Sign in or 
Share this
THX
Editions by sega3dmm, mr3urious, Nathan B., kidinbed and Jeff B.
Logo captures by sega3dmm and kidinbed
Background: THX is a motion picture quality certification system (despite being branded as a "sound system" until 1997) founded by Tomlinson Holman and George Lucas in 1982 (in turn was then-owned by Lucasfilm Ltd. until 2001, when it was spun off in it's present day company-THX Ltd.), named after the first film Lucas directed, THX 1138. The first THX film was 1983's hit movie Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. THX means "Tomlinson Holman's EXperiment". THX has provided certified VHS, DVD, and even LaserDisc films from major studios such as Walt Disney Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Universal Studios, Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM), United Artists (UA), among other studios, also when this was seen in theaters. They have certified video games as well.
1st Trailer
(May 1983)
Nickname: "Wings"
Logo: We see a pitch-black screen. Then we see white text on the screen that reads "For the past 35 years, motion picture loudspeaker systems have not changed...". When it has been on the screen for a while, it fades out and new white text appears reading "Lucasfilm, Ltd. and this theatre are pleased to introduce a new motion picture sound system.". That text fades out and we wait for a while and the letters "THX", which have a line under them and have the "T" slightly taller whose stem extends over the other two letters, appear in a glassy sky blue color. The color fades in majestically with "LUCASFILM LTD." above it and "SOUND SYSTEM" below it, both in small text. It stays on screen for about 10 seconds, then slowly fades out with the text above and below the logo.
FX/SFX: The text and THX logo fading in and out.
Music/Sounds: A synthesized crescendo sound effect known as "Deep Note". It starts off containing a deep airplane-like sound (the same sound that you would hear as if an airplane were flying), which sounds steady in sound, although it begins to slowly deepen in pitch( only a little bit), and eventually gets even deeper and slows down in tone. At the exact same time, a higher synth sound-effect begins to get higher (and louder) in tone until both sounds stop and stay in one pitch. It was made by James Andy Morrer and became one of the world's most recognized (and scariest) sound trademarks.
Availibility: Was never on THX-certified home video releases. Debuted in the theatrical premiere of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Can be seen on select Demo DVDs and the Internet, including THX's official website.
Scare Factor: Medium to high, especially if you haven't heard the Deep Note before, as it may cause "THXphobia". Low for those who are used to seeing it.
2nd Trailer
(Summer 1983-2005)
Nickname: "Broadway"
Logo: On a black BG, we see a blue outline of a rectangle. The gray text "The Audience is Listening" fades inside the outline, then fades out. A few seconds later, the THX logo in silver appears, The blue rectangle outline fades out, and
appears and the THX logo shines.
Nickname: "Cavalcade"
Logo: In a darkly-lit environment, we zoom in toward a glassy blue sphere, which has clouds rolling and lightning flickering. 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 THX logo. Then, the environment fades to black as a shimmering blue rectangle is drawn clockwise around it. The logo fades out, and the URL www.thx.com fades in.
Variants:
There is an early variant where the THX web adress isn't seen. On some releases, after the THX logo fades out, the text "Digitally Mastered for Optimal Audio and Video Performance" (from the Broadway logo)appears in the blue line. At one point from 2001(when Lucasfilm still owned it), "Lucasfilm Ltd." was seen(exactly the way it was in the 1995 Broadway variant) above the THX logo. On the DVD release of Terminator 2, the T2 logo apears 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 THX logo appears as usual, forming from the water. After that, the THX logo fades out, and then it contains a message reading "The Best Sound, The Best Picture. You're Watching a THX Certified Feature" appears one by one as each text fades out before the other. Also, the Deep Note in this variant(the Terminator 2 variant) is slightly different heard, if you really listen carefully to it.
FX/SFX: Just top-notch CGI.
Music/Sounds: Thunderclaps/electric shocking sounds, followed by glass shattering, then the Deep Note. A laser-like sound is heard as the rectangle is formed.
Availability: Currently seen on several THX DVD and THX theatres.
Scare Factor: Medium to high, due to the sphere shattering all of a sudden, in addition to the presence of the Deep Note.
8th Trailer
(2002)
Nickname: "Shrek"
Logo: TBA.
FX/SFX: TBA.
Cheesy Factor: TBA.
Music/Sounds: TBA.
Availability: TBA.
Scare Factor: TBA.
