Genesis Entertainment

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum


Background

Founded by Gary Gannaway in 1982 and originally owned by Gannaway Enterprises Incorporated, Genesis Entertainment was a syndication company that introduced the concept of barter syndication, which is still in use today. On May 21, 1993, Ronald O. Perelman, owner of New World Communications, acquired 50% of Genesis from Gannaway, and the remaining stock in 1994, reincorporating it to New World/Genesis Distribution.

1st Logo (September 15, 1986-1990)


Visuals: On a cloudy sky background, there is a shady blue card with a logo on it zooming out rapidly. The logo is a teal abstract segmented cloud with a sunburst popping out of its top. Below the sunburst on the cloud, there is the text "GENESIS ENTERTAINMENT" in a white old-fashioned serif font. The logo shines.

Variants:

  • An earlier variant which shows the logo flipping toward the camera on a light cornflower blue/black gradient background exists. There are four "still" sparkles and a "pop-up" shadow effect surrounding it. Also, the cloud is given a more sapphire color and the body of the sunburst is white. The cloud sometimes lacks segmenting lines.
  • A variant with the byline "A DIVISION OF GANNAWAY ENTERPRISES, INCORPORATED" also exists, which was used until 1988. The font of the logo can also sometimes vary in shape and size.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The end theme of the show or none.

Availability:

  • This can be seen on a few episodes of Highway to Heaven on INSP and Retro TV, but not on UP airings or most digital prints (like on Amazon Prime) nowadays.
  • The flipping variant was seen on season 1 episodes of The Judge.
  • This logo did not appear on the 1985-86 syndie Sale of the Century, which only had an in-credit notice (which is preserved on Buzzr's reruns).

2nd Logo (July 18, 1990-February 24, 1996)


Visuals: Over a space background, there are legions of shooting stars. From the right, a giant "G" (looking as if carved from a block of ice) zooms out, turning at an angle towards the screen. As shooting stars fly by the "G", it sparkles, and turns into a TV-tube ice shape with the "G" appearing as a cutout with small streaks flying from the left. Below the "G" tube, a bunch of sparkles form the words:

GENESIS
ENTERTAINMENT

Variants:

  • The 1992 game show Infatuation shows this logo with a Genesis Entertainment Group copyright stamp.
  • When Genesis Entertainment was fully bought by New World Entertainment in 1994, the byline "A NEW WORLD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY" appears below the logo. This variant is seen on 1994-1995 episodes of Tales from the Crypt and Real Stories of the Highway Patrol, and the shows that comprised the Marvel Action Hour (Iron Man and Fantastic Four (1994)).
  • A sped-up version also exists.

Technique: CGI.

Audio:

  • July 18, 1990-1995: It starts with skittering effects as the starts shoot by, leading into a droning, atonal synth track that adds an ominous bass note when the "G" comes in. "GENESIS" shines in with a distorted bell-like effect. This jingle was composed by Karissa A. Timmons, an employee at Genesis.
  • 1991-1996: A series of laser-shooting sounds, then an ascending THX-like synth note that leads up to a calm synth note and a shimmering sound when "GENESIS" shines in.

Audio Variants:

  • Season 1 episodes of both Iron Man and Fantastic Four (1994) begin the theme over the Marvel Entertainment Group and Marvel Films logos; on episode 10 of season 1 of the former show, it abruptly switches from the 1991 music to the 1990 music. In turn, most season 1 episodes were later plastered with either the 1988/1995 New World Entertainment or the 1996 Saban Entertainment/International logo and as a result, the Genesis theme plays over those logos.
  • Some series would use the end-title theme from any show.

Availability:

  • This logo was last seen on Real Stories of the Highway Patrol on H&I and syndicated prints of Tales from the Crypt on the now-defunct Chiller network, both of which had either the 1995 or 2013 20th Television logos following right after.
    • It may also be preserved on VHS releases of the former series.
  • It was also seen on the Iron Man episode "The Origin of Iron Man: Part 2" when Disney XD last aired it; most other season 1 episodes (and season 1 episodes of Fantastic Four (1994)) were plastered by the 1996 Saban Entertainment/International logo and Netflix prints removed all the original logos for the 2009 Marvel Animation logo instead.
    • Most Disney+ prints have 1988/1995 New World and/or 1996 Saban logos, but this is still retained on Disney+'s print of the Iron Man episodes "The Origin of Iron Man: Part 2" and "The Armor Wars: Part 1".
Genesis Entertainment
New World/Genesis Distribution
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