THX: Difference between revisions
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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 2002, when spun-off in its 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 officially stands for "Tomlinson Holman's EXperiment". THX certifies fine-tuned home theater equipment, TiVo DVRs and some PCs. They have previously certified physical media such as VHS, LaserDisc, DVD and Blu-ray (and HD-DVD; Brave Story only) films from major studios, as well as video games. Previously owned by sound card manufacturer Creative Labs, THX was acquired by gaming peripheral manufacturer Razer (which acquired the developers of the Ouya game console) on October 17, 2016. | 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 2002, when spun-off in its 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 officially stands for "Tomlinson Holman's EXperiment". THX certifies fine-tuned home theater equipment, TiVo DVRs and some PCs. They have previously certified physical media such as VHS, LaserDisc, DVD and Blu-ray (and HD-DVD; Brave Story only) films from major studios, as well as video games. Previously owned by sound card manufacturer Creative Labs, THX was acquired by gaming peripheral manufacturer Razer (which acquired the developers of the Ouya game console) on October 17, 2016. | ||
=== 1st Trailer (May 25, 1983) === | |||
1st Trailer | |||
(May 25, 1983) | |||
Nicknames: "Wings", "It Begins", "Blue THX" | Nicknames: "Wings", "It Begins", "Blue THX" | ||
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Editor's Note: The introduction of the infamous THX logo. It's a simple effort, but nonetheless a very effective one as well, mostly thanks to its musical soundtrack, the Deep Note. It is probably one of the most infamous movie soundmarks in history, thanks to its often frightening nature for younger viewers. | Editor's Note: The introduction of the infamous THX logo. It's a simple effort, but nonetheless a very effective one as well, mostly thanks to its musical soundtrack, the Deep Note. It is probably one of the most infamous movie soundmarks in history, thanks to its often frightening nature for younger viewers. | ||
=== 2nd Trailer (May 23, 1984-2006, 2010- ) === | |||
2nd Trailer | |||
(May 23, 1984-2006, 2010- ) | |||
Nicknames: "Broadway", "The Blue Rectangle", "The Audience is Now Deaf", "The Note Of Hell" | Nicknames: "Broadway", "The Blue Rectangle", "The Audience is Now Deaf", "The Note Of Hell" | ||
Trailer: On a black background, 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 | Trailer: On a black background, 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. | LUCASFILM LTD. | ||
SOUND SYSTEM | SOUND SYSTEM | ||
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Variants: Throughout the years, this trailer had many different variants: | Variants: Throughout the years, this trailer had many different variants: | ||
* 1995 A: The audio was remixed digitally in Dolby Digital and DTS with then-new technology. | |||
* 1995 B: Probably the most recognizable THX trailer variant. It was exclusive to home video releases and revised a bit more. The gray text reading "The Audience is Listening" is replaced with "Digitally Mastered for Optimal Video and Audio 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, and they sparkle while the THX logo shines. | |||
* 1995 C: Both the audio and the trailer is shorter than the standard 1983-1997 theatrical version. The audio (in this, and both 1995 A & B variants) is also in +2 higher (on VHS & LD; +3 on PAL releases), or -1.5 lower on DVDs. | |||
* 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" in Arial Narrow font. When the THX logo appears, [LASER I/ DISC] appears under THX. The logo shines after the blue rectangle fades out. The pitch is +2 pitches higher (on E note), like the VHS variant. | |||
* From 1997-2003, an alternate version appeared where the original text above (and above only) the THX logo was "LUCASFILM LTD." This appeared only on Buena Vista releases until it was officially replaced with the "DIGITALLY MASTERED" (as described above) text when Lucasfilm Ltd. spun off THX into its present-day company. | |||
* For the Dell PC's THX Picture and Sound Optimizer disc, "The Audience is Listening" tagline is replaced with "Your Dell PC is THX Certified". "Dell" is in its usual font. "SOUND SYSTEM" is replaced with "BEST PICTURE. BEST SOUND." Afterwards, the URL www.thx.com is seen with the trademark and a disclaimer at the bottom. | |||
* 2010: The trailer is remastered, or recreated, in high definition. The blue rectangle is wider and glows, "The Audience Is Listening" text is in a white Imprint shadow font and the THX logo glows and shines slowly. Below is a THX Ltd. copyright notice. | |||
* 2010 A: "The Audience is Listening" text is replaced with "Digitally mastered for superior sound and picture quality," in the same Arial font (a la 1995 B). Debuted on home entertainment releases starting with Star Wars: The Original Trilogy Blu-ray. | |||
