Random AMV rant

[Sonydjsnmix]

instead you pick a different scene that has almost nothing to do with it, but you edit it heavily and add effects and stuff - then logicly you're hardly doing an optimal job. It's an example of cramming something that doesn't fit in the natural form. It's crude, to put it simply.

You have to also take in who the editor is editing for. I get a lot of moments in my amvs where I felt like the scene was right even though it doesn't going along with the lyrics or sync at all. You look at amvs differently when you are editing.

One thing I struggle with is story telling. Since I'm going through every episode picking out scenes I know the story from inside out. Because of that when I'm editing I may skip a couple of important points in the story because I assume the audience knew what happened. People who are not as familiar to the show will watch my amv will go "What? This doesn't make sense! How did that happen?"

[Bauzi]

Why does that happen? Maybe the maker simply loves one specific show too much and tries to cram it everyhwhere. Maybe he doesn't know that the far better scene exists. Maybe he does, but he doesn't have it on hand.

It's just not easy to get the perfect scene at the perfect place. Some scene might scream for lyrics sync places of the song, but are actually really damn unusefull due to the lack of motion, the untasty colours/settings or people randomly talking. It would ruin the viewing experience or flow of the vid.

Either way, I'd really kill fora complete and all-encompasing mixed AMV.
But how would one go about making it? My buess would be to have people submit clips from various anime for the project - but with limitations. Like 1 anime per 2 people. Meaning that 2 people get assignend to search for usable clips from one show. That would ensure a lot of usable clips from different shows. Hhmmmmmm

I'm curious if there are still such encourages editors out there. I think I just would be too lazy


Could you do me a favor? Please watch my video and comment it with a pm, op, qc or whatever. I'm really interessted to hear your opinion about it. I know that I wasn't really able to clarify my thoughts and story in this vid for every viewer, but it gives room for interpretation which isn't a bad thing. I apprecite your opinion.

[Infinity Squared]

You know what... you're dreaming if you think that this gradiosely perfect AMV exists. By its nature, AMVs are a fan created thing, a hobby for just about everybody here (rarely if ever did I hear someone got paid for making an AMV). Firstly, hardly anyone here will be creating that AMV to please you, or me, or anybody else before themselves. That means you're going to get a lot of scenes which will just be what the editor wanted to put in there, not what you wanted it to have been.

Also, I think what you're trying to say is far to generalised to consider a critique of AMVs. I'm sure your words would have been better put to use by hitting the opinion button in Shounen Bushido where the editor may be able to read and consider it, but to put it out here and say that it's wrong serves no purpose because everyone's opinion on that video is different. Me for example, I don't see it as over-exposure to one anime source. In fact I don't sit there and count how many times an anime character appeared. All I cared about is that it contained the characters that were all synonymous with the theme of the video regardless of which anime they came from. I'm not defending the video, and indeed I say it's not really a perfect AMV, but I'm just trying to point out a different point of view.

[Ellderon]

Well... That wouldn't bug me that much. I dislike more those amvs that mix different drawing styles. Imagine you mix Deathnote, Excel Saga, Mindgame, Vampire Hunter D and 5cm per second. That just doesn't look right when the art styles change every second

Something like that doesn't really bug me if it's internally consistent. Altough I do prefer more realistic animation/drawing styles myself.
If hte creator does want to create a specific atmosphere, and feel more "childish" anime might ruin it, then by all means, let him stick to whatever drawing style suits him the most.

I think this is still a small hobby for most people and even the most anal person will give up after staring at the same frames for a day. If you want the best AMVs I guess you'd have to look at the highest echelons of the makers (Koop etc) who have really turned AMVs into an art form, rather than the "tributes" you attribute (I think rightfuly so) to most AMVs.

Tributes themselves can be an art form. But not everything needs to be artsy (depending how you define art). Art itself serves a purpose, no?
That said, I love tributes, partially because I feel anime and AMV's themselves are misrepresented in the world and the world needs to be set straight. Most people have no idea just how good AMV's (or anime) can get. Can't blame them given how it comes off in the mainstream media.

