Astral Films Limited

Credits

Descriptions by
Codyfinke2

Captures by
Eric S. and C.McBraggins

Background

Astral Films was the film production and distribution arm of Astral Communications Ltd., founded in 1973 under Astral Bellevue Pathé Limited. However, by the 1990s, its film output and distribution deals were being phased out as they became more focused on their home video arm. In 1996, Astral sold off their programming development and distributions to Coscient Group, forming TVA Films as Astral became focused entirely on the specialty television market.

1st Logo (1973-1988)

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Visuals: On a navy blue background, a trail of white concentric circles zoom out and settle into the center, retracting into itself as it finishes zooming. Then, inside the circle, a abstract, stained glass-like drawing of a rooster crowing zooms in with a trail effect and ends up in the circle, the trail behind it retracting into the rooster. On top, "ASTRAL FILMS LIMITED" wipes in, followed by "presents" below, both in a white Optima font.

Variants:

• On French-dubbed movies, the text is replaced with "LES FILMS ASTRAL LIMITÉE" and "présentent" respectively. This can easily be spotted on the French-dubbed version of The Care Bears Movie.
• At the end of the 1983 TV movie Pygmalion, and possibly other television productions, a short version has the rooster trails zoom in before freeze-framing. The chroma-keyed text, "ASTRAL" above and "FILM PRODUCTIONS LTD." on the bottom, then fade in.

Technique: Motion-controlled animation.

Audio: None.

Audio Variant: On Pygmalion, a rising synth tune is heard.

Availability: Seen on old Canadian film prints of titles such as Porky's and The Care Bears Movie. Also used as a de-facto home video logo.

• Also seen on Canadian VHS releases from outfits such as Hi-Tops Video and Media Home Entertainment as they were the official distributor of said tapes in Canada.
• Can also be seen on a Canadian VHS of Extra Terrestrial Visitors (AKA: Pod People).
• It is rumored this makes an appearance on the UK Neculus Films DVD of Death Ship, as well as on the 2018 Scorpion Releasing limited edition remastered Blu-ray. The earlier Scorpion DVD and Blu-ray release of said film neither have this nor the Avco Embassy logo.

2nd Logo (1988-1990)

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Visuals: On a space background with moving stars and teal nebulas, a orange comet streaks from the left side of the screen to just off-center before vanishing into the background, before reappearing closer to the screen from the bottom right. It then swerves around and flies straight to the right, wiping in the text "ASTRAL FILMS" in a glowing white Optima font. The glow around it then dies down and turns gold, followed by pink, and then light blue, like the text is "cooling" in color. The comet then returns from the right and flies under the text to the left, revealing a tiny version of the rooster logo that flashes in, and changes colors the same way.

Variant: On French-dubbed films, the text is referred to as "LES FILMS ASTRAL".

Technique: Cel animation.

Audio: A triumphant Moog synthesizer fanfare.

Audio Variant: A silent variant exists.

Availability: Seen on films such as Babar: The Movie (which appears at the beginning and end, the silent variant for the latter).

3rd Logo (1990?-1996)

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Visuals: On a dull-colored cloudy background with a sun poking out that scrolls to the left, the Astral Communications logo as the time (the word "ASTRAL" in blue in a custom Peignot font, similar to the 1971 Viacom and MTM logos, with a small golden star attached to the oversized "A"). After a couple of seconds, the logo zooms in towards the screen, sliding to the right as the gold star turns into a tunnel, leading into space. The Astral logo, followed by "FILMS" in a thinner font to the left of it, then appear and revolve around to face the screen. The logo then shines, and the star glows briefly.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Likely silent.

Audio Variant: On Canadian prints of Porky's, this would be accompanied by the jingle of the 1953-1987 20th Century Fox logo due to sloppy plastering.

Availability: So far, it has been spotted on the U.S. and Canadian iTunes print of the original Porky's (Astral's successor, TVA International, owns US and Canadian streaming rights to the Porky's franchise instead of Fox).

• It is also rumored this same combo appears on the TVA Films 25th anniversary Canadian DVD release of Porky's, as well as on the sequels in the Canadian Porky's trilogy DVD set.
• It's possible it was seen on Canadian prints of other films from this time period, but with Astral seemingly focused more on their video division and less on the theatrical unit, most have probably never had this logo originally or had it removed as far as video releases go.