Hi-Tops Video
Encyclopedia
Hi-Tops Video was a children's home video sublabel of Media Home Entertainment
(a division of Heron Communications) and Kartes Video Communications (a division of E. W. Scripps Company
), active from 1985 until 1992. Some releases include most Charlie Brown
videos, and the "Madeline" video series produced by Cinar (now Cookie Jar Entertainment
).
Outside of the United States
and Canada
, Hi-Tops Videos were distributed by other companies, examples being VPD (Video Program Distributors) in the United Kingdom
and Family Home Entertainment in Australia
(not related to the Lions Gate-owned company of the same name
). (However, in Canada, some Hi-Tops Video releases were distributed by Astral Video, a now-defunct subsidiary of the present-day Astral Media
.)
specials. These specials were distributed as part of a series, Snoopy's Home Video Library.
Some other Peanuts specials, such as A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
(1973), were not distributed by Hi-Tops Video, as well as some early VHS releases of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show
. Some of the specials released in the Snoopy's Home Video Library series were earlier released by Media Home Entertainment on tapes with two or three specials appearing. The video (and DVD) distribution rights of all the Peanuts specials were later given to Paramount Home Entertainment
from 1994 to 2007, then Warner Bros. Home Video in 2007-2008.
Some other original video series, such as Little Schoolhouse, were produced for Hi-Tops Video. Some of the original Hi-Tops Video releases of The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin were redesigned by YES! Entertainment to be compatible with their version of the Teddy Ruxpin
doll.
Media Home Entertainment
Media Home Entertainment Inc. was a home video company headquartered in Culver City, California, originally established in 1978 by filmmaker Charles Band....
(a division of Heron Communications) and Kartes Video Communications (a division of E. W. Scripps Company
E. W. Scripps Company
The E. W. Scripps Company is an American media conglomerate founded by Edward W. Scripps on November 2, 1878. The company is headquartered inside the Scripps Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its corporate motto is "Give light and the people will find their own way."On October 16, 2007, the company...
), active from 1985 until 1992. Some releases include most Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown
Charles "Charlie" Brown is the protagonist in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz.Charlie Brown and his creator have a common connection in that they are both the sons of barbers, but whereas Schulz's work is described as the "most shining example of the American success story", Charlie...
videos, and the "Madeline" video series produced by Cinar (now Cookie Jar Entertainment
Cookie Jar Entertainment
The Cookie Jar Group is an American and Canadian producer of children’s entertainment, consumer products and educational materials...
).
Outside of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Hi-Tops Videos were distributed by other companies, examples being VPD (Video Program Distributors) in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Family Home Entertainment in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
(not related to the Lions Gate-owned company of the same name
Family Home Entertainment
Family Home Entertainment was an American home video company founded in 1980 by Noel C. Bloom. It was a division of International Video Entertainment, which had its headquarters in Newbury Park, California.-General information:...
). (However, in Canada, some Hi-Tops Video releases were distributed by Astral Video, a now-defunct subsidiary of the present-day Astral Media
Astral Media
Astral Media Inc. is a Canadian media corporation. It is Canada's largest radio broadcaster with 83 radio stations in eight provinces, and is a major player in premium and specialty television in Canada, including The Movie Network, Super Écran, Family, Teletoon, Canal D, Canal Vie, VRAK.TV,...
.)
Snoopy's Home Video Library
Hi-Tops Video was the original distributor of the first VHS releases of the majority of the PeanutsPeanuts
Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
specials. These specials were distributed as part of a series, Snoopy's Home Video Library.
- A Charlie Brown ChristmasA Charlie Brown ChristmasA Charlie Brown Christmas is the first prime-time animated TV special based upon the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It was produced and directed by former Warner Bros. and UPA animator Bill Melendez, who also supplied the voice for the character of Snoopy...
(1965) (Volume 2) - Charlie Brown's All-StarsCharlie Brown's All-StarsCharlie Brown's All-Stars is the second prime-time animated TV special based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It was the second such TV special to be produced by Lee Mendelson and Bill Melendez , and originally aired on the CBS network on June 8, 1966...
(1966) (Volume 10) - It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie BrownIt's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie BrownIt's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a 1966 American prime time animated television special based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz....
(1966) (Volume 11) - He's Your Dog, Charlie BrownHe's Your Dog, Charlie BrownHe's Your Dog, Charlie Brown is the fifth prime-time animated TV special based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It was originally aired on the CBS network on February 14, 1968...
(1968) (Volume 4) - It Was a Short Summer, Charlie BrownIt Was a Short Summer, Charlie BrownIt Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown is the sixth prime-time animated TV specials based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, created by Charles M. Schulz. It was directed by Bill Meléndez and originally aired on CBS on September 27, 1969...
(1969) (Volume 18) - Play It Again, Charlie BrownPlay It Again, Charlie BrownPlay It Again, Charlie Brown is the seventh prime-time animated TV specials based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It was originally aired on the CBS network on March 28, 1971. It was the first Peanuts TV special of the 1970s...