9th Trailer
(2005)
Nicknames: "Galaga", "8-Bit", "The one that appears when you leave Soul Calibur III at it's title screen for a while (yes, this happened when I [WillWill45] did that)", "Galaga Meets the Deep Note"
Logo: On a white background, we see the words "PLAY GAME!?" in a regular video game font flashing in red. Two lines of all-red aliens from the arcade game Galagacome from the top of the screen, cross each other, make a U-turn, and merge into one big section. A third section comes from the bottom of the screen, spins around, and goes into the big section. A fourth section does the same thing. Afifthsection of aliens comes from the top of screen and makes a U-turn. It goes into the big section too. Two or three more sections go into the big section. As the aliens get in their place, an all-red spaceship comes from the bottom of the screen and stops. One of its guns moves a little bit like an arm. Then its guns all bend over, signaling the beginning of an 8-bit rendition of the THX "Deep Note". However, one of the aliens gets mad, and the others run away, prompting the spaceship shoot it, and it does. The aliens then get back together, and the spaceship's guns all bend over once again, which signals the beginning of a regular "Deep Note". A red "THX" logo with a "CERTIFIED GAME" byline (in the same font as "PLAY GAME!?" earlier) moves the aliens out of the way while the spaceship's guns "wave" to the aliens. When the "THX" logo is in the middle of the screen, the spaceship is on top of it and the spaceship zooms off. The entire logo then pixelates into a black background, a shiny "THX" logo, and the byline "CERTIFIED GAME" in Arial. The finished logo shines.
FX/SFX: Too much to mention in delightfully retro 8-bit graphics (except after the pixelation).
Music/Sounds: The opening theme of Galaga, various 8-bit sounds (including sounds from Galaga and the beginning of an 8-bit rendition of the "Deep Note"), and finally the Deep Note.
Availability: As far as I know, this only appeared on Soul Calibur III for the PS2.
Scare Factor: Minimal to medium, even if you have "THXphobia"; this THX trailer is a favorite of those who have seen it because of its retro coolness.
10th Trailer
(2007- )
Nickname: "Amazing Life"
Logo: We start out with a diamond shape figure rising out of liquid(a la a ripple effect), and forms into another figure, which looks like petals from a flower because we're looking at it from the top. Inside the "flower" is a crown shape figure that has wings on top of it, slowly spinning around as we zoom in on it. Then, the scene changes. We now see another set of wings that also spin around, but faster and a ring figure is spinning around with it and is going down towards the bottom of the screen. And the scene changes again. The same set of wings from the first scene is shown, once again spinning slowly, with shades seen on the left side of the screen. As the scene changes again, a tulip is seen zooming in towards us as it opens up it's front, and then we zoom in on a mushroom as it bumps up a bit. Then a set of butterflies fly by(with some stopping in front center of the screen), and we see something swing by as it makes a clanging noise. Intact with the drumbeats of the jingle, we see a variety of mushrooms as they "beat" and bump up the the drumbeats, and then the scene changes to swirly-like circles which vibrate as we zoom from one to another. We zoom into another tulip, and suddenly, we fly over all of the above mentioned items, and it tilts to it's front, and as it zooms back, it evolves the THX logo, which has the designs of green at first, but then changes to it's usual gray text and color. This THX logo looks slightly(but also noticibly) diffrerent than the other logos of the past. The text zooms back.
FX/SFX: The whole animation.
Cheesy Factor: I don't think so. But it can get cheesy to some, who has never seen animation like this before on a THX trailer!
Music/Sounds: A variety of instruments playing out, with background music by Lost in the Sky, which ends with a less noisy/less scary version of the Deep Note. And unlike the previous THX logos, the music comes to a quick end rather than fading out smoothly.
Availability: Seen in most THX theatres and new THX DVDs. Available online, as well.
Scare Factor: Low to high, once again.
11th Tralier
(2000)
Nickname: "Broadway 2000"
Logo: We see a pitch black screen (ala the 1983 "Broadway" logo), then we see the text "Let's see it in......", with each word coming one at the time in the center of the screen. Then, we see the THX logo, appearing, with the Lucasfilm Ltd. notice at the top of THX. The logo shines, and we fade out.
SFX: The words zooming in at the screen.
Music/Sounds: The Deep Note, of course. However, the longer version (and one of the abridged variants of the 1983 logo's theme) is being played(around this time for home video and DVD releases, the logo and music was cut
short).
Cheesy Factor: I don't know about this one. It may seem cheesy to some, especially with the animation, but it depends.
Availability: Seen in THX theaters of the time.
