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<u>Background</u>: 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 " | <u>Background</u>: 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 June 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 "'''T'''omlinson '''H'''olman's e'''X'''periment". 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. | ||
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*1995 A: The audio was remixed digitally in Dolby Digital and DTS with then-new technology. | *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 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. | *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 (an E note), like the VHS variant. | *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 (an E note), like the VHS variant. | ||
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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! | *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 predated the THX certification process 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. | *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 LaserDisc with the 1994 LD release of | **On Disney releases, this was first used on LaserDisc with the May 1994 LD release of the 1993 film of The Three Musketeers, and on an animated film for the first time that September with Aladdin. On VHS, it debuted with 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, which all Disney tapes would use until around late 2001. As a result, the 2002 VHS release of Atlantis: The Lost Empire uses the standard logo, but Spanish-translated releases have the Lucasfilm Ltd. variant instead, likely because that particular copy was released in mid-late 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 2005 or 2006 and made a surprise appearance on 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 last Disney VHS to use this logo was the 2004 Special Edition release of Aladdin, however the logo appears on the packaging and tape of the 2005 Special Edition release of Bambi; but not on the movie itself. | ||
*The LaserDisc variant is uncommon; the LaserDiscs they were recorded on are | *The LaserDisc variant is uncommon; the LaserDiscs they were recorded on are uncommon 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, and The Rock. The last LaserDiscs with this logo would be Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and a re-release of the original Star Wars Trilogy's Special Edition, both released in 2000 in Japan only. | ||
* Some tapes and DVDs don't have this logo on the cover or tape but feature it on the movie itself, and vice versa. | *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 with the Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures Blu-ray. Also available online. | *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 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. | *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. | *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 latter title is the first ever DVD to feature this variant, released in December 1996 for Japan only. In the U.S., the DVD variant debuted with Twister in late March 1997. | *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 latter title is the first ever DVD to feature this variant, released in December 1996 for Japan only. In the U.S., the DVD variant debuted with Twister in late March 1997. | ||
*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 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. It may have appeared on other PAL tapes and/or VCDs as well but these are unconfirmed. | ||
*The remastered version can be seen before every showing of Aerosmith's Deuces are Wild concert residency. | *The remastered version can be seen before every showing of Aerosmith's Deuces are Wild concert residency. | ||
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*Fast Company, March 2014 | *Fast Company, March 2014 | ||
The VHS variant of this logo is particularly infamous for its omnipresence on Disney tapes from the era as well as other titles from Fox. | The VHS variant of this logo is particularly infamous for its omnipresence on Disney tapes from the era as well as other titles from Fox throughout the 90s and early-mid 00s. | ||
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Music/Sounds: | Music/Sounds: | ||
*On early prints, an orchestra warms up, then a big descending synth note followed by an orchestra crescendo. When the THX logo appears the descending synth is played again, followed by a rising string note for the THX logo, representing the Deep Note. | *On early prints, an orchestra warms up, then a big descending synth note followed by an orchestra crescendo. When the THX logo appears the descending synth is played again, followed by a rising string note for the THX logo, representing the Deep Note. | ||