(1971) (Volume 16) - You're Not Elected, Charlie BrownYou're Not Elected, Charlie BrownYou're Not Elected, Charlie Brown is the ninth prime-time animated TV special based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz and the eighth one to air. It originally aired on CBS on October 29, 1972, right before the 1972 election....
(1972) (Volume 13) - It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie BrownIt's the Easter Beagle, Charlie BrownIt's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown is the 12th prime-time animated TV special based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz...
(1974) (Volume 6) - Be My Valentine, Charlie BrownBe My Valentine, Charlie BrownBe My Valentine, Charlie Brown is the 13th prime-time animated TV specials based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It was originally aired on the CBS network on January 28, 1975. ABC will next air it on February 11, 2011....
(1975) (Volume 5) - It's Your First Kiss, Charlie BrownIt's Your First Kiss, Charlie BrownIt's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown is the 16th prime-time animated TV specials based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz...
(1977) (Volume 19) - What a Nightmare, Charlie Brown!What a Nightmare, Charlie Brown!What a Nightmare, Charlie Brown! is the 17th primetime animated TV specials based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, created by Charles M. Schulz. It was originally aired on Thursday, February 23, 1978, at 8:00 P.M. ET/PT on CBS. The special is unusual in that Snoopy and Charlie Brown are the...
(1978) (Volume 12) - You're the Greatest, Charlie BrownYou're the Greatest, Charlie BrownYou're the Greatest, Charlie Brown is the 18th prime-time animated TV special based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It was originally aired on the CBS network in March 1979, making it the last Peanuts TV special of the 1970s. It has been released to DVD by Warner Home...
(1979) (Volume 14) - She's a Good Skate, Charlie BrownShe's a Good Skate, Charlie BrownShe's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown is the 19th prime-time animated TV specials based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz...
(1980) (Volume 7) - Life is a Circus, Charlie BrownLife Is a Circus, Charlie BrownLife is a Circus, Charlie Brown is the 20th prime-time animated TV specials based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It was originally aired on the CBS network on October 24, 1980.-Synopsis:...
(1980) (Volume 15) - Someday You'll Find Her, Charlie BrownSomeday You'll Find Her, Charlie BrownSomeday You'll Find Her, Charlie Brown is the 22nd prime-time animated TV special based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It was originally aired on the CBS network on October 30, 1981...
(1981) (Volume 17) - It's Magic, Charlie BrownIt's Magic, Charlie BrownIt's Magic, Charlie Brown is the 21st prime-time animated TV special based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It originally aired on April 28, 1981...
(1981) (Volume 9) - It's an Adventure, Charlie BrownIt's an Adventure, Charlie BrownIt's an Adventure, Charlie Brown is the 25th prime-time animated TV special based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It was originally aired on the CBS network on May 16, 1983...
(1983) (Volume 1) - Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown?Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown?Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown? is the 24th prime-time animated TV special based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It was originally aired on the CBS network on February 21, 1983.-Plot:...
(1983) (Volume 3) - It's Flashbeagle, Charlie BrownIt's Flashbeagle, Charlie BrownIt's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown is the 27th prime-time animated television special based upon the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. The show is presented as an original musical which features parodies of the early 1980s breakdancing craze, the movies Saturday Night Fever and Flashdance,...
(1984) (Volume 8) - It's Spring Training, Charlie BrownIt's Spring Training, Charlie BrownIt's Spring Training, Charlie Brown is the 35th prime-time animated TV specials based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It was originally slated to air on CBS in Spring of 1992, but was cancelled until eventual release on video.-Plot:The special follows the spring training...
(1992) (Volume 20)
Some other Peanuts specials, such as A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is the tenth prime-time animated TV special based upon the popular comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It was originally aired on the CBS network on November 20, 1973, and won an Emmy Award the following year...
(1973), were not distributed by Hi-Tops Video, as well as some early VHS releases of The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show
The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show is an animated television series featuring characters and storylines from the Charles M. Schulz comic strip Peanuts. It aired Saturday mornings on the CBS network from 1983 to 1985. It re-aired on The Disney Channel and Nickelodeon in the 1990s...
. Some of the specials released in the Snoopy's Home Video Library series were earlier released by Media Home Entertainment on tapes with two or three specials appearing. The video (and DVD) distribution rights of all the Peanuts specials were later given to Paramount Home Entertainment
Paramount Home Entertainment
Paramount Home Entertainment is the division of Paramount Pictures dealing with home video founded in late 1975.-History:...
from 1994 to 2007, then Warner Bros. Home Video in 2007-2008.
Other shows and products
- Swan LakeSwan Lake (1981 film)is an anime film based on the ballet Swan Lake by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. The film was released in Japan on 14 March 1981 by Toei.The film was produced by the Japanese company Toei Animation and directed by Kimio Yabuki. The adaptation uses Tchaikovsky's score and remains relatively faithful to the story...
(1981) - Muppet BabiesMuppet BabiesJim Henson's Muppet Babies is an American animated television series that aired from September 15, 1984 to November 2, 1991 on CBS. The show portrayed childhood versions of the Muppets living together in a large nursery in the care of a human woman called Nanny...
