HAL VHS Sound

Background: After the success of Analog Sound, the company made a VHS Hi-Fi Stereo/Surround sound system named HAL in 1983. It was adquired by various companies, including Walt Disney Pictures, MGM (including United Artists), 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, and other companies. When Laserdisc production ended in 2001 and Analog Sound dissapeared from newer home video releases, HAL was no longer available on newer VHS releases.

1st Logo

(December 12, 1983)

Nicknames: "Casablanca"

Logo: We see the words fading in one-by one: "For the past 7 years, VHS sounds haven't changed a lot." After a while, they fade out and new white text fades in

HAL (1983)one-by one: "Analog Sound has now made the most highest quality sound system for VHS's...". That text fades out and after 15 seconds we see the metallic text "HAL" zooming in slowly. The words "ANALOG SOUND" and "VHS SOUND SYSTEM" fades in at the top and bottom of the logo.

Trivia: The nicknames of all HAL USA logos are taken from names of famous and "best of" films.

FX/SFX: Text fading in and the logo zooming in.

Cheesy Factor: HAL trying to copy THX but failed. This looks boring and cheap.

Music/Sounds: When the logo appears, we see a male person saying: "The following film contains sound at the highest quality for VHS's... Powered by HAL." This is called as the "HAL Voice", which is one of the most recognized sound trademarks.

Availability: Extremely rare. Debuted and only seen on the 1983 VHS release of Omle, which is now very rare to find.

Scare Factor: Medium. The silence at the 1st half of the logo, and the logo zooming in is very scary for some people, but this is not as scary as the THX logo.

2nd Logo

(Spring 1984-1997, 2000-2001)

HAL (1984)HAL (1990) AHAL (1990) BHAL (Matchusonic VHS Variant)HAL (1994)HAL (2000)

Nicknames: "Chinatown"

Logo: A blue outlined rectangle is drawn. Then the "HAL" text from before zooms in and stops, the outline fades out and finally the words "ANALOG SOUND" and "VHS SOUND SYSTEM" fade in.

Variants:

1984-1986: The "HAL" text zooms more faster.

1989: The voice was redone with better quality.

1990: Probably the most recognizable HAL trailer variant. Appeared on a lot of VHS's during 1991-1997. Before the apperance of the logo, the text "Best Hi-Fi Sound... Now On VHS" or "Best Surround Sound... Now On VHS" in Arial font in white, arranged in the center of the outline fades in and out. "ANALOG SOUND" is replaced with "HI-FI STEREO" or "SURROUND" and "VHS SOUND SYSTEM" is replaced by just "SOUND". Those texts fade in with the HAL logo instead of appearing after the blue outline disappears.

The logo's sometimes seen with "VHS SOUND SYSTEM" only. This appeared on TeleNative Pictures Home Video releases from around 1987-1990, and surprisingly on the 1994 release of Why?.

When you turn on a 1992-1994 HAL-optimized Matshusonic VHS player for the first time, the 1990 variant with the logo plays, but the text is replaced with "Your Matshusonic VHS Player Is HAL-Optimized", with "Matshusonic" in it's original font. Also, the text "Enjoy Cinema-Like Sound" fades in below the logo and texts. There's no HAL Voice in this variant.

2000: The logo is remastered/recreated. The blue rectangle is larger and glows, the "HAL" text glows and shines slowly, and the texts at the top and bottom of the logo doesn't appear. The 2nd variant of the HAL voice is used. Ocassionally, a copyright notice may appear below.

On some releases by DualMountain Entertainment and TeleNative Pictures Home Video, the logo is cut short to the part where the HAL text appears. This variant also uses the 2nd variant of the HAL Voice.

From 1992-1996, an alternate version appeared where the original text ABOVE (and above only) the HAL logo was "ANALOG SOUND" This was officially replaced with the "HI-FI STEREO SOUND/SURROUND SOUND". This could be seen on 1990-1996 New Line Cinema movies such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III and Dumb and Dumber.

On the 1993 Home Theater VHS of Leprechaun, the 1990 variant appears as usual, but with a difference: the message reads "Remastered for Surround Sound Playback", then the text fades out, the HAL logo appears, but the wording "HOME THEATER OPTIMIZED" appears under HAL. The logo shines, and the blue rectangle fades out.

