Dolby Digital

1st Trailer (June 19, 1992-)
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Nicknames: "Train", "Ghost Train"

Trailer: On a smoky background, we see the wheels of a train fade into picture and the train starts to move. Once it's out of the picture, a gold Dolby Digital logo fades in and the smoky background fades out.

Variants:


 * During the logo's early days, from around 1992-1995, a silver Dolby Stereo Digital logo appeared (Dolby Digital's old name).
 * There is also a longer version.
 * The trailer exists in 1.85:1 and 2.35:1 widescreen, and in rare cases 4:3. It also exists in letterboxed 1.66:1.
 * When used on TV channels prior to their broadcast of films with Dolby soundtracks, the text "where available" would be superimposed over the end of the animation.

FX/SFX: Early CGI by Xaos. This logo was modeled and animated on an Intergraph TDZ-2000 computer, and rendered on Intergraph RenderRAX servers.

Music/Sounds: We start with a mysterious wind tune that fades with a high-pitched descending shriek of some sort (long version only). Following is some ringing sounds of bells, another wind tune (long version only), the metallic sounds of the train gears along with a train whistle and the rails clattering. An eerie synth drone/hum is heard throughout starting with the bells. "Sound design and mix by Academy Award® Winner Randy Thom, Skywalker Sound" according to the Dolby Demo DVD Explore Our World.

Availability: Common. It appears in some cinemas that use the Dolby Digital technology, but it can be easily found on certain laserdiscs and DVDs, like the Japanese Laserdisc of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (in Surround EX!) and the THX-certified 1997 DVD of Platoon. The Dolby Stereo version is seen on some Laserdisc releases such as Stargate, True Lies, Speed, and Immortal Beloved. The 4:3 version appears on the rare THX-certified 1998 Laserdisc of Singin' in the Rain, and the 1.66:1 version exists on the LaserDisc for True Lies. Can also be seen on the Dolby demo disc Explore Our World and some Roadshow Entertainment DVDs such as Happy Feet. This logo debuted on the theatrical release of Batman Returns. The "Where available" variant was seen on Starz in the late 90s and early 2000s when they began broadcasting films with Dolby Digital audio. One of the last appearances of the Dolby Stereo Digital logo is believed to have been on the original theatrical release of Toy Story.

Editor's Note: An iconic debut. The CGI is a bit dated for today, but was pretty advanced for the early '90s; in all fairness, this logo's soundtrack is the real star of the show here, anyway.

2nd Trailer (July 1995-)
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Nicknames: "Dolby City", "Helicopter", "The Sound of the Future"

Trailer: On a stormy city background, there are lightning flashes as we follow a helicopter. We move over the buildings to see a theater with a huge pylon with the Double D symbol and neon letters spelling "DOLBY". The neon letters flash one by one as we go to ground level. The theater has a Dolby Digital logo which the words "NOW PLAYING" and "THE SOUND OF THE FUTURE" under it. We quickly zoom through the doors to a Dolby Digital logo with a light shining across the top of it.

Variants:
 * In its early days, the finished Dolby logo at the end looked different. The text at the end is in a bolder font and flatter design, the light shining on the logo is a simple white dot that shines a little and is far less detailed, and it cuts to black instead of fading out.
 * The logo ends with the Dolby Surround AC-3 Digital Logo "DOLBY SURROUND" in the rectangle, AC-3 below the "Double D", and "DIGITAL" underneath the rectangle). Later years used an updated Dolby Logo with a bigger Dolby inside the box, not exactly the '04 version). The logo exists in matted widescreen but is usually 4:3.
 * On some Interplay Entertainment games, such as Descent 3 and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, after the animation finishes it cuts to a black background with the "DOLBY SURROUND" logo in gold, and shines a little bit.
 * When used on TV channels prior to their broadcast of films with Dolby soundtracks, the text "where available" would be superimposed over the end of the animation.

FX/SFX: The zooming through the city, the lighting up of the letters, the quick zoom into the theater and the shining of the Dolby logo.

Music/Sounds: A thunderclap followed by a quick-paced drum solo ending with a cymbal hit, a helicopter and an ascending electric guitar strum that fades into a choir. Drum and cymbal hits and electrical sounds are heard as "DOLBY" is spelled out. A synth-like moan (or the helicopter) and 2 long, quiet flute notes with a sustained background string-section are heard during the zooming into the theater and finally a moaning sound and a descending piano tune. Mixed at Pacific Ocean Post Studios and re-mixed by Terry Porter at Walt Disney Studios.