12th Trailer
(2007)
Nickname: "Horton"
Logo: On a black background, we see this odd speck that talks in a familiar voice to Horton (from "Horton Hears a Who"). It gets closer.... and... closer... OH! It's just the mayor.
They talk about if they can hear each other. Then, the mayor says "Kinda Losing Ya" causing horton to drop the THX logo, and he shouts "HOW ABOUT THIS? CAN YOU READ ME?!?" knocking the mayor off-screen, then followed by the INFAMOUS THX Deep Note, then the screen transitions to a message reading "THE AUDIENCE IS HEARING" (spoofing the "The Audience is Listening" motto). On the side of the screen we see the mayor peeking out of the side of the screen, with cloths blowing from the Deep Note.
FX/SFX: The characters moving, and the THX logo dropping.
Music/Sounds: The characters talking, a crash, and the Deep Note.
Cheesy Factor: The fact that the characters voices are ripped from the movie.
Availability: Only seen at THX theaters that are showing "Horton Hears A Who".
Scare Factor: Medium. the "crash" sound and the Deep Note might startle a few.
13th Trailer
(2000's)
Nickname: "The Science of Sensation"
Logo: We first see a pitch black screen, but then we see the words "THE SCIENCE OF SENSATION"(in capital letters) coming at us each two words at a time(like the "Broadway 2000" logo), then suddenly fading out by spreading the words apart. Then, the THX logo appears. With it's usual gray color, the logo shines with a "shinemark" coming down on the "T".
Cheesy Factor: None.
Music/Sounds: The extended version of the Deep Note. But....it contains the same sound variant that was used in the "cavalcade" Terminator 2 variant.
Music/Sound Variant: A higher pitched version exists.
Avalibility: Hmm...probabally seen in THX theaters, wherever this logo can be seen.
Scare Factor: Depends on if you have "THX-phobia".
Logo captures by sega3dmm and kidinbed
Background: THX is a motion picture quality certification system (despite being branded as a "sound system" until 1997) founded by Tomlinson Holman and George Lucas in 1982 (in turn was then-owned by Lucasfilm Ltd. until 2001, when it was spun off in it's present day company-THX Ltd.), named after the first film Lucas directed, THX 1138. The first THX film was 1983's hit movie Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. THX means "Tomlinson Holman's EXperiment". THX has provided certified VHS, DVD, and even LaserDisc films from major studios such as Walt Disney Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Universal Studios, Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM), United Artists (UA), among other studios, also when this was seen in theaters. They have certified video games as well.
1st Trailer
(May 1983)
Nickname: "Wings"
Logo: We see a pitch-black screen. Then we see white text on the screen that reads "For the past 35 years, motion picture loudspeaker systems have not changed...". When it has been on the screen for a while, it fades out and new white text appears reading "Lucasfilm, Ltd. and this theatre are pleased to introduce a new motion picture sound system.". That text fades out and we wait for a while and the letters "THX", which have a line under them and have the "T" slightly taller whose stem extends over the other two letters, appear in a glassy sky blue color. The color fades in majestically with "LUCASFILM LTD." above it and "SOUND SYSTEM" below it, both in small text. It stays on screen for about 10 seconds, then slowly fades out with the text above and below the logo.
FX/SFX: The text and THX logo fading in and out.
Music/Sounds: A synthesized crescendo sound effect known as "Deep Note". It starts off containing a deep airplane-like sound (the same sound that you would hear as if an airplane were flying), which sounds steady in sound, although it begins to slowly deepen in pitch( only a little bit), and eventually gets even deeper and slows down in tone. At the exact same time, a higher synth sound-effect begins to get higher (and louder) in tone until both sounds stop and stay in one pitch. It was made by James Andy Morrer and became one of the world's most recognized (and scariest) sound trademarks.
Availibility: Was never on THX-certified home video releases. Debuted in the theatrical premiere of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Can be seen on select Demo DVDs and the Internet, including THX's official website.
Scare Factor: Medium to high, especially if you haven't heard the Deep Note before, as it may cause "THXphobia". Low for those who are used to seeing it.
2nd Trailer
(Summer 1983-2005)
Logo: On a black BG, we see a blue outline of a rectangle. The gray text "The Audience is Listening" fades inside the outline, then fades out. A few seconds later, the THX logo in silver appears, The blue rectangle outline fades out, and
"LUCASFILM LTD.
SOUND SYSTEM"
appears and the THX logo shines.
Variants: Throughout the years, this trailer had many different variants:
fades in, the rectangle fades out, and the text fades out, as well.
FX/SFX: See 1st logo.
Music/Sounds: A louder and slightly shorter version of the Deep Note.