There may be either the words "STEREO", "STEREO SURROUND", "Videophonic Sound", "HI-FI STEREO" or just "SURROUND" appearing in the bottom left corner at the end.

On the 1997 VHS of Crash The Lights, the 1990 variant appears as usual, but the words "With HAL Hi-Fi/Surround, now you can experience cinema-like sound on your home." appear replacing the "Best Hi-Fi/Surround Sound... Now On VHS" text.

FX/SFX: Everything.

Cheesy Factor: Same as before, but it's less cheaper. Everything's improved for the 2000 variant, however, but it still rip-offs the THX logo.

Music/Sounds: First it uses a swoosh sound when the rectangle draws. Then it would use one of these HAL Voice variants:

Variant 1: Same as before.

Variant 2: The person now says: "The following film contains sound at the highest quality powered by HAL."

Availability: One of the most common HAL logos ever. It appears on many VHSs with HAL Hi-Fi Stereo or Surround Sound. Also available online. The 1990 variant made a surprise appearance when GLOW aired Noise Of The Shoes on September 12, 2008. Until the 2nd airing on 10/13/2005, the 1990 version appeared on TV500's earlier print of Just Friends, which plastered the Jonathan Dog Can trailer used on the original tape. The 2000 variant debuted on the same year's release of Advanced Smell and Concorde.

Scare Factor: Low. It's less ominous than before.

3rd Logo

(1988-1995)

Nickname: "Vertigo"

Logo: We see a white background, then a conductor's hand appears in that box and flicks his baton, blasting out a blue "hyperspace". It turns red, and when it fully HAL (1991)turns red, we see a 3D HAL logo zoom towards us against a black screen with red dots. Then, we see some text saying "Enjoy Cinema-Like Sound" in the same font and color used in "Chinatown". A few seconds, a subtitle reading "Analog Sound VHS Sound System" fades in too.

Variants:

There may be either the words "STEREO", "STEREO SURROUND" or just "SURROUND" appearing in the bottom-left corner at the end.

On later relases, the logo was cut short to the middle.

When you turn on a 1994-1995 HAL-optimized Matshusonic VHS player for the first time, we see the text "Your Matshusonic VHS Player Is HAL-Optimized", with "Matshusonic" in it's original font fading in and out, then the logo plays as normal.

On some releases during 1992-1995, the text "HOME THEATER OPTIMIZED" appears and zooms like the logo, and both things shine. This was used to promote the Analog/HAL home theater systems.

FX/SFX/Cheesy Factor: Almost the same as the 3rd THX logo. It's not cheap unlike the previous logos, however, which makes it a nice follow-up.

Music/Sounds:

An orchestra warms up, then a bang followed by a dramatic orchestra tune. When the HAL logo appears, the HAL Voice from the 2nd variant of the plays, and finally a whoosh.

For the Matchusonic and Home Theater variants, a nice orchestral piece done by Ram Hither. We hear an orchestra warming up at the start, then a different dramatic orchestra tune, and finally a beautiful composition when the HAL logo appears. The same whoosh is heard as the HAL logo zooms in. This music was also used in the Vertigo trailer shown at the end of the HAL Impress (1990) feature.

Availability: This became the first alternate HAL trailer to be used in 1988, beginning with the original VHS release of Smiths. The Home Theater variant can be seen on Oh No; There's Some Bicycle Stealers, Stampede, Holidays, Independence Day, and others (commonly seen on Universal/TeleNative/Fox flicks). The only Home Theater release that don't use the logo is the 1993 release of Leprechaun, instead, it used the previous logo. Still seen on TV500 airings of Day Time.

Scare Factor: Low. However, it's a different story in the next logo below.

4th Logo

(1993-1997)

HAL (1993)HAL (1996, Shining Variant)

Nickname: "Shining"

Logo: On a black background, we see some white text that reads "This VHS is equipped with a HAL sound system." A few seconds later, the background turns into a red-black background with germs. We see some white text that reads "Best Hi-Fi Sound... Now On VHS" or "Best Surround Sound... Now On VHS". After that, the red-black background turns slowly turns blue, somewhat similar to the previous background. Seconds after, a light with lens flares moves upward and a 90° turned HAL logo rotates to its front in a blue-black gradient background, with "ANALOG SOUND" over and "VHS SOUND SYSTEM" below.