*After some theatres complained about the above music messing up their speakers, it was | *After some theatres complained about the above music messing up their speakers, it was replaced with a new orchestral piece done by James Horner. We hear an orchestra warm-up at the start, then a rousing orchestral cue with some whistling sounds (not in the original version of WOW! except for the 2002 & Vimeo releases), and then a beautiful composition of twinkles and ascending notes when the THX logo appears (representing the Deep Note). A whoosh is heard as the THX logo zooms in (not in the original version of WOW!), followed by twinkles. This music debuted in the Cimarron trailer shown at the end of the THX WOW! (1990) LaserDisc. | ||
*The LaserDisc variant has thunder and a shorter version of the Dolby remix music and sounds. | *The LaserDisc variant has thunder and a shorter version of the Dolby remix music and sounds. | ||
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===6th Trailer (July 3, 1996- )=== | ===6th Trailer (July 3, 1996- )=== <!-- Could have debuted earlier on November 19, 1995 with Toy Story? Unsure if this is true or not. --> | ||
[[File:GW288H162.jpg]]<br> | [[File:GW288H162.jpg]]<br> | ||
<youtube width="300" height="227">seg7-AfveKI</youtube> | <youtube width="300" height="227">seg7-AfveKI</youtube> | ||
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Music/Sounds: The Deep Note in -1.5 lower pitch (from the Broadway DVD variant), Tex's dialogue, and sounds corresponding to the animation. The sound design is by Gary Rydstrom, according to The THX Ultimate Demo Disc. See "Trailer" for the rest. | Music/Sounds: The Deep Note in -1.5 lower pitch (from the Broadway DVD variant), Tex's dialogue, and sounds corresponding to the animation. The sound design is by Gary Rydstrom, according to The THX Ultimate Demo Disc. See "Trailer" for the rest. | ||
Availability: Might have been common in THX theaters during its heyday, such as its debut on Independence Day, but it can be found on some Pixar movies on DVD such as Cars (the last THX- | Availability: Might have been common in THX theaters during its heyday, such as its debut on Independence Day, <!-- Some sources may indicate it may have debuted even earlier with Toy Story, but verification is needed on that. -->but it can be found on some Pixar movies on DVD such as Cars (the last THX-certified Disney DVD so far as the Blu-ray and VHS of Cars don't use THX, and don’t expect it on the original DVD release of The Incredibles, it uses the “Cavalcade” trailer), and some THX demo DVDs. Seen online as well. The "DELL PC" version is exclusive to the THX Picture and Sound Optimizer disc. The home video ("Mastered and Duplicated" tagline variant) appears in the Pixar employees only "Made in Point Richmond" DVD. | ||
Editor's Note: This logo boasts very nice CGI for the time as well as a humorous and friendly atmosphere compared to other THX logos. | Editor's Note: This logo boasts very nice CGI for the time as well as a humorous and friendly atmosphere compared to other THX logos. | ||
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Variants: | Variants: | ||
*On a few alternate occasions between 1997 and 2005, the Lucasfilm Ltd. name was seen on top of THX; then the screen falls as usual but replaces "The Audience Is Listening" with "The Best Sound, The Best Picture. You're Watching a THX Certified Feature." (as seen in the "Cavalcade" trailer). | *On a few alternate occasions between 1997 and 2005, the Lucasfilm Ltd. name was seen on top of THX; then the screen falls as usual but replaces "The Audience Is Listening" with "The Best Sound, The Best Picture. You're Watching a THX Certified Feature." (as seen in the "Cavalcade" trailer). | ||
*Around | *Around 2005 to 2006, this trailer and Cavalcade were remastered and removed any mention of the Lucasfilm name (due to these trailers being made before the 2002 spinoff), the tagline is replaced with "WWW.THX.COM". This is the most common one as it is currently used on the THX website and Vimeo. | ||
*In 2009, when Monster joined THX, the trailer became slightly updated. When Tex gets the cord, the camera zooms in to reveal a Monster HDMI cable. When he plugs it in, the graphics on the moo can change it into a Monster Moo Can. "Monster" in 3-D font fades and slides up to the top at the same time as the THX logo. When the THX logo rumbles, the Monster logo rumbles and the black screen shows the THX Monster logo in white and the THX Monster trademark in white. | *In 2009, when Monster joined THX, the trailer became slightly updated. When Tex gets the cord, the camera zooms in to reveal a Monster HDMI cable. When he plugs it in, the graphics on the moo can change it into a Monster Moo Can. "Monster" in 3-D font fades and slides up to the top at the same time as the THX logo. When the THX logo rumbles, the Monster logo rumbles and the black screen shows the THX Monster logo in white and the THX Monster trademark in white. | ||
