Shochiku Home Video

Background
Shochiku Home Video is the home video division of Shochiku Co. Ltd that was formed in 1984 to release Shochiku titles on video. The division was briefly operated through a joint venture with CBS/FOX Video between 1985 and early 1988 as Shochiku CBS/Fox Video to distribute Shochiku and CBS/Fox releases.

(1984-1987)
Visuals: On a light blue background, the word "SHOCHIKU HOME VIDEO" flies up and settles in the center. Afterwards, it flips to the Shochiku print logo, and the word "松竹株式会社" (which is "Shochiku Co., Ltd." in Japan) fades in below the logo.

Variant: An earlier version exists where the background is green, the text had a blue trail effect behind the logo, and when the Shochiku logo appears, the text "松竹株式会社" is blue with a white outline.

Technique: The trailing of the logo, the flipping.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on early VHS, VHD and Laserdisc releases from Shochiku Home Video. Used in tandem with the Shochiku CBS/Fox logo from 1985 to 1987.

(1985-1988)
Visuals: On a white background with the lines moving, we see three green, 3D letters zoom out, and as it is placed, it rotates slowly, which read "SCF". As they rotate, the green rectangle slowly places below the three green letters. Inside the rectangle is the white words "SHOCHIKU CBS/FOX VIDEO." The logo shines, and as the rectangle wipes, there are Japanese writing while the CBS/FOX stays in between the writing.

Technique: CGI. The letters, and the wipe.

Variant: An English text version exists.

Audio: A synth/piano fanfare with beat drums.

Availability: Seen on Japanese Shochiku CBS-FOX videos. One was California Crisis (1986), the only anime from them.

1st Logo (1988-1990)
Visuals: Over a time-lapse footage of a cloudy sky background, with a sea below the logo, we see the green letters "SHV" zooms out with a reflection below zooming out, rising and settling to the center, while the reflection wipes away and it is centered. The words "松竹ホームビデオ" rises up from the bottom, and then the logo shines, and flashes.

Technique: The rising and zooming of the logo, the sky background.

Audio: A xylophone and a warbling synth theme, almost sounds like it was from a theme of a newscast.

Availability: Seen on earlier Shochiku Home Video releases following the split from CBS/FOX.

2nd Logo (1990-1998)
Visuals: On a blue-white background, with a sun in the center, we see the 3D green letters "SHV" rotating and rising from the center, as the sun emits. The logo then turns around and focus to the center, as the 3D Japanese letters "松竹ホームビデオ" rotate from the center below the logo.

Technique: The logo forming and focusing.

Audio: A dreamy synth theme with xylophones in it.

Availability: Seen on VHS tapes released from the company, mostly Japanese TV shows and films.

3rd Logo (1998-2000)
Visuals: On a space background with sunlight in the center, stars move across the screen as a 3D green version of the Shochiku logo from the screen as light emits through the center. The logo then turns around and focus, and the orange words "SHOCHIKU" flip in below the logo letter by letter, and then the light flashes.

Technique: The moving, the forming and focusing.

Audio: Same as the previous logo.

Availability: Seen on VHS, Laserdisc and early DVD releases from the era, like the 1999 Japanese DVD of Rounders.

4th Logo (2000-2013)
Visuals: On a white background, a camera shutter flashes in. Inside the shutter is the image of Mt. Fuji from the 2000 Shochiku logo. The camera then turns around and flashes, and reveal it was a 3D image that rotates with a green "SHV from behind the logo, and below it was the white word "SHOCHIKU HOME VIDEO", and the camera pans brightly to the center. The logo then turns into a white background, and the bottom text turns black.

Variant: A still version exists on the 2004 DVD of Kabuki Masterpieces Selection, where the print SHV logo is shown next to the Shochiku print logo.

Technique: The camera shutter moving, the panning of the logo.

Audio: A choir sound, and camera and whoosh sounds, with a harp theme behind it, ending with one last choir sound.

Availability: Seen on Shochiku VHS, DVD and Blu-ray releases from the era.

5th Logo (2013- )
Visuals: We zoom through some clouds on a black background. Then a shining Fuji Mountain appears via a light effect, and transform itself on the same white-green symbol from the 11th logo. The "SHOCHIKU" name flips letter by letter and shines.

Technique: The zooming of the clouds, the mountain and the text spinning. Fantastic CGI.

Audio: A loud whoosh, followed by a relaxing cue.

Availability: This was used as a de-facto home video logo, appearing on Japanese DVD and Blu-ray releases.