Gativideo (Argentina)

Logo descriptions by Guillermo (William) A. Martinez, PAV123 and Verloren50 Logo captures and videos by Guillermo (William) A. Martinez and Verloren50 Editions by Guillermo (William) A. Martinez, Shadeed A. Kelly and Verloren50 Translation by Shadeed A. Kelly and Verloren50 courtesy of Google Translate

Background : Gativideo S.A. was formed on April 1, 1987 when Aries went into financial troubles,to be headed by Manuel Pablo Venacio, Luis Saverio Fortunato Scalella, Luis Alberto Scalella and Jorge Horacio Scalella, which are the company's brothers. with Legal Video and Videoman Internacional serving as brands of the company. This was expanded in 1988 by signing an agreement with Disney to bring their titles to the Argentinian market. Those brands phased out in 1989, and Gativideo began using its own logos. Its primary purpose was to distribute 20th Century Fox, Disney, and until 1991, MGM/UA Home Video titles for the Argentina market. In 1992, the owners created a sister label for low-budget films, Intercom Entertainment, even though it was dissolved by two years, and Gativideo would be the second most important label, becoming one of the most successful majors. Gativideo, along with rival LK-TEL Video was dissolved by itself in 2009 due to low sales and demand, and a new company Blu Shine S.R.L. began to take over distribution of the titles previously held by Gativideo, as well as Columbia TriStar's output, the venture lasted until 2017.

1st Logo (1988-1989)
Logo : Superimposed onto the screen, we see the outlined words "GATIVIDEO S.A." in a futuristic font fading in, with "G" and "A" connected together and "V" in "VIDEO" has an extended lining. This was shown in the center of the Legal Video logo or on the bottom on the Videoman Internacional or the Argentinian CBS/FOX Video logo.

FX/SFX : The logo fading in.

Music/Sounds : Either the Legal Video, Videoman Internacional or the Argentinian CBS/FOX Video logo themes.

Availability : Seen on early Gativideo releases from the era under these brand names.

Editor's Note : A wasted early effort by Gativideo, showing the brand logos.

2nd Logo (1989-2006)
Nickname: "The Milky Way"

Logo: On a blue space background (Milky Way), we see the metallic text "GATIVIDEO", in a font similar to the FHE '82 logo, flying all over the screen, leaving a trail of sparkles. When it stops in the center, sparkles can be seen.

FX/SFX: The flying logo with the trails, which is more or less cheap 80's/90's animation (which is strange for this to last until 2006.)

Music/Sounds: A rather dramatic fanfare, which is actually part of Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man".

Availability: Uncommon, at least in Argentina. This logo can be found on old Argentine PAL/N VHSs like Touchstone's Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Song of the South and other films from Disney, MGM and 20th Century Fox like the Home Alone series, Die Hard, and Predator 2 (the 1st is edited with the Legal Video CBS-FOX Brand license).

Editor's Note: This is one of the most memorable and popular logos and accessible to the public in Argentina, but the cheap font can turn some off. It might also be a favourite to Argentinians.

3rd Logo (1999-2002?)
Logo : On a space background, we see a 3D wireframe version of the Gativideo logo from the previous logos zooming out, then it rotates and a bright blue light fills the wireframe Gativideo logo in a solid blue 3D color. The logo shines, and then the Gativideo logo zooms in.

FX/SFX : The rotating and zooming.

Music/Sounds : A weird distorting synth theme, with some chines and a distorting zoom sound at the end, which trails it off to black.

Availability : Seen on early Gativideo DVD releases, like Manuelita.

 Editor's Note : None.

(2002?-2009)
Nickname: "Gativideo DVD"

Logo: Against a red space background with planets (Earth, mars and the Sun), we see the Gativideo logo from before, only in 3D, zoom out and stop to face us. Then, the DVD logo, also in 3D, zooms and flips out below it. A lens flare shines on the DVD logo.

FX/SFX: The logos zooming out and flipping.

Music/Sounds: Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" yet again, complete with "zoom" like effects.

Availability: Extremely rare. This was the last logo before their closure due to piracy. Found on Argentine DVD releases of Nightmare on Elm Street (New Line Cinema) collection (2003) and CSI: Miami.

Editor's Note: The animation, while cheap, is still an improvement over its predecessor. It may also be another favourite among Argentinians.