(1985-1987) (KVC Reprints with Kartes Video Communications and KVC Home Video) - Little Muppet MonstersLittle Muppet MonstersLittle Muppet Monsters is a short-lived saturday morning animated television series, airing only three episodes on CBS in 1985. The first season of Muppet Babies did so well in the ratings, that CBS decided to expand the series from a half-hour to an hour, pairing Muppet Babies with Little Muppet...
(1986) - Pee Wee's Playhouse (1986-1990) (original releases; later re-released by MGM Home EntertainmentMGM Home EntertainmentMGM Home Entertainment is the home video and DVD arm of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.-History:The home video division of MGM started in 1979 as MGM Home Video, releasing all the movies and TV shows by MGM. In 1980, MGM joined forces with CBS Video Enterprises, the home video division of the CBS television...
in 1996, and on DVD by Image EntertainmentImage EntertainmentImage Entertainment, Inc. is an independent licensee, producer and distributor of home entertainment programming and film & television productions in North America, with approximately 3,000 exclusive DVD titles and approximately 250 exclusive CD titles in domestic release, and approximately 450...
in 2004) - Lady Lovely Locks and the Pixietails (1987)
- My Pet Monster (1987) (Distributed by Cineplex Odeon VideoCineplex EntertainmentCineplex Entertainment LP , is the largest film exhibitor in Canada and owns, leases or has a joint-venture interest in 130 theatres with 1,351 screens. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Cineplex operates theatres from British Columbia to Quebec...
in Canada) - Madballs (US only; distributed by Cineplex Odeon VideoCineplex EntertainmentCineplex Entertainment LP , is the largest film exhibitor in Canada and owns, leases or has a joint-venture interest in 130 theatres with 1,351 screens. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Cineplex operates theatres from British Columbia to Quebec...
in Canada) - Encyclopedia Brown (1989)
- The Adventures of Teddy RuxpinThe Adventures of Teddy RuxpinThe Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin is an American animated television series based on Teddy Ruxpin, an animatronic teddy bear created by Ken Forsse and distributed by toy manufacturer Worlds of Wonder...
(1987-1988) - Enchanted JourneyEnchanted Journeyis a 1981 Japanese animated film, based on the book of the same name by Atsuo Saitō.-Plot:A domestically raised chipmunk, Glikko, befriends a carrier pigeon named Pippo , who tells Glikko of an enormous forest where chipmunks roam free. Enthralled by the story, Glikko leaves his home in the city...
(1986) - Barbie and the Rockers: Out of this WorldBarbie and the Rockers: Out of this WorldBarbie and the Rockers: Out of this World is a 1987 TV special created by DIC Entertainment with Saban Productions featuring popular Mattel character Barbie. The story was based upon the Barbie and the Rockers line of dolls, which featured Barbie as the leader of a rock band...
and Barbie and The Sensations: Rockin' Back to EarthBarbie and The Sensations: Rockin' Back to EarthBarbie and The Sensations: Rockin' Back to Earth is the title of the second adventure of Barbie and her rock band "The Rockers" . It is the sequel of Barbie and the Rockers: Out of this World...
(1987) (co-production with DIC EntertainmentDiC EntertainmentDIC Entertainment was an international film and television production company. In addition to animated television shows such as Ulysses 31 , Inspector Gadget , The Littles , The Real Ghostbusters , Captain Planet and the Planeteers , and the first two seasons of the English adaptation of...
, Mattel, Inc. and Saban Entertainment) - Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile: The Musical (1988) (a special aired on HBOHome Box OfficeHBO, short for Home Box Office, is an American premium cable television network, owned by Time Warner. , HBO's programming reaches 28.2 million subscribers in the United States, making it the second largest premium network in America . In addition to its U.S...
narrated by Tony RandallTony RandallTony Randall was a U.S. actor, comic, producer and director.-Early years:Randall was born Arthur Leonard Rosenberg to a Jewish family in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of Julia and Mogscha Rosenberg, an art and antiques dealer...
) - The Madeline videos produced in association with Cinar, now Cookie Jar Entertainment (1989) (no relation to the TV series produced by DiC EntertainmentDiC EntertainmentDIC Entertainment was an international film and television production company. In addition to animated television shows such as Ulysses 31 , Inspector Gadget , The Littles , The Real Ghostbusters , Captain Planet and the Planeteers , and the first two seasons of the English adaptation of...
) - Jingle Bell Rap (1990)
- The Baby SongsBaby SongsBaby Songs is one of the first, and longest-running, American, independent children's home video series. Since 1985, more than 4 million copies of Baby Songs have been sold. The series is still sold at retail and online locations.-History:...
series (1993)
Some other original video series, such as Little Schoolhouse, were produced for Hi-Tops Video. Some of the original Hi-Tops Video releases of The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin were redesigned by YES! Entertainment to be compatible with their version of the Teddy Ruxpin
Teddy Ruxpin
Teddy Ruxpin is a children's toy talking bear. The bear would move his mouth and eyes while 'reading' stories which were played on an audio tape cassette deck built into his back. It was created by Ken Forsse with later assistance by Larry Larsen and John Davies. Later versions would use a digital...
doll.