Thorn EMI Video (Australia)

This article is about the Australian division of the British company. For the British company, see Thorn EMI Video.

Credits

Compiled by
Wisp2007, AussieRoadshow, and mr3urious

Background

Thorn EMI set up an Australian division by 1982; it was one of the Magnificent Seven home video distributors.

1st Logo (1982-1983?)

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Visuals: On a blue background, the thorn from the Thorn EMI logo slowly flips toward the camera. A white box fades in around it, followed by the rest of the Thorn-EMI Video logo.

Closing Variant: At the end of tapes, the animation plays the exact same way, except the whole thing is smaller so it can fit at the top of the screen. An address fades in below.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio:

• A soothing orchestral theme with an announcer saying "Welcome to the world of Thorn EMI Home Video entertainment. Thorn EMI Video has an exciting catalogue of home video programs, from movie blockbusters and action classics, to great children's films and top TV shows, all duplicated from the finest quality 2-inch master tapes for your enjoyment.". The tune is from the Bruton Music library titled "Imposing Theme (Link)" composed by Richard Hill.
• The closing variant uses a different tune with the announcer saying "You have just enjoyed a Thorn EMI Video program. For more details of all the great home video entertainment available from Thorn EMI Video, pick up a free catalogue at your local video outlet, or write to Thorn EMI Video Australia, post office box 402, Haymarket, 2000, New South Wales.". The tune is also from the Bruton Music library titled "The Universe (Link)" composed by Richard Hill.

Availability: Seen on early Australian releases. ^[Examples?]

2nd Logo (1983?-1984)

Visuals: On a blue background, a tall glowing spire rises out from the bottom of the screen, with a geometric multi-coloured trail folding upwards. The spire then flashes and forms the Thorn logo from before, zooming out slightly as it does. The "THORN-EMI" portion of the logo then flips in horizontally, before a thin glowing line travels vertically and reveals the "VIDEO" portion, forming the full logo. After a while, the logo eases forwards and slides down to the bottom of the screen.

Closing Variant: At the end of tapes, after the logo slides out and as the company address is uttered, the logo cuts to the address.

Technique: Cel animation.

Audio: Same as before, both opening and closing.

Availability: Seen on early Australian releases. ^[Examples?]

3rd Logo (1983-1985)

Visuals: On a dark blue space background with zooming stars, a white 5-pointed star-shaped flash appears in the upper left corner, rotating slightly as a red laser shoots it, causing a front-facing cube to fly down to the centre of the screen, rotating downwards the entire time. The cube shows several movie clips on it as 2 more star flashes appear across it briefly, and after a few seconds, the Thorn EMI thorn logo appears and zips across the cube while spinning, eventually slipping behind the cube. The cube then starts to show a dark blue square with the Thorn EMI logo, followed by a frame-by-frame formation of the Thorn EMI Video logo on each subsequent frame, including rolling film spokes to give it a filmstrip look. The cube continues to show the logo on every side as it continues spinning, before it flies up to the upper right corner of the screen and a red laser shoots at it, causing a burst of red to appear briefly, and then it disappears. The background continues to animate for a bit before fading out.

Closing Variants:

• The logo starts with the cube playing the Thorn EMI Video logo forming, and the announcer says either "And now, here are some preview scenes of other exciting attractions from Thorn EMI Video." (if there are previews after the feature) or "We hope you enjoyed this Thorn EMI video presentation. For more exciting attractions, write in for our catalogue."

Technique: Early 3D computer animation for the cube, 2D computer effects for the rest.

Audio: A condensed version of "Flash" by Keith Mansfield. This is accompanied by zapping sounds and a male voiceover who says, "Presenting a world of home video entertainment for your enjoyment from Thorn EMI Video. Movie blockbusters, action classics, children's films, top TV shows, and much, much more. So stay tuned for preview scenes of other exciting attractions at the end of this movie./So for now, sit back, relax, and enjoy!". The closing variants use a even shorter version of "Flash" without any zapping noises.

Availability: Seen on every Australian Thorn EMI Video release from 1983 onwards. ^[Examples?]