Kadokawa Shoten

Credits

Descriptions by
MegaAveron25, Nameless_Guy

Captures by
Eric S. and RSX-798

Video captures courtesy of
ultimatemegax

Background

Kadokawa Shoten Corporation is a Japanese publisher, who owns its film and video divisions. The film unit used the Kadokawa Shoten branding from 1993 to 2002.

1st Logo (1993-1996)

Visuals: Over a black background is the pre-1996 Kadokawa bird. Below it was the word "KADOKAWA SHOTEN PRESENTS".

Technique: A still digital graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on early Kadokawa releases, like the ADV VHS release of Slayers.

2nd Logo (August 3, 1996-2002)

Visuals: On a black background, the screen zooms out from a glass orb with blue flames bursting inside, which they burst out and the screen zooms out through a dark tunnel until the screen zooms out of the mouth of a red dragon, who's breathing out blue fire and carrying the glass orb flying around a dark blue cloudy sky. A giant book zooms from the bottom of the screen and a fiery comet flies around from the bottom-left corner, causing the dragon to fly away to the top-right, and the comet hits the book, letting out 2 shock waves and the flash of light, dissipating it into pieces in the process to reveal a gold CD inside, while the same dragon flies in from the bottom and transforms into a fiery firebird, resulting from the destruction of the book. The firebird then briefly halts at the bottom-left and circles the CD, turning it into a gold medallion with the famous Kadokawa bird embossed on it, and enveloping it in flames. Then the medallion explodes, causing the same bird, but made out of silver, to appear instantaneously. The bird zooms out and the crystal shards forming "KADOKAWA SHOTEN" and "PRESENTS" and multicolored streaks shooting outwards from behind.

Trivia: The firebird enveloping the CD/bird medallion and exploding is the call-back to the 1st Kadokawa Pictures logo.

Variants:

• A short version of it exists, starting with the bird medallion burning and exploding.
  • See the 3rd Kadokawa Video logo for more info.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The sequence starts out with computer beeps backed by a whoosh, then it segues into a dramatic orchestral theme similar to the film counterpart's second logo coupled with sound effects (windchimes for the shine of the glass orb, the dragon's roar, whooshes for the comet's impact and the firebird setting the medallion on fire, hisses for the destruction of the book).

Availability: Seen on Kadokawa's films released between 1996 and 2002, like the Slayers sequels and the Ring films.