Gativideo

Background

Gativideo S.A. had its roots when Videoman Internacional was formed on July 12, 1985 by Hector Emilio Olivera and Fernando Ayala. who owned Aries Cinematografia Argentina, and Legal Video S.A., which was formed only a month later, on August 2, 1985. Videoman's primary purpose was to distribute MGM/UA Home Video titles for the Argentinian market, and for a short time, it also has offices in Chile and Spain, while Legal Video's primary purposes was to distribute the titles that Aries Cinematografia handled in theaters. This was changed in 1986, when the latter label began distributing content from CBS/FOX Video and Hanna-Barbera, while setting up a children's arm "Video Niño" to handle children's titles

The main company itself was formed on April 1, 1987 when Aries went into financial troubles, to be headed by Manuel Pablo Venacio, Luis Saverio Fortunato Scalella, Luis Alberto Scalella and Jorge Horacio Scalella, which are the company's brothers. with Legal Video and Videoman Internacional serving as brands of the company. This was expanded in 1988 by signing an agreement with Disney to bring their titles to the Argentinian market. Those brands phased out in 1989, and Gativideo began using its own logos.

Its primary purpose was to distribute 20th Century Fox, Disney, and until 1991, MGM/UA Home Video titles for the Argentina market. In 1992, the owners created a sister label for low-budget films, Intercom Entertainment, even though it was dissolved by two years, and Gativideo would be the second most important label, becoming one of the most successful majors. Gativideo, along with rival LK-TEL Video was dissolved by itself in 2009 due to low sales and demand, and a new company Blu Shine S.R.L. began to take over distribution of the titles previously held by Gativideo, as well as Columbia TriStar's output, the venture lasted until 2017.

Videoman Internacional

1st Logo (1985-1987)

Logo: On a black background with a yellow haze, a grid emerges from the haze and the Videoman Internacional logo ("VIDEOMAN INTERNACIONAL") with the words stacked on top of each other in a Times New Roman font in white inside a white rectangle appears and flips around before finally settling in the middle.

Technique: 1980s computer effects.

Music/Sounds: A 70s-esque disco theme.

Availability: Presumably seen on older releases from the label.

2nd Logo (1987-1989)

Logo: On a black background, a black sun with an orange outline appears with a yellow glow (it looks similar to the Schick Sun). As the sun appears, a white, glowing "ray" of sunlight fades in after it that later changes to a green-black striped color. Two copies of the previous Videoman Internacional logo, from a tilted angle, zoom in from the top of the ray of sunlight to the bottom of the screen at a very slow pace; with the second logo tilting forward to a comfortable viewing position and the first logo staying tilted, to give the appearance of a "shadow effect" to the first logo. As the second copy of the previous Videoman Internacional logo stops at a comfortable distance from the screen, (the first copy of the logo continues scrolling off-screen), a prototype version of the Gativideo print logo in yellow appears at the bottom. During the second half of the logo's duration, several strikes of lightning appear through.

Technique: 1980s computer effects.

Music/Sounds: A futuristic new-age theme ("Message From The Cosmos" by Kitaro) with the sounds of three thunderclaps in sync with animation.

Availability: Ultra rare. It's found on the 1987 film, Munchies.

Gativideo

1st Logo (1989-2007)

Logo: On a blue space background (Milky Way), we see the metallic text "GATIVIDEO", in a font similar to the FHE '82 logo, flying all over the screen, leaving a trail of sparkles. When it stops in the center, sparkles can be seen.

Technique: 1980s computer effects.

Music/Sounds: A dramatic fanfare, which is part of Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man".

Availability: Uncommon, at least in Argentina. This logo can be found on old Argentine PAL/N VHSs like Touchstone's Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Song of the South and other films from Disney, MGM and 20th Century Fox like the Home Alone series, Die Hard, and Predator 2 (the 1st is edited with the Legal Video CBS-FOX Brand license).

2nd Logo (1999-2001?)

Logo: On a space background, we see a 3D wireframe version of the Gativideo logo from the previous logos zooming out, then it rotates and a bright blue light fills the wireframe Gativideo logo from before in a solid blue 3D color. The logo shines, and then the Gativideo logo zooms in.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: A weird distorting synth theme, with some chines and a distorting zoom sound at the end, which trails it off to black.

Availability: Seen on early Gativideo DVD releases, like Manuelita.

3rd Logo (2001?-2003)

Logo: On a cloudy blue sky background, the Gativideo logo from the previous logos zooms out and then turns to a clear version. Then a DVD rotates and spins the Gativideo logo around, and the disc reappears, before a light dissolves and the logo shines with a sparkle effect.

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: A crystalized synth theme with whooshes, then a rock theme appears with some whooshes, followed by a synth choir theme.

Availability: Seen on Gativideo DVD releases, like Daddy is My Idol (Papa es un idolo).

4th Logo (2000-2009)

Logo: Against a red space background with planets (Earth, mars and the Sun), we see the Gativideo logo from the last three logos, only in 3D, zoom out and stop to face us. Then, the DVD logo, also in 3D, zooms and flips out below it. A lens flare shines on the DVD logo

Technique: CGI animation.

Music/Sounds: Same as before, complete with "zoom" like effects.

Availability: Extremely rare. This was the last logo before their closure due to piracy. Found on Argentine DVD releases of Nightmare on Elm Street (New Line Cinema) collection (2003), CSI: Miami and Critters 4.