MGM/UA Home Entertainment

*Logo descriptions by
 Day91821*

*Logo captures by
Xavierpikes, Alphays240, Logovis, Emiozuna, Crazy Muzzarino*

*Editions by
 Day91821*

## Background

In 1981, MGM had purchased United Artists from Transamerica after the failure of the movie *Heaven's Gate*. In 1982, after MGM broke off from its partnership with CBS, it was renamed to MGM/UA Home Video (a.k.a. MGM/UA Home Entertainment Group). MGM/UA continued to use CBS/Fox Video to license several of its titles on videocassette, until ending the partnership in 1990 after a lawsuit.

In 1986, after MGM's pre-1986 library (including most of the pre-1950 Warner Bros. Pictures library, a fraction of some UA material, and most US rights to the RKO Radio Pictures library (although RKO retains the copyrights to their films)) was acquired by Ted Turner and forming Turner Entertainment Co., MGM/UA Home Video signed a deal with Turner to continue distributing the pre-1986 MGM and the pre-1948 Warner Bros. libraries for video release.

In 1990, after MGM was purchased by Pathé, MGM/UA signed a deal with Warner Home Video to have them distribute its titles exclusively on video. In 1994, this division was renamed to MGM/UA Home Entertainment (though the logo was unchanged) and also launched MGM/UA Family Entertainment. On March 24, 1997, MGM/UA began releasing its titles on DVD (with *A Streetcar Named Desire* and *The Wizard of Oz* on launch day), and managed to release over 30 titles from the Turner catalog on DVD (due to their video distribution deal) until it was transferred to Warner Home Video in 1999 (after MGM ended their distribution deal with Warner Bros.) and folded Orion Pictures with all its owned-library into this company. Around 1997, the UA name was dropped, renaming it to MGM Home Entertainment.

## 1st Logo (July 1982-1999)

**Nicknames:** "Leo the Lion", "Still Leo the Lion", "MGM Lion", "The Static Leo Moving", "MGM/UA", "Gold Ribboning", "Early '80s Lion"

**Visuals:** On a black background, we see the words "**MGM**" and "**UA**" in a bluish metallic serif font zooming out from two corners of the screen to the center. Then, the corporate version of Leo and the ribbons zoom out as the ribbons wipe in and the "**/**" traces in. "HOME VIDEO" then zooms out, followed by a line above and below it appearing in a flash of light.

**Variants:**

* A B&W version exists.
* Some tapes have a slightly different lion/ribbon design.
* Sweden tapes were often distributed by Esselte Video. Here, the words "From ESSELTE VIDEO" appear below the logo, which is poorly cropped as below the additional text is rainbow bars or a blank black space. Between "From" and "ESSELTE VIDEO" is a circle with an "X".
* On German releases, "**IM VERTRIEB DER IMV AUS DEM HAUSE EUROVIDEO**" fades out below the logo.
* On a Spanish VHS promo for *MGM Cartoon Moviestars*, "PROMOREEL" appears below the logo after it finishes animating.
* Some Australian and New Zealand tapes would have the logo animate normally up to "HOME VIDEO" flashing. Then, the static picture of Leo becomes Leo roaring and then the beginning of a promotional reel tunnels in.
* Another variant would have the black background turn into a grey marble background as Leo, the ribbons and the "**MGM/UA**" text shrink to the top-left corner and "HOME VIDEO" moves slightly to the right with the beginning of a preview above the text and below it is "***COMING ATTRACTION***".
* On home video TV spots for *Desperate Hours* and *Death Warden*, the "HOME VIDEO" text and lines appear thicker.
* On a UK promo for home video releases of musical films in 1986, the logo appears for a total of nine times.
* On a 1983 promo seen at the end of some tapes from late-1983 to early-1984, only the tail end of the logo appears after clips of films, such as *Poltergeist*.
* Another variant has the "**/**" in the middle of the screen, "**MGM**" and "**UA**" slide out from behind the "**/**", all zooming in to its usual position. A red line with a silhouette of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios logo zooms out revealing said logo. "HOME VIDEO" also doesn't flash in this variant.
* On 1980s UK VHS releases, such as *MGM Cartoon Magic Vol. 1* and *The Phantom Tollbooth*, a still version exists with the words "MORE GREAT TITLES" and "Available now from your local dealer" above and below the logo respectively.
* On a 1983 UK pre-cert VHS release of *The Dr. Seuss Video Festival*, "Ask your local dealer about availability" fades in at the end, right after the logo is finished animating.

**Trailer Variants:** Many times, a specific trailer variant will replace the "HOME VIDEO" text.

* Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You
* Now Playing at a Theatre Near You
* Coming Soon On Videocassette
* Now Available On Videocassette

**Technique:** Motion-controlled animation.

**Audio:** Same as the 1981 CBS Video logo.

**Availability:** Found on many VHS and Laserdisc videos from MGM and UA. The last release (officially) to use this logo was *Rich in Love*. Despite official use ending around 1993, Indonesian releases continued using this logo until 1999.

**Legacy:** One of the most iconic video logos of the 1980s.

## 2nd Logo (1983-1986)

Standard versionDiamond Jubilee variant

**Nicknames:** "Leo the Lion II", "MGM Lion II", "Roaring Lion", "Gold Ribboning II", "MGM/UA Roaring Lion", "'80s/'90s Lion", "Anniversary Lion", "Diamond Jubilee", "60 Years of MGM"

**Visuals:** Same as the 1984 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer logo, but without the "DIAMOND JUBILEE" text and the text from the previous logo below, replacing the "SIXTY YEARS OF GREAT ENTERTAINMENT" text, which does not animate. Leo roars once.

