Warner Home Video (Home Video Bumpers)

North American Bumpers

1st Bumper (1994)

Visuals: Same as the Feature Presentation bumper of the time, but the text says "Coming to Theatres December 21.".

Technique: A still, computerized graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: It appeared on the 1994 demo VHS of Little Giants.

2nd Bumper (1995-1996)

Visuals: On a black background is one of the following bumpers:

Coming From Warner Bros. Family Entertainment
Available On Video November '95
COMING SOON TO VIDEO

Variant: The "COMING SOON TO VIDEO" version animates in that the text forms as if it is a shatter effect being played in reverse.

Technique: A still, computerized graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Only used on a few tapes, including Batman Forever.

3rd Bumper (2000)

Visuals: There is a clip from the classic Merrie Melodies short Duck Amuck, in which the sequence starts with a white background. Daffy Duck pokes his head in from the right side of the screen and asks the animator where "the scenery" is. Daffy soon disappears to make way for a giant paintbrush, which starts to "paint" the bumper onto the screen, which consists of the Warner Home Video logo resting on a cloudy sky background, with the text "COMING SOON FROM" arched in gold above the logo.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: The audio from Duck Amuck, which consists of Daffy Duck (voiced by Mel Blanc) beckoning and then asking the artist where the scenery (which in this instance is the bumper) is. The dialogue is accompanied by a flute tune that starts out timidly but then blossoms into a whimsical tone.

Availability: It can be found only on the 2000 VHS tapes of My Dog Skip and Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders.

4th Bumper (2000)

Visuals: The screen fades into a scene from the Tom and Jerry short Salt Water Tabby, in which we see Tom, wearing a bathing suit, chasing Jerry on a beach. Jerry then gets on a beach umbrella and presses the button that closes the umbrella, causing it to get Tom stuck inside of it, along with him. Jerry then manages to climb his way out of the umbrella, and the short is cut to the next part. Jerry manages to make the green crab from the short run into a legging of Tom's bathing suit, which he then runs from the scene in fear. The green crab then attacks Tom, causing him to jump about 15 feet into the air, with him and the umbrella landing at a vertical upside-down direction. The green crab then cuts a hole in the seat of Tom's bathing suit. When the green crab is seen in the seat of Tom's bathing suit, there are some of the bumper behind him. He soon jumps out, revealing the bumper (which features the Warner Home Video logo resting on a cloudy sky background, with the gold text "COMING SOON FROM" arched in gold above the logo). The bumper then zooms out from Tom's bathing suit in order to fill up the entire screen.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: Just the audio of Salt Water Tabby, which features the original audio for the scene as well as the music featured at the end credits, the latter of which is played when the green crab has finished cutting the hole in Tom's bathing suit.

Availability: It can be found the on VHS of Scooby Doo's Creepiest Capers and the DVD of Leap Frog: Learn to Read at the Storybook Factory.

Legacy: Viewers may find the decision to place the bumper on Tom's behind as rather ridiculous, although this may be intentional for the sake of comedy.

5th Bumper (July 27, 2004-April 12, 2005)

Visuals: On a black background, the screen fades in on a blue "rippling" effect. In front of it is the Warner Home Video logo, which has a flare effect scrolling down across it. Either "COMING SOON TO DVD & VIDEO" or just "COMING SOON TO DVD" is underneath.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: The "COMING SOON TO DVD & VIDEO" variant was found on a demo VHS of The Whole Ten Yards, and the "COMING SOON TO DVD" variant appears on the 2005 VHS releases of Around the Bend and Criminal. The latter appears before a trailer for A Very Long Engagement on one of Warner's YouTube channels.

International Bumpers

United Kingdom

1st Bumper (early 1980s-1984)

Visuals: The 1980 Warner Home Video logo plays; however, after a couple of seconds, the logo does one of the following transitions, segueing into the first trailer:

Rotate clockwise with the trailer on the other side of the logo.
Fly out either left or right, leaving a plain coloured background. The first trailer does exactly the same transition when entering.
Shrink to the left of the screen whilst flipping. The trailer does the exact same animation, only from the right.
After the last trailer, the normal WHV logo animates.

