DD Video

Background

DD Home Entertainment (formerly DD Video) was a British specialty VHS/DVD distributor founded in 1988. After years of financial problems, and a failed expansion by their parent company, Medal Entertainment and Media plc, the company went bust in August of 2007. That same year a few months later, the company was purchased by Simply Media Group and was renamed Simply Home Entertainment. The company effectively went defunct around 2019 when they discontinued DVD production.

Contents

1st Logo (1988-2000)	2nd Logo (2000-2004)	3rd Logo (2004-2006)

1st Logo (1988-2000)

Visuals: On a indigo marble background, illuminated spotlight in the top right, a metallic parallelogram swoops down from the top left and settles in the centre, casting a shadow. The parallelogram has a black outline, and the embossed letters "DD" are seen on it in an abstract font, with the bottom left cut off from the rest of the letter. The letters then fill with a red colour in a stroke-like motion, flashing a blink of light once they reach the parallelogram again, and then "P R E S E N T S" fades in below the "DD" in the shadows.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: A harsh descending droning sound that holds for a few seconds, with some high pitched warbles at the end. The music is actually "Star Flight" by Paddy Kingsland.

Availability: Seen on specialty VHS and early DVDs from the company, like Cold War Air Power.

2nd Logo (2000-2004)

Visuals: On a white background, a red, slightly polished parallelogram flies in from the top right and settles in the centre, and a shadow spawns from underneath it. On the parallelogram, 2 blurry "D"s in white slide in and cross over each other, with cote-outs forming when they cross each other, and when they settle into place, they focus into view and form a logo similar to the previous one. A dim spotlight shines over the logo, and the URL "www.ddvideo.co.uk" fades in below as another spotlight shines.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on earlier DVDs of Survivors (1975), The West Death Runs Riot, and DVDs of various British comedy series like My Dad's The Prime Minister. It can also be seen on their last VHS releases.

3rd Logo (2004-2006)

Visuals: On a white background, a transparent purple rounded square fades and folds into view. The square is angled at a left-facing angle, and a "D" is cut out of it. A 2nd square then fades in, but coloured teal, and passes through the purple square and overlaps it. "HOME ENTERTAINMENT" then fades in and zooms out over the centre of the "DD" and a URL reading "www.ddhe.co.uk" fades in at the bottom of the screen. The logo then fades out, followed by the background.

Technique: 2D computer animation.

Audio: An ambient synth sound with 2 echoing beeps that fade out at the end.

Availability: Seen on later DVDs of Survivors (1975), Your Job In Great Britain, DVDs of War In The Air, The Ashes The Greatest Series, The History Of Mr. Polly, The Day Will Down, among various other DVDs.