Hehe...Part of me wants to make a compilation of the best AMVs ever made and force every TV station in the world to broadcast them. Yes, I have strange dreams, I know.


Oh yeah. I have to ask again. MP4 to some other format converter? Anyone know a good one?

You know what... you're dreaming if you think that this gradiosely perfect AMV exists. By its nature, AMVs are a fan created thing, a hobby for just about everybody here (rarely if ever did I hear someone got paid for making an AMV). Firstly, hardly anyone here will be creating that AMV to please you, or me, or anybody else before themselves. That means you're going to get a lot of scenes which will just be what the editor wanted to put in there, not what you wanted it to have been.

Perfect might be a bit too strong of a word. There's no way you can make anything that will satisfy everyone on the planet, but that's not the point. When I say perfection, I mean from the more mesurable aspects.
If I were to create an AMV just to please myself I can guarantee you it would be mediocre at best. Without some detachment and a view at the greater picture, the full potential will not be realised.
Does that sound like a oxymoron? Putting a lot of love and effort (soul, you might say), yet remaining detached? Sorta like Tranquil Fury?

[Sonydjsnmix]

That said, I love tributes, partially because I feel anime and AMV's themselves are misrepresented in the world and the world needs to be set straight. Most people have no idea just how good AMV's (or anime) can get. Can't blame them given how it comes off in the mainstream media.

You truly do love anime don't you?

AMVs misrepresented in the world? The world doesn't even know about them!

As for anime, people like my boyfriend doesn't care for it. His tastes in shows and anime does not mash. He doesn't like complicated stories. He is very impatience. He wants entertainment now and do not want to watch 3 or 4 episodes to build up a plot. Anime is not for everyone.

Hehe...Part of me wants to make a compilation of the best AMVs ever made and force every TV station in the world to broadcast them. Yes, I have strange dreams, I know.

There are people out their who has zero interest in art. Art is not for everyone.

When I say perfection, I mean from the more mesurable aspects.

Are the measurable aspects important? To be honest I don't give a flying shit about the measurable aspects. I'm a mood sync type a girl.

I suggest you start a blog about amvs and anime. You seem to be really passionate.

[Adv1sor]

IMHO, when you make AMV's you do it to glorify the anime or to glorify the song.

and imho, there's your problem right there

[Ellderon]

You truly do love anime don't you?

AMVs misrepresented in the world? The world doesn't even know about them!

ERm...how to answer that. Not really..maybe. There's a lot of crap anime just like there are crap movies, but there are also jewels. And anime is more mature in many ways than western flicks.

And as for misrepresented.. I mean the anime that you do see in the west is really crappy, kids stuff (pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, etc..). You won't see any heavier stuff with more advanced animation. That pisses me off.

Anime is not for everyone.
Art is not for everyone.

I wouldn't agree given how broad those terms are. Especially art.

Regardless, I'm on the opinion that people should see some of the best works before writing something off.

[Infinity Squared]

When I say perfection, I mean from the more mesurable aspects.

Are the measurable aspects important? To be honest I don't give a flying shit about the measurable aspects. I'm a mood sync type a girl.

I suggest you start a blog about amvs and anime. You seem to be really passionate.

Hmm... to break it down even simpler than that... how to do you measure enjoyment? What's a measureable aspect of an AMV? Just like any art, it's all just subjective. You could give it a tick for it's technical prowess perhaps, but that's probably as far as you can go to quantify its meaning.

[Sonydjsnmix]

I wouldn't agree given how broad those terms are. Especially art.

Regardless, I'm on the opinion that people should see some of the best works before writing something off.

Its true I shouldn't be writing them off like that. It is a huge generalization. I can see you want people to appreciate anime and the way to capture as much audience has possible is to introduce them to animes/amvs that shows storytelling and sync that anybody can see.

But I have to say that the anime and amvs that the whole population will agree on will be the mediocre. Many times have I seen at conventions the majority of the audience voting for an amv that wasn't very memorable or special.