Variants:

The 1996 VHS release of Terminator 2 replaces "Best Hi-Fi Sound... Now On VHS"/"Best Surround Sound... Now On VHS" text with "Enjoy great sound. You're now watching a HAL-powered feature." and "VHS SOUND SYSTEM" with "ENJOY CINEMA-LIKE SOUND ON VHS".

The 1995-1997 Matshusonic VHS player version replaces "Best Hi-Fi Sound... Now On VHS"/"Best Surround Sound... Now On VHS" with "Your Matchusonic VHS is HAL Optimized." and "SOUND SYSTEM" with "ENJOY CINEMA-LIKE SOUND ON VHS" "Matchusonic" is in its usual font and the HAL and Matchusonic URLs appear at the end (these URLs were only seen during 1996-1997).

On The HAL Biography, a full screen (4:3) version of this logo can be spotted.

On MCA/Universal Home Video and a very few Eran Video releases, the finished logo is on a black background.

FX/SFX: The background changing, the texts fading, and "HAL" is completely in silver 3D. Again, it's a rip-off of the THX logo.

Music/Sounds: Some ominous chimes. When the background opens, wind whistles, then various creepy ascending notes and sounds, until a Star Wars laser-gun sound, a whooshing sound when the HAL logo appears, and a creepy synth note. It ends with the long version of the HAL Voice with a reverb sound effect. The sound for this trailer was apparently created at InTime Sound and, according to The HAL Biography DVD by TeleNative Home Entertainment, designed by Dave Slacker and Bill Perc.

Availability: Seen in some HAL-equipped VHS releases during 1993 until 1997, as well as online.

Scare Factor: High to nightmare, since the logo is very weird and creepy, and the use of the reverb on the HAL Voice doesn't get well for many people. Low for these who are used to it.

5th Logo

(May 23, 1994, 1996-1997)

Nicknames: "Animaniacs", "Dot's Problem With HAL"

Logo: We see the TV screen, before Yakko, Wakko and Dot sit in their chairs. The light dims, and then brightens a bit. Then we cut to the screen, then a white screen with "HAL" on it (not the same as the other logos) appears, with "VHS SOUND SYSTEM" and "BEST HI-FI SOUND...NOW ON VHS"/"BEST SURROUND SOUND...NOW ON VHS" under it. The sound makes Dot cry and go away the room (or house, but it is shown off-screen). We cut to the same creen, with the logo on it. The speaker whoops, and the screen fades out. Yakko yells "Where's Dot?" twice, the whole picture goes to black, and Wakko responds, "Yakko, i think that voice made her cry."

Variant: A variant was shown where the Chinatown rectangle is drawn, then it fades to the TV screen and the logo animates as normal.

FX/SFX: Light dimming and brightening.

Music/Sounds: The atmosphere, dialogue, and the HAL Voice from the Casablanca logo.

Availability: This was a fan-made animation, but later HAL wanted to use the animation as one of their logos/trailers. Appeared later on VHSs from 1996-1997, including the first print of Space Jam.

Scare Factor: None to minimal. It's an emotional logo (mainly because of Dot crying and going out due to the HAL Voice), but Animaniacs fans may like this.

6th Logo

(1994-2000)

Nicknames: "Jonathan"

Logo: The HAL trailer starts as usual, which then breaks down as if due to an electrical failure. A light is switched on as a cat named Jonathan rolls in from off-camera. Jonathan opens a panel on the "L", grabs a rocket pack, and flies off screen, pulling out a hammer just before he goes off screen, muttering "Oh, No.".. Jonathan hammers at something on the right side of the screen, drills at something on the left side and then flies over to the H and moves a large switch. The switch causes the logo to re-activate and complete its usual sequence with the "ANALOG SOUND" and "VHS SOUND SYSTEM" text. Jonathan realizes the door in "L" is still open. Jonathan kicks the logo, which shuts the door, causing a black screen to fall reading "Enjoy great sound... you're watching a HAL-powered feature".

Variants:

On some tapes, the messages from the Chinatown Trailer, which are "Best Hi-Fi Sound... Now On VHS"/"Best Surround Sound... Now On VHS", or "Remastered for Surround Sound Playback" appears without the blue rectangle outline. Then, the animation plays as usual. Between 1994 and 1997, the "VHS Sound System" title appears under HAL (as well as Analog Sound on the top). Once after 1997, the "VHS Sound System" name was no longer seen.

