BBC2 (1991-2001) Idents - The Best of the Best

[@fragglet]

@AlexWard94 Copy/paste the following into the video description and you'll automatically get chapter headings 00:00 Paint 00:34 Optics 01:14 Firecracker 01:42 Silk 02:10 Car 02:40 Diary 03:15 Water Reflection 03:50 Zapper 04:07 Steam 04:37 Dog 05:06 Powder 05:33 Shadow

[@matthewpotter8491]

So nostalgic. Reminds me of my childhood, growing up in the 90s and seeing these on the telly. Takes me right back.

[@jainee4507]

There is a real sense of wonder and sophistication in these idents. You couldn't imagine the BBC (or any broadcaster) showing that level of respect for their audience anymore.

[@alexwells6876]

Says a lot really

[@BruceDanton-xw6eg]

Indeed not so too.

[@olipegley4484]

So beautifully 90s. Nostalgia overload. Reminds me of my little analogue tv in my bedroom that only had 4 channels. Simpler times…

[@miniroll32]

It's amazing how sophisticated these clips are. They manage so much emotion from, relatively, simple actions - surprise, humour, passage of time, strength...

[@alexwells6876]

There's nothing better than sitting in a dark room with nothing but the glow of the TV, watching these idents.

[@rachelwest6429]

Very nostalgic...gives me warm fuzzy feelings listen to these. Remember being a young teenager sitting with my dad watching t.v before bedtime and school the next day.

[@spitfirepilot6822]

Very nostalgic, cheers! Brings back memories of the X-Files, Red Dwarf, Fast Show and the wonderful Weird Night! Great days, long gone...

[@oscargustaverejlander.]

Yep. Used to stay up "late" with my dad to all those shows.

[@jamesparker8086]

I thought exactly the same thing when I saw this

[@visionist7]

Robot Wars!

[@gwh3013]

For some of the 90s from 9pm on friday on bbc 2 was the comedy zone.. you might get a mix of red dwarf, the young ones, bottom, shooting stars, the fast show..

[@rickybe]

Trying to find an ident from years ago. Not sure if its bbc2 or channel4 or another. Its like a speeded up futuristic highway with vehicles flying past. Perhaps with a blurry filter to it. Has a 70s lo-tech art deco style to it. This ringing any bells with anyone?

[@fattypark]

These are so beautifully creative. Of course there's the nostalgia factor, but they really are stylish, sophisticated and original. The ambient soundtracks would be deep and haunting if they were played in clubland at 4am, never mind on daytime and evening TV. Harks back to a time when the BBC were still at the top of their game- confident and unafraid, with the highest standards possible.

[@alexwells6876]

And Channel 4 took over. Confident, taking risks...now even they have become mediocre

[@SassyVidel]

I never realized how eerie the BBC 2 indents were until now. Wow.

[@85percentnation]

You know, I used to be terrified of the 'Personality 2' idents that came after it, because I had a nightmare that I was pulled through the TV by the bouncing one.

[@kathrynwebb5114]

BBC 2 have brought back these idents. me and mum was starting to watch a documentary and the moving stary lights one came out and both of us went hysterical because wow, this brought back memories and 90's idents where the best

[@visionist7]

The darkness & mystery of these idents defined my childhood... The world pre 9/11 feels like a tangible place listening to these. Almost like they were preparing me for what was coming

[@Trudon]

Agreed. The 90s felt like a different world pre 9/11 covid social media etc.

[@paulcrisp9861]

Still very haunting and poignant in Jan twenty three, thanks for the great memories. Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful 🙏❤️🇬🇧🇬🇧❤️🙏

[@Evemeister12]

So good that bbc2 brought them back for a while in recent years.

[@tommyjol1]

this brings back so many good feelings

[@rajnirvan3336]

Great memories of the 90s. The Real McCoy, Game On, Twin Peaks, Goodness Gracious Me, HIGNFY, Gerry Anderson Shows, Rapido etc etc

[@endrightwinglunacy]

I love the eerie maritime atmosphere created by the music on Silk 1:43. Water 3:17 is also wonderful with its subtle use of percussion, although we rarely got to hear it long enough. I think I like the original 1991 set of eleven idents best for their minimalistic music and groundbreaking approach. By the time we got to the radio controlled 2 it was all a bit pastiche.

