For the unrelated American theatrical distributor, see Strand Releasing.
Background[]
Strand Home Video was the North American division of UK video distributor Video Collection International, formed in 1989 as "Strand VCI Entertainment". The company was known for distributing videos of the popular children's show Thomas the Tank Engine in the early 1990s. It was rebranded to Strand Home Video in 1992. In December 1993, VCI decided to pull out of the North American market, and sold its division to the Handleman Company, absorbing it into Video Treasures.
Strand VCI Entertainment[]
(1990-1992)[]
Logo: On a white background, an amber rectangle turns many different colors as different colored rectangles from all parts of the screen (except for the left), while "ENTERTAINMENT" in a dark gray Triple Condensed Gothic font scrolls right-to-left across the screen. The rectangle turns gray with the "ENTERTAINMENT" text wiping in at the bottom at the bottom. A red rectangle with the words "STRAND VCI" with the "V" colored golden yellow, flips from the bottom of the screen. After the rectangle plasters itself on the screen, the "V" in VCI turns gray.
Variant: Some tapes have a white "V" flipping in from the bottom of the screen before the red rectangle, and the "V" fades to gray (on the regular version, the V just suddenly turns gray at the blink of an eye in sync with the orchestral hit). This may have been an animation timing error.
FX/SFX: Early computer graphics.
Music/Sounds: Three light synth chords, then a loud orchestral hit.
Availability: Common.
- Notably seen on tapes from the era as well as early Thomas the Tank Engine releases in the U.S. from late 1990 to 1993.
- Also seen on The Mouse and the Motorcycle, Runaway Ralph, Ripley's Believe It or Not, and The Jungle Book anime.
Editor's Note: The "V" in VCI turning gray was likely unintentional.
Strand Home Video[]
1st Logo (1992)[]
Logo: On a gray background, a black rectangle with "HOME VIDEO" in a Futura font on the bottom slides in from below. A white outlined red rectangle with the word "STRAND" (in a Windsor Elongated font) flies and rotates in from the right.
FX/SFX: The shapes sliding. Much simpler 2D animation than the Strand VCI logo.
Music/Sounds: Same as the previous logo.
Availability: Extremely rare. It's only known to appear on Wild and Wacky Sports Moments, Volume 1. Don't expect this on any Thomas the Tank Engine tapes from the period.
Editor's Note: Judging from its rarity, it is likely a placeholder logo.
2nd Logo (1992-1994)[]
Logo: On a starry sky background, a gray model of the Earth spins around from the bottom left of the screen. The globe abruptly stops at North America, then a white grid pattern is wiped onto it from top to bottom. After that, a black 3D rectangle flips from the top of the screen. The red "STRAND" rectangle from the previous logo (with a bolder typeface) also flies in from the right side, alongside the flipping and flying 3D words "HOME VIDEO" from opposite sides. Once the logo is put together, it flashes once and turns 2D.
Trivia: As the globe spins past Europe, a white spark appears right where London is. This is a reference to the location of Video Collection International's global headquarters.
FX/SFX: The globe spinning, the grid filling in, the boxes flying, the text appearing. Early CGI graphics.
Music/Sounds: Same as the 1986 VCI logo, but without the electronic beeps at the beginning.
Availability: Uncommon.
- Can be seen on later Thomas the Tank Engine releases in the US from 1992 to 1994.
- Also seen on Kino's Storytime.
Editor's Note: A cool logo for the period, though the music sounds a bit too industrial for use on children's releases.
Other[]
- For other related logos and images see: Strand Home Video/Other