Music/Sound Variant: Around 1990, the audio was slighly revamped and warped(while this logo was still seen in theaters).
Availability: One of the most common THX logos ever. It appears on many THX-certified DVDs and VHSs available online as well.
Scare Factor: See 1st logo.
3rd Trailer(1st alternate)
(1988-1993)
Nickname: "Cinamoron"
Logo: A small gray box appears in the center of the screen, 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 turns red, we see a 3D THX logo zoom towards us against a black screen with red dots. Then, we see some text saying "The Audience is Listening" in the same font and color used in "Broadway". A few seconds, a subtitle reading "Lucasfilm, Ltd. Sound System" fades in too.
Variant: This trailer was remixed in Dolby Digital in 1995. This variant had slight changes. At the start, text fades in reading "Dolby Digital sound in a THX Theatre" and at the end, the Dolby logo was added at the left-bottom of the screen.
FX/SFX: CGI that was done at ILM.
Music/Sounds: A nice orchestral piece done by James Horner. And Fortunately, for those who don't like the Deep Note theme, it is not heard here. We hear an orchestra warming up at the start, then some music, and then a beautiful composition of ascending notes when the THX logo appears.
Availability: This became the first alternate THX trailer to be used in 1988. This proabably no longer plays in THX theaters, but it can be found on some THX demo DVDs.
Scare Factor: Low, even for those who have THXphobia. Maybe the least-scary THX trailer, and also the only THX trailer so far that doesn't use the Deep Note.
4th Trailer(2nd alternate)
(1993-1997)
Nickname: "Grand"
Logo: On a black BG, we see some white text that reads "This auditorium is equipped with a THX sound system...", but some seconds after, the BG turns into a red-black cloudy BG. And we see some white text that reads "The audience is listening.". After that, the red-black BG turns slowly turns blue, somewhat similar to the previous BG. Seconds after, a light with lens flares moves upward and a 90° turned THX logo rotates to its front in a blue-black gradient BG, with "LUCASFILM LTD" over and "SOUND SYSTEM" below.
FX/SFX: The background changing, the texts fading, and "THX" is completely in silver 3D.
Music/Sounds: Some chimes, then a ascending group of notes, ending with an excellent rendition of the Deep Note.
Availability: Seen in all THX theaters during 1993, until 1997. Probably seen online as well.
Scare Factor: Low to medium; it could probably can get to high for those with "THX-phobia".
5th Trailer(3rd alternate)
(1996- )
Nickname: "Tex"
Logo: The THX trailer starts as usual, which then breaks down as if due to an electrical failure. A light is switched on as a robot named Tex rolls in from off-camera, muttering "Oh, George.". Tex opens a panel on the X, grabs a rocket pack, and flies off screen, pulling out a hammer just before he goes off screen. Tex hammers at something on the right side of the screen, drills at something on the left side, audibly complains after dropping one of his tools, and then flies over to the T and moves a large switch. The switch causes the logo to re-activate and complete its usual sequence. Tex realizes the door in X is still open. Tex kicks the logo, which shuts the door, causing a black screen to fall which reads "The Audience Is Listening".
Variants: On DVD or Laserdisc releases, the messages from the Broadway Trailer, which are "Digitally Mastered for Optimal Audio and Video Performance", or "Mastered and Duplicated for Optimal Audio and Video Performance" appears WITHOUT the blue rectangle outline. Then, the animation plays as usual. And between 1996 and 1997, the "sound system" title appears under THX(as well as Lucasfilm Ltd. on the top). Once after 1997, the "sound system" name was no longer seen.
FX/SFX: Nice CGI for 1996, which was done at Pixar Animation Studios!
Music/Sounds: Some robot-roaming sounds, including the Deep Note. See "Logo" for the rest.
Availability: Might have been common in THX theaters during it's heyday, but it can be available on some Pixar movies on DVD such as Cars, and some THX demo DVDs. Seen online as well.
Scare factor: Low to high, yet again.
6th Trailer
(1997- )
Nicknames: "Tex 2", "Moo Can", "Cow", "Tex Strikes Again"
Logo: We see Tex the robot 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 cow and says "moo"(which is in a bubble cloud, as if the cow were saying it), and the only way we see it is that Tex zooms it up towards us closer. He takes it back, and turns it upside down, and dips it, realizing the can is empty. After fliping it right side up again, Tex 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 "moo 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 cows mooing, and beside that, the THX logo appears sliding up from the middle of the screen to nearly the top. Tex points to the text, but suddenly the THX logo begins to rumble and shake. Tex sees this, and he nervously flies off with the can and the plug. The THX 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 "The Audience is Listening" falls to the screen.