[@benanderson89]

The racing car ident always made me giggle, and it still does :D I think the BBC should bring back their old indents for BBC1 and BBC2. They're just so nice to look at and listen to.

[@djnoname3922]

I agree

[@CringePoop]

and it's funny because they did, but people weren't really that happy about it

[@clarebates2425]

These make me emotional and I vividly remember them all.

[@martinsmith1538]

Pure nostalgia. Thanks for fond memories.

[@fl570]

So, so beautiful. I just love how strange, mysterious, and surreal many of these sequences look, also thanks to the fantastic soundtrack. Just imagine the amount of thought, preparation, and work that went into making these. Now, compare this with the minimalistic, soulless crap we get nowadays... As someone else in the comments said, it just shows to which standard the BBC held its audience back then. It treated them like adults, even if the audience wasn't necessarily such (still, infinitely better than treating them like children even if they are not). Argue all you want that the current minimalistic trend in pretty much _everything_ design-related is due to this latter type of design being "easier on the eyes", "better for accessibility (across different devices)", etcetera etcetera, but you won't be able to convince me that such a trend is not also a direct consequence, and as such, a reflection of the times we live in: everything is dumbed down to appeal and be understood by the lowest common denominator, and people want to be fed whatever they request immediately, with no wait (i.e., patience) whatsoever. Appreciation for such deep, mysterious, surreal ident sequences would be almost non-existant across modern (read: younger and with shorter attention spans) audiences. Most will probably get bored and get on their phones within the first 5-10 seconds. What a real, real shame, BBC. A sign of what you, and many others, could have been and have done...

[@pauldavies3595]

I wanted a bit of nostalgia and found it! Thanks so much for these - my favourite of all time is the fibre optic. Wonderful!

[@BlueTubePoland]

These idents are so beautiful and relaxing! 💙💙

[@MondySpartan]

These idents made a comeback in 2014 and were used in a regular basis from 2015 until September 27th, 2018.

[@fl570]

Did they make a comeback ever since?

[@Mana_Ski]

when I was a kid I was oddly obsessed with these, I remember each and every one in the video, plus more, if a new one came on while I was in bed I'd get my mum to video it._.

[@RealerArtist]

As a kid from the 90's, I remember being properly mesmerized by these! Check out my new instrumental track if you feel like it. I sampled a lot of the sounds used from the idents :D

[@adid.5585]

No one can blame you, guys. Back in the days this kind of marketing was done with passion and a lot of hard work. It seemed handmade and full of imperfections, but in the end perfection doesn't attract attention.

[@Omegajunior2658]

I vaguely remember seeing those BBC 2 idents when I was a kid. Aah! Memories. I think the paint and the water is my favourite ones. Greetings from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@SuperCholdi]

Gotta love the moody, turquoise themed ones. 'And now for the BBC two learning zone, with a programme for trainee social workers. Honestly, why don't you just go to fucking bed?'. They seemed to say.

[@savinotubeproductions8795]

😂 Did they actually say that on live TV?

[@fraserkatie]

I just love the music on all these!

[@tomhas10]

The second one has so much nostalgia from it, i remeber waking up super early just to watch sesamy street, and this was the indent i remember being on before it

[@BillyBigTop]

wow i remember all these as a kid! 26 now, cant believe how long ago these were on tele! miss all the old stuff!

[@garrymorgan2341]

37 now!

[@jennydale8680]

Takes me back to watching Red Dwarf on bbc 2 in the 90s

[@ElBloeTigre]

Summer Friday evenings waiting for Red Dwarf.

[@madjack18]

Taking something as mundane as a simple TV station's name and making it mysterious, ethereal and memorable

[@jerichamesclammay3107]

my childhood right here

[@brucedanton]

Just brilliant-thank you so much for this-it's great!!

[@brucedanton3669]

Yes it really is then so too as before. Well done too!

[@christopherkennedy314]

Id pay a tv licience for this kinda quality nowadays😂

[@xirtax]

Beautiful music.

[@Ridgyyy123]

optics and silk where my favourites when i was little

[@misterlondoner]

1:46 creeped me out as a kid and i dont know why

[@adammedylanfermin]

Me too

[@Asquid1987]

Noise of doom

[@Nebagram]

Memories of watching Star Trek at 6pm on a Wednesday afternoon. :-)

[@johnmccartan5205]

Was wondering if anyone was going to mention this!

