Caution Video (Japan)

(1980s-1992)

Nicknames : "Howling/Screaming Shirtless Man From Hell", "Films That Break The Mold", "CAUTION!", "Widget Japanese Logo", "Awwoooooooo!/Aaaaahhhhhh!", "You Know, for Kids!", "The Weirdest Kids' Logo of all Time" "Jim Owens Productions's Best Japanese Cousin"

Logo : On a black background, we see a shirtless man (possibly naked) from the waist up howling or screaming while we zoom in on his face. The word "CAUTION" (in pinkish red, with the C looking like a serpent that goes under the stylized "A" and "U") appears, with the byline "films that break the mold" (also in pinkish red) appearing below it. The Japanese words "株式会社タカラ映像事業部" (A Film Division of The Takara Company) fade in below.

FX/SFX : The man howling or screaming, the zooming in, and the words appearing and fading in.

Cheesy Factor : The word "CAUTION" appearing seems like an afterthought, and "株式会社タカラ映像事業部" doesn't fade in too well. Besides, the logo makes absolutely no sense.

Music/Sounds : The man howling or screaming (the exact howl or scream varies from tape to tape), and then a loud shotgun sound.

Availability : Scarce; seen on Japanese B-movie VHS tapes of the time period, such as Meet The Feebles, Aliennators, Shocking Dark, and Hammerhead.

Scare Factor : Low to medium for the howling variant, and high to nightmare for the screaming variant. Many will be unnerved by the dark atmosphere and the nonsensical subject matter. The timpani hit may also startle a few. Those who are used to it will have less of a problem, and some may love its overall weirdness.

Editor's Note : Not to forget that there are probably more variants of this logo on other Caution films. Awaiting denial/agreement/proof/confrontation, and different scare factors.