HIT Entertainment

Background
HIT Entertainment was a British-American children's television company originally established in 1982 as Henson International Television by Jim Henson, Peter Orton and Sophie Turner Laing. It was the original international distribution arm of Jim Henson Productions.

Jim Henson Productions started negotiations with The Walt Disney Company regarding a possible purchase of the company in the late 1980s. Because of these negotiations, Orton and other employees at Henson International Television convinced Henson to allow them to spin off the distribution arm as an independent distribution company. Henson agreed, and Orton led a management buyout of the Henson International Television division from Henson in 1989, forming a new company named HIT Communications PLC (later HIT Entertainment PLC).

On March 22, 2005, HIT was acquired by Apax Partners. Apax Partners agreed to sell HIT to Mattel on October 24, 2011 for $680 million, the sale was complete on February 1, 2012.

In 2016, HIT Entertainment was absorbed into Mattel Creations.

Logo (1989-1995)


Visuals: On a teal marble-like background, a disc rotates into place. Then four light blue lasers strike it from different directions. Then, the camera pans to an aerial view as the word "HiT", in a tall font, zooms out from the centre from an angle, then rotates to face the viewers. As it does so, the four lasers rotate clockwise and "COMMUNICATIONS PLC" types itself in, in.

Variants:
 * There are two short versions: one that has the music intact and starts with the camera moves up and the word "HiT" zooms out, and another one without music and starts when the logo finishes zooming out.
 * The logo may or may not freeze after the animation.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: An eerie gong sound leading into a catchy synth theme with drums and bells.

Audio Variant: A silent version exists.

Availability: Seen on the company's programmes from the time-period.
 * This logo was used back when HIT transitioned into a full distributor of various shows.
 * Can be seen on old Where's Waldo/Wally?: The Animated Series tapes from the era.
 * It can also be spotted on the English dubs of D'Ocon Films' TV series, Basket Fever, and the cartoon Captain Zed and the Zee Zone, among others.
 * It was also seen on Casper & Friends and Felix the Cat syndicated packages.
 * It also appears on the 1995 UK VHS release of Felix The Cat: The Leprechaun King from BBC Video, and also on the Felix the Cat: The Golden Bug VHS and DVD releases from Right Entertainment/Universal.

1st Logo (September 10, 1994-January 21, 1995 [international])
Visuals: On a black background, the bluish-gray letters of "HIT" fly outwards to the centre to form a result similar to the previous logo, but with thinner letters and no dot. Below it all is "Distributed by HIT Entertainment PLC." in white and in quotation marks.

Variants:
 * The byline was at least translated into French by simply placing a black bar over the original byline with a translation on top of it.
 * On an Rede Manchete (?) airing, the HIT logo is cut-out, but you can see the thin line during the beginning of it (which is actually the bottom of the CGI letter "I").
 * A variant exists where when the animation is complete, the logo fades out.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: None.

Availability: This was possibly a prototype logo, and so far, it has only been known to appear on some international TV prints of season 1 episodes of ReBoot.

2nd Logo (December 31, 1995-April 3, 2001)
Visuals: On a shady grey background, there is the word "HiT" in the same font as the HIT Communications logo in, with "ENTERTAINMENT PLC" written vertically next to the T in white. A hole is cut out in between the letters above the I for a spinning globe. Under that we see the URL "www.hitentertainment.com" and byline “DISTRIBUTED WORLDWIDE BY HIT ENTERTAINMENT PLC". There is a spotlight from the top left of the screen, casting a shadow of the logo on the floor.

Variants:
 * There is a version where the URL and byline swap places, such as early episodes of  Bob the Builder.
 * Occasionally, the globe would spin backwards . This can be seen on some early episodes of  Bob the Builder and Sheeep.
 * There are instances where the logo is just seen with the byline, such as Scandinavian versions of Bob the Builder.
 * A still version of this is seen on VHS releases.
 * An in-credit variant was seen on Archibald the Koala.
 * On some prints of  Basket Fever , the background is replaced with that of a background of the world map with "ENTERTAINMENT PLC" in black instead of white and the below text is omitted.
 * On  Riding High , the globe has a white halo around and there's no byline.
 * A true 16:9 widescreen version exists.
 * On CITV UK airings of Kipper, the logo is still and the URL and byline are replaced with the "www.citv.co.uk" website. Also, the CITV URL website is at the bottom right.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The ending theme of the respective show.