Variant: On some occasions, the THX logo is already seen at the very beginning of the logo before the animation begins, which means that in this variant, Tex is basically doing all of his animation right in front of the company's text. And on a few alternate occasions between 1997 and 2001, the Lucasfilm Ltd. name was seen on top of THX. Following after that, the screen falls as usual, but instead of "The Audience is Listening" text, a message says "The Best Sound, The Best Picture...... You're Watching a THX Certified Feature."(as seen in the "cavalcade" logo below).
FX/SFX: Same as 5th trailer.
Music/Sounds: Same as the previous logo, except the Deep Note is replaced by cows mooing it, and if you really listen carefully, a high pitched voice is heard towards the end of the mooing, which sounds like someone yelling "STOP!" before the sound of rumbling and cracking.
Availability: Maybe still seen in theaters. Can be seen on some Pixar and THX Demo DVDs, including the VHS for Monsters, Inc. A variant is also on the Lair video game for PS3. Seen online, as well.
Scare Factor: Low to medium, as this logo is intended to be funny, though it may cause "THXphobia".
7th Trailer
(2001- )
- 1995 A: The audio was remixed digitally with then-new technology.
- 1995 B: Probably the most recognizable THX trailer variant. It was exclusively to home video releases and revised a bit more. The gray text reading "The Audience is Listening" is replaced with "Digitally Mastered for Optimal Audio and Video Performance" in Arial font in white and arranged in the center of the outline. That text appears longer than the regular version, and "DIGITALLY" appears above the THX logo and "MASTERED" appears below that logo. Those texts fade in with the THX logo instead of appearing after the blue outline disappears.
- 1995 C: Both the audio and the logo is shorter than the standard 1983-1997 theatrical version. The audio (in this, and both 1995 A & B variants) is also in higher(or sometimes lower) pitches.
- On LaserDisc releases from THX, the blue rectangle appears as usual, but with a difference: the message reads "Mastered and Duplicated for Audio and Video Performance", and then, the text fades out, the THX logo appears, but the LaserDisc logo appears under THX. The logo shines, and the blue rectangle fades out.
- From 1997-2001, the original text ABOVE (and above only) the THX logo was "LUCASFILM LTD", but because of the "DIGITALLY MASTERED" text that debuted in 1995, this became an alternate logo . This was officially replaced with the "DIGITALY MASTERED" (as described above) text when Lucasfilm Ltd. spun off THX into it's present-day company. This could be seen on 1995-2001 releases from THX, such as mostly Disney movies.
- 1997 A: Same as the 1995 B variant, but the pitch seems to be higher. This was only on DVD releases.
- 1997 B: As with THX being no longer known as a "sound system", the logo is removed out of theaters, and exclusively seen on VHS and Laserdisc(and also later on DVD)releases.
fades in, the rectangle fades out, and the text fades out, as well.
FX/SFX: See 1st logo.
Music/Sounds: A louder and slightly shorter version of the Deep Note.
Music/Sound Variant: Around 1990, the audio was slighly revamped and warped(while this logo was still seen in theaters).
Availability: One of the most common THX logos ever. It appears on many THX-certified DVDs and VHSs available online as well.
Scare Factor: See 1st logo.
3rd Trailer(1st alternate)
(1988-1993)
Nickname: "Cinamoron"
Logo: A small gray box appears in the center of the screen, 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 turns red, we see a 3D THX logo zoom towards us against a black screen with red dots. Then, we see some text saying "The Audience is Listening" in the same font and color used in "Broadway". A few seconds, a subtitle reading "Lucasfilm, Ltd. Sound System" fades in too.
Variant: This trailer was remixed in Dolby Digital in 1995. This variant had slight changes. At the start, text fades in reading "Dolby Digital sound in a THX Theatre" and at the end, the Dolby logo was added at the left-bottom of the screen.
FX/SFX: CGI that was done at ILM.
Music/Sounds: A nice orchestral piece done by James Horner. And Fortunately, for those who don't like the Deep Note theme, it is not heard here. We hear an orchestra warming up at the start, then some music, and then a beautiful composition of ascending notes when the THX logo appears.
Availability: This became the first alternate THX trailer to be used in 1988. This proabably no longer plays in THX theaters, but it can be found on some THX demo DVDs.
Scare Factor: Low, even for those who have THXphobia. Maybe the least-scary THX trailer, and also the only THX trailer so far that doesn't use the Deep Note.
