The "Good" AMVs on this website

[Castor Troy]

Who cares about originality anymore?

I just wanna make videos.

[Earl6282]

Who cares about originality anymore?

I just wanna make videos.

It's a bit strange though, the logic some people have.
They say they just make AMVs for their own enjoyment, because they like combining their favorite music with their favorite anime. But that doesn't explain why it's HERE, in front of thousands of people, to be judged. Obviously if you're going to make an AMV and put it on a-m-v.org, subject to ratings and opinions, you must have some sort of desire to please a crowd. That contradicts the original motive, doesn't it?

[trythil]

But that doesn't explain why it's HERE, in front of thousands of people, to be judged.

If your thinking is confined to "publicity = judgment", and if you think that creators need to listen to that judgment, then yes, it is rather strange.

However this site can be viewed as simply offering a convenient way to share videos. People can offer feedback, and people can choose to listen to that feedback or reject it.

There's no contradictions in the logic when you view it that way.

[Infinity Squared]

If your thinking is confined to "publicity = judgment", and if you think that creators need to listen to that judgment, then yes, it is rather strange.

However this site can be viewed as simply offering a convenient way to share videos. People can offer feedback, and people can choose to listen to that feedback or reject it.

There's no contradictions in the logic when you view it that way.

Hear, hear!

[OtakuMan22]

I've finally found a person with posts longer then Arigatomina's.

Guilty as charged!

while everyone else is making vids to anime you don't like, then maybe you should make a vid for yourself, or better yet, pay someone to make you one

Whoa! You can DO that!

I just like putting my own favourite characters/scenes together with my favourite music.

That's good and all, but isn't there another section of the org that gives tips on how to avoid making bad videos? And in it, didn't it say that "Random clips" of a person's favorite anime to a person's certain taste in song, matching or not, usually does not result in a good video?

I have to agree with Earl on this one:

But that doesn't explain why it's HERE, in front of thousands of people, to be judged. Obviously if you're going to make an AMV and put it on a-m-v.org, subject to ratings and opinions, you must have some sort of desire to please a crowd. That contradicts the original motive, doesn't it?

Wanting to make a vid is good and all, but submitting to the org is not mandatory. If you just want to do it for fun, your own personal enjoyment, and sharing it amongst your friends, that's all fine and dandy, but when you put it on the org, you're sharing it with the world.

And the world can be a very mean and critical place! And very few people are more critical than otaku!

If you don't care what the world thinks, then that's good, BUT if someone were to come to you with some ideas on how to make your video BETTER, then why not listen. Sure you can ignore all the "OMG, U SUXORZ" comments, but when someone says, "Your lip-synching is a little off. If you have <insert software title here>, you can make a new layer of facial expression that will let the mouth movements match regardless of what the movement in the original anime was," then I might sit down and listen.

Maybe the real question should be why people don't make amvs to anime they don't like.

Because they don't like them! Duh! The problem is that there are lots of good anime out there that can appeal on several different levels, but are not made popular, NOT because people don't like them, but because people don't even know they exist!

Take Jungle Emperor Leo for example. This 1999 re-telling of the Osamu Tezuka 1960's classic manga was aired at a local art theater back in my hometown. It was subtitled by the local arts and film students who got exclusive permission from the Japanese anime makers to play it at their theater.

It was FANTASTIC! The beginning is a clear jab at The Lion King on levels that are too obvious to be mere coincidence, but just as soon as you start thinking that it's just like the Lion King, WHAM! The scene switches from a celebration to a jungle to a deadbeat guy walking around a bustling city trying to sell this jewel of his. He's constantly refused, but tailed by these mysterious men that are called upon him by the jewelers "He's just left! Yes! He had it alright!".

What at first seems like a little kids story turns into a gigantic tale about science versus nature and the evil and good that lurks in the hearts of men!

Recently, this film went from being the local art house theater exclusive to being available on DVD at most anime outlets, such as Media Play. But why has no one done AMVs for this one? It's not very old, and it's a VERY good movie! But there are little to no AMVs for it because NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW IT EXISTS OR HAVE SEEN IT!

This leads to an argument that many more otaku have with anime on TV. Anime on TV is often the very popular anime, and usually became popular BEFORE they hit TV. The popularity of anime like Naruto versus the popularity of Jungle Emperor Leo is clearly different, but that does NOT make the two anime any less good than what they already are. The reason otaku might be dissapointed in other anime fans is that they focus TOO much on the popular series, and don't ACTIVELY go and seek out new and interesting anime series from today and yesterday and actually WATCH them and experiment viewing them.

Best way to do this? Find your local anime club and go there! Best way to sample various anime, guaranteed!

This argument of popular anime versus unpopular anime (which is better) can be set for another thread. I might start that if no one else does first!

If your thinking is confined to "publicity = judgment", and if you think that creators need to listen to that judgment, then yes, it is rather strange.

However this site can be viewed as simply offering a convenient way to share videos. People can offer feedback, and people can choose to listen to that feedback or reject it.

While not CONFINED to "publicity = judgement", that doesn't make it a part of what happens to vids submitted to the org. Vids on the org ARE judged, even if people don't post opinions. You may not care, but there are others who do! I for one would care deeply about the quality of my vids since the vids are actual WORK that I've done. I could even put them on a resume of projects I did if I wanted to. It shows my skills at video editing and creative directing!