Audio/Variants:
 * For international prints of  Basket Fever , the 1989 theme was heard.
 * At the beginning of a Greek Barney and Friends VHS release, the tail end of the Bob the Builder theme song plays over the logo.
 * The still version plays either silent or the show's ending theme to Kipper.

Availability: Seen on the company's programmes during this logo's hey-day.
 * Its first appearence was on Riding High.
 * This logo debuted when HIT transitioned from a third-party distributor into a full producer of programmes.
 * It appeared on much of HIT's original programming from the time period: The Wind in the Willows and The Willows in Winter, Brambly Hedge, Percy the Park Keeper, Kipper, Sheeep, and the first three seasons of Bob the Builder.
 * Third-party programmes that also featured this logo include Archibald the Koala, Ted Sieger's Wildlife and Pablo, the Little Red Fox.
 * It can also be seen on the 1996 version of Dennis the Menace and Gnasher, however it mainly appears only on TV prints, as the company only held television rights to the series, so most episodes on DVD do not have this logo at all.
 * Also spotted on later prints of Basket Fever.
 * This logo does not appear on the TV movie The Phoenix & the Carpet, despite being a co-production with the BBC.
 * Programmes that used this logo used the 5th logo instead on most DVD releases.

3rd Logo (September 7, 1996-May 15, 1997)


Visuals: On a black background, there is a spinning globe with a yellowish glow, suspended above some blocks. The screen then pans away from the blocks as the globe's glow fades out. The blocks zoom out, revealing to be the HIT logotype as seen in the previous logos, with the globe positioned in the hole of said logotype. The globe continues to rotate.

Variant: On Professor Bubble, a still version with "ENTERTAINMENT PLC" in is used on a white background, and the screen is shared with the GMTV and Look Lively TV logos.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: None or the respective show's end theme.

Availability: It only appeared in the unaired pilot to Bob the Builder. The variant was seen on the aforementioned Professor Bubble.

Legacy: This logo was lost until November 2020, when it along with episodes of Professor Bubble and the full pilot of Bob the Builder were found. Also, given its usage, this could be seen as a prototype of the next logo seen below.

4th Logo (1997-2008)
Visuals: On a blue background with stripes and shines, there is a yellow/ gradient ribbon flying around from the right edge of the screen. Then the ribbon makes its way to form the spring (or tunnel) and an explosion occurs. After that is more colourful ribbons (but smaller) and some fireworks and bubbles come out of the tunnel. Later, the camera moves into the centre of the tunnel, then it disappears and from its place comes the globe which zooms into the hole in the HIT logo from the previous logos in light blue, which fades in the same time as the globe comes. As it does so, the globe spins. The text "ENTERTAINMENT PLC" is written vertically next to the "T" in white, just like the 2nd and 3rd logos until it fades out.

Trivia: This logo would be modified for the HIT Video logo from 1998 to 2000.

Variants:
 * There is a short version, which shows only the finished result of the logo.
 * There is also a middle-length version, which starts in the middle of the logo.
 * At the end of a ride on video-optioned Bob the Builder kiddie rides from Jolly Roger, Lofty the crane pushes away the title card of the show from the left, and then uses his crane to pull the finished product of the logo into the screen.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: It depends on the version:
 * Full version : A big whoosh, then a variety of cartoon sound effects are heard whilst the items come out of the ribbon tunnel:
 * A fluttering slide whistle with an explosion sound.
 * Twinkling and popping sounds along with the whoosh from the start of the logo played in reverse, followed by a car engine sputtering.
 * Whooshing sounds and explosion sounds as the firecrackers fly out of the ribbon tunnel and explode.
 * Pop sounds and a boing sound, followed by a party horn noise, a "falling" sound (done on a slide whistle) and a cuckoo clock sound.
 * A "zing-in" sound (also done on a slide whistle) followed by another fluttering slide whistle.
 * One final pop sound, accompanied by a faint train whistle.
 * Then we hear a grand and majestic nine-note fanfare with strings and brass instruments.
 * Short version : The ending theme of the show.
 * Middle-length version: None.
 * Bob the Builder kiddie ride variant : The last five notes of the long version's music.

