Nova Home Video

Credits

Descriptions by
BudTheChud1989

Editions by
Phillip Hatfield

Video captures courtesy of
MachineryNoise and czar7474

Background

Nova Home Video (also known as Nova Entertainment) was a Canadian distribution company based in Calgary, Alberta. It was later bought out by Malofilm.

1st Logo (1987-1990)

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Visuals: In outer space, Earth passes us, and a bright light shines behind it. It turns out that light comes from the sun-shaped "O" in the word "Nova", colored blue. The sun spins very quickly, and "Nova" turns into place. Finally, a white light passes through, and a blue box with the text "NOVA HOME VIDEO" or "ENTERTAINMENT, INC." slides in below.

Variant: On some releases, dozens of small sparkles appear in the sun.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Outer space synth beeps, then a constantly-looping synth-bass sounder, with a synth "slicing" sound for when the logo shines twice. On Blackout (1985), the logo is silent.

Availability: Can be seen after the Canadian Video Factory logo on many tapes, such as the non-MST3K version of Space Mutiny. Also seen on a good number of tapes from AIP Home Video, Imperial Entertainment, Magnum Entertainment, J2 Communications, Turner Home Video, and Fries Home Video, among others, that were released in Canada.

2nd Logo (1990-1992)

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Visuals: There is a shot of clouds billowing forth. Suddenly, they reveal a bright blue flash and a stylized N block flipping and twirling towards the camera until it faces us on a dark blue background. When it does, it flashes blue and shines, revealing the word "NOVA" in blue, glowing. A "spark" writes the cursive letter E and then "ENTERTAINMENT" flies up from the bottom with a shadow trail. The N block shines again. Then the logo fades out and in again, this time without the word "ENTERTAINMENT", and the word "HOME VIDEO" flies in (with a "shadow" effect). The N shines again.

Variant: On some releases such as Xtro II: The Second Encounter and Paper Mask, there is a version of the Nova Entertainment logo that does not transition to the Nova Home Video logo.

Technique: CGI and backlit animation.

Audio: A light synthesized fanfare coupled with a few laser zaps and a stock sound effect of a jail door closing.

Availability: Can be found on some Canadian VHS releases from the era, such as Meet the Applegates and Xtro II: The Second Encounter, among others. Was also seen on Canadian releases of VHS tapes from Magnum Entertainment, Fries Home Video and AIP Home Video, among others. The Nova Entertainment variant was spotted as of May 15, 2015 on the Canadian Seville Pictures DVD of Tune in Tomorrow. This also appears on some Nova tapes with the previous logos on the packaging, including, but not limited to Pride and Extreme Prejudice.