*A "Dell PC" version exists. | *A "Dell PC" version exists. | ||
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Music/Sounds: Same as the previous trailer, except the Deep Note is replaced by cows mooing it (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). The sound design is by Gary Rydstrom and Marco d'Ambrosio (who did the cow chord) according to The THX Ultimate Demo Disc. A variant of the Monster THX logo (website intro only) uses some electrical sounds from the Terminator 2 THX trailer, of which Gary Rydstrom also did the sound design. | Music/Sounds: Same as the previous trailer, except the Deep Note is replaced by cows mooing it (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). The sound design is by Gary Rydstrom and Marco d'Ambrosio (who did the cow chord) according to The THX Ultimate Demo Disc. A variant of the Monster THX logo (website intro only) uses some electrical sounds from the Terminator 2 THX trailer, of which Gary Rydstrom also did the sound design. | ||
Music/Sound Variant: On some releases, the logo is slightly louder, and more mooing sounds are added in, and the moo noise heard at the end is heard later. | Music/Sound Variant: On some releases (like the aforementioned full-screen variant), the logo is slightly louder, and more mooing sounds are added in, and the moo noise heard at the end is heard later. | ||
Availability: | Availability: Seen in THX-certified theaters for some time, though for how long remains a mystery. It debuted before Alien Resurrection. Can be seen on Pixar DVDs (such as Monsters, Inc., Toy Story 10th Anniversary Edition, and Finding Nemo disc 1), Fox films (such as Star Wars: Clone Wars Volume 2, Speed 2, and The Day The Earth Stood Still), THX Demo discs, and even the VHS of Monsters, Inc. although Disney Channel's original print of the film weirdly plastered this with the VHS version of Broadway instead. A variant is also on the Lair video game for PS3. Seen online as well. The "DELL PC" version is exclusive to the THX Picture and Sound Optimizer disc. This trailer also appears in the Pixar employees only "Made in Point Richmond" DVD along with the Tex logo. | ||
Editor's Note: As the last logo, this is another funny and nicely-animated THX effort. | Editor's Note: As the last logo, this is another funny and nicely-animated THX effort. | ||
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Music/Sounds Variant: In the T2 variant, music from Terminator 2 is heard which fades into the Deep Note used in Broadway 2000; the sound design and mix are by Gary Rydstrom at Skywalker Sound according to the credits of the T2 Ultimate Edition DVD. | Music/Sounds Variant: In the T2 variant, music from Terminator 2 is heard which fades into the Deep Note used in Broadway 2000; the sound design and mix are by Gary Rydstrom at Skywalker Sound according to the credits of the T2 Ultimate Edition DVD. | ||
Availability: Seen on several THX DVDs such as Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (debut), Star Wars: Clone Wars Volume One, The Incredibles, Bayside Shakedown 2, THX 1138 (fittingly enough), the Star Wars Trilogy 2004 DVDs, Fox Demo Disc #1, and X-Men 1.5; in THX theaters, and on the video game MLB 09: The Show. It's also the intro to the menu of The THX Ultimate Demo Disc. Its first theatrical appearance was before Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. | Availability: Seen on several THX DVDs such as Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (debut), Alien Quadrilogy, Star Wars: Clone Wars Volume One, The Incredibles, Bayside Shakedown 2, THX 1138 (fittingly enough), the Star Wars Trilogy 2004 DVDs, Fox Demo Disc #1, and X-Men 1.5; in THX theaters, and on the video game MLB 09: The Show. It's also the intro to the menu of The THX Ultimate Demo Disc. Its first theatrical appearance was before Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (which it is on that film's DVD as well). | ||
Editor's Note: This logo has a dark atmosphere, but also has very incredible CGI all around. | Editor's Note: This logo has a dark atmosphere, but also has very incredible CGI all around. | ||
=== 10th Trailer (November 2, 2001-Late 2000s)=== | === 10th Trailer (November 2, 2001, 2003-Late 2000s)=== | ||
[[File:GW344H194.png]] | [[File:GW344H194.png]] | ||
<br><youtube width="300" height="227">z2lxSxL5eLI</youtube> | <br><youtube width="300" height="227">z2lxSxL5eLI</youtube> | ||
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Sound Design was by Gary Rydstrom and Steve Boeddeker of Skywalker Sound. *1 denotes Skysound title *2 denotes THX-certified title | Sound Design was by Gary Rydstrom and Steve Boeddeker of Skywalker Sound. *1 denotes Skysound title *2 denotes THX-certified title | ||
