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THX |
Version 45 - view current page
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, named after the first film Lucas directed, THX 1138. The first THX film was the 1983 sci-fi film 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. 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.
Variant: There is an early variant where the THX web adress isn't seen.
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
(2005)
Nicknames: "Galaga", "8-Bit"
Logo: On a white background, we see the words "PLAY GAME!?" in a regular video game font flashing in red. Then, all-red aliens from the arcade game Galaga (no attention to detail, just red) run up to the top of the screen as usual when you start the game. An all-red spaceship comes to the bottom of the screen. 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, which prompts the spaceship to 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: Makes an appearance 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.
9th Trailer
(2007- )
Nickname: "Amazing Life"
Logo: TBA
FX/SFX: TBA
Cheesy Factor: TBA
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.
Availability: Seen in most THX theatres and new THX DVDs. Available online, as well.
Scare Factor: Low to high, once again.
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, named after the first film Lucas directed, THX 1138. The first THX film was the 1983 sci-fi film 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. 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 extended version of the Deep Note.
Music/Sound Variant: In the earlier years, such as when THX was still using the "The Audience Is Listening" moniker, the exact same pitched Deep Note sound, as described in the logo above is heard(with a slight difference in the bass volume).
Availability: One of the most common THX logos ever. It appears on many THX-certified DVDs and VHS's. Available online as well.
Scare Factor: See 1st logo.
3rd Trailer
(1988-1993)
Nickname: "Cinamorron"
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 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
(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
(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".
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 avalible on some Pixar movies on DVD 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: TBA
FX/SFX: Same as 5th trailer.
Music/Sounds: Same as the previous logo, exept the Deep Note is replaced by cows mooing it.
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 videogame 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.
- Until 2001, the original text ABOVE(and above only) the THX logo was "LUCASFILM LTD.". This was 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: Same as the 1995 B variant, but the pitch seems to be higher. This was only 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 extended version of the Deep Note.
Music/Sound Variant: In the earlier years, such as when THX was still using the "The Audience Is Listening" moniker, the exact same pitched Deep Note sound, as described in the logo above is heard(with a slight difference in the bass volume).
Availability: One of the most common THX logos ever. It appears on many THX-certified DVDs and VHS's. Available online as well.
Scare Factor: See 1st logo.
3rd Trailer
(1988-1993)
Nickname: "Cinamorron"
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 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
(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
(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".
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 avalible on some Pixar movies on DVD and some THX demo DVDs. Seen online as well.
Scare factor: Low to high, yet again.
6th Trailer
(1997- )
Logo: TBA
FX/SFX: Same as 5th trailer.
Music/Sounds: Same as the previous logo, exept the Deep Note is replaced by cows mooing it.
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 videogame 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.
Variant: There is an early variant where the THX web adress isn't seen.
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
(2005)
Logo: On a white background, we see the words "PLAY GAME!?" in a regular video game font flashing in red. Then, all-red aliens from the arcade game Galaga (no attention to detail, just red) run up to the top of the screen as usual when you start the game. An all-red spaceship comes to the bottom of the screen. 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, which prompts the spaceship to 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: Makes an appearance 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.
9th Trailer
(2007- )
Nickname: "Amazing Life"
Logo: TBA
FX/SFX: TBA
Cheesy Factor: TBA
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.
Availability: Seen in most THX theatres and new THX DVDs. Available online, as well.
Scare Factor: Low to high, once again.
