HiT Entertainment

Background

HIT Entertainment Limited (commonly written as HiT) was a British-American entertainment company founded in 1982 as Henson International Television, the international distribution arm of The Jim Henson Company, by Jim Henson, Peter Orton, and Sophie Turner Laing. Orton alone took over the company in 1989 upon learning Henson's intent to sell the company to The Walt Disney Company. HIT owned and distributed children's television series such as Thomas & Friends, Fireman Sam, Bob the Builder, Pingu, Barney & Friends and Angelina Ballerina.

Logos

1st logo (1983-1989): Same as the Henson Associates in credit logo, only the text is replaced with "hit!" and the lower text is replaced with "HENSON INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION" between two lines. Copyright information is Henson International Television listed below.

2nd logo (1989-1996): On a gray marble-like background, a silver disc rotates into place. Then four blue lasers strike it from different directions. Then, the camera pans to an aerial view as the word "HiT", in a tall silver font, zooms out from the center from an angle, then rotates to face the viewers. As it does so, the four lasers rotate clockwise and "COMMUNICATIONS PLC" types itself in in blue.

3rd logo (1994?-1995): On a black background, the bluish-grey letters of "HiT" fly outwards to the center to form a result similar to the previous logo, but with thinner letters and no dot. Below it all is "Distributed by HIT Entertainment PLC." in white, sometimes replaced with a black bar and the text changed to match the country's language.

4th logo (1996-2006): On a shady gray background, we see the word "HiT" in the same font as last two logos in blue, with "ENTERTAINMENT PLC" written vertically next to the T in white. A hole is cut out in between the letters above the I, which contains a spinning globe. Under that reads "www.hitentertainment.com" and "DISTRIBUTED WORLDWIDE BY HIT ENTERTAINMENT PLC". There is a spotlight from the top left of the screen, casting a shadow of the logo on the floor.

Variants

• There is a version where the URL and byline swap places, such as retail episodes of Bob the Builder.
• There are instances where the logo is just seen with the byline, such as Scandinavian versions of Bob the Builder.
• A still version of this is seen on VHS releases.
• An in-credit variant was seen on Archibald the Koala.
• On some prints of Basket Fever, the background is replaced with that of a background of the world with "ENTERTAINMENT PLC" in black instead of white and the below text is omitted.

5th logo (1997-2008): On a striped-shiny-blue background we see a yellow/orange gradient ribbon flying around from the right edge of the screen. Then the ribbon makes its way to form the spring (or tunnel) and an explosion occurs. After that we see more colorful ribbons but smaller and some fireworks. Later, the camera moves into the center of tunnel, then the tunnel disappears and from its place comes the globe which is zooming into hole in the HiT logo from the last logo in light blue, which fades in the same time as the globe comes. As it does so, the globe spins. The word "ENTERTAINMENT PLC" is written vertically next to the "T" in white, just like the 2nd and 4th logos until it is over.

Variants

• There is a short version which shows only the last part of logo.
• There is also a middle-length version, which starts in the middle of the logo.
• Throughout 2003 on DVDs (with the exception of Thomas & Friends DVDs), the same logo is used but a fire can be seen when the explosion occurs, and the white text "ENTERTAINMENT PLC" is replaced with "ENTERTAINMENT", and the globe spins a little faster than normal. The music and sounds in the logo remains unchanged.

6th logo (2000-2007): On a blue background, we see the HiT logo (as seen in the last two logos), but less shiny and solid, and with "ENTERTAINMENT" replacing "ENTERTAINMENT PLC". A glow of light surrounds the globe. Sometimes, a copyright notice appears below. Like the 4th logo, sometimes the URL (www.hitentertainment.com) and byline (DISTRIBUTED WORLDWIDE BY HIT ENTERTAINMENT) are seen below the logo.