* On the Apollo 13 DTS LaserDisc, the Deep Note on the THX LaserDisc logo is the -1.5 pitch Deep Note like the DVD/Tex. | |||
* On some LaserDisc prints of the Stargate widescreen AC-3 and Species, the Deep Note on the THX LaserDisc logo is a short version of the 1983 Deep Note (blending in with the fade out of Dolby Ghost Train), though other prints use the +2 pitch Deep Note. | |||
* On the 1994 LaserDisc of Night of the Living Dead, the Elite Entertainment logo fades to the THX LaserDisc logo. | |||
FX/SFX: See variants above. | FX/SFX: See variants above. | ||
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Music/Sounds: | Music/Sounds: | ||
* The theatrical version uses a louder version of the Deep Note which excludes the looped portion of the beginning. | |||
* The DVD/VHS/LaserDisc version has a shorter and quicker version of the Deep Note that starts at the rapid pitch change. The VHS and most of the LaserDisc versions have a +2/higher-pitched (E note) Deep Note, which was stolen for Laser Video Russia's 3rd logo. The DVD version has a -1.5/lower-pitched (C♯ note) version that is often re-used in some of the future logos listed below. | |||
* On THX-certified PAL releases (namely UK VHS tapes, but also including video CDs using THX-Certified masters from PAL VHS tapes), the VHS variant is at a higher pitch (+3, at an F note). | |||
* The HD version, or "Broadway Classic (Restored)," has the remastered Deep Note used in the "Science of Sensation" logo. | |||
Availability: Very common during its usage. | Availability: Very common during its usage. | ||
* The original theatrical variant is ultra rare and hasn't been used in theaters in a long time; it appeared on the 1990 THX Wow! Laserdisc, which was a sound test disc that wasn't a certified product and one that is very difficult to find. | |||
* The 1995 variant is arguably the most common THX trailer made. It appears on THX-certified DVDs and VHS tapes from various distributors from 1995 to 2006, most notably Disney, Fox, Universal, Sony, Paramount, mini-majors such as MGM, and even on some releases from Anchor Bay and Pioneer/Geneon. | |||
* On Disney releases, this was first used on the Masterpiece Collection edition of Bambi (which used the Digitally Mastered variant. The Masterpiece Collection edition of Fun & Fancy Free was the first to use the Lucasfilm Ltd. variant). The 2002 VHS release of Atlantis: The Lost Empire also uses the standard logo, but Spanish-translated releases have the Lucasfilm Ltd. variant instead, likely because that particular copy was released in 2001; the American copy was to have that particular THX logo but was delayed to 2002, so the previews and THX logo were updated. It was also seen with the -1.5 lower pitch on Disney DVDs from 1999 to 2001, and made a surprise appearance on a April 16, 2011 Starz airing of Toy Story 3 (or 2). The VHS variant of the standard logo made a surprise appearance on Disney Channel airings of Monsters, Inc. prior to October 2008. The Lucasfilm Ltd. variant also makes a surprise appearance on the 1998 Japanese VHS of The Little Mermaid. | |||
* The LaserDisc variant is uncommon; the LaserDiscs they were recorded on are scarce nowadays. It can be found on select LaserDisc releases from 1993-2000, starting with The Abyss, followed by Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Aladdin, The Little Rascals, Casper, Speed, and Braveheart. Starting in 1996 with Twister, the 3rd logo would be used for releases from Fox (though there were a few exceptions such as Alien: Resurrection), Universal, Paramount, and Warner Bros., whereas Disney/Touchstone/Miramax/Hollywood, and Columbia continued usage of the Broadway trailer on releases such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Men In Black, The Rock, and finally Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. | |||
* Some tapes and DVDs don't have this logo on the cover or tape but feature it on the movie itself, and vice versa. | |||
* The "restored" variant debuted on Blu-ray with Star Wars: The Original Trilogy and on DVD with the 2012 re-release of Titanic, before being moved to the beginning starting with the Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures Blu-ray. Also available online. | |||
* The "DELL PC" version is exclusive to the THX Picture and Sound Optimizer disc. | |||
* This THX trailer premiered on the second THX-certified feature, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. | |||
* The DVD variant was also seen on the Pioneer DVD releases of Akira and Tenchi Muyo In Love (The LaserDisc variant also appears on the LaserDisc release of the latter), among other anime titles. | |||
* The PAL variant of the VHS variant is extremely rare; it can be found on the UK VHS of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and the Indonesian VCD of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: Special Edition. | |||
* The remastered version can be seen before every showing of Aerosmith's Deuces are Wild concert residency. | |||