HiT Entertainment's Logo History

1st Logo (1983-1989)

Logo: Same as the Henson Associates in-credit logo, only the "ha!" text is replaced with "hit!" and the lower text is replaced with "HENSON INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION" sandwiched between two lines. Copyright information for Henson International Television is listed below.

FX/SFX: Same as the Henson Associates in-credit logo.

Music/Sounds: Same as the Henson Associates logo.

Availability: Rare. Seen on international prints of The Muppet Show, it was also seen on Muppet Show UK broadcasts on BBC1 from 1986 until 1987.

2nd Logo (1989-1996)

Logo: On a gray marble-like background, a silver disc rotates into place. Then four blue lasers strike it from different directions. Then, the camera pans to an aerial view as the word "HiT", in a tall silver font, zooms out from the center from an angle, then rotates to face the viewers. As it does so, the four lasers rotate clockwise and "COMMUNICATIONS PLC" types itself in, in blue.

Variants: There are 2 short versions: one that has the music intact and starts with the camera moves up and the word "HiT" zooms out, and another one without music and starts when the logo finishes zooming out.

FX/SFX: The disc, the lasers, and the word "HiT" coming into place, which are solid CGI effects.

Music/Sounds: An eerie gong sound leading into a catchy synth theme with bells.

Music/Sounds Variant: A silent version exists.

Availability: Ultra rare. Can be seen on old Where's Waldo/Wally?: The Animated Series tapes from the era. It can also be spotted on the English dubs of D'Ocon Films' TV series, Basket Fever, and the cartoon Captain Zed and the Zee Zone, among others.

Editor's Note: This logo is a huge favorite, thanks to the music.

3rd Logo (1994-1995)

Logo: On a black background, the bluish-grey letters of "HiT" fly outwards to the center to form a result similar to the previous logo, but with thinner letters and no dot. Below it all is "Distributed by HIT Entertainment PLC." in white, sometimes replaced with a black bar and the text changed to match the country's language.

FX/SFX: The letters appearing. Nothing much.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Extinct. This was possibly a prototype logo, and so far, it has only been known to appear on some international prints of season 1 episodes of ReBoot.

4th Logo (December 25, 1996-April 3, 2001)

Nicknames: "HiT Globe", "'90s HiT Globe"

Logo: On a shady gray background, we see the word "HiT" in the same font as last two logos in blue, with "ENTERTAINMENT PLC" written vertically next to the T in white. A hole is cut out in between the letters above the I, which contains a spinning globe. Under that we see the text "www.hitentertainment.com" and "DISTRIBUTED WORLDWIDE BY HIT ENTERTAINMENT PLC". There is a spotlight from the top left of the screen, casting a shadow of the logo on the floor.

Variants:

There is a version where the URL and byline swap places, such as retail episodes of Bob the Builder.

There are instances where the logo is just seen with the byline, such as Scandinavian versions of Bob the Builder.

A still version of this is seen on VHS releases.

An in-credit variant was seen on Archibald the Koala.

On some prints of Basket Fever, the background is replaced with that of a background of the world with "ENTERTAINMENT PLC" in black instead of white and the below text is omitted.

A true 16:9 widescreen version exists.

On CITV UK airings of Kipper, the logo is still and the URL and byline are replaced with the "www.citv.co.uk" website. Also, the CITV URL website is at the bottom right.

FX/SFX: The globe spinning. Fine CGI for its time and it has aged pretty well. None for the still version.

Music/Sounds: Same as the previous logo.

Music/Sounds/Variants:

In other cases, the end theme of the show would be used.

At the beginning of a Greek Barney and Friends VHS, the tail end of the Bob the Builder theme song plays over the logo.

Availability: Rare. The logo is seen on Brambly Hedge, Kipper, Archibald the Koala, Ted Sieger's Wildlife, Sheeep, and GoodTimes VHS releases of The Wind in the Willows and The Willows in Winter. Pablo, the Little Red Fox also had this logo, especially when it was shown on Playhouse Disney in the early 2000s in America, along with Nick Jr in the UK, also in the early 2000s. It was also used for at least seasons 1-3 of Bob the Builder in the UK. Also spotted on later prints of Basket Fever. Despite being a co-production with the BBC, don't expect this to pop up on the TV movie The Phoenix & the Carpet.

5th Logo (1997-2008)

Nickname: "HiT Globe II", "'90s HiT Globe II", "Spinning HiT", "The Fireworks", "Psychedelic Ribbons"

Logo: On a striped-shiny-blue background we see a yellow/orange gradient ribbon flying around from the right edge of the screen. Then the ribbon makes its way to form the spring (or tunnel) and an explosion occurs. After that we see more colorful ribbons (but smaller) and some fireworks. Later, the camera moves into the center of the tunnel, then the tunnel disappears and from its place comes the globe which zooms into the hole in the HiT logo from the last logo in light blue, which fades in the same time as the globe comes. As it does so, the globe spins. The text "ENTERTAINMENT PLC" is written vertically next to the "T" in white, just like the 2nd and 4th logos until it is over.

Variants:

There is a short version which shows only the last part of logo.

There is also a middle-length version, which starts in the middle of the logo.

FX/SFX: The globe, fireworks, the ribbon, and the small ribbons. CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: At the beginning of the long version, there is a big whoosh, then a variety of cartoon sound effects are heard whilst the items come out of the ribbon tunnel, then a grand and majestic 9-note fanfare. On the 1st short version, the end theme of the show is used or the last 7 notes of the long version's music. On the 2nd short version, none.

Music/Sounds Trivia: The music was composed by David Lowe, who is best known for producing and arranging the theme tune to BBC News from 1999.

Availability: Pretty common. The long version of the logo is available on most VHS and DVDs by HiT Entertainment, but only in the UK. The short version of the logo was used on the television series Anthony Ant and at the end of a ride on video optioned Bob the Builder kiddie rides from Jolly Roger, while the middle-length version is seen on said rides as well as Thomas & Friends ones while not in motion. This logo also appears on all VCI/2Entertain Thomas & Friends releases as well. Despite the logo being used all over the packaging, this logo is absent on VCI’s 2002 releases of the show - instead, the Gullane Entertainment logo would be used - this logo would eventually turn up starting with “The Chocolate Crunch” from 2003, and then releases of the show would use the logo beyond 2003. Inexplicably, later 2Entertain-distributed Thomas & Friends DVDs continued to use this logo until their distribution rights expired in 2008, despite the next logo being used all over the packaging. However, the reissues of those releases from HiT themselves plastered that and 2Entertain's logo with the next logo.

Editor's Note: The explosion, slightly jarring appearance, and audio cacophony might have caused a few scares, but this logo is very well done and is a favorite of many.