Soyuz Video

Background

Soyuz Video was a VHS and DVD distribution subsidiary of the Soyuz concern. It was one of the largest video distributors in Russia for a long time. In 2013, the Soyuz Video subsidiary went defunct. The distribution rights were taken over by Lizard Cinema Trade, which would later be folded into the Prior Group in 2016 (together with CP Digital and Videoservice).

Contents

1st Logo (1997-2001)	2nd Logo (1998-2001)	3rd Logo (October 18, 2001-2013)

1st Logo (1997-2001)

Visuals: On a background with a dark skyline is various VHS tapes stacked together. All of these start to fall down and reveal an even bigger VHS, which spins. Fireworks are seen shooting on the background. A red circle (which looks like the one from the Mattel logo) spins in. The word "100%" zooms out to the red circle, and the words "контроль" and "качества" (which mean "control" and "quality") move in from the left and zoom out. A color-changing Soyuz logo (a bunch of filmstrips making a tree) zooms out spinning. The Soyuz logo places at the left, and the other words place next to it. "VHS-PRO" also zooms out and places itself below the other Russian words. An arc of other Russian words then zooms out and places on the top area of the circle. After everything's placed, a white normal circle appears behind the emblem. The Soyuz logo keeps on changing colors for a short while.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: An explosion sound (which is actually "Explosion, Plastic - Plastic Explosive: Charge 01" taken from the Sound Ideas Series 1000 sound library, and it was later reused in Microsoft PowerPoint), followed by a synth arp that then brings up an eurodance theme (which is actually made with Dance Machine/eJay, specifically the first version). Just after "100%" appears, there is a man whispering "100% контроль качества" that repeats four times until the emblem's formed. Some explosion sounds are heard when fireworks explode.

Availability: Seen on early Soyuz tapes. It may follow the next logo when it was debuted.

2nd Logo (1998-2001)

Visuals: The screen zooms by some mountains and spot what looks like a fireball/explosion or something in a dark black sky. The camera passes by some mountains revealing a cloud in a dark red/bright orange sky. Some sparks fly up and a 3D CGI golden Soyuz logo (a bunch of filmstrips making a tree) rises up toward the camera. The background fades to a city skyline with an orange/yellow sky and black clouds, and the text "СОЮЗ" ("SOYUZ" in Russian) in CGI letters flies in outward from the right and then back to the center along with the corporate logo. Then the logo fades out and the CGI words "VHS-PRO" and "PRODUCED ON SOYUZVIDEOTAPE" (in Russian) fly in from the right into the center which changes colors: gold, red, blue, and green; the third row of the text changes from green to red.

Technique: 2D and 3D CGI.

Audio: A stock thunderclap is heard as the mountains pass, then the second Image Entertainment logo's jingle (including some of its whoosh sounds) plays.

Availability: Can be seen on Russian VHS tapes since the late '90s. Not sure if this is seen on any DVDs.

3rd Logo (October 18, 2001-2013)

Visuals: On a black-blue gradient background is many whirling filmstrips, which rise up and form into the shape of the Soyuz corporate logo (without the caption) while the background becomes watery. The filmstrips flash and solidify into the 2D red version and the logo zooms out to the top-center. Below, the words "СОЮЗ ВИДЕО" (Soyuz Video) in a squashed red font spin in from the left (a la Universal) and place themselves below the logo. The background then turns into a white gradient background and the black rectangle with the "СОЮЗ" wordmark encase the tree, via "iris" transition. "СОЮЗ ВИДЕО" shines afterwards.

Variants:

There is a version used on Blu-ray discs where the logo is remade with improved CGI and in widescreen, the filmstrip tree's zoom out animation is more robotic, and "high definition" zooms out below the logo letter-by-letter.
In 2002, the shining effect on "СОЮЗ ВИДЕО" at the end was removed. Some videotapes would have this change in early 2003

Technique: CGI.

Audio:

2001-2002: Film projector sounds along with a buzzing sound (when the logo flashes) and a door slam sound when "СОЮЗ ВИДЕО" comes into place. The sounds were accompanied by 3 orchestral fanfare hits, with the last one being longer.
2002-2007: A different ambient theme with different film projector sounds and a tamer door slam sound at the end.
2003 (VHS): An ambient synth and piano theme, with a more electric whooshing sound during the flash, and a different door slam sound at the end.
2007-2013: A different version of the theme with a different thud when "СОЮЗ ВИДЕО" comes into place.

Availability: Seen on DVDs and VHS tapes in Russia, which are almost unavailable outside thereof. The logo has first appeared on the Russian DVD release of Fire on the Amazon. The HD version is rare since it only occurs on Blu-Ray. Almost rare for VHS releases.