HIT Entertainment PLC

### 1st Logo (1997-2008-2022- april 1, 2022)

Nicknames: "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 and bubbles. 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 finished result of the logo.
* There is also a middle-length version, which starts in the middle of the logo.
* At the end of a ride on video-optioned *Bob the Builder* kiddie rides from Jolly Roger, Lofty the crane pushes away the title card of the show from the left, and then uses his crane to pull the finished product of the logo into the screen.
* Throughout 2003 on DVDs (except for *Thomas & Friends* ones), the same logo is used but a fire can be seen during the explosion, the globe spins faster, and the word "PLC" is removed. The sound effects and fanfare are unchanged.

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

**Music/Sounds:** It depends on the version:

* Full version: 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.
* Middle-length version: The last 8 notes of the long version's music.
* Short version: The ending theme of the show or none.
* *Bob the Builder* kiddie ride variant: The last 5 notes of the long version's music.

Availability: Pretty common, given its longevity. The full version of the logo is available on most VHS and DVDs by HiT Entertainment until late 2003, but only in the UK. The short version of the logo was used on the television series *Anthony Ant*. The short version of the logo was used on the television series of *Blaze And Monster Machines* 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 when not in motion, while *Thomas & Friends* rides use the full version. 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 6th logo being used all over the packaging, as well as on the VHS versions and on most other HiT releases. However, the reissues of those releases from HiT themselves plastered that and 2Entertain's logo with the 6th logo.

### 2nd Logo (January 13, 2001-March 13, 2007- March 1, 2022)

Nicknames: "HiT Globe IV", "2000s HiT Globe", "Cheesy Glow"

On a blue background, we see the HiT logo (as seen in the last two logos), but less shiny and solid, and with "ENTERTAINMENT" replacing "ENTERTAINMENT PLC". A glow of light surrounds the globe. Sometimes, a copyright notice appears below. Like the 4th logo, sometimes the URL (www.hitentertainment.com) and byline (DISTRIBUTED WORLDWIDE BY HIT ENTERTAINMENT) are seen below the logo.

## Variants:

There is a difference between the original and the standard versions.

* Original version:
	+ The still version, no animations at all (aka, the prototype version)
	+ Always bylineless

Original version:

* The still version, no animations at all (aka, the prototype version) This logo appears season 7 of The Amazing World Of Gumball.
	+ Has a constant color scheme/contrast
	+ Has a thinner text for "ENTERTAINMENT"
	+ On Some episodes of season 7 of The Amazing World Of Gumball, the globe is bigger than in the original variant.
* A special bumper was used exclusively on *HiT Entertainment Children's Favorites Vol. 1* (2004) before each episode. It starts off normally with both the URL and byline in their respective places, but the background fades into a zooming space backdrop as all the text disappears and the globe becomes more lifelike and starts to spin. The HiT text then zooms closer before it disappears as the globe moves to the center. A circle playing a clip from the upcoming show then peeks out from behind the globe on either the left or right side and zooms towards the screen before moving in the opposite direction. All other volumes in the series use the standard logo.

Availability:
Very common. Seen on HiT shows from the period including *Barney & Friends* from the 2002-2006 seasons, Seen on Season 7 of The Amazing World Of Gumball, Including Slim Pig, such as Spongebob Squarepants, The Amazing World Of Gumball, Underground Ernie, Tilly and Friends, *Bob the Builder*, *Angelina Ballerina*, *Rubbadubbers*, *Slim Pig* seasons 7-10 of *Thomas & Friends*, *Oswald*, *Pingu*, and the *VeggieTales: The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown* 2001 VHS. It also appears on the remastered versions of episodes from seasons 1-4 of *Pingu*. The normal in-credit variant appears on seasons 5-6 of *Pingu*, while the white background one appears on the 2003 series of *Fireman Sam* and at the end of games from the company. Both the “Entertainment” and “Consumer Products” white background variants appear on games of the company’s shows, and an “Entertainment PLC” version was seen on the remastered versions of the original *Fireman Sam* alongside the Bumper Films and S4C logos. One of the last releases to use this logo was the 2007 DVD of *Barney & Friends: Let's Go to the Firehouse!*. It was also used to plaster over the 3rd logo at times, and also makes a surprise appearance on the Britbox print of episode 1 of *Dennis the Gnasher* (1996-1998) through plastering the 3rd logo. Strangely *Thomas & Friends* DVDs from 2003-08 used the 4th logo instead of this for some reason.