Availability: Common. First used mainly on later Laserdiscs from that time including early DVDs, such as Cats Don't Dance and the 1997 MGM DVD of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Can also be seen on some Nutech Digital DVDs if you select Dolby Digital, such as Tom Sawyer, Peter Pan, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Wind in the Willows, The Odyssey, Treasure Island, among others. Also seen on some DVDs from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Roadshow Entertainment, such as the region 4 DVD releases of Blue Streak, Girl Interrupted, Riding in Cars With Boys, Cruel Intentions, Stepmom, As Good As It Gets, Madeline, Almost Famous, Panic Room, Charlie's Angels and Spiderman, as well as the American DVD of Advertising Rules!, among others.

The AC-3 Digital version can be found on the DVD of Tenchi Muyo: The Movie, The Mask 1994 LD, AC-3 US T2 LD, 1995 Laserdisc of Die Hard 3 and the letterboxed edition of The Indian in the Cupboard. Also appeared on the computer games Descent 3 and the DVD release of Wing Commander IV. The "Where available" variant was seen on Starz in the late 90s and early 2000s when they began broadcasting films with Dolby Digital audio. This was retained on the Australian 2014 DVD reprint of Stuart Little. This also shows up on the 2017 Shock Entertainment Region 4 DVD release of The Craft (alongside the Sony Pictures DVD Center logo, likely because they used the source master from the original 2001 Collector's Edition DVD release, however the Shock Entertainment logo replaces the original Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment logo). This also appears on the 2003 Miramax Home Entertainment Region 4 DVD release of Kate & Leopold.

Editor's Note: A highly iconic logo, even if the CGI doesn't hold up to today's standards. It's very fondly remembered to the point where a remake/follow-up was made in 2006.

3rd Trailer (October 1996-)
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Nickname: "Canyon"

Trailer: We travel through a narrow canyon with steep walls either side. We pass an opening in the canyon where on top of a rock wall we see the Dolby Digital logo. An eagle's shadow is seen over the Dolby logo. The canyon fades away, leaving the golden Dolby logo which shines.

FX/SFX: Basically the ride through the canyon and then the pan up to the Dolby logo which shines.

Music/Sounds: Rock falling sounds, bird chirps, and a coyote/wolf howl are heard with a tribal desert theme. The "stock" sound effect of an eagle is heard as its shadow appears over the Dolby logo. Sound elements from Project One Audio; Mixed by David Parker at The Saul Zaentz Film Center.

Availability: Common. First seen in cinemas and was used on Laserdiscs (like Contact and The Lost World: Jurassic Park) and early DVDs from the era. Can be seen on some current DVD releases from Roadshow Entertainment like The Man from Snowy River and Miss Congeniality.

Editor's Note: Perhaps the CGI is dated by today's standards, but it's still a very nicely-animated and soundtracked logo with a great atmosphere.

4th Trailer (December 1996-)
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Nicknames: "Egypt"

Trailer: In a temple in Egypt, we see a light shine, and the camera moves to reveal that it's coming from a wall. In front of the light, we see the Dolby Digital logo in gold. The light shines bright twice as the camera zooms into the logo. When we finally get close enough to the logo, the light shines behind the logo very brightly, causing the logo to shine brightly, and the scene changes to a black background with the logo, which shines.

Variants:
 * Act III Theaters had a special variant that had the THX logo (with the Lucasfilm byline above it) in place of the Dolby logo, which is engraved on the floor with "PRESENTED IN" above. Then it fades out to show the Act III logo with "FEATURE PRESENTATION" below.
 * The trailers exist filmed or digital and in normal widescreen and scope widescreen.

FX/SFX: The camera moving, and the shine. Awesome CGI. This was designed and animated by Erik Nels Johnson at Digital Artworks in Eugene, OR. This piece was created on a Silicon Graphics computer with Softimage software.

Music/Sounds: We start with Egyptian percussion. Crickets, birds and a lion roar can be heard during the logo. We hear a rattlesnake-like sound before the we see the light. Then we hear Egyptian music with wood instruments; at the end are drums. Sound elements from Project One Audio; Mixed by David Parker at The Saul Zaentz Film Center.

Availability: Common. First used mainly on later Laserdiscs (like Saving Private Ryan and Volcano) from that time including DVDs, such as Stuntman. Can also be seen on Roadshow Entertainment and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment DVDs such as The Wedding Singer and Mulholland Drive. The Scope version can be seen on the 2002 Anchor Bay DVD of The Evil Dead.

Editor's Note: Another gorgeously atmospheric Dolby logo. Rather therapeutic as well.

