Carlton Visual Entertainment

Credits

Descriptions by
mr3urious, Logophile, Mariofan88 and Henrynguye5

Captures by
Henrynguye5, SubparMario63 and Lorcan Wooster

Editions by
Tabit and Michael Kenchington

Video captures courtesy of
dylan fagan

Background

In 1992, Pickwick Group PLC was purchased by Carlton Communications for £65 million. In 1995, the company was restructured under the Carlton name and renamed as Carlton Home Entertainment. The home video division was renamed as Carlton Video, while the company's other divisions became Carlton Records, Carlton Classics and Carlton Publishing. Pickwick's own label was transitioned to Carlton Classics and rebranded under the Hallmark name, while the brand was retained for children's releases under Carlton Records.

In 1998, Carlton sold off their music division to The Point Group, while keeping the video division. After various administrations, this division later reverted under the Pickwick name and continues to operate to this day.

In 2002, Carlton Home Entertainment was renamed Carlton Visual Entertainment, with all releases being branded under this name.

In July 2004, following the folding of Granada Video into their unit, ITV plc rebranded Carlton Visual Entertainment as Granada Ventures.

1st Logo (2 October 1995-1997)

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Logo: The camera passes by giant zoomed-in letters of the name "CARLTON" on a red background. Once we see the "N" zoom in, it dissolves into the full logo. "Video" fades in as well under the name.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Music/Sounds: A droning synth chord with whooshes. The first whoosh is very long, sudden and loud.

Availability: Appears at the beginning and end of Carlton Video VHS releases from the time period.

• Seen on The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies, Bananas In Pyjamas, Tots TV, and Starla & the Jewel Riders, among others.
• Later releases still had this logo on the box cover, but used the Carlton Home Entertainment logo that was only seen at the end of the tape.
• It also appears on the 1995 UK VHS release of The Story Store: Who's Minding The Store as well.

Legacy: Along with the related Carlton Screen Advertising logo, this has been known to scare viewers who weren't expecting it with its dramatic appearance.

2nd Logo (1996-1999)

Logo: Just the 1995 Carlton Television logo without any video indicator whatsoever.

Technique: CGI.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Appears on certain Carlton Video VHS releases such as the 1996 UK VHS release of Tots TV: Snowy Adventure and the 1997 UK VHS release of Tots TV: Fluffy Little Chicks And Other Stories respectively, among many others.

3rd Logo (1998-1999)

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Logo: It's the "24 Hours" variant of the 1996 Carlton Television ident, also without any video indicator. Here, it starts at the point where "CARLTON" appears.

Variant:

• There is also a longer variant, where the "O" descends slower and uses the full "24 Hours" ident music.
• A variant for promos has the Carlton logo at the top of the screen.

Technique: 2D animation.

Music/Sounds: An abridged version of the "24 Hours" ident music.

Availability: Appears on certain Carlton Video VHS releases.

• It was also used in tandem with the previous one.
• It also appears on the 1998 UK VHS release of David Hand's Animaland and the 1999 UK VHS releases of Extreme Dinosaurs: Raptoroid and Extreme Dinosaurs: Cyber-Raptors, respectively.
• It also appears at the end of very early DVD releases, including the 1998 DVD release of Goodnight, Mister Tom.

4th Logo (September 1999-2004)

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Logo: The finished product of the 1999 Carlton ident, without the 1998 ITV logo (similar to the version used on TV productions).

Variants:

• The background may be still. This mainly appeared on pre-2000 VHS and DVD releases. It was also seen on some VHS releases after 2000 as well.
• "VIDEO" is seen below the logo in some occasions.
• The URL may also appear below.
• A 16:9 widescreen version exists.

Technique: 2D animation.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Appears on Carlton Video VHS and DVD releases from the time period.

• It is also seen on VHS and DVD releases of shows that were produced by ITC Entertainment such as Thunderbirds, Stingray and Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, among others.
• Some reissues of Carlton DVD releases in the ITV plc era will either keep this intact or mainly plaster this with the ITV DVD logo.
• Despite the logo appearing on the spine, back and tape labels of the reissued versions of the 1997 The World of Peter Rabbit & Friends UK VHS releases, it does not appear on them as they use the first logo instead due to them being direct reissues.
• It also appears on the 2000 UK VHS release of Jellikins: Christmas Special as well.

◄ Pickwick Video

Carlton Visual Entertainment

Granada Ventures ►