VARA

Credits

Descriptions by
Yuuko2K

Editions by
TheRealMarcel2000

Background

The Omroepvereniging VARA (simply known as the VARA; originally Vereeniging van Arbeiders Radio Amateurs until 1957, but today it's no longer an acronym) is a Dutch public broadcasting organization that operates with the Netherlands Public Broadcasting (NPO: Nederlandse Publieke Omroep). The company mostly broadcasts shows about labour and working, but also participated in broadcasting on other genres including children's shows like The Smurfs and sitcoms. It also operates on some of the Dutch parts of Belgium. On January 1, 2014, VARA was merged with BNN to form BNNVARA.

1st ID (1990-1995)

Visuals: On a black background, there are various silver lines. A red ball is seen crossing them and drops down few of the holes of these lines. The last cut features the lines seen from above and they're revealed to make the word "VARA". The ball moves to the bottom of the "R" and the lines move away to reveal the trademark logo. A red exclamation mark is in place of the line of the "R'. The background changes into a multicolored light background before the whole thing cuts away for almost a second.

Variants:

• On in-vision continuities, the logo is shortened, and when the lines move away the background doesn't change. The trademark logo moves to the top-left corner to start the continuity.
• A production version has the logo still.

Technique: CGI by Lion Keezer and Margot Smeyer.

Audio: A calm piano tune, followed by a 5-note synth tune, which later became VARA's signature jingle from 1983-2009. Composed by Henk Westrus.

Availability: The normal animated logo was seen during VARA programming on the NPO channels. The production logo may be still seen somewhere around.

2nd ID (1995-1997)

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Visuals: The idents consist of live-action clips that include the red exclamation mark from the logo. The VARA logo fades in at the upper-left corner.

Technique: Live-action by the English company Pittard & Sullivan.

Audio: Depends on the variant, but always ends in a 5-note jingle.

Availability: Used in tandem with the previous logo.

3rd ID (March 7, 2002-2009)

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Visuals: On a black/red light background, a red box featuring an exclamation mark is seen along with the word "VARA". There's some variants in which the box does an specific action:

• The box may walk in and stop at the left of the word.
• The box may dance in one of the variants.
• Another variant shows the box moving very fast and then settling into place.
• The box may look at the the word.
• On Twee voor Twaalf, the question mark on the box is showing, but it slides into a correct symbol of an exclamation mark.
• The box can be bowing to the audience.
• On drama shows, a close-up of the box zooms out.
• On comedy shows, the box jumps to the left of the word and it's upside down. Then, it laughs and jumps to the correct one.
• The spotlight moves to search the box, then it turns off for showing the logo.
• The box looks left and right when it says "Yep. Nope, nope.", then it spin to the word and says "Yep.".

Variants:

• Until September 2006, the Publieke Omroep logo may appear on the lower-right corner.
• Sometimes, the URL "www.vara.nl" can be seen below.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Depends on the variant, but ends in a 5-note jingle, sometimes it would have the last three notes or the last two notes.

4th ID (2009-2012)

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Visuals: On a cream/bluish background, there is the box from before, which goes to the tilted, white rectangle with the word "WEES VERSCHILLIG" at the left and the "VARA" name at the right. There's some variants in which the box does an specific action:

• The box goes up in the sky and falls down.
• One box is flying, followed by three boxes and one box settles down.
• One box is flying, followed by two boxes bump together and two of them stack in.

Variants:

• A 85th anniversary variant exists.
• Sometimes, the "Wees Verschillig" slogan is replaced by a URL.
• There is a variant where to help the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference, in which the box has a footprint and the text reads "Wat laat u achter?"

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A one piano note accompanied by a noise that sounds like a bee buzzing when the box is flying, then a 3-note piano jingle, which is the modified version of the VARA jingle.

5th Logo (2014-2017)

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Visuals: A red box is seen zooming out inside the white background, then the "VARA" name and an exclamation mark fade in, with a shadow seen underneath.

Variant: At the end of each VARA program, the box pops in while the broadcaster's name and an exclamation mark fade in. Then, the box zooms in.

Technique: Computer animation.

Audio: A quiet whoosh, followed by the last three notes of the 2009 jingle.

VARA

BNNVARA ►