Rank Home Video

Logo descriptions and captures by Eric S., Wisp2007, and Thisisanswer

Video Captures by LogicSmash, DudeThatLogo and CannonFilms (unofficial fan-base)

1st Logo: (1981-1982) Nicknames: "Rank Thunder", “Man Hitting Gong”, "Gongman VHS II"

Logo: On a black background, the word "RANK" in multiple colors, comes in from the top of the screen a la the Telepictures "Rollercoaster" logo. "VIDEO" does the same thing as they rest in the middle of the screen, now in a thick white outline. "RANK" then flashes and fills itself with a sky blue color, and "VIDEO" does the same thing. After a bit, the logo flips downward out of view, and the Rank Organization logo flips in, sans the rectangle and some altered shading on the gong, in the same color as the text. The logo flips out a bit later.

FX/SFX: What appears to be 2D computer animation, though the flipping of the logo and words seems to be a model.

Music/Sounds: We first hear howling wind when the letter come in, thunderstorm sounds are heard when when the text turns sky blue, followed an ominous synth fanfare.

Availability: Uncommon. Rank released films from Cannon, Orion and Disney in the UK for a certain period. Appears on The Terminator, Over The Top, and Return to Oz, as well as the UK pre-cert release of X-ray and a pal laserdisc of Starflight: The Plane that Couldn't Land (aka Starflight One: Perigo no Espaco).

Editor's Note: Better animation than the previous logo, but the music could creep some people out though.

3rd Logo: (1988-1993)

Nickname: "Gongman VHS III"

Logo: On a black background, we zoom out from the back of the Gongman, colored black with blue highlights all over him. As the camera zooms out and rotates around to reveal the gong, he swings the mallet and hits the gong, producing a large flash that engulfs the entire screen. When the flash dies down, it reveals the alternate Rank logo, now in black and emerald green, shining along the edges and slowly zooming out. After it finishes shining, "Rank Home Video" is wiped in by lights. The logo continues to zoom out before fading, shining once more as it does.

FX/SFX: An intricate combination of rotoscoping, traditional animation, and '80s CGI.

Music/Sounds: A synthesized fanfare with a gong sound when the man hits the gong.

Availability: Rare. Appeared on Rank releases of Cannon Films from 1988-1991.

Editor's Note: A well-done home video logo.