The mark is a motion mark incorporating sound. The mark consists of a 3-mast ship, which begins in the left and moves to the right. The word "VANGUARD" moves in from the right, as the ship approaches it from the left. The animation opens with the bow of the ship at the upper left corner of the screen, facing the viewer. The ship then turns so that the starboard side is perpendicular to the viewer. As this happens, the word "VANGUARD" appears from the right, getting smaller as if moving away from the viewer. The ship and the word stop as they meet each other in the middle. As this is happening, A piano plays an F4 eighth note, C4 eighth note, D4 eighth note, F4 eighth note, followed by an eighth rest, F4 eighth note, D4 eighth note, C4 eighth note, F4 eighth note, D4 eighth note, C4 quarter note, A4 eighth note, and C4 and F3 dotted half note. A cello begins with a whole rest, followed by an eighth rest, and then an F2 eighth note, C3 eighth note, D3 eighth note, F3 eighth note, G3 eighth note, A3 dotted half note, B2 quarter note, and C3 whole note. The French horns start with a whole rest, followed by a quarter rest, then a C4 eighth note, G4 dotted quarter note, and F4 dotted half note. The remaining instruments all start with two whole rests, followed by a quarter rest. After the rests, the flute plays an F5 eighth note, two tied E4 eighth notes, a D4 dotted quarter note, and a C5 whole note. The clarinet plays an A4 eighth note, two tied G4 eighth notes, and an F4 dotted quarter note tied to an F4 whole note. The first violin plays an F4 eighth note, two tied E4 eighth notes, an E4 dotted quarter note, and a C4 whole note. The second violin plays a C4 quarter note tied to a C4 eighth note, a Bb3 dotted quarter note, and an A3 whole note. The bass plays a G2 eighth note, A2 eighth note tied to another A2 eighth note, Bb2 dotted quarter note, and C3 whole note. A casaba percussion instrument plays a sixteenth pattern underneath.