OK, this is my first video in a while and my first in 2008. Not content with using a Chinese song with the anime Laputa last year, I have used another Chinese song for this new video, this time with the anime Princess Mononoke.
Here's my marketing spiel:
The context for this video is about the seemingly perpetual cycle of conflict between humans and their natural environment, as well as between themselves. I thought it was a topical subject given that global human population increase will put massive pressures on the surrounding natural environment during the first half of this century, and the continuing human conflicts going on worldwide (e.g. Darfur).
Within this setting comes a person who is trying to make sense of it all and trying to minimize the damage. This person is Ashitaka from Princess Mononoke and he takes it upon himself, with the help of San, to fight for what he believes in. Against adverse conditions, he achieves some success, but the conflict will be repeated over and over again. Yet Ashitaka, driven by strong emotions, has set an example of how to confront the problems and take effective action.
The song itself is very famous Chinese song in the mid-1980s, which was recorded by over 60 artists (I only know one of their names - Tsai Chin). I'm sure any Chinese people here will recognize it (I'm a Westerner and only found out about it quite recently). I think the song fits in with the context of the video. Some people advised me to include subtitles last time I used a Chinese song, so that the English-speaking audience can understand what was going on, so I've included the English lyrics on-screen this time. My Chinese is rudimentary so I had to rely on a translation from a website (http://www.waitingyu.com/music.htm ; the only one I can find, strangely). I adapted it because some of the translation doesn't seem to make sense in English and to improve the flow a bit. I'm sure native Chinese speakers can pick out mistakes, and for that I apologise.
Anyone familiar with my videos knows that I'm not a fan of flashy graphical trickery, and I make no apologies for that, because I think that for the purposes of this video, it is not necessary. I have also used WMM. I do apologise to those who find the video quality sub-standard.
So, it leaves me to say: hope you download the video and I welcome all constructive comments. Conversely, non-constructive comments will not be welcomed.
