CIC Video

Background

Cinema Intentional Corporation Video, commonly knows as CIC Video, was a home video distributor owned by Cinema International Corporation (CIC) and its successor United International Pictures (UIP), and operated in some countries by local operators. Outside of the United States, it distributed films by Universal Studios and Paramount Pictures, CIC's partners. DreamWorks films were added to the company output in 1998, as the fledgling studio had a worldwide video distribution deal with Universal. In 1999, CIC Video was dissolved when Universal purchased PolyGram and reorganized its video division under the Universal name. Paramount Home Entertainment became CIC's successor after acquiring full ownership and merging it into Paramount's video division.

1st Logo (January 1981-1986)

Standard logo
Purple background version
Prototype version

Nicknames: "Cloudy Blue/Purple", "Boring CIC"

Logo: It is nothing more than an odd-looking "CIC" in a very fat font with the "S"-patterned chain link from the film logo on the "I" and the word "VIDEO" in Aero Extended font slowly fading in on a cloudy blue (or purple) background.

Variant: The prototype variant has no "chain".

FX/SFX: The fading in of the logo.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: It's on (at least) PAL tapes in the United Kingdom and Germany and PAL Laserdiscs in the United Kingdom, such as Airplane!, Beverly Hills Cop, Rough Cut, Raiders of The Lost Ark, and Airwolf. The prototype variant is usually found on tapes that have the print CIC Video logo without the chain on the packaging (usually the very first releases on the label), such as the UK pre-cert releases of Jaws, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and The Thing.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (1986-1992; 1994)

Standard logo
Common variant
Great Films variant

Nickname: "CIC in Space"

Logo: Set against a black-blue gradient background, we see the three pieces of the chain (the outer two in light blue and the center one in white) fly from the edges of the screen, forming the chain. The "I" then flies in from the top of the screen, stopping were the chain is, and the two C's then draw themselves in, starting from the bottom up to the top. All three letters are made of metal. "VIDEO" then flies in below, stopping under the CIC logo.

Variants:

It's not very common in the UK and Germany, but on Aussie, Brazilian, and Argentine tapes, this variant is common: Just before the logo settles in place, a white flash is seen, and the logo is now set against a light blue background. Sometimes, only the still logo is seen, like on some Japanese tapes and LaserDiscs, as well as VHDs (basically the country's version of CED).
One variant has the CIC Video logo (blue background version) "morph" into the Paramount logo, which then morphs into the Universal logo. This was only seen on some Latin American videos as the beginning of a short promo to commemorative 1,000,000 copies of CIC Videotapes sold.
Some blue background variants have the logo zooming out to the top as a light blue marquee with white lines fades in below reading "GREAT FILMS", along with "from the Hollywood studios of PARAMOUNT & UNIVERSAL", which would lead into sneak previews of upcoming movies.
Another background variant has the logo zooming out to the top but cuts to black which also exists and can be found on a 1986 UK VHS re-release of Woody Woodpecker and His Friends.

FX/SFX: The logo parts coming together.

Music/Sounds: An ascending synth-choir note, ending with 4 synth notes that rise in pitch (sounding like 'doo-doo-doo-doo') and a loud hit.

Availability: Uncommon, as this was only used internationally.

Best place to check is in a place like Europe, Australia, or South America.
Examples include the original UK issues of The Naked Gun and Back to the Future Part II.
One tape that had the blue background variation was Police Squad: Volume One.
Tapes in Asia and Africa may have this logo, too.
This logo may also come after a home video logo from that country (such as AVH in Argentina, HVH in Greece, and ITI in Poland).
The blue background variant with the marquee appears on some tapes from the era such as the original UK retail releases of Saturday Night Fever and Back to the Future.
Other releases to have this include Back to the Future Part III, Ghost, Kindergarten Cop, Top Gun, Twins, The Naked Gun 2 1/2, Coming To America, The Godfather Part III, Beverly Hills Cop II, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Hunt for Red October and Stepping Out, among others.
Weirdly enough, it was spotted at the end on a late 1990s TNT airing of American Graffiti with the movie's end theme playing over.
It was also spotted at the beginning of a 1994 Brazilian VHS release of Dark Angel: The Ascent, a Full Moon film released by Paramount, with the 5th logo appearing afterwards.
The blue background variant with the marquee was spotted on the Japanese laserdisc of Back to the Future. Although it hasn't been translated through subtitles.

Editor's Note: A logo with pretty decent animation for the time that has become a favorite of many.

3rd Logo (1986-1992)

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Nickname: "Welcome"

Logo: On a blue-purple aurora background, we see the CIC logo of the time, but in light blue, which zooms in towards the viewer. Suddenly, the chain glows, causing a flash to appear, revealing the word "WELCOME" below the CIC logo. The logo then zooms in quickly, causing the screen to turn white.

FX/SFX: Nice CGI effects; very professional for 1997.

Music/Sounds: A peaceful chord-like tune, followed by a whoosh sound.

Availability: Seen on Paramount and Universal releases at the time, mainly in Australia and the UK. Examples include most Rugrats tapes and Mission: Impossible. A UK video release of Beavis and Butt-head Do America might have this logo as well.

Editor's Note: Yet another favorite of many, and a pretty decent way to end CIC's line of logos.