[@JamesCannon1701A]

👏🏼😉

[@marcmacdonald9319]

The nostalgia of still being young and not worrying about the future and just enjoying life

[@abloogywoogywoo]

When watching TV was an EXPERIENCE...

[@Werten25]

Ahhhh 1990s/early 2000s BBC. :)

[@brucedanton]

Thank you for the excellent video-it is all most interesting I feel! All these BBC2 idents of old bring back so many memories! One you have not shown here was the balloon ident, which lasted from 1991 to 1997. Apparently, it was not renewed in the 1997 makeover because it looked too much like the BBC1 balloons at the time, although I did not see it that way myself. Well done though all the same!

[@brucedanton3669]

Thank you for this, the same as before of course too and more so!!

[@willlovesgaz]

fibre-optic was the best one, brings back fond memories of the friday night Doctor Who repeats in the early 90's - good times 😁

[@LukeStratton94]

I love all of these... If only they'd bring them back...

[@85percentnation]

They did... but then they got rid of them again.

[@RussellClewett]

Ahh, so many memories. Mostly of Star Trek TNG and DS9 on BBC2 with these idents.

[@lunahlulah6772]

these are oddly beautiful

[@CC-jb5id]

lunah lulah They still use some of them today. Sadly since they moved a lot of the arts and documentaries to BBC Four, you no longer get The personalised ones

[@BruceDanton-xw6eg]

Very very nice of course thank you too.

[@stewartlynch7859]

I like the Firecracker one. It's soundtrack is the perfect soundtrack for walking home from a pub on a dark night.

[@Nattacus]

Everything sounded so creepy in the 90's, like the Playstation intro :p

[@85percentnation]

The 90s in general seemed to have had an eerie aura around it.

[@plane15]

wow, hadn't seen some of these for years.

[@tamaraS945]

Love these :) thank you for uploading :D

[@PaulWilliamArnold]

Best compilation on KZbin.

[@rockys201]

Mesmerising

[@brucedanton3669]

Thank you so much of course-well done too!!

[@brucedanton3669]

Yes this is 10 out of 10 material so then too of course for sure!

[@Tanzim-Kazi]

MEMORIES!

[@adamfull6208]

Why did I think always remind me of when I was little kid in late 90s early 00s

[@DeclanCorey]

4:38 is oddly adorable

[@malvinclunn1986]

The good old days when the channel use to closedown for the night!!

[@CATXXXMAN]

yes I remember that

[@NEIGH6699]

CEEFAX! You know there are Ceefax channels on youtube? I love them lol

[@fraserkatie]

The BBC should do a tribute programme just devoted to the Idents!

[@danielfreeley5217]

these are incredible!

[@wishchris]

When the BBC took the utmost creative care in how it presented itself. These idents WERE the BBC in a nutshell.

[@roboCL0WN]

spoopy, like is this where we go when we die?

[@anotheranomalie]

Why does the music creep me out NOW, yet when I was a kid I was totally fine with it?

[@Flossie1985]

anotheranomalie They still use it now, or at least a variation of it. I've just seen it used on an indent with green number 2s (as in actual number 2s, not the other sort) being dropped onto a can.

[@CATXXXMAN]

I no right

[@surfingtheseaworld]

@@Flossie1985 I always remember the paint pot ident from when we used to watch videos at school.

[@tommyjol1]

ahhhh so much nostalgia of being young,...... THANKYOU KZbin YOUR LIKE A TIME MACHINE lol

[@TomWillHowell]

Some of these would be great for relaxation if they were longer.

[@7mgtesup1]

I feel old now, most of them seem like they were on tv in the last few years to me.

[@85percentnation]

Believe it or not, they were! They brought them back in 2014, but then retired them again in 2018.

[@robinhall9723]

Love the ident at 1.44 brings back so many memories

[@olanzipMK2]

Lovely old idents....I like the music because it has emotion ! (To my ears anyway)

[@Ravinder2220]

Who composed the music? I love it so eerie and creepy. Some people say the music is scary.

