Vertigo Pictures

Background: Vertigo Pictures licensed the rights to Japanese anime in the late 1970s through the late 1990s. It also distributed workout videos, public domain titles, educational programs, and religious programs. Some other releases also went through Media Home Entertainment.

1st Logo (1984-2002)

Logo: On a white background, we see a navy blue "V" that looks almost, but not quite the "V of Doom" in the left and in the right: VERTIGO PICTURES

in navy blue Times New Roman font. Starting in 1990, the logo is lime green colored. Until 1984, this logo was an in-credit disclamer.

SFX: No real animation here.

Cheesy Factor: Too plain and simple. They seemed to be in a hury.

Music: A classic 4-note orchestra fanfare.

Availability: The navy version is rare because all of this company's old and first releases were stored into the Public Domain. The lime green version is more common.

Scare Factor: None.

2nd Logo (2003)

Logo: On a white background, a lime green "V" just like the one from the last logo flashes on screen and has a aqua "Vertigo Pictures" in a weird-looking font written below. A metalic silver "25th Anniversary" is seen below that.

SFX: The logo flashing, the text.

Cheesy Factor: Looks like a 1985 NES graphic with that 8-bit computer animation.

Music: None.

Availability: Can be seen on Vertigo Pictures releases from 2003.

Scare Factor: Medium.

3rd Logo (2004-2005)

Logo: In a space background, four comets (each from each corner of the screen) zoom toward the screen and explode and forms "Vertigo Pictures" written in a new weird font with a tail extending down the "V". The logo gradually moves away as the logo fades out.

Variation: In late 2004, Heron Communications brought out Vertigo. From late 2004 to 2005, a byline saying "A division of Media Home Entertainment, a Heron Communications Co." fades in under the logo.

FX: Everything.

Cheesy Factor: Very high. The space background and comets look REALLY fake and the whole thing together looks as if it is in delayed motion.

Music: Only a cartoon "KA-BOOM!" noise when the comets crash into each other. Sometimes is silent.

Availability: Seen only on 2003-2005 tapes with a white Vertigo Pictures print logo on the top of the box (and in the case of Media releases, the Media print logo at the bottom). Early VHS releases were released in oversized boxes, so keep an eye out for those too. The variant with no byline is ultra-rare.

Scare Factor: Medium. The dark background, strange sound effect, and choppy animation will scare more than a few.

4th Logo (2005-Present)

Nickname:"The (Almost) Orion Parody"

Logo: On a space background, a group of stars swirl around in circular motion. Another group of stars come in (three rows of stars going down diagonally, and going back up again forming a "V"). The circle and "V" merge, then "Vertigo Pictures" fades in under that. Sometimes, "Presents" fades in under that.

FX: The CGI is very convincing. One of the best efforts ever. Looks very natural and real.

Music: A very beatiful orchestral fanfare.

Availability: Current. This logo appears on releases by Carloco, FHE, LIVE Entertainment, and some movies by New Line Cinema, Lionsgate, and Miramax Films, International, Home Entertainment or Family Films.

Scare Factor: None. This is logo is very calming.