There is an extended version in which after Jonathan drills something, he starts to saw and then yells "Ow". The rest of the logo plays like normal. This only appears on Paramount Demo Cassette 1995 and the original VHS of Clerks.

On the Digital Sound Vimeo page and VHS releases such as Chasing Amy, the black screen that reads "Enjoy great sound... you're watching a HAL-powered feature." is replaced with the HAL website URL. The "ANALOG SOUND" and "VHS SOUND SYSTEM" text are absent.

FX/SFX: Advanced CGI for 1994, made by VAS Computer Studios.

Music/Sounds: The HAL Voice in a lower pitch, Jonathan's dialouge, and sounds corresponding to the animation. The sound design is by Jon Lothaz, according to The HAL Biography. See "Logo" for the rest.

Availability: Might have been common in HAL VHS during its heyday, but it can be available on some Miramax movies such as Pulp Fiction, and some HAL demo VHS. Seen online as well.

Scare Factor: None to minimal, though some might consider the subject matter funny.

7th Logo

(1995-Early 2001)

Nicknames: "Jonathan 2", "Dog Can", "Dog", "Jonathan Strikes Again"

Logo: We see Jonathan the cat from the previous logo, as he appears out of nowhere right in front of us. He has a can in his hand which has a picture of a dog on a field and says "woof" (which is in a bubble cloud, as if the dog were saying it), and the only way we see it is that Jonathan zooms it up towards us closer. He takes it back, and turns it upside down, and dips it, realizing the can is empty. After flipping it right side up again, Jonathan gives us a "one minute" signal, and flies away. In the meantime, while we see nothing but the background, we hear him gathering something as he then returns with the "dog can". This time, however, he also has a plug in his opposite hand, and plugs it into the can. After that, we hear the sound of dog barking, and, beside that, the HAL logo appears sliding up from the middle of the screen to nearly the top. Jonathan points to the text, but suddenly the HAL logo begins to glow. Jonathan sees this, and he nervously flies off with the can and the plug. The HAL logo jolts to the left side for a moment before going back to it's normal position. And, like the last logo, the black screen with the text "Enjoy great sound... you're watching a HAL-powered feature" falls to the screen.

Variants:

On some occasions, the HAL logo is already seen at the very beginning of the logo before the animation begins, which means that in this variant, Jonathan is basically doing all of his animation right in front of the company's text. And, on a few alternate occasions between 1995 and 1999, the Analog Sound name was seen on top of HAL; then the screen falls as usual, but replaces "Enjoy great sound... you're watching a HAL-powered feature" with "Enjoy great sound. You're now watching a HAL-powered feature." (as seen in the T2 variant of the Shining logo)

In 1998, when Sony VHS Cable joined HAL, it's exactly the same trailer. When Jonathan gets the cord, the camera zooms in to reveal a Sony VHS cable. When he plugs it in, the graphics on the dog can change it into a Sony VHS Cable Dog Can. "SONY" in it's trademark 3-D font fades and slides up to the top at the same time as the HAL logo. When the HAL Logo rumbles, the Sony VHS Cable logo rumbles and the black screen shows the HAL Sony VHS Cable logo in white and the trademark in white.

FX/SFX: Same as 5th logo.

Music/Sounds: Same as the previous logo, except the HAL Voice is replaced by dogs barking it (if you really listen carefully, a high pitched voice is heard towards the end of the barking, which sounds like someone yelling "START!" before the sound of lighting up). The sound design is by Jon Lothaz and Sherri Andrews (who did the dog chord) according to The HAL Biography DVD by TeleNative Home Entertainment. A variant of the Sony VHS Cable HAL version uses some electrical sounds from Power Company, which Jon Lothaz also did the sound design of.

Availability: Maybe still seen in VHS tapes. Can be seen on Miramax Films (such as The Tall Guy, Good Will Hunting, and Don't Be A Meance To South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood VHS US), MGM films (such as Pink Panther Complete Movie Collection, Poltergeist II and III, and Species), HAL demo VHSs, and even the VHS of Just Friends (plastered by the 1990 version of Chinatown on the first televised print of that film on TV500). A variant is also on the James Bond Collection VHS series. Seen on DS' Vimeo page as well.

