Paramount Home Media Distribution

Logo: On a blue background, we see “*Paramount*” in its famous script with “HOME VIDEO” (sandwiched between two lines) below. Next to it is the current Paramount print logo. Seconds later, we dissolve to a warning screen.

Byline: Referred to as “A Gulf+Western Company”.

FX/SFX: None, unless you count the dissolve to the warning screen.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Near extinction. Seen on VHS releases during the era.

Editor’s Note: None.

### 2nd Logo (October 3, 1980-January 26, 1981)

Nicknames: “The Mountain II”, “‘80s Mountain”

Logo: On a blue background, we see a black mountain going down as the background darkens. The stars, script and “HOME VIDEO” text zoom in, one by one.

FX/SFX: Scanimation effects.

Music/Sounds: A synthesizer theme that has the last note held.

Availability: Near extinction. Seen on VHS releases during the era.

Editor’s Note: None.

### 3rd Logo (October 5, 1983-March 12, 1987)

Nicknames: “The Mountain III”, “‘80s Mountain II”, “Abstract Mountain II”

Logo: On a black background, we see the current Paramount print logo zooming in until a light clears it to reveal the script and “VIDEO” sandwiched in between two lines.

Byline: Referred to as “A Gulf + Western Company”.

FX/SFX: The logo zooming in.

Music/Sounds: Another synthesizer theme.

Availability: Very rare. Seen on VHS releases during the era.

Editor’s Note: None.

### 4th Logo (April 20, 1987-February 4, 2003)

Nicknames: “The Mountain IV”, “‘80s Mountain III”, “CGI Mountain”, “Ultra Common Mountain”

Logo: Same as the 1986 movie logo.

Byline:

* April 20, 1987-August 25, 1989: “A Gulf + Western Company” (1987 releases used the “*75th Anniversary*” variant while 1988-9 releases used the standard version.)
* September 7, 1989-May 9, 1995: “A Paramount Communications Company” (1989-90 releases had the byline in gold while 1990-5 releases had the byline in white.)
* June 13, 1995-February 4, 2003: “/\ VI/\CO/\/\ CO/\/\P/\NY” (in the 1990 Wigga-Wigga font.)

FX/SFX: Same as the 1986 movie logo.

Music/Sounds: None or the opening theme of the film.

Availability: Ultra common. This is a de-facto home video logo Seen on VHS, VCD and DVD releases during the era.

Editor’s Note: Same as the 1986 movie logo.

### 5th Logo (May 17, 1989-December 2, 2009)

Nicknames: “The Mountain V”, “‘80s Mountain IV”, “Abstract Mountain III”, “Ultra Common Mountain II”

Logo: We see indigo squares with the middle one having the current Paramount print logo on it. The square shines and all of them go away to reveal a purple/black gradient background. The idents are, as follows:

* “COMING ATTRACTIONS”
* “FEATURE PRESENTATION”

that zooms in. The former, afterwards, a trailer would be played, while the latter, a warning screen appears afterward with multiple Paramount print logos.

Byline:

* May 17-October 16, 1989: “A Gulf + Western Company”
* November 9, 1989-May 16, 1995: “A Paramount Communications Company” (in a serif font, “FEATURE PRESENTATION” versions have the byline in a different font: sans serif.)
* June 13, 1995-December 2, 2009: “/\ VI/\CO/\/\ CO/\/\P/\NY” (in the 1990 Wigga-Wigga font.)

FX/SFX: CGI.

Music/Sounds: The 1979 Paramount Pictures fanfare with an announcer saying “And now, we’re pleased to bring you our feature presentation.”.

Music/Sounds Variants:

* Sometimes, the announcer says “Paramount is pleased to bring you our feature presentation.”. This version is primarily used on releases with no previews.
* On the “COMING ATTRACTIONS” variant, the announcer says “Here are some exciting coming attractions from Paramount.”

Availability: Ultra common.

* The original Gulf+Western variant (which is the least common) first appeared on the 1989 VHS of *Coming to America*.
* The Paramount Communications variant (which is easier to find) first appeared on the 1989 VHS of *Scrooged*.
* The Viacom variant is extremely common and first appeared on the VHS of *Drop Zone*.
* The last film to use this logo as the 2006 VHS release of *Yours, Mine and Ours* and the last tape overall to use this logo was the 2007 VHS release of *The Wonder Pets: Save the Wonder Pets*, but made a surprise appearance on the December 2009 VHS of *The Plum Landing Movie*.