Variants

• There is a difference between the original and the standard versions.
  • Original version:
    • The still version, no animations at all
    • Always bylineless
    • Has a constant color scheme/contrast
    • Has a thinner text for "ENTERTAINMENT"
  • Standard version
    • The animated version
    • Can be with the URL or byline, or both, or bylineless
    • The contrast of the logo varies depending on the year of release (2000-2002 has a dark blue color scheme, while 2003-2006 has a light blue color scheme)
    • Has a thicker text for "ENTERTAINMENT"
• Like with the previous logo, "PLC" can be seen next to "ENTERTAINMENT".
• On Barney's Christmas Star, the globe is bigger than normal one.
  • This doesn't happen when the same feature was part of it Entertainment Christmas Children's Favorites, when it was replaced by the standard version with the URL and byline.
• On the DVD's of at least the first two seasons of Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends (restored format only, the remastered versions use the Britt Allcroft logo), we see a white background. On the top half it says "A Britt Allcroft Company Production" with the company's logo in between the words "Britt" and "Allcroft" and on the bottom half we see the HIT Entertainment logo. In between them is the word "For". Under all that is a copyright notice that says "(C) 1984-2003 Gullane (Thomas) Limited. All rights reserved". Post-2007 releases of the DVD have this logo replaced with the next logo, with the copyright notice intact.
• On CITV Repeats of Kipper, Angelina Ballerina and Percy The Park Keeper, Both the Byline and URL Are Missing.
• On the 2003 Series of Fireman Sam and seasons 5-6 of Pingu, the logo appears in the end credits.
• On 2004-06 episodes of Thomas and Friends and its related home videos (at least in the UK), there are several versions of the logo. Copyright info is below.
  • The first variation is seen on individual episodes and airings. It has the copyright notice for every episode per year of release (2003, 2004, 2005 or 2006) and the disclaimer about the series.
  • The second variation is seen on several home videos, such as Hooray for Thomas! and Other Stories. It has the copyright notice for the episodes (2003, 2004, 2005 or 2006) and the disclaimer about the series. The font of the copyright notice is the same as logo's with the collaboration with Nick Jr.
  • The third variation is seen on several PBS airings. It is similar to the first two variations, but instead of the cloudy sky as the background, the blue original background is seen on the logo.
  • The fourth variation is seen on Thomas' Halloween Adventures. The copyright notice used from the restored formats of previous seasons is used, along with the North American disclaimer.
  • The fifth is used for Thomas & Friends: Calling All Engines!. The logo is placed on the original background, with the words "Thomas the Tank Engine, Created for Television by BRITT ALLCROFT" plus the 2005 copyright notice and disclaimer below the logo.
• On the seventh season of Thomas & Friends, there are three variations of the logo.
  • The first variation uses the logo with the URL and byline, with the copyright notice from the restored format of the first two seasons.
  • The second variation uses the logo with the URL and byline, but with the title "Thomas & Friends" on top of the logo, and the copyright notice "(C) 2003 Gullane (Thomas) Limited" on the bottom of the byline.
  • The third variation is the logo with the Nick Jr. logo. It has the copyright notice "(C) 2002/2003 Gullane (Thomas) Limited" on the bottom of the logo, and sometimes the words "Produced in association with Nickelodeon UK" can be seen on top of the logos. The background is a cloudy sky, which is also used in the next three seasons.
• Like the 4th logo, there are instances that the logo is seen only with just the byline (or along in this case, with just the URL).
  • The Latin-American (Spanish & Portuguese) and European (Spanish, Portuguese, French & German) airings of the ninth season of Barney & Friends and ITunes releases of Thomas & Friends including, Thomas and His Friends Get Along and Thomas and His Friends Help Out use the version with just the byline.
  • Fraggle Rock, Animal Jam, and the East Asian (Malaysian, Indonesian, Philippine and Thai) airings of the ninth season of Barney & Friends use the version with just the URL.
  • There is another version of the logo with just the URL. The URL is slightly shifted down to where usually the byline is placed. The URL is in bold, which would be later used in the HD version of the logo.
  • There is another version of the logo with just the byline. In this case, the byline is much more bolder and has greater font size. Some reruns of Bob the Builder have the logo with just the byline, and it is shifted up to where the URL is placed.
• The direct-to-video (Netflix, Hulu, etc.), and some international versions of the tenth season episodes of Barney & Friends, along with its related retail home videos from 2005-07 (such as Can You Sing That Song? (VHS version only), Let's Go To The Beach, Let's Make Music and Let's Go To The Firehouse) uses a short-lived HD version of the logo, with its URL and byline in bold. The PBS and Sprout versions use the next logo (still or original).

