Buena Vista International

Logo descriptions by DreamMechanic Logo captures by Wisp2007, snelfu, and Supermarty-o Video capture courtesy of Eric S.

Background: Buena Vista International was the international distribution sub-arm of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. In the mid-80s, Disney signed a distribution deal with Warner Bros. to release its pictures theatrically in some overseas territories such as U.K. and Ireland, Benelux, Scandinavia, and parts of South America, where it did not have any current distribution arrangements with other companies. In 1992, Disney opted to end the joint venture with Warner and reactivated the Buena Vista International name to handle operations in countries that did not have any ongoing distribution arrangements. When the Buena Vista name was phased out in favor for the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Branding around 2007, international distribution in most countries went through the Disney branding and its subsidiaries (Miramax, Touchstone, etc). However, like United International Pictures, Buena Vista International is still active as in-name-only in some developing countries such as Latin America, and parts of South Africa. The label is also used as an international distributor of films made by independent studios and a distributor of films made in foreign countries. It remains the only active unit of the Walt Disney Company to still retain the Buena Vista brand name (although Buena Vista Home Entertainment is still used as a legal disclaimer on Disney/Marvel/Lucasfilm releases and as an in-name-only label for non-Disney distributed movies on home media, like Glass).

1st Logo (1961-1983)
Buena Vista International (1961)

Logo: Same as the standard Buena Vista Film Distribution logo from 1953-1984, only "INTERNATIONAL, INC." replaces "DISTRIBUTION CO., INC.".

Variants: See Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.

FX/SFX: None, same as the regular Buena Vista logo from 1953-1984.

Music/Sounds: See Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.

Availability: Extremely rare. Was seen on international theatrical prints of Walt Disney productions from the era, but most current prints use domestic versions which means the standard U.S. logo is seen instead. May be found of old 16mm or 8mm home copies of various films, or on early PAL VHS releases such as Return To Witch Mountain and The Moon-Spinners.

Editor's Note : None.

2nd Logo (1993-)
Buena Vista International (2000s)Buena Vista International (2005)

Nickname: "Draws & Slides"

Logo: On a black background, a white line draws with the left & right drawing at the same time and then stops. The shiny grey text "BUENA VISTA" slides up the top half and "INTERNATIONAL" slides down the bottom half.

Variant: A still variation exists. This was seen on the 2007 Mexican film Ladies' Night.

FX/SFX: The line drawing and text sliding.

Music/Sounds: Usually silent, or the opening theme of film.

Availability: Rare.


 * It was normally seen on international theatrical prints and trailers of Buena Vista/Disney films (before the main logos), as well as non-Disney productions they distributed such as Dragonfly, Abandon, Bruce Almighty, Seabiscuit, Air Force One, Starship Troopers, Bringing Out the Dead, Snake Eyes, Face/Off, Cinderella Man, It Runs in the Family, Kiss of the Dragon, and the original French version of March of the Penguins, among others.
 * A good amount of international home video/TV prints use U.S. domestic versions, so this is no longer seen at the front. However, some versions use prints that had mandatory edits by the countries rating council for distribution, with an example being UK prints of Face/Off. This can be still be seen on some Japanese NTSC DVDs of films such as Dragonfly and Kiss of the Dragon, as well as overseas Blu-Rays of Air Force One, Face/Off, and Starship Troopers. This also makes appearances on streaming prints of the 2009 Australian film Subdivision, the English dubbed version of Die Wilden Kerle 2 (retitled as The Wild Soccer Bunch on the U.S. DVD release), the Maverick Latino DVD of Tangos Are For Two, the First Run Features release of Tuvalu, and the Mexican Distrimax DVD of Ladies' Night.
 * Was also seen on some French YouTube trailers for 2008-2009 Disney distributed films such as Ponyo.
 * Overseas theatrical prints of Die Hard With a Vengeance were believed to contain this or the 1985 Touchstone Pictures logo in lieu of the 1994 20th Century Fox logo (the film was a co-production with Cinergi, which sold some international theatrical rights to Disney/Buena Vista). However, while just about all overseas TV, video, and streaming releases start with the Cinergi logo, the European Touchstone Home Entertainment Blu-ray features this preceding Cinergi. Makes a surprise appearance on U.S. prints (including DVD, VHS and TV airings) of It Runs in the Family after the 2001 MGM logo. Also makes a strange reappearance on the UK iTunes viewing of The Spectacular Now. The 2018 UK-produced film Patrick also uses this logo.
 * It was also used as a de-facto Home Video logo on international Home Media prints of Glass, while the movie itself used the next logo.

Editor's Note: None.

3rd logo (2018-)
New Buena Vista International logo

Nickname: "Draws and Slides II"

Logo: Same as before, but the logo is blue and looks brighter. A light shine appears in the middle of the line.

FX/SFX: Same as the previous logo.

Availability: Brand new. First seen on the international trailer of Glass and eventually appeared on the movie itself.

Editor's Note: None.