Editor’s Note: A favorite of many.

### 6th Logo (December 25, 1993)

Nicknames: “The Mountain VI”, “‘90s Mountain”, “CGI Mountain II”

Logo: On a blue background, we see the script being written that the background turns into the 1986 movie logo.

FX/SFX: CGI.

Music/Sounds: A horn fanfare with an announcer.

Availability: Extinct. Appears on late 1993 VHS releases.

Editor’s Note: None.

### 7th Logo (May 4-December 10, 2002)

Nicknames: “The Mountain VII”, “‘2000s Mountain”, “CGI Mountain III”

Logo: Same as the 5th logo, except the squares are purple and the middle square has a still picture of the 2002 Paramount Pictures logo and the gradient background is replaced by a cloud background which features “FEATURE PRESENTATION” and the warning screen is on a blue background.

Byline: Referred to as “/\ VI/\CO/\/\ CO/\/\P/\NY” in the 1990 Wigga-Wigga font.

FX/SFX: Same as the 5th logo.

Music/Sounds: Same as the 5th logo.

Availability: Near extinction. Seen on VHS releases during its 90th anniversary.

Editor’s Note: Same as the 5th logo.

## **Paramount DVD**

### 1st Logo (January 2002)

Nicknames: “The Mountain VIII”, “‘2000s Mountain II”, “CGI Mountain IV”

Logo: We see the 1986 Paramount logo with the disc and “DVD” on the mountain.

Byline: Referred to as “/\ VI/\CO/\/\ CO/\/\P/\NY” in the 1990 Wigga-Wigga font.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The opening theme of the trailer.

Availability: Extinct. Only seen on the trailer of the DVD release for *Rat Race*.

Editor’s Note: None.

### 2nd Logo (May 7, 2002-December 2, 2009)

Nicknames: “The Mountain IX”, “‘2000s Mountain III”, “CGI Mountain V”

Logo: Same as the 2002 movie logo.

Byline: Referred to as “/\ VI/\CO/\/\ CO/\/\P/\NY” in the 1990 Wigga-Wigga font.

FX/SFX: Same as the 2002 movie logo.

Music/Sounds: None or the opening theme.

Availability: Extremely rare.

* This is another de-facto home video logo.
* Seen on VHS and DVD releases during the era.

Editor’s Note: Same as the 2002 movie logo.

### 3rd Logo (May 6, 2003-March 5, 2019)

Nicknames: “The Mountain X”, “‘2000s Mountain IV”, “CGI Mountain VI”, “Ultra Common Mountain III”

Logo: Same as the previous logo, but with the DVD animation and turns black with the 1st logo on it.

Byline: Referred to as “/\ VI/\CO/\/\ CO/\/\P/\NY” in the 1990 Wigga-Wigga font.

Variant: On some early releases with this logo, two menu selections is seen: “PREVIEWS” and “MAIN MENU”.

FX/SFX: CGI with the previous logo’s animation.

Music/Sounds: Starts off silent and then a thunderclap sound with whooshes is heard.

Availability: Ultra common.

* It appears on almost every DVD from 2003 onwards.
* The last DVD to use this logo was *Instant Family*.

Editor’s Note: Even though Viacom changed their byline in 2010 and the Paramount logo in 2011, this logo continues to be used throughout the 2010s.

## **Paramount High Definition**

### (September 26, 2006-March 5, 2019)

Nicknames: “The Mountain XI”, “‘2000s Mountain V”, “CGI Mountain VII”, “Ultra Common Mountain IV”

Logo: We see a star shooting through the 2002 Paramount logo’s animation and “*HIGH DEFINITION*” on the mountain.

Byline: Referred to as “/\ VI/\CO/\/\ CO/\/\P/\NY” in the 1990 Wigga-Wigga font.

FX/SFX: CGI.

Music/Sounds: Some digital sounds.

Availability: Extremely common. It appears on Paramount’s Blu-Ray releases.

* It also appears on HD-DVD releases.

* The last Blu-Ray to use this logo was *The Instant Family*.

Editor’s Note: None.