Rai Trade

Logo descriptions by Enormous Rat

Background: Rai Trade was an international sales division of Rai group. It was created in 1987 and got its current name in 1997. On 23th February 2011 Rai Trade was closed and incorporated back into its parent company.

1st (known) Logo (1997 - Late 90's)

Rai Trade (1990's)Nickname: "The Trade Ship"

Logo: We see a sailing ship from above, then from various directions. Then it fades and a sketch image of ship appears together with RAI in gray corporate font and trade in red italics below it.

FX/SFX: The animation of the ship.

Music/Sounds: A dreamy soundtrack.

Availability: Extinct. Appeared on international tape releases of Rai-produced stuff, most notably second season DVD of La Piovra.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (Late 90's - 2000?)

Rai Trade (1990's) Nickname: "The Trade Ship II"

Logo: On a dull glass-like surface, lasers draw a ship's sails. The drawing then rise and become three-dimensional, as we zoom out to see the whole ship, same as before, with RAI written to the right (in pre-2000 corporate font) and trade in italics below it. The whole logo is gray glass-colored, but then it shines and changes colors. The ship becomes simple gray sketch, RAI makes itself white, "trade" becomes red.

FX/SFX: Great animation of the ship.

Music/Sounds: None. Probably some fanfare existed.

Availability: Extinct. Appeared, like the first logo, on international releases.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Logo (2000? - Mid 2000's)

Rai Trade (2003) Nickname: "RAI Butterfly"

Logo: Two white lines go through the blue background and create the sides of Rai butterfly logo. It zooms out, and white Rai Trade appear by fading, correspondingly left and right to the picture. The streak of light runs under the words as they appear.

FX/SFX: The light streak and lines.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Must have been used since the presentation of new Rai logo in 2000. Can be found on re-releases of La Piovra on DVDs.

Editor's Note: None. There is no effort.

4th Logo (Mid 2000's - May 17, 2010)

Rai Trade (2008)Nickname: "RAI Butterfly II"

Logo: On a blue background, many 3D letters fly around and compose the Rai Trade logo, which now has relief look. As they take places, the butterfly appears in a splash of light and waves its wings. The logo then shines.

FX/SFX: The flying letters.

Music/Sounds: A trumpet sound followed with windy blow and dings.

Availability: Still common on DVDs.

Editor's Note: None.

5th Logo (May 17, 2010 - February 13, 2011)

Rai Trade (2011)

Nickname: "RAI Square"

Logo: We see light blue lines rushing through the dark blue background. They collapse in a light flash and create a transparent cube, which then becomes solid, with the name written the same way as in the Rai Cinema logo.

FX/SFX: Good light animation, at least making some sense.

Music/Sounds: A new synth used.

Availability: Uncommon due to its short life span. Appeared on shows and documentaries released worldwide by Rai.

Editor's Note: None.