Technique: Any of the aforementioned animations.

Audio: Either a medium-paced synth strings score, or "LA Woman" by The Doors plays in the background, while Bill McAllister says, "Some other great titles for the small screen. From Warner Home Video." After the last trailer, either tune plays again, with the announcer saying, "The titles you have just seen are available on VHS and Betamax. Ask your local stockist for details. Warner...Home Video." Between trailers, the bumper is silent.

Availability: Appears on a few pre-cert UK WHV rental tapes from the time, including The Man With Two Brains, Of Unknown Origin, Risky Business, and This Is Elvis.

2nd Bumper (early 1980s-1986)

Visuals: The 1980-1986 Warner Home Video logo animates normally, then a diamond wipe reveals the words "COMING SOON", which are sandwiched between two lines.

Technique: Analog computer animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: Can be seen on tapes such as Police Academy, Gremlins, The NeverEnding Story, Teachers, and Raging Bull, among others.

3rd Bumper (1985)

Visuals: On a black background are the words "COMING SOON to a cinema near you" in a white Helvetica font.

Technique: Fading effects.

Audio: None.

Availability: Its only known appearance to date is on the 1985 UK rental VHS of Gremlins, shown before the trailer for Rocky IV.

4th Bumper (1986-1989, 1990, 1991)

Visuals: The 1985-1997 Warner Home Video logo animates, but then it splits in half, revealing the words "COMING SOON" in yellow, between two yellow lines, and on a light blue background. The words shine.

Variant: After the main feature on the 1990 UK VHS of By Dawn's Early Light is the completed normal bumper, but the words are in a bold Futura font, and shine slightly differently.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: The logo's music. The coming attraction screen is silent.

Availability: The standard variant is seen on the UK rental releases of Arthur 2: On the Rocks, National Lampoon's European Vacation, My Blue Heaven, Switching Channels, Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment, Rocky IV, Police Academy 3: Back in Training, The Witches, Funny Farm, and Lost in America..

5th Bumper (1986)

Visuals: On a dodger blue background are the words "COMING SOON TO A CINEMA NEAR YOU" in a white Helvetica font.

Technique: Fading effects.

Audio: None.

Availability: So far, it only appears on the British rentals of Pale Rider and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, preceding a short trailer for Cobra.

6th Bumper (1987-1990)

Visuals: The 1985-1997 Warner Home Video logo animates, but it rotates counterclockwise, whilst zooming out on another cloud background. When it comes back, the Coming Soon featurette starts, where on a black background, various clips from the films being advertised, as well as the countdown a couple of streaks and lines moving.

Variants:

The 1987 UK rental VHS of Little Shop of Horrors had the WHV logo fade to the prototype logo before rotating round.
Beginning in late 1988, CGI yellow circles slowly fell from the right of the screen. They then flashed to reveal the stacked words "COMING SOON", which occasionally rotate.
Before the end of this bumper's usage, the WHV logo faded to black, rather than rotating in 3D.
The closing of the bumper has the same as the normal variant, except the movie clips are replaced with the film logos. Then, the large word 'START' fills the screen.

Technique: Pretty much everything.

Audio: After the WHV logo music finishes, we hear the music from the movie of the first trailer play, along with some whooshing sounds, a "buzz" countdown and some various beeping noises. A male announcer with an oddly American accent says over the sounds, "Welcome again to Coming Soon, the Warner Home Video special feature updating you with all that's best in future/home/quality entertainment!". At the end of the promo, music from the last trailer's movie plays, along with the same sounds as before, and the announcer saying "Films that will/to fill your home with quality entertainment, all coming soon from Warner Home Video!".

Availability: Not all tapes featured the Coming Soon featurette, but it's still quite easy to find. According to the BBFC website, 31 were produced, although only promos 1-11 (or maybe 12) are numbered on the promos themselves, as seen at the top left of the screen.

7th Bumper (1988)

Visuals: The bumper starts with "1988" in an italicized, gray metallic font fade in before cutting to the first trailer.

Technique: Just "1988" fading in.

