Taurus Video

Background
Taurus Video is the home entertainment division of Kirch Group. In 1999, Taurus Video was closed down, just before Kirch Group was collapsed and nearly merged into ProSiebenSat.1 Media three years later.

Note: This company has no relation to Taurus Entertainment Company.

1st Logo (1983-1988)
Logo: On a white background, there is a black TV tube made of lines. In it is a red bull. The bull backs its legs twice and it puffs out smoke. Its legs then spread and the logo zooms out and "Im Vertrieb der TAURUS VIDEO" appears above and below the TV tube. It then fades to "TAURUS VIDEO präsentiert" appears in its place.

FX/SFX: The bull.

Music/Sounds: A pretty strange synth theme in the beginning with the sounds of the bull and then a synth trumpet theme.

Availability: Very rare.

Legacy: The scanimated bull will catch some off guard.

2nd Logo (1988-1989)
Logo: On a gradient background, a pack of lines flies into place as light shines on it. As it moves into place, another pair of lines joins with it to make the TV tube from before. The bull from before in gradient orange fades in via a particle effect as well as "IM VERTRIEB DER TAURUS VIDEO" appear above and below it.

FX/SFX: The lines. Scanimate effects used here.

Music/Sounds: A synth rock fanfare, with some bull sound effects.

Availability: Very rare.

Legacy: Same as above.

3rd Logo (1989-1999)


Logo: On a black background, we zoom out from a purple tunnel. We the rotate away from the tunnel to reveal a translucent purple filmstrip "K". We rotate to a comfortable distance and "TaurusVideo" is seen sliding out into place. Everything fades out and "prasentiert:" wipes in below.

FX/SFX: The "K" and the text.

Music/Sounds: A choir is heard as well as some ticks and a bang when the text fully slide out. Sliding sounds are also heard.

Availability: Rare.

Legacy: Primitive CGI animation, not to mention the absence of the bull. The "K" is supposed to stand for Taurus' parent company Kirch Group, but it feels out of place here.