Toshiba EMI

Background

The company was founded on October 1, 1960, as Toshiba Musical Industries (東芝音楽工業株式会社, Tōshiba Ongaku Kōgyō Kabushiki Kaisha). From 1962, it licensed Columbia (UK) titles for release in Japan. After an injection of capital by Capitol EMI, EMI acquired 50% of the company in October 1973, and the name was changed to Toshiba EMI Limited. The company had operated a video division between 1983 and 2007. On October 3, 1994, the equity ratio of the company was changed, in which EMI obtained 55% with Toshiba owning the remaining 45%. On June 30, 2007, Toshiba Corporation sold the remaining 45% stake in the company to EMI, giving EMI full ownership of the company.

1st Logo (1983-1987)

Visuals: On a space background, there is the red word "TOEMI" in a New Zelek font zooming up. A trail appears from behind the text and then the logo glows. Then the red letter "V" draws from the letter "M" and then "IDEO" wipes in and stand next to the letter. The logo flashes, and the word "TOSHIBA EMI" in a Serif Gothic font fades in below the logo.

Variant: On VHD releases, the logo is preceded by the official VHD logo colored in dark yellow, leaving a light blue trail.

Technique: Zooming and flashing effects.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on early Toshiba EMI VHS and Laserdisc releases from the era.^[Examples?]

2nd Logo (1987?-1991)

Visuals: On a black background, some complicated shapes zoom out rotating and turning. The shapes then interlock to form the logo, which is "TOEMI VIDEO" in a New Zelek font, with the M and the V connected together. The logo then zooms to reveal a seashore. "TOSHIBA EMI" is chyroned into the shot.

Technique: Analog computer animation.

Audio: A fantasy-oriented synth fanfare.

Availability: Seen on early releases from the company.^[Examples?]

3rd Logo (1991-June 2007)

Visuals: On a yellow stone background, many blocks fly around as sketches of the logo appear. Parts of the logo fly onto the sketches to form the logo in green. As it completes forming, the blocks disappear, the logo rotates to the center of the screen, and the background becomes black.

Variant: A still version exists.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A harp note throughout the logo as a strange series of downward xylophone scales plays throughout.

Availability: Seen on anime and concerts from the company. Also spotted on promotional videos. The still and animated version appears on certain Funimation releases, possibly Japanese-dubbed anime.^[Examples?]