4th Trailer(2nd alternate)
(1993-1997)
Nickname: "Grand"
Logo: On a black BG, we see some white text that reads "This auditorium is equipped with a THX sound system...", but some seconds after, the BG turns into a red-black cloudy BG. And we see some white text that reads "The audience is listening.". After that, the red-black BG turns slowly turns blue, somewhat similar to the previous BG. Seconds after, a light with lens flares moves upward and a 90° turned THX logo rotates to its front in a blue-black gradient BG, with "LUCASFILM LTD" over and "SOUND SYSTEM" below.
FX/SFX: The background changing, the texts fading, and "THX" is completely in silver 3D.
Music/Sounds: Some chimes, then a ascending group of notes, ending with an excellent rendition of the Deep Note.
Availability: Seen in all THX theaters during 1993, until 1997. Probably seen online as well.
Scare Factor: Low to medium; it could probably can get to high for those with "THX-phobia".
5th Trailer(3rd alternate)
(1996- )
Logo: The THX trailer starts as usual, which then breaks down as if due to an electrical failure. A light is switched on as a robot named Tex rolls in from off-camera, muttering "Oh, George.". Tex opens a panel on the X, grabs a rocket pack, and flies off screen, pulling out a hammer just before he goes off screen. Tex hammers at something on the right side of the screen, drills at something on the left side, audibly complains after dropping one of his tools, and then flies over to the T and moves a large switch. The switch causes the logo to re-activate and complete its usual sequence. Tex realizes the door in X is still open. Tex kicks the logo, which shuts the door, causing a black screen to fall which reads "The Audience Is Listening".
Variants: On DVD or Laserdisc releases, the messages from the Broadway Trailer, which are "Digitally Mastered for Optimal Audio and Video Performance", or "Mastered and Duplicated for Optimal Audio and Video Performance" appears WITHOUT the blue rectangle outline. Then, the animation plays as usual. And between 1996 and 1997, the "sound system" title appears under THX(as well as Lucasfilm Ltd. on the top). Once after 1997, the "sound system" name was no longer seen.
FX/SFX: Nice CGI for 1996, which was done at Pixar Animation Studios!
Music/Sounds: Some robot-roaming sounds, including the Deep Note. See "Logo" for the rest.
Availability: Might have been common in THX theaters during it's heyday, but it can be available on some Pixar movies on DVD such as Cars, and some THX demo DVDs. Seen online as well.
Scare factor: Low to high, yet again.
6th Trailer
(1997- )
Logo: We see Tex the robot 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 cow and says "moo"(which is in a bubble cloud, as if the cow were saying it), and the only way we see it is that Tex zooms it up towards us closer. He takes it back, and turns it upside down, and dips it, realizing the can is empty. After fliping it right side up again, Tex 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 "moo 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 cows mooing, and beside that, the THX logo appears sliding up from the middle of the screen to nearly the top. Tex points to the text, but suddenly the THX logo begins to rumble and shake. Tex sees this, and he nervously flies off with the can and the plug. The THX 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 "The Audience is Listening" falls to the screen.
Variant: On some occasions, the THX logo is already seen at the very beginning of the logo before the animation begins, which means that in this variant, Tex is basically doing all of his animation right in front of the company's text. And on a few alternate occasions between 1997 and 2001, the Lucasfilm Ltd. name was seen on top of THX. Following after that, the screen falls as usual, but instead of "The Audience is Listening" text, a message says "The Best Sound, The Best Picture...... You're Watching a THX Certified Feature."(as seen in the "cavalcade" logo below).
FX/SFX: Same as 5th trailer.
Music/Sounds: Same as the previous logo, except the Deep Note is replaced by cows mooing it, and if you really listen carefully, a high pitched voice is heard towards the end of the mooing, which sounds like someone yelling "STOP!" before the sound of rumbling and cracking.
Availability: Maybe still seen in theaters. Can be seen on some Pixar and THX Demo DVDs, including the VHS for Monsters, Inc. A variant is also on the Lair video game for PS3. Seen online, as well.
Scare Factor: Low to medium, as this logo is intended to be funny, though it may cause "THXphobia".
7th Trailer
(2001- )
Logo: In a darkly-lit environment, we zoom in toward a glassy blue sphere, which has clouds rolling and lightning flickering. 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 THX logo. Then, the environment fades to black as a shimmering blue rectangle is drawn clockwise around it. The logo fades out, and the URL www.thx.com fades in.