5th Trailer (June 1, 1997-)
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Nickname: "Aurora"

Trailer: We see a starfield in space. Suddenly lights appear from the left of the screen (which resemble the Northern Lights). The lights then move around into the Double D symbol of Dolby. We slowly zoom out the see the Dolby Digital logo which shines during the zoom out. In the background we pan through the stars which turns up into nebula. When the logo finishes the website URL "www.dolby.com" fades in below.

FX/SFX: The lights morphing into the Dolby logo, the zoom out followed by the shining of the logo and the movement of the stars.

Music/Sounds: A brass piece which rises in sound and intensity. When the logo is zooming out a choir is heard. At the end a five beat sounder is heard. The score was performed by the Skywalker Symphony Orchestra. Sound design by Macro D'Ambrosio at MarcoCo; Mixed by David Parker at The Saul Zaentz Film Center and in Surround EX by Gary A. Rizzo at Skywalker Sound.

Availability: Common. Seen in cinemas as well as on some later Laserdiscs, and a few early DVDs, including Terminator 2: Ultimate Edition. It also appears on the Japanese DVD of Cardcaptor Sakura the Movie: Enchanted Cards. It appears on demo discs like Explore our World. A filmed version (in poor quality) has been found on the 1997 DVD releases of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Also seen on some Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Roadshow Entertainment DVD's as well such as the region 2 and 4 DVD releases of Open Season, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, 50 First Dates, Big Fish, The Wedding Planner, St Trinians and Spider-Man 2: The Ultimate Version. The DVD release of Terminator 2 has a 2.21:1 version of this logo, but it is letterboxed for full-screen, and is off-center in terms of letterboxing. Although it first appeared on DVDs in 1997, it first appeared in cinemas with the 1999 release of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. It appeared on international Sony releases from 2003 until at least 2009, with Lakeview Terrace being one of the last releases to use it. It also strangely appears on a international TV print of Totò Sapore and the Magical Story of Pizza.

Editor's Note: The sheer beauty of this logo signifies how well it has aged. The gorgeous fanfare is probably one of the best and most beautiful musical pieces featured in a logo.

6th Trailer (1997-Late 1990s?)
Nickname: "Game"

Logo: A ton of code is seen on a scene of a military base with a helicopter exploding. It changes to a racing scene with a car and a motorcycle. Another car crashes into it and then switches to a man (looking a lot like Duke Nukem) with the Dolby symbol on his suit on a spaceship walking away from an alien in which 5 speakers and a TV set zoom out and shards form the golden Dolby logo as the background fades to black.

FX/SFX: Standard 1990s CGI.

Music/Sounds: Sounds to correspond with the various scenes with a synth chord at the end.

Availability: Technically, it's unknown. It was said that it appeared on Need For Speed: High Stakes, but we are not sure on what version of the game this logo appeared on, but it's safe to say that it's probably from the PC version.

Editor's Note: Quite dated now, but at the very least, it was serviceable for its time, that is if we even knew what game (if at all) this logo came from.

7th Trailer (December 18, 1998-)
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Nickname: "Rain", "Organic"

Trailer: We start with bronze-ish colored water which appear to reflect the Dolby logo; then we flash and see a splash of water with it drops hitting each other. It fades to rain falling toward us. We then see it hit water reflecting the Dolby Digital logo, then fade to the Dolby Digital logo, a 3D object, in water. We fade to a smoky bronze background with "www.dolby.com".

Variant: A short version exists starting with the appearance of the Dolby logo.

FX/SFX: Very nice animation all around, done by yU+co. Only 10% of this logo used CGI; much of the water effects are live-action, surprisingly.

Music/Sounds: Water gurgling and an ominous sounder cutting to a flash sound, some quite tings and ominous harp strokes, and an intense orchestra which becomes more whimsical and ends with a 5-note sounder (the same as in the "Aurora" trailer) along with some strange flourishing sounds. Mixed by Gary A. Rizzo at Skywalker Sound; sound design and mix by Marco D'Ambrosio at MarcoCo; music by San Francisco Ballet, Opera and Symphony.

Music/Sounds Variant: A shortened version of the orchestral tune at the end of the trailer is used for the short variant.

Availability: It has appeared in many theaters with Dolby Sound starting with the theatrical release of Star Trek: Insurrection. The short version is seen on some rare Australian DVDs such as the Roadshow Entertainment DVDs of Two Weeks Notice, The Notebook (long version) and Elf as well as some TV airings of movies and a few TV shows.

Editor's Note: Yet another Dolby logo with gorgeous visuals and a breathtaking atmosphere, made even better with the addition of practical effects. Actually most of Dolby's theatrical trailers are good in almost everything.