Audio Trivia:
 * The fanfare was composed by David Lowe, who is best known for producing and arranging the theme tune to BBC News from 1999.
 * On the DVD versions of Brightest Children's Favourites (2004) and Ultimate Children's Favourites (2005), a snippet of the sound effects from the start of the full version of logo plays while transitioning between menus.

Availability: Mainly seen on UK home media releases from the company from this time period up until late 2003, although it continued usage on UK releases of Thomas & Friends until 2008.
 * The full version was used as a de-facto home video logo on HIT Entertainment's VHS and DVD releases in the UK until late 2003.
 * The short version of the logo was used on the television series Anthony Ant and at the end of a ride on video-optioned Bob the Builder kiddie rides from Jolly Roger, while the middle-length version is seen on said rides when not in motion, while Thomas & Friends rides use the full version.
 * This logo also appears on all VCI/2 Entertain-distributed Thomas & Friends releases as well, starting with “The Chocolate Crunch and Other Stories” from 2003.
 * Despite the logo being used all over the packaging, this logo is absent on The Fogman and Other Stories - instead, the 2000 Gullane Entertainment logo would be used.
 * Inexplicably, later 2 Entertain-distributed Thomas & Friends DVD releases continued to use this logo until their distribution rights expired in 2008, despite the 6th logo being used all over the packaging. The last DVD to use this logo overall is The Spirit of Sodor, although as mentioned below, the reissue plasters it with the 6th logo.
 * It was also most likely going to appear on Marks & Spencer-exclusive compilation VHS releases of Angelina Ballerina, The Magic Key, Kipper and Percy the Park Keeper, respectively.

5th Logo (September 25, 2000-March 13, 2007)
Visuals: On a white background, there is a CGI block with "H" (white on ), "i" ( on yellow), and "T" (white on ), with "HiT entertainment" below it. Then, all of a sudden, two more of the same blocks come out from behind the main block, and they all jump around as the company name fades out. The blocks stack to reveal the "HiT" name before the two blocks (left and right) disappear. As it leaves only one block, the block looks around before becoming still as the company name fades back in below.

Trivia: If you were to take the audio from the original version, then take the audio from the short variant and/or one of the short versions, you would get a slightly extended version of this theme.

Variants:
 * There are short versions in which the text is already at the bottom of the screen (except for some variants) while the HIT blocks move in various different sequences:
 * The HIT block is at a farther away angle. Then, the two other blocks come in and jump before exiting, as the middle one bounces closer to the screen.
 * The blocks chase each other around before they bump into each other, and the screen zooms into the middle block dazed for a moment.
 * The blocks roll and jump around on top of the middle block before it rolls closer to the screen.
 * The blocks look at each other, slide to the other direction, and slide to the start position, then two of the other blocks leave as the screen zooms toward the one in the middle.
 * The block just drops down. This is a very short variant.
 * There also exists another variant where the blocks bounce on top of each other, then fall off the first block, before jumping into it (making the first block grow) as the text appears.
 * Like the previous logo, there is a prototype version, which is still, with a plain white background and a slightly different model. Sometimes, the words “Distributed worldwide by” appears above the logo.
 * In-credit variants exist. One is of the still worldwide distribution variant, one is an in-credit still of the normal animated version, and the final one shows just the HIT block with the text “Distributed Internationally by HIT Entertainment” to the left of it.
 * On many DVD releases of HIT Entertainment shows, such as Lionsgate releases of the CGI Thomas & Friends, the still variant is shown with two blue buttons below it, one reading "Auto Play" and the other reading "Main Menu" (just like the Disney's FastPlay logo).
 * On the Little People 2016 TV series and the first two seasons of the Bob the Builder reboot, it has a copyright notice on the bottom middle of the HIT Entertainment text.
 * On the 11th season of Thomas & Friends, the logo (still version) has the copyright notice (red) for individual episode per year of release (2007 or 2008) and the disclaimer about the series. Several home videos (in fullscreen) have the copyright notice dated 2006, 2007 or 2008. PBS airings use the original variant.
 * The Sprout re-airings of the tenth season of Barney & Friends use the very last part of the logo's sequence (ie. the HIT block is already there after the animation). Those aired originally on PBS use the original variant with animation. The ninth season reairings on Sprout plaster the previous logo with this one. However, the 10th season episodes aired on Universal Kids in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Colombia use the previous logo (the HD version used in 2006-07).