Audio: A short portion of the Masters of the Universe theme by Bill Conti, while Don LaFontaine announces, "And here's a preview of what Warner Home Video has in store for you... for 1988."

Availability: Can be only found on, so far, the 1988 UK rental tape of White of the Eye.

8th Bumper (1988)

Visuals: On a black background are the words "COMING SOON TO A CINEMA NEAR YOU" in a white bold Optima font.

Technique: A still, computerized graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Only known, so far, to appear on the UK rental VHS of Innerspace, which is seen before the trailer for Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach, after the Coming Soon featurette.

9th Bumper (1989)

Visuals: On a black background are the words "AT YOUR LOCAL CINEMA NOW." in a Helvetica font.

Technique: A still, computerized graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Its only known appearance to date is on the UK rental VHS of Tequila Sunrise, shown after the trailer for Lethal Weapon 2, and before the Coming Soon featurette.

10th Bumper (1989)

Visuals: On a light blue background are the words "COMING SOON" stacked on top of each other and arranged differently according to the tape:

On Hit List, the words are in a silver Times font with a black shadow.
On Rain Man, the words are in a bold Helvetica-like font. This bumper fades from the Warner Home Video logo, rather than from black.

Technique: A still, computerized graphic.

Audio:

In Hit List, this bumper is silent.
In Rain Man, the tail end of the Warner Home Video music plays as this bumper fades in.

Availability: These bumpers were pretty much one-offs and only appeared on the rental versions of the aforementioned titles.

11th Bumper (1989-1990)

Visuals: On a blue background are the words "COMING SOON" appear via a residue trailing effect.

Variants:

In its later months, the 1985-1997 Warner Home Video logo appears, but it fades to a blue screen with the words "COMING SOON" in gold.
On rare occasions, the words may type in in white.

Technique: Trail effects.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on the UK VHS tapes of Lethal Weapon 2, Driving Miss Daisy, Young Einstein, Batman, Millennium, The Delinquents, All Dogs Go to Heaven, and Police Academy 6: City Under Siege, among others. The second variant is seen on the UK VHS of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

12th Bumper (1990-1999)

Visuals: On a blue background is the line and the words "COMING" on top and the words "SOON" and the line at the bottom zooming in and sliding.

Variants:

In its early years, the 1985-1997 Warner Home Video logo fades to the bumper.
On tapes where there are trailers after the main feature, the words are light blue on a black background.
- On other occasions where there are trailers after the film, the normal bumper is still.
In its later years, the text fades in. The font is also slightly different.
A variant was created for the 1993 UK rental VHS of The Bodyguard, where an announcer was heard, trailing from the 1985 Warner Home Video logo (with Time Warner byline), to this bumper.

Technique: Sliding and fading effects.

Audio:

1990-Early 1993, 1995-1996: The tail end of the Warner Home Video logo.
1993-1995: None.
The Bodyguard Variant: The music of the WHV logo, with an American-accented announcer saying "Before you sit down and watch the biggest film of the year, The Bodyguard, Warner Home Video invites you to enjoy some previews of outstanding cinema successes, coming soon to rent on video." For the second half, none.

Availability: Seen on most 1990s UK rental VHS releases from Warner Home Video; its first appearances being the UK rental releases of Clean and Sober, Akira Kurosawa's Dreams and Joe Versus the Volcano. The second variant is also seen on the rental release of MGM/UA's Miss Firecracker.

13th Bumper (December 1991-Mid 1992)

Visuals: On a dark blue gradient background with a faded WB shield behind it, there is a coloured CGI WB shield in the top right, continuously rotating left. Below the shield are the words "NOW AVAILABLE TO BUY", or in the case of All Dogs Go To Heaven, "AN IDEAL GIFT FOR EVERYONE", in a white Times font. A 3D VHS cover for the film being advertised is seen on the left of the screen. The bumper then either fades to black, or to the opening shot of the trailer.

Technique: Only the CGI shield rotating.

Audio: The opening audio of the trailer.

Availability: So far, only two tapes are known to contain this; the Christmas Vacation variant appears on the rental edition of Nothing But Trouble, whilst the All Dogs Go To Heaven variant appears on the retail edition of Rover Dangerfield.