**Variants:**

* A variant exists with the 1981 Sears logo below.
* On a VHS commercial for *Gone with the Wind* around 1984-85, the Diamond Jubilee text is above the logo.
* At the end of *MGM GREATEST MOMENTS: A Video Sampler*, a copyright stamp appears below.

**Technique:** Live-action footage.

**Audio:** The 1982 lion roar, sometimes modified or with a male announcer.

**Availability:** Extremely rare. This logo is mainly seen on promotional trailers of video releases, such as *Motown 25: Yesterday*.

**Legacy:** It should be noted that the home entertainment logo debuted in 1983, before the movie counterpart followed suit in 1984.

## 3rd Logo (October 24, 1989-2006)

1989 copyright stamp2002 copyright stamp

**Nicknames:** "Leo the Lion III", "Still Leo the Lion II", "(CGI) MGM Rainbow", "Gold Ribboning III", "MGM Lion III", "'80s Lion"

**Visuals:** Just a still version of the 1st logo with a copyright stamp underneath against a space background with a pattern of MGM/UA Home Video wordmarks scrolling and changing colors. The changing colors are grey, red, teal blue, magenta, blue and green.

**Variants:**

* 1989-92 releases had the copyright stamp in a slightly different font and aligned to the left.
* Some late 1990s-2000s releases had a still version of the logo.
* The US VHS of *Tea with Mussolini* had an almost entirely still version, which starts animating three seconds before fading to black.
* The size of the logo and the color changes varies.
* An extended version exists on some releases where we see the colors rose pink, golden yellow, violet and dark blue on the pattern.

**Technique:** 2D computer animation.

**Audio:** None.

**Availability:** Common. It can be seen at the beginning and end of releases, such as *All Dogs Go to Heaven*. Starting in 2003, the logo only appeared at the end of tapes. Despite regular usage ending around 2005, Thailand VCDs continued using this logo until 2006, with the 2000 copyright stamp (perhaps due to an editing mistake).

**Legacy:** For some reason, there was never a copyright stamp with the years 1991, 1994, or 2005 on it. 1991 VHS tapes had the 1990 copyright stamp, 1994 VHS tapes had the 1993 copyright stamp, and 2005 VHS tapes had the 2004 copyright stamp. Strangely enough VCD Releases in Thailand from 2000-2006 strangely kept using the 2000 copyright variant instead of the 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004 copyright variants. Also, it's weird that this was used into the MGM Home Entertainment days, with the name changes.

## 4th Logo (August 4, 1993-2002)

Opening variantClosing variant

**Nicknames:** "Leo the Lion IV", "Gold Leo the Lion", "The Rollercoaster Filmstrip", "Gold Ribboning IV", "CGI Gold Ribboning", "MGM/UA Roaring Lion II", "MGM Lion IV", "'90s Lion"

**Visuals:** On a black background, we see a gold filmstrip swerving into the screen, with the holes having footage of the 1928 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer logo. Then, the ribbon rotates and zooms out to reveal Leo inside it, who roars twice. After the second roar, he turns gold, along with the drama mask, the "Metro Goldwyn Mayer", "**TRADE**" and "**MARK**" text and the "®" symbol all disappear with a white spark of light. Then, the letters of "**MGM/UA**" rotate as the "™" symbol appears, followed by a line appearing underneath and then "HOME VIDEO" fading in underneath. The company name then shines.

**Variants:**

* The closing variant starts with the ribbons rotating from the left of the screen, and Leo and the circle do not turn gold at the end.
* On *The Pebble and the Penguin*, the aforementioned variant cuts to black near the end before fading out.
* On MGM Greats releases, the words "MGM GREATS" wipe in instead of "**MGM/UA**" without the spotlight gradient effect. It also fades out slower than usual at the end.
* On a 1995 syndicated infomercial for *James Bond* films, the "**MGM/UA**" text and line are shinier and "PRESENTS" replaces "HOME VIDEO". Also, the logo does not shine.
* An edited version appears on early 2000s TeleCine bumpers.

**Trailer Variants:** Many times, a specific trailer variant will replace the "HOME VIDEO" text.

* COMING SOON TO A THEATER NEAR YOU
* NOW PLAYING AT A THEATER NEAR YOU
* NOW AVAILABLE ON VIDEOCASSETTE
* COMING SOON ON VIDEOCASSETTE
* THEATRICAL TRAILER

**Technique:** A mix of live-action footage and CGI.

**Audio:** An orchestral fanfare, composed by David Engel, combined with Tanner's roar, and when Leo is revealed, we hear the 1982 lion roar. The closing variant has a short version of the ending of the opening variant's fanfare.

**Audio Variants:**

* On a home video trailer for *That's Entertainment*, the opening theme of the trailer is heard.
* On a Power Players home video trailer, a male announcer is heard on the closing variant with the 1982 roar intact.
* On the "PRESENTS" variant, a male announcer says "Stay tuned for MGM United Artists presents *James Bond*" over the fanfare.

**Availability:** Common. The first release to use this logo was VHS release of *Untamed Heart*. Despite official use ending around 1998, UK releases continued using this logo until 2002.

**Legacy:** This logo is a favorite of many due to its advanced CGI, great music, and homage to the classic MGM era. On a side note to the intro logo's development, the whole logo, with the ribboning, text and the reef at its zooming point was screenshotted, then photoshopped to blackout almost every spot of the usual MGM properties for the MGM/UA text to fade in, along with the gold Leo image added a layer beneath the ribbon logo.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

**Home Entertainment:**
MGM Home Entertainment | MGM/UA Home Video | MGM/CBS Home Video | MGM DVD

**Television:**
MGM Television