Citel Vidéo

Background
Citel is the name of a publisher and distributor of video created in 1982. Citel is a subsidiary of Dargaud. Most of what it distributes is animation.

1st Logo (1986-1994)


Visuals: On a black background, there is a TV tube screen with a silver border. "Sogitec" is seen in the bottom with a red line next to the G. An silver ball falls down and the camera zooms in as "Sogitec" zooms in. The ball bumps onto the screen, changing the static to color bars and the border blue. The ball bounces up and down 2 more times and the camera rotates and zooms in onto the ball. The ball then opens up, revealing an aquamarine eye with a gray cornea. The ball closes and goes through the screen forming a quarter rainbow colored, 75% gray circle with a line dividing the ball. The bars disappear and the colored part of the ball rotates to form a C. "CITEL" zooms out in a futuristic font with the C the same as the logo.

Trivia: This animation, minus the last part, was featured in Computer Dreams.

Technique: Computer-generated animation by Sogitec.

Audio: A futuristic theme.

Availability: It appears on a VHS of Asterix and Cleopatra.

2nd Logo (1994-)


Visuals: On a flowing gold-like background, 2 cerulean blobs come on screen and merge together. A fancy lowercase E rotates and lands into the blob. The blobs form a rectangle shape. Other letters fly into the box forming cutouts in the box. A laser draws out an E, forming "Citel". More letters dance their way to under the box as the background becomes white. The letters form "VIDEO" in a spaced out font with the D backwards. The D rotates around to fix the word. The logo shines and "EDV 82" fades in.

Variant: In later years, the text "EDV 82" is removed.

Technique: CGI by Haxey and Mastery International Pictures.

Audio: A whimsical fanfare ("Peter Pan in Nowhereland" by Gregor F. Narholz off of the Dramatic Workshop Vol. 7 production music album), accompanied by the suction sound when blobs merge.

Availability: Appears on Asterix and Totally Spies! DVDs released in France, as well as many other animated VHSs and DVDs.

Legacy: Google Translated YouTube comments point to this being a very popular logo in France, with it being especially nostalgic to those who grew up with Asterix and Totally Spies! DVDs.