14th Bumper (1992-1995)

Visuals: Only the words "COMING SOON FROM WARNER HOME VIDEO" on a black background, either in Times New Roman or Helvetica.

Technique: Only the text fading in and out.

Audio: None.

Availability: This bumper only appears on rental tapes of Buena Vista-released films, such as Father of the Bride, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, The Distinguished Gentleman, Passed Away, and Consenting Adults.

15th Bumper (2000-2005)

Visuals: On a black background is one of the following bumpers:

Available to Own Now on Video and DVD
COMING SOON
Coming Soon on Video & DVD
Look Out for More Series 7 from July
LOOK OUT FOR SERIES 8 ON VIDEO FROM SPRING 2002
COMING SOON TO BUY AND/OR/& RENT ON VIDEO AND/OR/& DVD
Available Now to Buy and Rent on Video and DVD
Coming Soon on DVD & Video
OUT NOW TO BUY OR RENT ON VIDEO OR DVD
AVAILABLE NOW ON VIDEO OR DVD (This can be found on the rental version of Spartan)
AVAILABLE NOW (This can be found on New York Minute)

Variant: Depending on the bumper, the text font may either be in Arial, Rockwell or Helvetica.

Technique: A still, computerized graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on the final United Kingdom videotapes from Warner Home Video, including Friends, Ocean's Eleven, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Kevin & Perry Go Large, Analyse This, The Perfect Storm, Looney Tunes: Back in Action, and Torque, among others.

Australia

1st Bumper (1986-1989?)

Visuals: The 1985-1997 Warner Home Video logo animates, but it fades to a screen with a different sky background that zooms out. The cursive words "At Home With The Hits", with the words "PREVIEW ATTRACTIONS" sandwiched by four lines (two large, and two small) below them, fade in and zoom in slightly, before settling.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: The logo's music. The coming attraction screen is silent.

Availability: Found on Australian tapes released at the time, such as Child's Play.

2nd Bumper (1990-1998)

Visuals: Over a hazy gray background, the words "COMING ATTRACTIONS" rise from the middle of the screen.

Technique: Sliding effects.

Audio: A triumphant fanfare.

Availability: Appears on Australian WHV tapes with previews from the time, such as The Pelican Brief and L.A. Confidential. It was also seen on an Australian release of MGM/UA's Fatal Instinct.

3rd Bumper (1999-2003)

Visuals: There is a still picture of the 1996 Warner Home Video logo in a square on a black background. Below it are the words "Coming Soon To Rental" in orange.

Technique: A still, computerized graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on later-day Australian WHV VHS releases such as American Dragons and Murder by Numbers.

Japan

Bumper (1990's)

Visuals: On a black background are the words "新作情報" ("New information" in Japanese) in a thick slate blue font with a white outline.

Technique: A still, computerized graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Found on the Japanese VHS of Unforgiven (許されざる者).

Germany

1st Bumper (1993?-1999?)

Visuals: Over a black background is the word "PROGRAMMHINWEIS" ("PROGRAM NOTICES" in German).

Variant: Before individual trailers, the text reads "AB [MONTH/YEAR] ÜBERALL ZU KAUFEN" ("AVAILABLE FOR SALE EVERYWHERE FROM [MONTH/YEAR]").

Technique: A still, computerized graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Found on German tapes at the time, such as Animals Are Beautiful People 2 (Die lustige Welt der Tiere 2) and Space Jam.

2nd Bumper (2000-2005?)

Visuals: On a black background is the word "Programmhinweis" appear via a flashing effect.

Variants:

Sometimes, the text is still and reads "Jetzt im Kino" ("Now in Cinemas").
Sometimes, the text fades to "Jetzt auf DVD und Video" ("Now on DVD and Video") in early releases or "Jetzt auf DVD" ("Now on DVD") in later releases.

Technique: Flashing effects.

Audio: None.

Availability: Found on the German tapes of The Polar Express (Der Polarexpress) and Laura's Star (Lauras Stern).

Brazil

Bumper (1995?-2001?)