Scare Factor: None to low, although it's meant to be funny.

8th Logo

(1995)

Nicknames: "Akira"

Logo: We see a pitch black screen (ala the 1984 "Chinatown" logo), then we see the text "Let's hear it in HAL" appearing in separate words zooming in the center of the screen. Then we see the HAL logo with the Analog Sound notice at the bottom of HAL. The logo shines and we fade-out.

FX/SFX: The words zooming-in at the screen.

Cheesy Factor: It may seem cheesy to some, especially with the animation, but it depends.

Music/Sounds: The short version of the HAL Voice with swooshes.

Availability: Seen in a very few HAL-equipped VHS releases of the year. These include Neon, Why I Don't Knock The Door, Silence and No Alkaline.

Scare Factor: None to minimal. It may be boring for everyone if the HAL Voice was not included.

9th Logo

(1996-2001)

Nickname: "Thing"

Logo: In a darkly-lit environment, a blue sphere zooms out, which has clouds rolling and lightning flickering inside it. As the environment illuminates, we see that the sphere is barely hovering over a textured blue floor. Suddenly, the sphere shatters, and the sky is revealed to contain several rolling gray clouds. The glass then liquifies and gathers in the center. Some lightning strikes it and forms a silver HAL logo. Then, the environment fades to black as a shimmering blue rectangle is drawn clockwise around it. The logo fades out as the URL of the HAL website (now dead) fades in.

Variants:

There is an early variant where the HAL web address is absent.

On the 1996 release of RoboCop, the RoboCop logo appears as it zooms to us. Then, as the usual animation for this logo, the box shatters. Water erodes from the ground, and the HAL logo appears as usual, forming from the water. After that, the HAL logo fades out, and then the words "With HAL Hi-Fi/Surround, now you can experience cinema-like sound on your home." appear one by one as each text fades out before the other. This is also on the 2000 release with some differences: the HAL logo looks slightly different, the "HI-FI STEREO/SURROUND" and "SOUND" (a la Chinatown '90) are replaced with "CERTIFIED VHS," and the URL with a copyright notice appears below after that.

On some releases, after the HAL logo fades out, the text "Enjoy great sound. You're now watching a HAL-powered feature." (from the T2 variant of the Shining logo) appears in the blue line.

On the 1996 VHS of Old Maxie: Special Edition and the 1997 VHS of I Don't Know Jack, "Best Hi-Fi Sound... Now On VHS" or "Best Surround Sound... Now On VHS" appears replacing the "Enjoy great sound. You're now watching a HAL-powered feature." text.

At one point from 1996, "Analog Sound" was seen (exactly the way it was in the 1990 Chinatown variant) above the HAL logo. This was only used in the Fantasia release from the year.

On the 2000 release of The Terminator, the Terminator logo appears in a box as it zooms to us. Then, as the usual animation for this logo, the box shatters. Water erodes from the ground, and the HAL logo appears as usual, forming from the water. After that, the HAL logo fades out, and then the words "With HAL Hi-Fi/Surround, now you can experience cinema-like sound on your home." appear one by one as each text fades out before the other.

On the 2001 releases of Europe, Paramount Demo Cassette, and Never, Not and No, the logo fades out before we get to the "Enjoy great sound. You're now watching a HAL-powered feature." text.

FX/SFX: Just top-notch CGI.

Music/Sounds: Thunderclaps/electric shocking sounds, followed by glass shattering, then the HAL Voice from the Shining logo, but with the reverb turned down a bit. A swoosh is heard as the rectangle is formed. In the Terminator variant, music from The Terminator fades to the HAL Voice with a long synth bass note.

Availability: Seen on several HAL VHSs such as The Breakfast Club, Elders, Toy Story, Protein Shake, Paramount Demo Cassette 1997, and X-Men (debut). It was also used as the intro to the HAL Biography film.

Scare Factor: Low to high, due to the sphere shattering all of a sudden, in addition to the presence of the reverbed HAL Voice.

10th Logo

(1996-1999?)