8th Trailer (2002-2005)
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Trailer: A dark, cloudy background fades in. The right half of the familiar Dolby symbol slides in from the right, meeting its opposite half on the left of the screen (the screen shakes slightly when the halves meet). As the right half slides in a golden bar with the Dolby text appears in golden light. The "DIGITAL" text then plasters itself letter by letter beneath that symbol and bar. The finished logo shines briefly before fading out.

FX/SFX: Quick, yet decent animation. Presumably, whoever was responsible for the 2002 Starz rebrand was also responsible for this trailer.

Music/Sounds: A bunch of whooshing and slamming noises.

Availability: Extinct. This was a custom trailer only used on the Starz premium cable channel from 2002 to 2005 (prior to this they had used the 1st and 2nd trailers with "where available" superimposed over the end). When Starz and Encore received a unified rebrand in 2005, Dolby soundtracks were solely identified in the ratings bumpers from then on.

Editor's Note: TBA

9th Trailer (2002)
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Nickname: "Optimizer"

Logo: The Dolby logo and text fades in sky blue, which then fades to an optimizer test with "Optimizing this disc for playback" above it. A copyright appears below.

FX/SFX: TBA

Music/Sounds: The signature sounder.

Availability: The first clip was seen on the 2002 "Explore Our World" Demo Disc. Unknown if used on anything else.

Editor's Note: Not too bad of a logo, but it isn't particularly the most groundbreaking one out there either.

10th Trailer (May 2003-)
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Nicknames: "The Garbage Cans", "Stomp - Perspectives"

Trailer: On a black background, a hand snaps its fingers three times. On the third snap, the background changes to white with gray Dolby logos as we see several members of the performance group Stomp make music with garbage cans, brooms, trash can lids and keys. We pan to the left throughout the duration of the logo and see a man walking with his feet strapped to large garbage cans. The camera cuts to him stomping on it from ground view, then cutting to a shiny gray Dolby logo appearing. A Dolby byline and the Stomp logo appear below it.

FX/SFX: Just live-action except for the Dolby logo appearing and the Stomp logo and byline fading in.

Music/Sounds: The Stomp crew, well, stomping around and making noise with the aforementioned. Drums are heard in the background. The crew laughs, then applauds at the end.

Availability: Uncommon. Probably seen in theaters as well as certain DVDs.

Editor's Note: A unique logo for a Dolby logo, given that it doesn't prominently feature any sort of actual animation until the end.

11th Trailer (2003-2000’s)
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Nickname: "Enlighten"

Logo: The silver Dolby logo rotates on the screen, emitting lights while it rotates.

FX/SFX: The lights.

Music/Sounds: A synth flourish.

Availability: Available on the 2002 "Explore Our World" Demo Disc. On said disc, this trailer is listed as a "Game Trailer", but it is unknown what game it was used for.

Editor's Note: Quite majestic, with its beautiful atmosphere and visuals.

12th Trailer (2004-2008)
Nickname: "Argon"

Trailer: We see lines of light coming from the sides of the screen. When they meet we see the Dolby Digital logo.

FX/SFX: The logo forming.

Variant: On some games, the Dolby Pro Logic II logo is featured.

Music/Sounds: Just the sounds when the light makes.

Availability: Seen mainly on games from this era, such as Godzilla: Save the Earth.

Editor's Note: Simple, yet effective for its presentation.

13th Trailer (2005-2006)
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Nickname(s): "Curious George", "Curious Where Great Sound Comes From?"

Logo: On a yellow background, Curious George runs in, making monkey noises. Suddenly, various sounds can be heard, such as a whisper, a door being knocked and a train passing by. George begins to look around, opening holes, vents, trapdoors and blinds to find the noises before eventually he gets tired and centers in the middle of the screen. The phrase 'CURIOUS WHERE GREAT SOUND COMES FROM?' flies in like a helicopter blade. George looks at the text, before turning to the audience and smiling. He jumps at the top-right corner of the screen and peels it away, revealing the shining golden Dolby Digital logo. "www.dolby.com" and a copyright stamp fade in below.

FX/SFX: George running around, as well as the text flying in, and the Dolby logo twinkling and zooming in at the end.

Variant: A Dolby Pro Logic II variant exists on the 2006 Curious George video game.

Music/Sounds: The various sound effects throughout the trailer, like a whisper, a door being knocked and a train, along with George's monkey noises (voiced by Frank Welker). There is also a helicopter blade sound when the aforementioned phrase flies in, and a twinkly tune at the end when the Dolby logo appears.

Availability: Appears on various DVDs to promote the 2006 Curious George film (but may not be on that film itself), such as Madagascar and Kicking and Screaming. It was also seen on the VHS release of the latter film.

