Background: CIC-Taft Video was initially formed in 1981 as "Rigby-CIC Video" as a joint venture between CIC Video and Australian publisher Rigby Publishers (which is owned by the Hamlyn Group, which is back then owned by James Hardie Industries) to distribute content from Hanna-Barbera and CIC in Australia, plus those of Merlin Video. In 1983, shortly-after the reorganization of the latter joint venture as Taft-Hardie Group, it was renamed to "CIC-Taft Video". In 1988, Neil Baldwins appointed a management takeover of Taft-Hardie, and thus renamed to "Southern Star Group", selling its interest to CIC itself, which was later simplified to "CIC Video Australia" in 1990. Besides that, the company had distributed titles from Merlin Video, THG Video (later Taft Video and Southern Star Video) and Worldvision Home Video.
1st Logo (1981-1989)[]
Nicknames: "Medieval Rigby-CIC-Taft-Merlin", "Hollywood at Home", "Another Boring CIC Logo"
Logo: On a light blue background, the text "Rigby-CIC Video Presents" fades in, in a very fancy-looking font. Then it just fades out, and we see the warning screen scrolling. When the warning screen is done, one of four logos fades in:
- On CIC Video releases, a 2D white CIC logo appears. A version has been spotted with the "prototype" (chain-less) logo.
- On Merlin Video releases, the Merlin Video logo fades in on a light blue background, or on a white background.
- On THG Video releases, the THG Video logo (the white letters "THG" with "VIDEO" is shown below the logo.
- On Worldvision Home Video releases, a still of the Worldvision Home Video logo, without the byline is shown below the logo.
Variants:
- The warning screen may be in a Helvetica or Century Gothic-like font. Tapes branded with "CIC-Taft" use a Courier New-like font.
- From about 1984 onwards, "Rigby-CIC" is replaced with "CIC-Taft". This variant also lacks the "Presents" text.
- On releases from 1983 to 1984, the logo is on a sky blue background.
- Early CIC-Video releases used a thinner font, while later releases used a much bolder font.
- CIC-Taft releases from 1986 to 1989 use a modified version of the logo which only shows the CIC-Taft Video logo and the warning scroll. After this, it transitions to the 2nd CIC Video logo.
FX/SFX: Just the copyright text scrolling during the logo, unless you count the CIC Video logo fading in at the end of the CIC-Taft variant.
Music/Sounds/Voice-over:
- A triumphant fanfare at the beginning, a mellow synth jazz tune in the middle, and another triumphant fanfare at the end. There is also an announcer saying, "Rigby/CIC (or 'CIC-Taft') Video proudly presents, a spectacular range of the finest full-length feature films and animated family favourites, from the studios of Universal, Paramount, and other major film production houses. The movie you have selected is one from the comprehensive Rigby/CIC (or 'CIC-Taft') Video catalogue, which enables you to enjoy these authentic movies in the comfort of your own home. So now, it's Hollywood at home!".
- This can also be silent, particularly if it's the prototype variation, and also shown on 1984 CIC-Taft releases, such as Future Schlock, Flashdance and Witchfinder General, as well as releases from 1986-89.
Availability: Can be seen on old PAL tapes from Australia, such as:
- Rigby-CIC: Jaws (Prototype), Urban Cowboy, My Bloody Valentine, Friday The 13th Part 2, Airplane! (known locally as Flying High!), Bloodsuckers.
- CIC-Taft: Flashdance, Airwolf, Friday The 13th: Part 3, Future Schlock, The Dead Don't Die, Witchfinder General, Airplane II - The Sequel (known locally as Flying High II - The Sequel) , Beverly Hills Cop, Trading Places, The Secret of My Success, Nothing Underneath.
2nd Logo (1989-1990)[]
Nickname: "CIC-Taft In Space"
Logo: On the space background as seen on the CIC Video warning scroll, we see the "CIC-Taft Video" logo in the same font as before. When the logo fades out, it then transitions to the warning scroll. When that finishes it either transitions to one of the following:
- On retail tapes, it would fade into the 2nd logo with the blue background variant with the marquee.
- On rental tapes, it would fade into the Hologram warning, which then fades into the 2nd logo with the "PREVIEWS" advice (see the 4th logo on the CIC Video page).
FX/SFX: The "CIC-Taft Video" text fading in and out, plus the scrolling of the copyright warning.
Music/Sounds: None, unless you count the music from the 2nd logo.
Availability: Rarer than the previous logo. Tapes with this include Midnight Run, Back to the Future Part II, and The Accused.