Nickname: "Desperado"

Logo: The HAL logo starts up like any other, but the logo suddenly crashes down revealing El Mariachi and Carolina taking the role of the HAL Voice with their voices. The two stare at each other awkwardly, then raise the logo back up. The HAL Voice starts again and the logo shimmers in green from left to right. While the HAL Voice is playing, Carolina comes out and plays a explosion over it. El Mariachi yells "Carolina!" at him, and the two walk off-screen. The screen fades to black as the words "illuminate your hi-fi/surround senses" fades in on the top, a smaller HAL logo in the middle, and copyright info on the bottom.

FX/SFX: The logo itself, and the animation involving El Mariachi and Carolina.

Music/Sounds: The HAL Voice, the instruments, and the dialogue.

Availability: Extinct. It was not seen on the original VHS release of Desperado (as Paramount blocked HAL from showing it for some weird and unknown reason), however it eventually debuted in 1998/1999 with the 2nd VHS release of it. It was seen on the original 1996 international VHS release of that film and is also available on the Digital Sound website.

Scare Factor: Low. Someone may find this logo amusing, but not as amusing as the next logo...

11th Logo

(1998)

Nicknames: "Before The Rain"

Logo: In the exterior of a house, with a cloudy sky that looks like it will rain, we see lots of children stomping on garbage cans, then one stomps on the camera, and then the HAL logo suddenly appears on a black background.

FX/SFX/Cheesy Factor: All live-action. However, it looks like it was recorded with a VHS-C camera.

Music/Sounds: The children stomping around. There are also battle-like drums in the background. When the HAL logo appears, a crash is heard, followed by the HAL Voice.

Availability: Only appeared on a few VHSs before the logo was no longer used because of scaring people. An example is the year's release of Because Of Maxie.

Scare Factor: High to nightmare, due to the extremely loud stomping and the boy stomping on the camera. The cut to the HAL logo is unexpected and sudden.

12th Logo

(1998)

Nickname: "Miracle"

Logo: On a black background we see out-of-focus movie clips on a HAL logo. Some of these clips include Alien, North By Northwest and Jurassic Park. The logo then starts to shine as the blue outline from the Chinatown logo appears around the screen and the words "CERTIFIED VHS" appear under the HAL logo. Everything except the blue outline fades out and is replaced by the HAL website URL on the top, copyright notices on the bottom and the phase "15 Years of Making Great Sound Come Alive On VHS".

FX/SFX: The clips playing on the HAL logo, the shining at the end.

Music/Sounds: In this order, sound clips from the following movies are heard:

Schlinder's List

Jurassic Park 2

Forrest Gump

Another Planet: Ruptune

Slash

Star Wars

The Shining

Aliens

Titanic

Pulp Fiction

Seven

Turue. (Also called Turue Dot)

Speed

After this the HAL Voice starts playing as the final sound clips play from:

Alien

The Mask

Ghostbusters

Availability: Was only seen in the 1998 VHS release of Nothing From Everything.

Scare Factor: Minimal. It's a great addition to the HAL library of logos.

13th Logo

(1998-2001)

Nicknames: "Jonathan 3", "JONATHAN In Action", "The VHS Player", "Jonathan Strikes Yet Again"

Logo: On a gray background, we see a clapperboard on screen. The clapperboard claps, and then disappears off-screen. The camera then zooms out and turns, revealing the background to be a gray car. Jonathan flies on screen and stops in front of the car, giving a "stop" signal. Jonathan then tries to fly away, but ends up getting sucked into the VHS player. He gets flung around the VHS player uncontrollably, and is eventually able to stop and regain his balance. He then looks up, and sees part of the player spraying. After spraying for a few seconds, it explodes, and Jonathan gets covered in black ash. Another part of the engine then pushes Jonathan up, and he gets chased by another explosion. He manages to escape from the VHS player just in time, but then he loses control, and hits the HAL logo. He then stands back up, shakes his arms and foot, looks back at the HAL logo, and does a pose.

FX/SFX: Same as the 6th and 7th logos.

Music/Sounds: Same as the 6th and 7th logos, with the addition of some VHS sounds, and a guy saying "And...action!" when the clapperboard is on screen. There's also a different variant of the HAL Voice, saying "This VHS is powered by HAL."

Availability: Seen on HAL certified VHS players until 2001.

Scare Factor: Same as the 7th logo.

