MPI Home Video

Background
MPI Home Video (Maljack Productions, Inc.) is the home video subsidiary of MPI Media Group, headquartered in Orland Park, Illinois. Though founded in 1976, MPI Home Video had no logo until 1984.

1st Logo (1984-1987)


Visuals: On a starry space background, a "MPI" in a stylized font zooms in. Once it stops zooming, the bottom part of the background turns (kind of like the background used in CBS' "Great Moments" IDs). "MPI" then "shines" with the outlining and "pings".

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: Can be seen on The Honeymooners "Lost Episodes" VHS tapes.

2nd Logo (1987-1992)


Visuals: On a black background, a white rectangle draws in and the intense gradient letters "MPI " slide out of it, glowing white. After they stop glowing, the words "H O M E V I D E O" in white and sandwiched between two lines fade in, and a haze forms behind the words.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A gentle synth/woodwind theme.

Availability: Seen on early Dark Shadows VHS releases and ABC News documentary videos.

3rd Logo (1992-1999)


Visuals: There is the MPI Home Video logo (the same one from above, but with "MPI" in white with an outline, "HOME VIDEO" in yellow and the two lines ) viewed from an upper left angle (ala the 20th Century Studios logo). It rotates to face the camera and shines. The whole thing takes place on a light gray cloudy background.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: None.

Availability: Found on mostly on Dark Shadows VHS releases (original and 1991-92 versions). Also on mid-1990s VHS releases of The Prisoner.

4th Logo (November 3, 1998-2008)
Visuals: Over a black background is "MPI", in white, zooming out. Then the background turns white, with "MPI Serif" in black (think the 1988 Worldvision Enterprises logo). A filmstrip rolls out. After the "MPI" and filmstrip become still, "Serif" appears on the filmstrip.

Variant: On the 1999 DVD of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, the text "Serif" appears on the filmstrip.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A trumpet portion with two notes, then six more notes, then a piano portion, and ends with one more trumpet note.

Availability: Found on the original DVD of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, among other releases. It can also be found on current reruns of The Doris Day Show and the lost episodes of The Honeymooners, plastering any Viacom or Worldvision logos that may have been on either show in the past. Also seen on DVD's of ABC News documentaries.

5th Logo (2008-)


Visuals: Over a black background is the 2nd logo in ocean blue colors. The words "HOME VIDEO" in the Microgramma font appear below the letters, sandwiched by two lines.

Technique: A still, digital graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Can be seen on newer Blu-Ray releases such as Baraka.