Variants:
There is an early variant where the THX web adress isn't seen. On some releases, after the THX logo fades out, the text "Digitally Mastered for Optimal Audio and Video Performance" (from the Broadway logo)appears in the blue line. At one point from 2001(when Lucasfilm still owned it), "Lucasfilm Ltd." was seen(exactly the way it was in the 1995 Broadway variant) above the THX logo. On the DVD release of Terminator 2, the T2 logo apears 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 THX logo appears as usual, forming from the water. After that, the THX logo fades out, and then it contains a message reading "The Best Sound, The Best Picture. You're Watching a THX Certified Feature" appears one by one as each text fades out before the other. Also, the Deep Note in this variant(the Terminator 2 variant) is slightly different heard, if you really listen carefully to it.
FX/SFX: Just top-notch CGI.
Music/Sounds: Thunderclaps/electric shocking sounds, followed by glass shattering, then the Deep Note. A laser-like sound is heard as the rectangle is formed.
Availability: Currently seen on several THX DVD and THX theatres.
Scare Factor: Medium to high, due to the sphere shattering all of a sudden, in addition to the presence of the Deep Note.
8th Trailer
(2002)
Logo: TBA.
FX/SFX: TBA.
Cheesy Factor: TBA.
Music/Sounds: TBA.
Availability: TBA.
Scare Factor: TBA.
9th Trailer
(2005)
Logo: On a white background, we see the words "PLAY GAME!?" in a regular video game font flashing in red. Two lines of all-red aliens from the arcade game Galagacome from the top of the screen, cross each other, make a U-turn, and merge into one big section. A third section comes from the bottom of the screen, spins around, and goes into the big section. A fourth section does the same thing. Afifthsection of aliens comes from the top of screen and makes a U-turn. It goes into the big section too. Two or three more sections go into the big section. As the aliens get in their place, an all-red spaceship comes from the bottom of the screen and stops. One of its guns moves a little bit like an arm. Then its guns all bend over, signaling the beginning of an 8-bit rendition of the THX "Deep Note". However, one of the aliens gets mad, and the others run away, prompting the spaceship shoot it, and it does. The aliens then get back together, and the spaceship's guns all bend over once again, which signals the beginning of a regular "Deep Note". A red "THX" logo with a "CERTIFIED GAME" byline (in the same font as "PLAY GAME!?" earlier) moves the aliens out of the way while the spaceship's guns "wave" to the aliens. When the "THX" logo is in the middle of the screen, the spaceship is on top of it and the spaceship zooms off. The entire logo then pixelates into a black background, a shiny "THX" logo, and the byline "CERTIFIED GAME" in Arial. The finished logo shines.
FX/SFX: Too much to mention in delightfully retro 8-bit graphics (except after the pixelation).
Music/Sounds: The opening theme of Galaga, various 8-bit sounds (including sounds from Galaga and the beginning of an 8-bit rendition of the "Deep Note"), and finally the Deep Note.
Availability: As far as I know, this only appeared on Soul Calibur III for the PS2.
Scare Factor: Minimal to medium, even if you have "THXphobia"; this THX trailer is a favorite of those who have seen it because of its retro coolness.
10th Trailer
(2007- )
Nickname: "Amazing Life"
Logo: We start out with a diamond shape figure rising out of liquid(a la a ripple effect), and forms into another figure, which looks like petals from a flower because we're looking at it from the top. Inside the "flower" is a crown shape figure that has wings on top of it, slowly spinning around as we zoom in on it. Then, the scene changes. We now see another set of wings that also spin around, but faster and a ring figure is spinning around with it and is going down towards the bottom of the screen. And the scene changes again. The same set of wings from the first scene is shown, once again spinning slowly, with shades seen on the left side of the screen. As the scene changes again, a tulip is seen zooming in towards us as it opens up it's front, and then we zoom in on a mushroom as it bumps up a bit. Then a set of butterflies fly by(with some stopping in front center of the screen), and we see something swing by as it makes a clanging noise. Intact with the drumbeats of the jingle, we see a variety of mushrooms as they "beat" and bump up the the drumbeats, and then the scene changes to swirly-like circles which vibrate as we zoom from one to another. We zoom into another tulip, and suddenly, we fly over all of the above mentioned items, and it tilts to it's front, and as it zooms back, it evolves the THX logo, which has the designs of green at first, but then changes to it's usual gray text and color. This THX logo looks slightly(but also noticibly) diffrerent than the other logos of the past. The text zooms back.
FX/SFX: The whole animation.