Visuals: On a slate blue background with engraved diagonal lines is the word "TRAILER".

Technique: A still, computerized graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Available on the Brazilian releases of A Troll in Central Park (Um Duende no Parque) and The King and I (O Rei e Eu).

Argentina

Bumper (2000?-2005?)

Visuals: On a black background are two flames moving through the screen (one from the left side to the right and the other from right to left), revealing the words "PROXIMOS ESTRENOS" ("NEXT RELEASES" in Spanish) in a blue digital font. "PROXIMOS ESTRENOS" then flips vertically, disappearing.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: Some whooshes, a cymbal hit and an announcer saying "Ahora vas a ver los próximos estrenos de AVH." ("Now you're going to see the next AVH releases.").

Availability: Found on the VHS of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter y el Prisionero de Azkaban).

Spain

Bumper (1998?-2005?)

Visuals: On a blue background are the words "PROXIMO ESTRENO EN VIDEO" ("COMING SOON ON VIDEO").

Variants:

A variant features the text "A LA VENTA EN VIDEO" ("ON SALE ON VIDEO").
- A variant found on the VHS release of Quest for Camelot (La espada mágica: En busca de Camelot) features a navy blue background and the words "A LA VENTA EN VIDEO EN EL ULTIMO TRIMESTRE DE 1998" ("ON SALE ON VIDEO IN THE LAST QUARTER OF 1998").
- A variant found on the VHS release of The King and I (El rey y yo) features a navy blue background and the words "A LA VENTA EN VIDEO EN NAVIDADES DE 1999" ("ON SALE ON VIDEO ON CHRISTMAS 1999").
For cinema previews, the background is navy blue with the words "PROXIMO ESTRENO EN CINE" ("COMING SOON TO CINEMAS").
- A variant found on the VHS release of The King and I (El rey y yo) features the text "PROXIMO ESTRENO EN LAS MEJORES SALAS EL 17 DEL DICIEMBRE DE 1999" ("COMING SOON TO THE BEST [THEATER] ROOMS ON DECEMBER 17, 1999").

Technique: A still, computerized graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Found on Spanish VHS releases at the time, such as Quest for Camelot (La espada mágica: En busca de Camelot) and The King and I (El rey y yo).

Mexico

Bumper (2000's)

Visuals: On a slate blue background are the words "PROXIMAMENTE A LA VENTA" ("COMING SOON FOR SALE").

Variant: The cinema variant features a fuzzy blue background and the words "PROXIMAMENTE EN CINE" ("COMING SOON TO CINEMAS").

Technique: A still, computerized graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: This was found on a Mexican VHS of The Powerpuff Girls (Las Chicas Superpoderosas).

France

Bumper (1999?-2005?)

Visuals: There is a a messy close-up view of the 1996 Warner Home Video logo, which the camera pans through until it reaches the center before rotating and zooming out to show a still version of the logo and the shining silver words "PROCHAINES SORTIES LOCATIONS" ("UPCOMING RENTAL RELEASES" in French).

Technique: A still, computerized graphic.

Audio: A deep whoosh with an announcer saying "Warner Home Vidéo vous présente une selection de sous prochaines sorties locations." ("Warner Home Video presents a selection of its upcoming rental releases.").

Availability: This was discovered on a French tape of The Perfect Storm (En Pleine Tempête).

Netherlands

1st Bumper (1992-1993)

Visuals: Over a white-blue gradient background is the text "NU MEER VIDEONIEUWS" ("NOW MORE VIDEO NEWS" in Dutch).

Variant: The pre-movie variant reads "Meer videonieuws na de hoofdfilm" ("More video news after the feature film").

Technique: A still, computerized graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: This can be seen on Dutch tapes of Doctor Mordrid and Arcade after the credits.

2nd Bumper (Early 2000's)

Visuals: On a sky background are the words "Binnenkort te huur en te koop op video en DVD ("Soon for rent and for sale on video and DVD").

Technique: A still, computerized graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Found on the Dutch VHS releases of Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter en de Steen der Wijzen) and Cats and Dogs (Als Kat en Hond).