Draft:Prooptiki

From the Audiovisual Identity Database, the motion graphics museum




Background

Prooptiki S.A (Προοπτική Α. Ε.) was founded in 1984 as the Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International division for Greece and Cyprus. In the early 2000's, the company established a home video entertainment chain in Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria. In 2005, Greek film distributor Audio Visual purchased the 85% of Prooptiki and in late 2000's the Athens-based company defunct.

1st Logo (1990s)


Visuals: Unknown.

Technique: A still computer graphic.

Audio: An excerpt of Belly of an architect by Wim Mertens.

Availability: Should be seen on the company's earliest VHS and (and possibly DVD) releases. [Examples?]

2nd Logo (Tree) (1999-2001)

Visuals: On a dark blue background, a lime green/yellow line is seen with a abstract tree coming out of the line, appearing to be made with several different squares. The tree then rustles, and releases a swarm of squares like they are drifting in the wind and the line disappears. One square swings around the screen, passing in front of it, and lands in the blue background, producing multiple pink waves that span out for a second. Emerging from it is a symbol involving a interlocking pink circle and lime green/yellow square and a line in the same color. They resize into their proper place as Art Deco letters span out and form the word "PROOPTIKI", with the symbol forming the 2 O's. The Greek translation then fades in below and two copies of the URL slide in and fuse into one copy. The entire logo blurs, going to the warning screen.

Variant: According to composer of the logo, George Wastor, there was an older light-colored version of the logo, which was eventually replaced by a darker one, due to bad reception (regarding the contrast between the white background and the dark cinema auditorium). The background itself was white, as the visual section was based off a 8x5cm business card of the company.

Technique: 2D animation by Alekos Papadatos in his studio "Spicy Toons". With digital cel paint made by Icon - Plus.

Audio: A chorus can be heard in the beginning. This then segues into a small harp tune with 2 string notes. Digitized sounds then play before ending with a different chorus over a synth tune. Composed by George Wastor.

Audio Trivia: According to Wastor himself, the music used in the said logo was the first in Greece to utilize the Dolby SR format.

Availability: It was seen on the company's VHS and DVD releases, an example being The Terrorist.

3rd Logo (2001-2005?)


Visuals: There are three versions of the logo, all of which take place on a navy blue background:

  • Inseparable: The same interlocked shapes quickly slide into view, but they are slightly redrawn and recolored, with the square being white and the circle orange. The shapes struggle to come apart 3 times, stretching far before snapping into place. They stretch one last time and they finally come apart, all before they come back together. "prooptiki" then appears in a strange white font with cuts on the bottom lines, as the shapes vibrate.
  • Dance: The square shuffles into view before dancing along with the music. The circle then comes into view and both of the shapes then dance to the music. The shapes then jump about as well and stand back before spinning around each other. They fall back onto the ground then leap up, forming the logo. This causes "prooptiki" to appear below, in the same abstract font, but with the native Greek name in it as well as the URL.
  • Kiss: The square "walks" along the ground as the square jumps erratically high. They both bump into each other and stop in place. The square then checks the circle, before the circle looks away from it in disgust. The square comes closer a bit, but so does the circle going away. It then "sighs" before moving away and that convinces the circle to move to the square. The circle kisses the square, causing it to leap up in excitement and grabs the circle up, jumping up into the logo. The same text from the last variant appears below, but this time it fades in.

Technique: 2D animation by SPICY TOONS.

Audio:

  • Inseparable: A soft synth twinkles plays throughout the logo. Cartoon sound effects are heard for the stretching, and a 3-note synth bell tune. A buzz is heard when the shapes vibrate.
  • Dance: A typical upbeat jazz tune.
  • Kiss: A tune that changes in tone to the shape's actions. Again, cartoon sound effects can be heard.

Availability:

  • The Inseparable variant can be found on the 2004 Bulgarian VHS of Barbie and the Princess and the Pauper.
  • The Dance variant can be found on the 2004 DVD of The Shawshank Redemption, the 2002 Greek VHS of Stuart Little 2, a Greek VHS of The Real Ghostbusters, Greek DVDs of VeggieTales and the Balkan DVD releases of Ong-Bak and The Magic Roundabout (2005).
  • The Kiss variant can be found on the DVD of Dear Frankie and a Greek DVD of The Life of Birds.
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