Castle Home Video (UK)

Logo descriptions by gshowguy and billywws Logo and video capture courtesy of Eric S.

Background: Castle Vision, later Castle Home Video, was the video imprint of the British independent record label Castle Communications, which went defunct in 2007.

1st Logo (1987-1991)

Castle Vision (1987)

Nicknames: "Where's the Castle?", "Grid of Doom"

Logo: Against a live-action sky background, a white grid can be seen with its tiles advancing forward. This scene then zooms out to reveal that it takes place on a rich lilac-colored background. Once it's zoomed out all the way, the words "CASTLE" and "VISION" on black squares in cyan can be seen above and below the sky/grid scene respectively. The sky/grid scene then splits in two and a flash of bright light appears in the middle of the screen.

FX/SFX/Cheesy Factor: The keyed-in sky (similar to the Warner Home Video logo), the scanimate grid and the zooming, all dated 80's style effects.

Music/Sounds: A synth-timpani plays throughout. When the sky/grid scene begins to zoom out, a harsh distorted guitar drone begins playing. When the flash of light appears, both the timpani and the guitar stop and a loud, dramatic orchestral sting plays.

Availability: Should be available on all tapes with the Castle Vision label from 1987 to 1989, including videos of TUGS, Alvin and the Chipmunks and The Raggy Dolls. Also appeared on some later releases, including You've Been Framed! from 1991.

Scare Factor: Medium to nightmare. The dated effects and the rapid-moving clouds are sure to unnerve a few, but the scariest thing about the logo is the music; there is very little rhyme or reason to the composition, and the droning and instrument choices sound ominous and foreboding.

2nd Logo (1989-1992)

Castle Vision

Nicknames: "Where's the Castle? II", "Portcullis of Boredom"

Logo: On a black background, a white square with a blue, stylised, slightly slanted portcullis appears. Below the white square are the words "CASTLE VISION".

Trivia: The stylised portcullis is the same as the print logo for Castle Communications PLC, only coloured blue.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Should be available on most Castle Vision releases from the late 1989 and early 1992.

Scare Factor: None; this is much tamer than the previous logo, but many will find it boring. However, the scare factor rises again with the next logo...

3rd Logo (1992-2007)

Castle Home Video

Nickname: "Where's the Castle? III"

Logo: On a white cloudy background, three down arrows fly to the middle of the screen. A square appears on the arrows and the background fades to white. Then, a chrome ribbon-like thing goes around in circles and a thin rectangle appears below the square. The words, "Castle Home Video" appears under it then shines.

Variant: Sometimes, "HOME VIDEO" would be replaced with "PICTURES"

FX/SFX: The arrows moving, the clouds moving and the text shining.

Cheesy Factor: For a 90's logo, this is VERY cheap animation. The chrome reflection dosen't look like a reflection at all.

Music/Sounds: A dramatic synth note with whooshes going off.

Availability: Unknown. Appeared on Through The Fire. The variant with "Castle Pictures" is seen on Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.

Scare Factor: High to nightmare. The scary music and the cheap animation will cause multiple scares. The scare factor varies to whoever is used to it.