The HiT Entertainment logo from 2007 until HiT was absorbed to Mattel Creations in 2017.

7th logo (2007-present): On a white background, we see a CGI block with "H" white on red, "i" blue on yellow, and "T" white on blue, with "HiT entertainment" below it. Then, all of a sudden, two more of the same blocks come out from behind the main block, and they all jump around as the name fades out. The blocks stack. As it leaves only one block, the block looks around before becoming still, and "HiT entertainment" fades in below.

Variants

• There is a short version which only shows the ending part after the blocks walk away.
• An alternate short variant shows the HiT block at a farther away angle. Then, the two other blocks come in and jump before exiting, as the middle one bounces closer to the screen. The music on here is lower-pitched than normal, or different than normal.
• Another alternate short variant shows the blocks chasing each other around, before they bump into each other and we zoom into the main block dazed for a moment.
• Yet another alternative short variant shows the blocks jumping before the middle one rolls closer to the screen. The music is also lower-pitched on here, too.
• A very short variant exists where the block just drops down.
• There exists a still version, as well, with a plain white background. It was seen on games and some shows on Sprout.
• On many DVD releases of HiT Entertainment shows, such as Lionsgate releases of the CGI Thomas and Friends, the still variant is shown with two blue buttons below it, one reading "Auto Play" and the other reading "Main Menu". (à la Disney's FastPlay logo.)
• Little People and the first season of the Bob the Builder reboot have a copyright notice on the bottom of the Hit Entertainment text.
• On 2007-2008 episodes of Bob The Builder, sometimes the logo is still, with the words "Distributed Worldwide by" on top of the logo.
• On the 11th season of Thomas & Friends, the logo (still version) has the copyright notice for individual episode per year of release (2007 or 2008) and the disclaimer about the series. Several home videos (in fullscreen) have the copyright notice dated 2007 and 2008. PBS airings use the original variant.
• The Sprout reairings of the tenth season of Barney & Friends use the very last part of the logo's sequence (ie. the HiT block is already there after the animation).

Music/Sounds

1st logo (1983-1989): Same as the Henson Associates logo.

2nd logo (1989-1996): An eerie gong sound leading into a catchy synth theme with bells.

Music/Sounds Variant

A silent version exists.

3rd logo (1994?-1995): None.

4th logo (1996-2001): Same as the previous logo.

Music/Sounds/Variants

In other cases, the end theme of the show would be used.

5th logo (1997-2008): For the long version at the beginning is a big whoosh, then a variety of cartoon sound effects are heard whilst the items come out of the ribbon tunnel, then a grand fanfare.

6th logo (2000-2007): The ending theme of the show or silence.

7th logo (September 3, 2007-): An upbeat flute/horn tune with rhythmitic finger snaps, or the end theme of the show. The Auto Play variant has just a male announcer saying "For your convenience, this DVD has been enhanced with HiT Entertainment's Auto Play! Your program and a selection of bonus features will begin automatically! To bypass Auto Play, select the "Main Menu" button on your remote at anytime! Your feature presentation will begin in a moment; enjoy!"

Scare Factor

1st logo (1983-1989): Same as the Henson Associates logo.

2nd logo (1989-1996): Minimal to medium. The gong is rather eerie, and the tall letter may get some nervous. Otherwise, it's a favourite of many people.

3rd logo (1994?-1995): None to minimal, though the tall font and darkish atmosphere may still put some off.

4th logo (1996-2001): None.

5th logo (1997-2008): Low to medium. The explosion, slightly jarring appearance, and audio cacophony might have caused a few scares, but this logo is very well done and is a favourite of many.

6th logo (2000-2007): None

7th logo (September 3, 2007-): None. It's a cute logo, but it might annoy some, especially those who liked the older logos.

Video

HiT entertainment logo 2008