14th Logo

(1998-2001)

Nickname: "In The Wildlife"

Logo: In a forest, we see a close-up of a flower opening, which is facing to the top of the screen. Inside, there's a crown-like shape on it, which is spinning as we zoom on it. We then see the top of the trees, with some birds flying above them, moving in various directions to look like they're dancing. A ring falls down, landing on the ground, as the birds follow it. The scene then changes; we see worms, butterflies and bees going to a cavern, and the scene changes again. There, we see the butterflies on the cave, and landing on roses as they open. The camera fastly goes away so we can see a mushroom, which is "throbbing". Then we see another scene, this time we see the same forest with a monkey swinging a vine, and suddenly the camera goes down so we can see the "roof" of the cavern with mushrooms on it, throbbing to the beat of the music. Then, the scene changes so we can see bugs moving and flying around. The camera flies over all the things, so we can see the forest on a sculpture looking like a connected HAL logo. It turns metallic and unconnects, making the normal logo. Copyright info fades in below.

FX/SFX: Mind-blowing CGI, which was made by Pixar with much accuracy.

Music/Sounds: A variety of instruments playing, performed by Michael Backyard. It gets in sync with the plants when the 2nd half arrives, then ends with a piano note. When the copyright fades in, a quieter and more happier version of the HAL Voice plays.

Availability: Seen in most HAL VHSs such as Blackland. Available in DS' Vimeo as well.

Scare Factor: None to low. Some parts can be sudden for some people, but this is a fan-favorite due to the brillant animation and happier-sounding HAL Voice (which sounds emotional in the other logos).

15th Logo

(1998-2001)

Nickname: "Wavelength"

Logo: We first see a pitch black screen, but then we see the words "WE GOT THE FLAVOR OF VHS SOUND" (in capital letters) coming at us each two words at a time (like the "Akira" logo), then suddenly fading out by spreading the words apart. Then, the HAL logo appears. With its usual gray color, the logo shines with a "shinemark" coming down on the "H".

Variant: On the 1998 Home Theater VHS of Public Secret, the text "Enjoy great sound. You're now watching a HAL-powered feature." (from the T2 variant of the Shining logo) appears replacing "WE GOT THE FLAVOR OF VHS SOUND".

FX/SFX: "WE GOT THE FLAVOR OF VHS SOUND" text spreading out, the shinemark, and the HAL logo shining.

Music/Sounds: The HAL Voice and some shining sounds. Before the HAL Voice starts, a deep whoosh is heard.

Availability: Can be seen on the VHSs of Titanic: Collector's Editon, Omle, Sprited Away, and other VHS releases from the time.

Scare Factor: Low. It's a nice follow-up to the Chinatown logo.

16th Logo

(1999)

Nickname: "The Rugrats Movie"

Logo: On a black background, we see this odd speck that talks in a familiar voice to Reptar (from Rugrats). It gets closer.... and... closer... OH! It's just two characters Tommy and Angelica. They talk about if they can hear each other. Then, Angelica says "Kinda losing ya", causing Reptar to drop the HAL logo, and Tommy shouts "HOW ABOUT THIS?!?! I'VE GOT HIM REAL CLOSE!!! CAN YOU READ ME?!?!" knocking Tommy and Angelica off-screen, then followed by the HAL Voice, then the screen transitions to a message reading "ENJOY GREAT RUGRAT...YOU'RE NOW WATCHING A HAL-POWERED FEATURE" (spoofing the "Enjoy great sound. You're now watching a HAL-powered feature" motto, with "Rugrat" in the same font as the TV show). On the side of the screen we see Tommy and Angelica peeking out of the side of the screen, with cloths blowing from the HAL Voice.

FX/SFX: The characters moving, and the HAL logo dropping. This was done by Klasky-Csupo, Inc.

Music/Sounds: The characters talking, a crash, and the HAL Voice.

Cheesy Factor: The fact that the characters' voices are ripped from the movie.

Availability: Extinct. It was only seen on the VHS of The Rugrats Movie with the HAL format, after the Paramount Warning Screen and before the 1997-2001 ABC Kid-Friendly Sound logo.

Scare Factor: Low bordering on medium. The "CRASH!" sound and the HAL Voice might startle a few, but it's intended to be funny, just like the Jonathan ones.

17th Logo

(1999-2001)

Nickname: "Kevade"

Logo: On a black background, we see the metallic outlines of the HAL logo fade in. Then the shiny silver color fades inside the HAL logo. The HAL logo glows and makes a big shine with some sparkles. Then below the HAL logo is the disclaimer: "HAL and the HAL logo are trademarks of HAL VHS Sound Inc., which may be registered in some jurisdictions. All Rights Reserved."

