Streamline Pictures

Logo descriptions by Ryan Froula and V of Doom Logo captures by thehugetvfan and V of Doom Editions by V of Doom and Shadeed A. Kelly Video captures courtesy of DudeThatLogo and BreadCrustCouncil

Background: Streamline Pictures was formed in 1988 by Carl Macek and Jerry Beck to produce and distribute English-dubbed Japanese animation. However, Streamline stopped producing new anime releases but continued to distribute its releases for a while. In 2002, this company went out of business, and all its film and television material are now owned by different anime companies, such as Manga, Viz, and Funimation.

1st Logo (1989-1993) Streamline Pictures (1989)Streamline Pictures 1980s

Nickname: "The Train"

Logo: On a black background, a spark bounces all over the screen. When it covers the whole screen, it fades to a train in a circle. "Streamline", in a blue Raceway font, is above the train, and "PICTURES", in an orange art deco font, is written inside the outline of the circle.

Trivia: The final design is actually the logo for Streamline Film Archives (now Streamline Stock Footage), with the word "PICTURES" added below. Streamline Film Archives was owned by friends of Jerry Beck and the name and logo were borrowed from said company because Beck needed a brand identity before a meeting with potential clients. Streamline Stock Footage still uses this logo. The bouncing spark was animated by Chris Casady, a visual effects artist; this effect also appears on Casady's short film Pencil Dance (1988).

Variants: The logo can come in shades of brown or a heavy blue tint, depending on the condition of the elements used. An early variant has the spark animation on a space background and the finished logo has a heavy blue hue. This version can be be seen on the 1990 VHS of Akiraand the 1990 VHS and Discotek Blu-ray of Robot Carnival.

FX/SFX: The spark animation.

Music/Sounds: Usually silent, though some releases such as Lensman and Windaria have the film's opening theme heard over it.

Music/Sounds Variant: On the trailer for Robot Carnival, a soothing synth piece is heard.

Availability: Until recently, this was very hard to find outside of VHS and Laserdisc releases put out by Best Film & Video, Lumivision, and later Orion Home Video, with the Best Film & Video release of Robot Carnival being an example. Can also be seen on the F.H.E. release and Lionsgate DVD of Speed Racer: The Movie (Note: Not to be confused with the 2008 movie) and '90s cassettes of Robotech from Streamline. 35mm prints of films they distributed in the late '80s and early '90s, such as the aforementioned Speed Racer: The Movie and 1986's Fist of the North Star, also have this. The early variant makes a reappearance in HD on the Blu-ray of Robot Carnival, both on the US trailer and the reconstructed US theatrical and Laserdisc cuts.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (1993-1996) Streamline Pictures (1993)

Nickname: "The Volcano"

Logo: In a volcanic environment, "Streamline Pictures", in the same font as in the first logo, comes out of the molten magma and rises into space. When it settles, it zooms out for a split second and shines.

FX/SFX: The volcanic activity and the words animation.

Music/Sounds: A lush orchestral tune that ends with a five-note brass stinger. On Fist of the North Star, the opening theme is used instead.

Availability: Ultra rare. Found on most of Orion Home Video's releases of Streamline material, including Lupin III: The Mystery of Mamo and Babel II. Also makes an appearance on the 1998 Image Entertainment DVD of the 1986 Fist of the North Star movie, as well as the Discotek Blu-ray release on the US opening credits bonus feature. Don't expect this to be on any extant film prints of the company's theatrical releases of their dubs, as this one, unlike the previous logo, was videotaped.

Editor's Note: None.