Cheesy Factor: I don't think so. But it can get cheesy to some, who has never seen animation like this before on a THX trailer!
Music/Sounds: A variety of instruments playing out, with background music by Lost in the Sky, which ends with a less noisy/less scary version of the Deep Note. And unlike the previous THX logos, the music comes to a quick end rather than fading out smoothly.
Availability: Seen in most THX theatres and new THX DVDs. Available online, as well.
Scare Factor: Low to high, once again.
(2000)
Nickname: "Broadway 2000"
Logo: We see a pitch black screen (ala the 1983 "Broadway" logo), then we see the text "Let's see it in......", with each word coming one at the time in the center of the screen. Then, we see the THX logo, appearing, with the Lucasfilm Ltd. notice at the top of THX. The logo shines, and we fade out.
SFX: The words zooming in at the screen.
Music/Sounds: The Deep Note, of course. However, the longer version (and one of the abridged variants of the 1983 logo's theme) is being played(around this time for home video and DVD releases, the logo and music was cut
short).
Cheesy Factor: I don't know about this one. It may seem cheesy to some, especially with the animation, but it depends.
Availability: Seen in THX theaters of the time.
12th Trailer
(2007)
Logo: On a black background, we see this odd speck that talks in a familiar voice to Horton (from "Horton Hears a Who"). It gets closer.... and... closer... OH! It's just the mayor.
They talk about if they can hear each other. Then, the mayor says "Kinda Losing Ya" causing horton to drop the THX logo, and he shouts "HOW ABOUT THIS? CAN YOU READ ME?!?" knocking the mayor off-screen, then followed by the INFAMOUS THX Deep Note, then the screen transitions to a message reading "THE AUDIENCE IS HEARING" (spoofing the "The Audience is Listening" motto). On the side of the screen we see the mayor peeking out of the side of the screen, with cloths blowing from the Deep Note.
FX/SFX: The characters moving, and the THX logo dropping.
Music/Sounds: The characters talking, a crash, and the Deep Note.
Cheesy Factor: The fact that the characters voices are ripped from the movie.
Availability: Only seen at THX theaters that are showing "Horton Hears A Who".
Scare Factor: Medium. the "crash" sound and the Deep Note might startle a few.
13th Trailer
(2000's)
Nickname: "The Science of Sensation"
Logo: We first see a pitch black screen, but then we see the words "THE SCIENCE OF SENSATION"(in capital letters) coming at us each two words at a time(like the "Broadway 2000" logo), then suddenly fading out by spreading the words apart. Then, the THX logo appears. With it's usual gray color, the logo shines with a "shinemark" coming down on the "T".
Cheesy Factor: None.
Music/Sounds: The extended version of the Deep Note. But....it contains the same sound variant that was used in the "cavalcade" Terminator 2 variant.
Music/Sound Variant: A higher pitched version exists.
Avalibility: Hmm...probabally seen in THX theaters, wherever this logo can be seen.
Scare Factor: Depends on if you have "THX-phobia".
|
vzeu019j |
Latest page update: made by vzeu019j
, Sunday, 7:46 PM EST
(about this update
About This Update
Edited by vzeu019j
8 words deleted view changes - complete history) |
|
More Info: links to this page
|
| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TheStrayCat | THXphobics Anonymous | 0 | Sep 19 2009, 8:02 PM EDT by TheStrayCat | ||
|
Thread started: Sep 19 2009, 8:02 PM EDT
Watch
Hated this logo as a child. You don't know the lengths I would go to to avoid this logo. I would buy myself a new pair of earplugs every time my father and I would go to the movies. I would avoid any videos with the logo in front of it. I wouldn't eat before going to the movies due to my fear.
But I still have those dreams of an anthropomorphic THX running me down in a field of pavement, always ending with me waking up in a cold sweat. Beat that. |
||||
| klaskycsupo | THX | 0 | Aug 31 2009, 11:01 AM EDT by klaskycsupo | ||
|
Thread started: Aug 31 2009, 11:01 AM EDT
Watch
I have a nickname for the 8th trailer! It's called "Galaga Meets the Deep Note After an Alien is Killed!"
|
|||||
| vzeu019j | Nicknames | 0 | Jul 5 2009, 11:55 PM EDT by vzeu019j | ||
|
Thread started: Jul 5 2009, 11:55 PM EDT
Watch
I have a question. Can we come up with our own names for the logos, or is that what THEY named it? Because if it's okay, I have some nicknames of my own.
|
|||||
Showing 3 of 5 threads for this page
- view all