Variant: At the beginning of a Moor video on WADE D-VHS ready TVs, the metallic outlines fade in quicker, the shiny silver color fades in slower, and the shine of the HAL logo isn't as bright.

FX/SFX: The glowing, sparkling, and shining of the HAL logo.

Music/Sounds: The long version of the HAL Voice.

Availability: Can be seen on Paramount Demo Cassette 1999, Big Show, and whenever you start up a HAL-optimized VHS player/recorder.

Scare Factor: None.

18th Logo

(2001)

Nickname: "Chinatown HD", "The HAL Rave"

Logo: On a deep cloudy background, we see a light tunnel of many colors as well as a shadow in the distance. The shadow then emerges to reveal a silver and shining HAL logo as well as a crystal blue rectangle outline from the Chinatown trailers, which zoom slowly at us. A small copyright notice is seen below the HAL logo.

FX/SFX: The colorful light tunnel, the emerging of the logo.

Cheesy Factor: The whole logo has way too much shining and color clashes, but it may look better in HD then it does in SD.

Music/Sounds: An early 2000's eurodance song, then it crossfades to the HAL Voice.

Availability: Can be found on the HAL Tester cassette and D-Theater movies, like the special edition D-VHS of X-Men.

Scare Factor: Mimimal. The 1st half of the logo makes you want to dance.

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HAL Japan

1st Logo

(1995)

Nicknames: "River"

Logo: We zoom into a temple. Then, a symbol is drawn and turns orange and white. We zoom into the symbol and it turns into an island with mountains. Then it goes into one of the mountains' core, and we see a glacier inside it with the HAL logo in it. Then it melts, and the blue rectangle from the 1st logo appears and the words "Analog Sound Japan" appears above the logo.

FX/SFX: Everything.

Music/Sounds: A bombastic score, then the HAL Voice.

Availability: Only seen on the Japanese HAL-equipped 1995 VHS release of The Shawshank Redemption, except for custom demo VHSs featuring this logo.

Scare Factor: Minimal.

2nd Logo

(1996)

Nickname: "Flies"

Logo: We observe many glowing particles coming up from a salty ocean below. Then we rapidly zoom out through the trees and see five flies sleeping mid-air above the swamp. They are equipped with yellow "FLY" titled helmets and shells, though one wears a knitted hat, and other wears nothing. The flies wake up, get angry and rush forward. One of them gets first and sticks out his tongue to taunt others. However he misses the tree, hits it and falls into the swamp. Then the rest of the flies fly past the trees, one of them briefly shown from his backpack, also titled "FLY". They proceed to the large gathering of particles above the water and three of them are thrown out, the last one hitting the screen. The HAL logo is formed from the particles, while the background turns black and the blue rectangle from the 2nd HAL USA logo appears. The fourth mosquito is thrown out. Then the words  ベストVHSサウンド  (Japanese for "Best VHS Sound") form.

FX/SFX/Cheese Factor: Good animation, but dated for today.

Music/Sounds: The HAL Voice and the sounds of insect buzzing and other sounds produced by them (such as gulping sounds, ricochets, and an airplane or jet-like engine whir as one of them is blown away).

Availability: Only on the Japanese HAL-equipped DVD of the film 蠅 (Japanese for "Flies", pronouced Hae), except for custom demo VHSs featuring this logo.

Scare Factor: None to low, the transition to the funny behavior of the logo to the HAL Voice may get to some, although the logo is supposed to be tame.

3rd Logo

(1997)

Logo: We see two silver bars zooming in, in a grainy film quality. Their borders tremble. Another bar follows them rotating, joins them and the figure starts rotating, forming the "A" in the process. Then the letters unfold into the 3D HAL logo, sending other letters at the sides, and the grainy quality gets lost. Then "Analog Sound Japan" and the copyright symbol rise in the logo; the blue box appears.

FX/SFX: Everything.

Music/Sounds: Starts with silence and proceeds to the HAL Voice.

Availability: Only seen on the French THX-certified DVD of 騒音 (Japanese for "Noise", pronounced Soon).

Scare Factor: None. It's boring if you compare to the previous logos.