Technique: CGI.

Audio: An upbeat flute/horn tune with rhythmic finger snaps. Composed by Thomas & Friends composer Peter Hartshorne.

Audio Variants:
 * Sometimes, it's the ending theme of the show or none.
 * The theme varies by variant. Every short variant, including the very short variant, had this theme shortened (which vary on how it was shortened). However, in two variants, the music plays as normal but there are two extra notes at the end after the normal fanfare is finished.
 * The Auto Play variant has a male announcer saying "For your convenience, this DVD has been enhanced with HIT Entertainment's Auto Play. Your program and a selection of bonus features will begin automatically. To bypass Auto Play, select the "Main Menu" button at anytime. Your feature presentation will begin in a moment. Enjoy!"
 * On Channel 5 airings and prints of Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps, the WNET Thirteen and/or the HIT logo theme play over the in-credit variant.
 * Low-pitched versions exist, mostly due to PAL-to-NTSC conversion.
 * On one Cartoonito airing of a 2011 episode of Fireman Sam, the very short version’s theme played over the Xing Xing logo and the start of the first alternate short variant of the HIT logo. Also, some Cartoonito airings of the show have the very short version out of sync with the music.
 * Sometimes, the music from one short variant will play over another short variant.

Availability: Seen on shows such as Fireman Sam, Barney & Friends from the 2007-09 seasons, Bob the Builder (original and 2015 reboot), seasons 11-20 of Thomas & Friends, Little People (2016 series), and Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps.
 * The still logo can be found on games, early DVD releases and sometimes at the end of shows, while the still Worldwide Distribution version appears at the end of some Bob the Builder and The Likeaballs episodes, as well as on Wobbly Land (with the text in a different font and colour) and Pic Me.
 * The long version is used as a de-facto home media logo on UK DVD releases, and some U.S. DVD releases.
 * Beginning with the Thomas & Friends DVD "Extradorinary Engines", until "A Colourful World", the Mattel Creations logo appears after the warning, but the HIT logo still appears when "Play All" is selected and at the end of DVD releases, though with some exceptions. The HIT logo then returned at the beginning of releases with "Thomas & Friends: Digs & Discoveries".
 * This logo also appears on later Fraggle Rock DVD releases and U.S. Aardman releases such as Wallace & Gromit in Three Amazing Adventures, the Blu-ray release of Wallace & Gromit: The Complete Collection, Shaun the Sheep, and Timmy Time.
 * This version is also present on the Frances compilation Bedtime for Frances (DVD & Book Collection).
 * The second alternate short variant can be found on several shows such as Mike the Knight.
 * The very short variant can be seen on 2008 episodes of Fireman Sam and on some airings of Wishbone.
 * This also surprisingly appears at the end of U.S. releases of Fifi and the Flowertots and Roary the Racing Car, since the company owns the U.S. distribution rights to these shows.

Final Note
From 2017 onwards, HIT Entertainment programming now has the Mattel Creations logo instead of the HIT logo. However, the 2006 HIT logo is still used on DVD releases and trade ads.