logo.

Music/Sounds: A trance theme, ending in a 3-note synth-string fanfare. On Tractor Tom and Peppa Pig, the show's closing theme plays over. The still version is silent.

Availability: Uncommon.
 * This logo appears on UK VHS's and DVDs, including a few classic Hong Kong movies, like Wheels on Meals and major releases such as Will and Grace, Takeshi's Castle, and The Professionals.
 * It also appears on Contender's library of children's programming, such as The Story Makers, and post-1999 Art Attack and Zzzap! VHS tapes, as well as nursery rhyme compilations, and various anime releases such as Beyblade V-Force, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokemon Chronicles.
 * The variants can be seen on Tractor Tom and the first season of Peppa Pig.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Logo (2005-2009)
Nicknames: "Star in the London Sky", "Majestic Star", "Orchestral Star"

Logo: We see a blue skyline with the River Thames below, and some of London's recognizable buildings on the landmark side (including the London Eye and The Gherkin). Then an orange sun-like star rises beyond the wheel as the camera zooms in. We pass all the buildings and the star flashes into the whole screen, then collapses into the print red star with a red circle behind. Below, "CONTENDER" is seen with "FILMS" or "HOME ENTERTAINMENT" under it.

Variants:
 * A version exists where a red square replaces the star and "MERCHANDISING" replaces "FILMS". It maybe appeared on Peppa Pig: Theme Park Fun.
 * Various other variants were seen on Contender's website.

FX/SFX: Very good CGI.

Music/Sounds: An ascending tune, followed by a majestic orchestral fanfare. The fanfare was composed and performed by the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra.

Availability: Uncommon. It can be found on 2005-2009 Contender DVDs such as New Police Story and Peppa Pig DVDs. Later reprints plaster this logo with the Entertainment One logo.

Editor's Note: None.