What 'works' here

[Arigatomina]

I should be getting some free time soon, so I wanted to make an amv with content suitable for the general audience here. Meaning, I want to do something I can toss to the wolves for pointers, criticism, and hopefully help in improving my basic skills. Everything I've done so far was aimed at a certain group of fanfic-readers, revolving around my site, so they won't do it. The song is open, but here are the animes I have enough footage to work with:

AD Police
Angel Sanctuary
DBZ (mostly movies, and one or two episodes)
Earthian
Escaflowne (the movie)
Fake
Haunted Junction
Inuyasha
Labyrinth of Flames
Magic Knights Rayearth
Nightwalker
Prince of Tennis
Rurouni Kenshin (up through the Kyoto saga)
Sorcerer Hunters
Twin Signal
Vampire Hunter D (first movie)
Yami no Matsuei
Yu Yu Hakusho

As far as I can tell the popular ones (DBZ, RK, maybe YYH) have been done to death in action vids, and the rest of my collection gives me ideas that don't fit the general public. So, any help on which of these I could use to make a vid to share, and the genre (action, drama, romance, etc) would be greatly appreciated. Song suggestions, are fine as well.

And I'm not trying to get ideas because I don't have my own, only that mine aren't suitable, and I'm really not sure yet exactly what *is* suitable or looked-for here. I need something I can make and then share on the opinion exchange - otherwise I'll never figure out where I need to improve.

[Otohiko]

Angel Sanctuary
Earthian
Fake
Haunted Junction
Labyrinth of Flames
Nightwalker
Twin Signal
Yami no Matsuei

Since I'm all for the new and original, the above titles seem somewhat under-represented in AMV's. So, I'd go for those just for the originality.

[Arigatomina]

I guess the problem is that four of those are yaoi (shonen ai), one's incest, two are plot-less humor, and the other...well, I *could* make some action out of it, but I've already seen an amv that used the best fight scene in that anime. I guess that's my problem, I need a broader selection to work with.

And I *want* to use original animes, but for sharing (opinion-wise), I figured I'd need something other people are familiar with and can compare to other amvs for the same anime.

[Otohiko]

I suppose that makes sense...

Well, if you're going the "pick anime, then match song" way, then I suppose a more obvious or well-known choice would be more sensible.

Actually, if you use something new and original, you're almost guaranteed an opinion from me for example (and I'm sure same with a few other people), as long as I'm aware of the release.

I'd suggest you browse through some music, too, to get a better idea of what you want to do. In my approach to getting ideas, music is far and above the most important element, with anime being kind of secondary (as long as it matches well).

And oh, don't worry about having too narrow a pallette here - mine, at present, is about twice smaller, but I don't mind

[OmniStrata]

LABYRINTH OF FLAMES!

[Otohiko]

And I'm not trying to get ideas because I don't have my own, only that mine aren't suitable, and I'm really not sure yet exactly what *is* suitable or looked-for here. I need something I can make and then share on the opinion exchange - otherwise I'll never figure out where I need to improve.

Oh yes... a short note - unless they're outright hentai or graphic violence, how can they really be all that unsuitable?

Honestly. One of my first posts here read"

But if you do know AMV's that are daring and unusual, and thus possibly dislikeable, please drop me a line.

It's my dream that people stop chasing safe ways out and easy solutions to gain popularity and start producing AMV's just because... they can and feel compelled to do so.

For instance, while I do plan to make a few solid, perfectly conventional AMV's, my eventual wish, or creative goal if you will, is to slowly drift towards experimental, downright weird productions.

***

But, whatever moves you best...
I can only say this: DON'T make an AMV because someone told you. Don't make it for any other reason but genuine personal inspiration. Otherwise, you may come to regret it.

[Arigatomina]

Yes, I know about regretting it - I put up a link to an 'attempted' 'normal' amv in the amv announcement section that I don't like watching (It's Nightwalker, so it should be original anime-wise). I can't explain how bad it feels to try sharing something *I* as the creator don't want to watch. But that's just because of the context. Most (if not all) of my amvs are shonen ai oriented, which is why I say they're unsuitable. I've seen the general consensus against that form of amvs (or anything non-het that isn't yuri-based) posted enough to know it isn't mainstream. But when I attempt normal het romance vids I feel all nasty about it , and I refuse to watch them more than is necessary for the editing. It would be easier to just stick to action scenes involving my favorite male characters (or a few females I don't mind so much: Ryoko, Yukina, Kaoru, etc). Romance and horror are my preferred genres, so it's hard to think of ideas that would be in-tune with the mainstream preferences. And I don't have enough 'dark' amvs to pull off strict horror.

[ithaqua]

I say fuck it and go with the yaoi movies.

Then use a blatantly pornographic song. Like NIN - Closer or Terminal Choice - Animal.
You know, songs that use "fuck you like an animal" in the chorus.
(LiveSexAct is also good for this, maybe be a smartass and go with Revolting Cocks - Beers, Steer, and Queers)

Then finish with one of the "lotion" samples from Silence of the Lambs.


After that pisses everyone off, you can probably post anything you want, het or not, afterwards without catching flak.

Besides, art is supposed to force you to look at things in a new way, and I'm tired of these DBZ crap videos.

[Otohiko]

This is exactly what I've been trying to say. Plus, don't forget - there IS an audience for yaoi vids.

[jadedintentions]

I think you should do a Haunted Junction video. Because out of ALL the AMVs I have seen, I have NEVER seen a Haunted Junction one! I'm sure there are ones... but I've never seen any! I vote fer Haunted Junction! Just don't do Inu Yasha... though it's one of my favourite animes... it's TOOOO overused these days... it is the most popular one to make as of late. Yes, the poll says NGE.. but I still think Inu Yasha is over-used. But that's just me! XD