Astral Video

1st Logo (1985-1990)

Astral Video 1980s

Nickname: "Rooster in Space"

Logo: Against a space background, a comet shoots out from the left side of the screen to the center, and then another comet shoots out from the bottom left corner of the screen, but suddenly, it turns to the right, and reveals "ASTRAL VIDEO", first in pink text, but then changes to orange, and finally, blue, as if it was "cooling down" a bit. Finally, another comet shoots below the text to reveal the rooster in the circle.

Variants: On French-dubbed videotapes, the text is translated into French. This was seen on a French-Canadian VHS of Babar: The Movie. Also, on some French-dubbed videotapes, this logo is replaced with the Ciné-Maison Bellevue logo. There is also certain tapes which can have the phrase This videocassette is sold exclusively in Canada by on a black background before the logo starts. On Astral tapes released in conjuction with Hi-Tops Video, the Hi-Tops Video logo is seen first and is then followed by a black screen with the words HI-TOPS VIDEO Presents and then the Astral Video logo.

FX/SFX: The comets shooting to reveal the logo.

Music/Sounds/Voice-over: A triumphant Moog synthesizer fanfare. On some videotapes, an announcer would say ''The following feature will be presented after these previews. Stay tuned''.

Availability: On Canadian NTSC tapes of Astral stuff from the '80s. May appear on packaging of VHS tapes from this company, but the earlier Films logo would be on the tape itself. One such release was the non-MST3K version of Pod People (released by Astral on VHS under the name Extra-Terrsistial Visitors). Also, certain releases would have previews before or after this logo. One example is The Care Bears Movie released in Canada by Astral. Also appears on Canadian VHS releases of films from Media Home Entertainment and its off-shoot labels, early Trans World Entertainment releases, Forum Home Video releases, and SouthGate Entertainment releases, among others.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (1990-1997) AstralThis is the still variant of the 1990-1997 Astral Video logo.This is the shooting star variant of the 1990-1997 Astral Video logo.

Nickname: "Astral Sunset"

Logo: On a sky background, the word "ASTRAL" in blue with a small golden star attached to it, now in a custom Peignot font (just like in the MTM and 1971 Viacom logos) zooms out and stops at the center of the screen. A sun peeks behind the clouds.

Variants: There is a still version of this logo, in which the Astral logo is closer to the screen. French-language VHS tapes would have this logo starting 1992 when the parent company, Bellevue Home Entertainment, was changed into Astral Home Entertainment. Most VHS have a blue background with the words This videocassette is sold exclusively in Canada by: before this logo. On some tapes, the still variant plays, but a star keeps shooting across the screen, and even comes to shoot through the small star (making it glow for a second) in the logo.

FX/SFX: Just "Astral" zooming out.

Music/Sounds/Voice-over: The animated version doesn't have music, but the still version and shooting star version use a synth choir sounder. On some tapes, you'll hear an announcer at the end of the logo: ''The following feature will start in just a few minutes. Stay tuned.''

Availability: On '90s Astral releases on VHS, such as Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland, Demon Possessed, Castle Freak, Alien Intruder, Zarkorr! The Invader, Maximum Force, Warriors, The Final Heist, Backlash: Oblivion 2, Night Siege: Project Shadowchaser II, and Gumby: The Movie, among others. The shooting star variant is found on Hollow Point. Since this is a Canadian company, be sure to check sites such as Amazon.ca for tapes from this company. This also appears on Canadian VHS releases of films from later AIP Home Video releases. Also makes a strange appearance on a Canadian VHS reprint of the 1986 film Body Count (AKA: The Eleventh Commandment), before the Manson International logo.

Editor's Note: None.