Contender Entertainment Group

Logo descriptions and captures by EnormousRat and thisisanswer Video capture courtesy of JeuceTheWarrior and fletcherwilsonfilm

Background: Contender Ltd. was started in 1995 as a home video company in UK. It was acquired by E1 Entertainment in 2007. On 16th March 2009, the company rebranded with the new name E1 UK.

1st Logo (1995-1999)

Logo: On a grey-white gradient background, a dark red square is seen inside a frame, representing a stop button on a VCR. The frame then flashes to change it to a pause button, then to a play button, and finally to a fast forward button. One of the arrows on the button slides to the right before the text "contender" in a strange font with a shadow effect fades in and the button fades out.

FX/SFX: Limited animation, even for the time.

Music/Sounds: A hip hop/breakbeat tune, with a lead flute, along with synths, and a small brass section.

Availability: Rare. Releases utilizing the logo is out of print, but it can be seen pre-1999 Art Attack tapes. Zzzap! VHS tapes also have this logo as well. Tapes released between 1999 and 2000 only contain the Nippers or Bonkers logos, which serve as sub-divisions of Contender that traded until 2003.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (2000-2006)

Logo: A row of blue stars zoom out with reflection of red eagle with comets and other stars. The view changes and eagle is drawn with L-shaped ledge and dash. The view changes to normal and many lines form the rest of the name and bottom name appears with connecting effect. A ripple forms URL and star spins with a flash.

Variants:
 * There exists a shorter version of the logo, only seen on Tractor Tom
 * On Peppa Pig, the logo is in-credit.

FX/SFX: Great colorful CGI, and an improvement from the previous logo.

Music/Sounds: A trance theme, ending in a 3-note synth-string fanfare.

Availability: Uncommon. Appears on UK VHS's and DVDs, including a few classic Hong Kong movies, like Wheels on Meals and major releases such as Will and Grace, Takeshi's Castle, and The Professionals. It also appears on Contender's range of children's programming, such as The Story Makers, and a few Art Attack and Zzzap! VHS tapes, the company's own range of nursery rhyme compilations, and various anime releases such as Beyblade V-Force, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokemon Chronicles. The variants can be seen on Tractor Tom and the first season of Peppa Pig.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd Logo (2005-2009)

Nicknames: "Star in the London Sky"

Logo: We see a blue skyline with water below, and London's recognizable buildings on the landmark side (including the London Wheel). Then an orange sun-like star rises beyond the wheel and camera zooms in. We pass the buildings and the star flashes into the whole screen, then collapses into the print red star with circle. Below, "CONTENDER" is seen and "FILMS" or "HOME ENTERTAINMENT" under it.

Variant: A version exists where it has a square in place of a star and "MERCHANDISING" under it. It maybe appeared on Peppa Pig: Theme Park Fun. Various other variants were seen on Contender's website.

FX/SFX: Very good CGI.

Music/Sounds: An ascending tune followed by majestic fanfares. The entirety was composed and performed by the Warsaw Philarmonic Orchestra.

Availability: It can still easily found on DVD's such as New Police Story and 2005-2009 Peppa Pig DVDs (Later re-prints plaster this logo with the Entertainment One logo).

Editor's Note: None.