Astral Video

Background

Astral Video was the home video division of Astral Films Limited.

1st Logo (1988-1990)

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Visuals: Same as the 1988 Astral Films logo, except the word "FILMS" is replaced by "VIDEO".

Variants:

• On French-dubbed videotapes, the French version of the Astral Films logo is used with no video indicator. This was seen on a French-Canadian VHS of Babar: The Movie.
• 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 conjunction 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.

Technique: Cel animation.

Audio: Same as the 1985 Astral Films logo. On some videotapes, an announcer would say "The following feature will be presented after these previews. Stay tuned."

Availability: Seen on Canadian NTSC tapes of Astral releases from the 1980s.

• 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 Extra Terrestrial Visitors.
• Also, certain releases would have previews before or after this logo. One example is the Canadian VHS of The Care Bears Movie.
• Also appears on Canadian VHS releases of films from Media Home Entertainment and its offshoot labels, early Trans World Entertainment releases, Forum Home Video releases, and SouthGate Entertainment releases, among others.
• Some French-dubbed videotapes have the Ciné-Maison Bellevue logo instead of this one.

2nd Logo (1990-1997)

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Visuals: Essentially the first half of the 1990 Astral Films logo, played in reverse. The hollow star also appears to be filled with yellow before it becomes solid again.

Variants:

• A more common still version exists, with a larger logo. French-language VHS tapes would have this logo starting 1992 when the parent company, Bellevue Home Entertainment, was renamed as 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, a filmed version has the still logo's star fading in, before it glows.
  • A more common sub-variant exists with a 2D gold star swooping around and passing through the 3D star, complete with particle trails. It then swoops off-screen, before it returns and dives down and through the logo, and eventually pass the camera.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The animated version and the sub-variant do not have music, but the still and the standard "shooting star" ones use a synth choir sounder. On some tapes, an announcer would say "The following feature will start in just a few minutes. Stay tuned."

Availability: Seen on 1990s 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, and was also spotted at the end of David Copperfield (1993).
• 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.
• Since this is a Canadian company, be sure to check sites such as Amazon.ca for tapes from this company.