Sony Pictures DVD Center

1st Logo (1998?-2007?)
Nickname: "The Rainbow Laser"

Logo: We start with a big flash that leaves light rays, and there are three colored lines coming together in the center. They hit the ground and leave. We then see an image with a lighted spot on the ground, and three lines - red, green, blue - stand there and cast shadows. The following text fades in below:

SONY PICTURES DVD CENTER

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MASTERING THE ART OF TECHNOLOGY

Variant: Another variant has the name "SONY PICTURES" and "DIGITAL AUTHORING CENTER".

FX/SFX: The flash, and animation of the lines.

Music/Sounds: Various noisy sounds and whooshes ending with a very quiet crystal chime.

Availability: Extremely rare. So far seen at the end of some Region 2 DVDs released by Columbia Tristar Home Video. Also seen on a few early Region 2 SPHE releases, such as the 2005 DVDs of Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II. In the US, the print logo appears on the DVD cover and label, but the visual logo usually does not appear on the DVD itself. Surprisingly appears at the end of the Region 2 DVD releases of the first two Jurassic Park movies, possibly due to Columbia TriStar handling distribution for Universal releases at the time, it also shows up at the end of the Region 4 DVD release of Jurassic Park as well (as Columbia TriStar was handling distribution for Universal Releases on DVD in Australia at the time). It is also at the end on the Australian DVD release of Kermit's Swamp Years and Buddy. The Digital Authoring Center variant appears on some later Region 2 releases from SPHE, such as Crossroads, Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild and Open Season. Some Region 4 DVDs from Australia also include this logo, such as Stuart Little (the 2014 Aussie DVD reprint retains this logo) and Charlie's Angels. This was also seen on the 2017 Australian Shock Entertainment DVD release of The Craft, possibly because the Main Menu, Movie, Dolby Digital City Trailer and Warning Screen are re-used from the original 2002 Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment Collectors Edition DVD of The Craft. Some early DVD's, such as the 1999 Australian DVD releases of Madeline (the 1998 live-action adaption) and Cruel Intentions, and UK DVDs of Multiplicity, The Cable Guy, and Cruel Intentions, have this play after you select "Play Movie". It also appears at the end of the 2000 Artisan Entertainment Region 1 DVD release of Foolish. Starting sometime in 2000, this would be found at the end of Region 4 DVD's. Some other Region 1 DVDs rarely have this as well. This is absent from the 1999 Region 4 DVD of Ghostbusters and the 2000 region 4 DVD releases of Mr Jones and A League of their Own.

2nd Logo (2000's)
Nickname: "The Rainbow Laser II"

Logo: On a black background, 3 S's wipe in, which are the same colors as the lines from the 1st logo. Below this, "Sony DVD Center" and "Excellence in Technology & Innovation" wipes in.

Variant: Another variant has the logo's animation take place on a slightly different background and is smaller than usual.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Ultra rare. It appears mainly on PAL DVD releases, including those of the 1958 film Cowboy, the 1966 film Alvarez Kelly, and Frank Capra's You Can't Take It With You. This also shows up on the 2001 Region 4 DVD release of China Moon, (even though the print version of the previous logo appears on the back of the DVD case). It also appears on the 2004 Region 4 DVD release of Blind Date (and its late 2010's reprint), the 2003 Region 2 DVD releases of Another You and Macbeth, the 2002 Region 4 DVD release of Fools Rush In, and the 2002 Italian DVD of Shampoo (it also appears on a 2006 reprint of that film). The alternative version is rarer and is known to have appeared on the 2003 PAL DVD release of Harvey. The alternative version also shows up on the 2003 UK/Australian DVD releases of A Simple Wish and Flipper (1996 film).