[@rockandstroll]

I agree it's awesome, I can't remember the name of them, but you'll find it on this video, watch?v=GbpITaGT4-8 it's pretty interesting it tells you how they made the BBC2 ident and everything.

[@85percentnation]

It certainly has an eerie feel to it.

[@tto0508]

Yes, how they made it is this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZPTnYeXfLlnY5o

[@chriskasatka2095]

Half of these are what Vangelis would do if asked to make them!😂 Stunning.

[@getupstairstobed]

If you could mix the music of 1:53 to 0:41 that'd be the best. I didn't care much for these when i was a kid but the nostalgia hits pretty hard now, especially when a lot of tv doesn't seem to be as good as it used to be

[@oscargustaverejlander.]

I could legit meditate to the early 90s ones

[@stupot4686]

The firecracker ident has a real film-noir style soundtrack.

[@lol-wt8cu]

Stu Pot

[@K.J.S.est1994]

It sounds more Asian to me

[@Flossie1985]

This makes me feel nostalgic. Could you please put the dates on when they were used? I remember the remote control car one often being used to introduce Top Gear along with the number 2 shaped sunroof opening.

[@darrenlee6963]

I am sure there was one with florescent tubes....?

[@kevy06]

Simpsons FTW weekdays @ 6 will never be the same again :(

[@adid.5585]

3:17 that's where the main theme from Samsung Galaxy S6 was inspired from, lol :))

[@chrisp230]

My favourite is powder - its so beautiful

[@SkinnyEMedia]

You'd think Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins or Brian Eno made some of the music on these idents? Spooky but beautiful stuff!

[@Ravinder2220]

I used to watch BBC2 for Heartbreak High and Madhur Jafferys Flavours Of India.

[@lol-wt8cu]

Ravinder2220 *also we need to wish u a happy birthday*

[@rickybe]

Trying to find an ident from years ago. Not sure if its bbc2 or channel4 or another. Its like a speeded up futuristic highway with vehicles flying past. Perhaps with a blurry filter to it. Has a 70s lo-tech art deco style to it. This ringing any bells with anyone?

[@notgoink]

That would be a pretty awesome look back.

[@chennygrapes]

hehe i remember these just before star trek tng new episodes :))))

[@Trudon]

The nostalgia

[@mattfox14]

It's really weird to hear the music again

[@CATXXXMAN]

I no right

[@mattfox14]

CATXXXMAN still the best idents I think they have ever done

[@CATXXXMAN]

i wish they should do them agein

[@KentStudios_YTB]

+mattfox14 They brought it back

[@CATXXXMAN]

yes was good to look at it

[@Supermariocrosser]

I miss now the old Britain and it's BBC entertainment. 2 sad..

[@rengonzalez4233]

Man, I'd wished if I lived in Britain....

[@RainbowGalaxyMatt777]

Same too

[@averagetrainspotterireland]

When the 'Steam' Music comes on: ''Hello, and welcome to The Ident Review''

[@shawncaesar965]

Other worldly

[@OctocatPower]

IDS Original Usage: February 16, 1991-January 1, 2000 Reuse: June 24, 2015-September 26, 2018

[@JoshuaGalka]

Awesome

[@nikkirothschild8767]

all those but you forgot the "neon" indent. But good video

[@AlexWard94]

I know - Neon is by far my favourite but at the time I couldn’t find a good enough recording!

[@nikkirothschild8767]

@@AlexWard94 thats a shame but a really good video. brings back some memories

[@demondeano]

My childhood!

[@yoyo5678x]

These are so relaxing... |:3

[@parasatc8183]

What about Neons?

[@AlexWard94]

Yeah true Neon is by far my favourite, but it seems to be very difficult to find a decent clean recording of it online.

[@parasatc8183]

How about a re-upload even if it's not necessary? :P

[@pbsman8108]

+Alex Ward My favourite is Neon too

[@SonicFan08]

The Neon music can be heard on the Zapper ident

[@85percentnation]

Ah, I remember the Neon music... from another KZbin video, of course. I was born during the 'Personality 2' idents.

[@lol-wt8cu]

The Fireworks indent Was My Farvrote One

[@djnoname3922]

That first one is so FUCKING hard-core ❤

[@djnoname3922]

So is the one at 2:42 😂😂😂

[@lol-wt8cu]

The Car indent Was My fav