Herald Videogram

Credits

Descriptions by
RarityLand, heart1994, Gilblitz112 and 2K-tan

Editions by
Henrynguye5 and MysteriousSoundSystem‎

Video captures courtesy of
menocu87, Pepsi9072's Alternate VHS and Logo Account, LogosGalore and VHSlover

Background

The home video publishing arm of Nippon Herald Films Co., Ltd., which was a famous movie distribution company in Japan. The company was eventually folded into Kadokawa Pictures in 2006.

1st Logo (1983-1986)

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Visuals: On a light blue background (that fades in from black), there are four green curvy shapes appear (two of which on the right are divided into into more shapes). After a couple of seconds, the words "HERALD VIDEOGRAM" in the same color as the shapes fade in in the middle of the logo (between the shapes), forming an abstract "H".

Technique: Analog computer animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: Was found on a 1984 LaserDisc of Big Wave, and can be found on the 1985 Japanese LaserDisc of The Evil Dead.

2nd Logo (1986-1990)

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Visuals: On a blue background, two curved lines (one of which is divided into more lines) come from the top and bottom of the screen forming an abstract H, with a shining CG rectangular box coming from the bottom of the screen. As the side of the box with the text "HERALD VIDEOGRAM" faces the screen, the logo flashes white. The background then turns a pure white, and the logo and text turn blue.

Technique: Analog computer animation.

Audio: A very peaceful piece of music plays, and grows louder ads the logo turns white briefly.

Availability: Seen on the Japanese VHS and LaserDisc releases of films such as Light of Day, The Running Man and the infamous Mac & Me.

3rd Logo (1990-1997)

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Visuals: A gray background with a small red dot quickly fades in, as a backwards lowercase h is drawn in black. The text HERALD (all capital letters) then slowly rises out of the middle of the screen and rests below the dot.

Technique: Computer animation.

Audio: A calm, peaceful little tune plays as the entire logo plays out.

Availability: Used as a de-facto home video logo on the company's releases exclusively in Japan.

• For example, this was seen on both the 1995 Dolby Surround and 1997 Dolby Digital LaserDiscs of True Lies.
• This logo in full made a surprise appearance on a bonus feature on the 2024 Australian UHD of Super Mario Bros. (1993), due to them being the original Japanese distributor of the film.