Gativideo

Background
Gativideo S.A. was formed on April 1, 1987 when Aries went into financial troubles, to be headed by Manuel Pablo Venacio, Luis Saverio Fortunato Scalella, Luis Alberto Scalella and Jorge Horacio Scalella, which are the company's brothers. with Legal Video and Videoman Internacional serving as brands of the company. This was expanded in 1988 by signing an agreement with Disney to bring their titles to the Argentinian market. Those brands phased out in 1989, and Gativideo began using its own logos.

Its primary purpose was to distribute 20th Century Fox, Disney, and until 1991, MGM/UA Home Video titles for the Argentina market. In 1992, the owners created a sister label for low-budget films, Intercom Entertainment, even though it was dissolved by two years, and Gativideo would be the second most important label, becoming one of the most successful majors. Gativideo, along with rival LK-TEL Video was dissolved by itself in 2009 due to low sales and demand, and a new company Blu Shine S.R.L. began to take over distribution of the titles previously held by Gativideo, as well as Columbia TriStar's output, the venture lasted until 2017.

1st Logo (1989-2007)


Logo: On a space background (Milky Way), we see the metallic text "GATIVIDEO", in a font similar to the FHE '82 logo, flying all over the screen, leaving a trail of sparkles. When it stops in the center, sparkles can be seen.

Technique: 1980s computer effects.

Music/Sounds: A dramatic fanfare, which is part of Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man".

Availability: Uncommon, at least in Argentina. This logo can be found on old Argentine PAL/N VHSs like Touchstone's Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Song of the South and other films from Disney, MGM and 20th Century Fox like the Home Alone series, Die Hard, and Predator 2 (the 1st is edited with the Legal Video CBS-FOX Brand license).

2nd Logo (1999-2001?)
Logo: On a space background, we see a 3D wireframe version of the Gativideo logo from the previous logos zooming out, then it rotates and a bright blue light fills the wireframe Gativideo logo from before in a solid 3D color. The logo shines, and then the Gativideo logo zooms in.

Technique: CGI.

Music/Sounds: A weird distorting synth theme, with some chines and a distorting zoom sound at the end, which trails it off to black.

Availability: Seen on early Gativideo DVD releases, like Manuelita.

3rd Logo (2001?-2003)
Logo: On a cloudy sky background, the Gativideo logo from the previous logos zooms out and then turns to a clear version. Then a DVD rotates and spins the Gativideo logo around, and the disc reappears, before a light dissolves and the logo shines with a sparkle effect.

Technique: CGI.

Music/Sounds: A crystalized synth theme with whooshes, then a rock theme appears with some whooshes, followed by a synth choir theme.

Availability: Seen on Gativideo DVD releases, like Daddy is My Idol (Papa es un idolo).

4th Logo (2003-2009)


Logo: Against a space background with planets (Earth, mars and the Sun), we see the Gativideo logo from the last three logos, only in 3D, zoom out and stop to face us. Then, the DVD logo, also in 3D, zooms and flips out below it. A lens flare shines on the DVD logo

Technique: CGI.

Music/Sounds: Same as the 1st logo, complete with "zoom" like effects.

Availability: Extremely rare. This was the last logo before their closure due to piracy. Found on Argentine DVD releases of Nightmare on Elm Street (New Line Cinema) collection (2003), CSI: Miami and Critters 4.