I do NOT take anime I like and try and put it to my favorite music. That NEVER works! People may enjoy doing it, but it makes for a video that only the person who MADE it can love, or at least that person and a few others.

For me, anime vids that I would make stem from an idea. Sort of a "Wouldn't it be great to take the opening introduction to Psychonauts and lip-synch it to Evangelion where Gendo would be Coach Oleander, Misato as Milla Vodello, and Kaji as Sasha Nein! Shinji could be Raz, and Asuka could be Lili! It'd SO work!"

It'd be something along those lines, or if not spoken word, then try and fit the singer to the person I'm trying to show. In short, I'd have a THEME going and would try to convey that theme throughout the video to keep the viewer emersed and not bored.

Besides, before the org even existed, there was no open place to put amvs, and were limited strictly to the tapes compiled at anime conventions. And why do people submit vids to cons? To win awards of course! For recognition! For praise! For creating a good piece of creative work that meshes anime and music together in a harmonious blend that EVERYONE can enjoy, and to show off against those other vid makers to come away with top prize!

Competition and the desire for quality in vids was what created the popularity of amvs in the first place!

Since when did the priorities change?

And finally...

Who cares about originality anymore?

I just wanna make videos.

Am I the only one who realized that he was being sarcastic?

~Otaku-Man

[dj_ultima_the_great]

They say they just make AMVs for their own enjoyment, because they like combining their favorite music with their favorite anime. But that doesn't explain why it's HERE, in front of thousands of people, to be judged. Obviously if you're going to make an AMV and put it on a-m-v.org, subject to ratings and opinions, you must have some sort of desire to please a crowd. That contradicts the original motive, doesn't it?

When you say that, though, you're forgetting something. Not everyone realizes that their videos suck, especially if it is their first one and especially if they are a new member. Also, you never know what someone will enjoy. Again, a new member who hasn't seen a lot of AMVs may really like some of the lesser works on this site. Then, they become more experienced and see the the better ones. Does that lessen the value of the first videos? Not really. It just means that they were stepping stones.

Besides, when you enter a new video, this is the message you get:

The point of the catalog is to list every video ever created, not just good videos and not just videos that are downloable.

I mean, really. If that's the way Phade wants it, then who are we to argue? Believe me, I've tried to get my first video removed before (back in my extreme n00b days). The admins wouldn't allow it because of the above quote. That's exactly what they said to me.

So, in a roundabout way, I think I've explained why crap can't be removed and why it'll just keep coming in. There's really nothing we can do about it, so why bother complaining?


- dj_ultima_the_great

PS: I didn't even learn of this site until I had made my fifth video, so all I had was one friend and my two siblings to share my videos with. (I'm not trying to make a point with that; it's just something I wanted to state.)

[OtakuMan22]

Hmm, that's a good point you have there. Because there is no way to remove bad vids, then that means that even though people really were working hard on making a good vid, it might still be a bad vid because of lack of experience and skill. But they learn from their mistakes and continue on, hopefully encouraged by constructive criticism.

That still leaves the early attempt and the bad video in the archive, and there's nothing that can be done about that, save for maybe the video author adding/editing comments for the vid to explain that this was their first try, and that they know it's not their best work, but it is, as you say, a stepping stone to greater and better things.

I think the major ire that has been getting some people's goats, especially Earl's, is that there seem to be people trying to defend the constant creation of what most would consider "Bad Videos". I for one have gotten the impression from some of the people in this thread that they simply do not care about making a good video AT ALL! It's as though they just play around and throw randomness in and originality out to the curb, with no intentions whatsoever about being serious in their video creation.

I remember Big Big Truck's "How NOT to make an AMV" which was absolutely brilliant and great, and also shows how much work goes into creating an AMV, including coming up with the idea.

If there are so many people diving into AMV creation, then there would be an increase in bad vids as they start out. But if all of them continue on the right path and improve their skill and talents, then they go from making bad vids to EXCEPTIONAL vids so good that they should be bronzed for preservation! Then, what was once an increase in bad vids will result in an even LARGER increase in great vids! That would be such a wonderful thing for the org.

However, that won't happen unless there are vid makers that actually WANT to make good vids and care that their vids are perceived as good, as funny, as dramatic, and not total pieces of crap. Some of these posts I read make people seem that they just don't care, and it makes me wonder why they continue to make videos if they are only intended for themselves and their closest friends?

Especially with the amount of work it takes to make one to begin with!

Perhaps a look at what motivates people to make AMVs and to continue making AMVs is worth doing.

~Otaku-Man

[devilmaykickass]

Umm...I make videos...to whatever series and songs I feel like...it's not based on popularity or anything like that, just the idea for the particular song and anime that comes to my mind. Of course, I always make sure no one else has done it before I do.

But Arigatomina pretty much said everything I had to say concerning the use of "popular anime".

[trythil]

While not CONFINED to "publicity = judgement", that doesn't make it a part of what happens to vids submitted to the org. Vids on the org ARE judged, even if people don't post opinions.

Right, there are some people who think that way. However, this doesn't address my central point, which can be briefly summarized as "So what?"

You may not care

I never said I did not care, nor should my post be construed as that.

I have high standards and I aim for them. However, I don't see the point in worrying over what John Q. Internet thinks of my cartoon cut up to music. To me, AMVs just aren't worth worrying about at that level.

Competition and the desire for quality in vids was what created the popularity of amvs in the first place!

Can you prove that?

[Castor Troy]

I wasn't sarcastic.