Avatar Communications

Logo (1983?-1987?)

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Visuals: On a black background, a small white cluster of light trails appears in the top right sector of the screen, scrolling along as they reveal more lights. 2 more appear in sync with the music, a smaller pink cluster in the bottom right, and a larger blue cluster in the bottom left. They all fade out as a even larger version of the cluster animation plays out in full colour, revealing that the trails are all in multiple colours. After the lights zoom out for a bit, a white frame fades in around them, followed by a large tilted "a" made up of many light blue panels surrounded by other coloured panels, several of which poke out of the frame, and the logo freeze-frames. After a few seconds, the tall thin text "AVATAR" flashes in below in white.

Variant: A still version exists where the logo is on a white background. The "a" is now white and the rest of the panels are washed out, there's no lights superimposed over the logo, and a grey box is seen below reading "C O M M U N I C A T I O N S" with a black outline.

Technique: Possible live-action model work with computer effects for the tinting, and backlit animation for the text.

Audio: 5 drumbeats are heard, with the 2nd and 4th beats delayed, as a shrill synth noise plays and quickly descends in pitch to play throughout the logo, and an echoing synth key is heard. Then, a 6-note synth "wah" theme plays with a drumbeat heard every odd note, and then 2 drumbeat/cymbal crash combos play out. An female voice whispers out "Avatar..." in an echo, and then everything becomes silent after a few seconds.

Availability: Appears on several UK and New Zealand tapes of B-movies and video nasties, like the 1987 release of Strike Commando, Screw Balls II: Loose Screws, Torchlight, Pieces, Big Time, Doorman, Street Trash, Scared To Death, Jailbirds, Motorhead, and Django Strikes Again, among other titles.