I was just thinking about this the other day. I think it started around 1994 or 95 here, whenever my friend's parents finally decided to get cable and we'd just stare and stare and stare at the terraforms like something was going to happen. It was also before I tried pot, so that's saying something.
I remember the 3D moons and stuff but none of the weird paint or voices.. it was just white noise. It was actually one of the cooler introductions. I remember it took over channel 20, which was something really boring, and for at least 2 weeks it was nothing but the loop and a countdown. For what? Who knows? All I know is it got me into anime.