Availability: Extinct. This was only seen in THX theaters in 2003; licensing issues have probably prevented this trailer from being used again, as THX doesn't own the rights to the clips featured. Physical 35mm copies of this logo frequently appear on eBay. | Availability: Extinct. This was only seen in THX theaters in 2003 and early 2004; licensing issues have probably prevented this trailer from being used again, as THX doesn't own the rights to the clips featured. Physical 35mm copies of this logo frequently appear on eBay. | ||
Editor's Note: TBA | Editor's Note: TBA | ||
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Music/Sounds: A variety of instruments playing in sync with each plant, performed by Lost in the Sky. This ends with a less noisy version of the Deep Note, accompanied by the swoosh. Unlike the previous THX trailers, the music starts at the ending note (blended into the background instrumentation at first) and comes to a quick end rather than fading out smoothly. Mixed by Gary A. Rizzo at Skywalker Sound. | Music/Sounds: A variety of instruments playing in sync with each plant, performed by Lost in the Sky. This ends with a less noisy version of the Deep Note, accompanied by the swoosh. Unlike the previous THX trailers, the music starts at the ending note (blended into the background instrumentation at first) and comes to a quick end rather than fading out smoothly. Mixed by Gary A. Rizzo at Skywalker Sound. | ||
Availability: Seen in most THX theaters, where it debuted before Enchanted, and | Availability: Seen in most THX theaters, where it debuted before Enchanted, and THX DVDs/Blu-rays from 2008-2012 such as Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of The Crystal Skull. On Avatar, Red Tails, and Star Wars The Prequel Trilogy (Blu-ray only), it appears at the end. Available online as well. | ||
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===19th Trailer (April 4, 2015-August | ===19th Trailer (April 4, 2015-August 20, 2019)=== | ||
[[File:GW391H185.jpg]] | [[File:GW391H185.jpg]] | ||
[[File:GW425H178.png]] | [[File:GW425H178.png]] | ||
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Music/Sounds Variant: In the longer versions, after the synths switch back and forth between ascending and descending, the louder synths are stretched out until the final chord. | Music/Sounds Variant: In the longer versions, after the synths switch back and forth between ascending and descending, the louder synths are stretched out until the final chord. | ||
Availability: | Availability: Debuted online. Most likely seen in theaters with newer movies like Furious 7. The normal 30-second variant has been reported to have been seen on Terminator Genisys. This logo was not used on Star Wars: The Force Awakens on DVD and Blu-ray, and in fact has yet to make a confirmed appearance on any home video release at all, however it is unknown if this appears on the 4K UHD release of Alien as the THX logo has been spotted on the packaging of that release. The Razer variant was only seen as a promotional video on Vimeo titled "THX Is Evolving" (however it could possibly hint at future usage for THX-certified products). The 60-second variant is currently only used in the Warren chain of cinemas. | ||
Editor's Note: The logo gained notably for the much louder deep note, and thus is sometimes thought to be the scariest THX trailer of them all due to this (especially the Warren Cinemas variant). | Editor's Note: The logo gained notably for the much louder deep note, and thus is sometimes thought to be the scariest THX trailer of them all due to this (especially the Warren Cinemas variant). | ||
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===21st Trailer (2019-)=== | ===21st Trailer (August 20, 2019-)=== | ||
<youtube width="300" height="227">QYU8zydUqD8</youtube> | <youtube width="300" height="227">QYU8zydUqD8</youtube> | ||
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FX/SFX: Impressive CGI done by Andrew Kramer and American Meme. | FX/SFX: Impressive CGI done by Andrew Kramer and American Meme. | ||
Music/Sounds: Sounds accompanying the environments, along with descending sounds invoking the Deep Note. When we start panning through the space station | Music/Sounds: Sounds accompanying the environments, along with descending sounds invoking the Deep Note. When we start panning through the space station, we hear the 2005 Deep Note, with multiple stop-starts during the early stages. The stop-starts get faster and faster until the Deep Note converges into a single sound. | ||
Availability: Brand new, debuted on THX's YouTube and Twitter pages, and may debut in theaters soon. | Availability: Brand new, debuted on THX's YouTube and Twitter pages, and may debut in theaters soon. | ||