Editor's Note: This logo is very cute and well animated.

14th Trailer (2006-Early 2010s)
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Nickname(s): "City Redux", "Flying Car", "Dolby City Revisited", "Dolby City 2.0", "The Sound of the Future 2.0"

Logo: A futuristic city appears during sunrise, and a hovercar flies past the right side of the screen. The camera then quickly starts moving to the bottom left, and we zoom past a bunch of close up buildings before zooming downwards. The camera pans down as we rush through a circuit-board type hole with lots of hovercars darting past us, left and right. Eventually, we pan up, ending up in a New York-esque town, following a singular road before stopping outside a cinema with a neon Dolby logo on it. We stop for a few seconds, before zooming forwards, into the cinema doors. They open, blasting a white light at us. The flash fades away, revealing the Dolby logo.

Variant: In some cases, 'DIGITAL' will appear below 'DOLBY'. In 2020, a rare 35mm film version was found that contains the Dolby Digital Surround EX logo at the end.

FX/SFX: Amazing CGI by Reel FX. Similar to the Helicopter trailer, it gave a more updated and photorealistic use of CGI.

Music/Sounds: Sci-fi sounds, general conversation around the theater entrance, and an orchestral hit (the Dolby end sounder).

Availability: Seen on a DVD of Free Jimmy. Also shown on theaters and DVDs, plus Blu-Rays as well (possibly during that time period until the early 2010s).

Editor's Note: A wonderful homage to the original Helicopter trailer, while having its own unique identity with CGI that holds up mostly today. This is an amazing, successful and worthy follow-up that lives up and exceeds in some areas to a well-respected logo.

15th Trailer (November 2, 2007-March 11, 2008)
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Nickname: "Dolbee Digital"

Trailer: In a sound studio, we have a sketch where Barry B. Benson (the main character from Bee Movie) is collecting sound data for Dolby but the sound guys (one of them being Ken) want to finish recording the sounds ("...so we can get out of here!"). Barry asks what the Dolby people want from them when Ken gets annoyed and just tells him to flap his wings. Barry flaps his wings while Ken turns up the Dolby switch. This causes the sound to become so loud that Ken floats up into the air and break the wall behind him (which happens to be the ladies' bathroom where a woman is screaming and running). Barry considers the name "Dol-bee?" and then asks where the cupcakes are. The Dolby logo is in gold and says "DOLBEE" for a second before turning to normal.

Trivia: The animation for this logo comes from DreamWorks Animation and the voice of Barry B. Benson is done by Seinfeld star Jerry Seinfeld. Animation services come from Pacific Data Images. The equipment used to animate and render this logo comes from HP.

FX/SFX: The CGI animation, and the text changing at the end.

Music/Sounds: The dialogue and sound effects corresponding to the animation; the Dolby end sounder for the logo. It's possible that Randy Thom & Will Files are the sound designers here since they were such on the film.

Availability: Only seen on the theatrical release of Bee Movie. Also seen on the DVD and Blu-ray release of Bee Movie if you select the Dolby option for sound.

Editor's Note: This is quite a humorous trailer, paired with some good DreamWorks CG!

16th Trailer (2007-2018?)
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Nickname: "Catalyst"

Trailer: We see a trail of blue particles from the left, vanishing in the center. Another trail proceeds from the right, then both sides and from the viewer. The bubble explodes in the center, leaving the Dolby logo.

Variant: In Call of Duty: Black Ops II, the logo is missing "TrueHD", while "Dolby" is centered.

FX/SFX: The light trails and logo forming.

Music/Sounds: The whizzing sounds, ending with a synth tune.

Availability: Seen on the video game, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, with the exception of the Wii U version. Also seen on Forza: Horizon.

Editor's Note: Another astonishing logo!

17th Trailer (September 8, 2011- )
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Nickname: "Spheres"

Trailer: Several spheres are thrown to the ground, made from various materials, one even from glass. They fly forth into a dim space. Then four other spheres fly in slow motion, leaving rich colored tails, and explode in the sky. Two streams of green and blue bubbles proceed, forming the [D(|] logo and other part of the stream condense into the Dolby wordmark.

FX/SFX: The spheres landing on the ground, the spheres flying, the explosion. Great animation by Imaginary Forces.

Music/Sounds: Sounds of spheres hitting the ground and other sounds, such as bubbling. At the end, there is a woman's voice softly saying "All...around...you."

Availability: Appears on The Art of Flight and most Dolby theaters.

Editor's Note: The animation of the balls bouncing on the ground seem weird and unrealistic physics-wise and the woman's voice can catch some people off-guard but it's still a great trailer.