Announcement & discussion of Anime Music Video contests
Forum rules
Coordinators who fail to maintain necessary communication with entrants, or provide timely updates on results may be barred from announcing future events.
Finalists and WINNERS have been posted!
See the 3rd post for details.
Submission Guidelines and Rules
--- Deadline: MAY 5th, 2013, 11:59am
NOTE: We have heard reports of people having technical difficulties with the submission form. If you're sending your form at literally the last-possible-minute and you end up encountering "paperwork difficulties", don't panic.
Contact the coordinators and we'll work with you, even if it's a little bit past the deadline.
---
Visit the following site to begin the submission process: http://www.anime-expo.org/schedule/amv-contest [Submission form is now online!]
--- PLEASE READ ALL RULES CAREFULLY.
Some rules are new, many have changed.
Submission Instructions
All entrants must complete the entry form (see link above). Once accepted, you may send your entry via online upload or postal mail.
Entries being submitted via postal mail must be postmarked and in the mail on or before the deadline and must arrive at our office (address listed at the end of this document) no later than seven (7) days thereafter.
Entries being submitted online must be fully uploaded by 11:59am PST on the deadline.
Please direct any questions or comments to:
amv(AT)xstylus.com
The Categories:
• Drama & Horror
• Romance & Sentimental
• Action & Adventure
• Fun & Dance
• Comedy & Humor
• Trailer & Parody
Each category may consist of as few as three and as many as seven finalists. This is factored by a minimum score threshold that varies based on the quantity of entries received, average scores, and time allotted for the event.
Technical Standards:
Spoiler :
We have a large library of codecs and we’ll try to work with almost anything you send us, with minor exceptions (see “What We REJECT”). However, if in doubt, please refer to the optional “What We Prefer” section for guidance.
What We Prefer
• Files encoded in 8-bit MP4 (H.264) or MPG (MPEG2) formats.
• Files averaging ~30MB per minute (75MB minimum, 200MB maximum).
• Lagarith encoded AVI files of any size (For mailed submissions ONLY)
• Progressive/Non-Interlaced footage.
Preferred Video Resolutions:
We strongly recommend submitting your video in the exact same resolution that your source material is in, which is likely one of the following:
• 640x480 (4:3, Square Pixel)
• 848x480 (16:9, Square Pixel)
• 960x720 (4:3, Square Pixel)
• 1280x720 (16:9, Square Pixel)
• 720x480 (4:3, 0.9:1 Pixel Aspect Ratio)
• 720x480 (16:9, 1.21:1 Pixel Aspect Ratio)
What We REJECT
• Any FLV, MKV, OGM, SWF, 3GP, or WMV files.
• Any video hosting links such as YouTube, Vimeo, Veoh, or similar.
• Video resolution less than 640x360 (16:9) or less than 640x480 (4:3).
• Audio bitrate less than 128kbps and/or a sample rate less than 44.1khz.
• Anything that requires an unusual level of difficulty to work with.
The Rules:
Policies and Conditions
Spoiler :
--- 1) Any physical media you submit to us will not be returned.
--- 2) You grant us unconditional, irrevocable, and eternal permission to use your submission(s) in any way, which includes (but is not limited to) copying, sharing, and exhibiting, as well as any purposes and usages that may be unrelated to this event.
--- 3) The coordinators and judges may, at their discretion, re-categorize any entry they deem unsuited for the category specified by the entrant.
--- 4) The coordinators and judges have the right to disqualify any submission for any fair and justifiable reason not foreseen in these rules.
--- 5) All judgments and decisions are final.
“Disqualification” Rules:(Submission declined, but complementary AMV tickets granted)
Spoiler :
--- 1) Video/Audio Quality
There cannot be severe video artifacts, macro-blocks, or severe interlacing, and the audio must sound clean and undistorted. --- 2) Maximum Submissions
Entrants may submit two three entries for any category, plus an entry for the Comedy/Humor or Trailer/Parody category. Each entry must be in different categories. The submission form does not reflect this. See this post for details. --- 3) Intros, closings, and identifiers.
Entries are screened anonymously. Therefore, videos should not contain any identifying information such as intros, closings, logos, slates, or credits of any kind. NOTE: Trailer parodies are an exception and may use studio-style slates or logos where customary, provided that they are completely original. --- 4) Studio Trademarks
Entries may not use studio trademarks (e.g. Paramount, Dreamworks, WB logos, etc.), nor contain a genuine MPAA green-band or red-band. Trailer entries may use modified green/red bands that do not mention the MPAA or its trademarked ratings. --- 5) Inappropriate Content
Entries that contain excessive content unsuitable for an age 13+ audience as determined by the coordinators and/or judges may be disqualified. Context and severity shall be taken under consideration. --- 6) Non-Music Content
The audio content of all AMV entries must primarily be music. Entries with excessive non-musical dialogue as determined by the judges and/or coordinators may be disqualified or re-categorized. NOTE: Trailer/Parody category entries are exempt from this rule. --- 7) Non-Anime Content
The visual content of your entry should consist of at least 70% anime-styled, manga-styled, or Japanese CG game content. The judges reserve the right to accept or reject entries based on whether, in their opinion, an entry fits the spirit of an Anime Music Video event.
--- 1) No “Troll” Submissions
Troll submissions are considered to be any of the following:
a) “Minimal Edit” entries. These are entries that exhibit little to no editorial effort, such as an entry that contains large chunks of unmodified/uncut/unaltered video footage.
b) Entries ostensibly submitted merely to gain premium passes to the AMV competition. --- 2) Freshness Requirement
Any video prior to July 3rd, 2012* that was ever publicly accessible online or has ever participated in any competition and/or exhibition prior to that date shall be deemed “stale” and ineligible to compete.
(*) FYI: The freshness period may be shortened in future convention years. --- 3) Video Length
AMV entries must be between one and a half minutes (1min 30sec) and seven minutes (7min). Trailer/Parody entries have no minimum duration. --- 4) Watermarks and Logos
Entries must not substantially contain watermarks such as network logos, network “bugs,” or trademark overlays. This includes NHK, Adult Swim, Divx, and website logos.** --- 5) Subtitles
Entries must not contain subtitles.** (**) Exceptions: Such rules will be waived for entries that use a logo, watermark, or subtitle in an intentional manner that is clearly relevant to the video’s concept.
“Inexcusable” Rules:(On penalty of ejection or banishment from the contest.)
Spoiler :
--- 1) Malicious Participation(Penalty variable based on severity)
Participants who maliciously engage in a manner that causes grief, harm, or dishonor to others or to the event may be reprimanded. This includes intentional rule violations and unsportsmanlike behavior. --- 2) Dishonesty(Penalty variable based on severity)
Participants who provide blatantly false, incomplete, or misrepresented information on their entry form may be reprimanded. This includes the part where you affirm that you’ve read and understood all rules. --- 3) Plagiarism(Penalty of permanent banishment from all SPJA conventions.) Do not submit someone else’s AMV as if it were your own. Do not submit an “improved” version of someone else’s AMV unless you have the original creator’s explicit permission to do so. Each person involved in a submission’s creation must be identified on the entry form and must explicitly grant permission to participate in this event.
NOTE: Before an “Inexcusable” violation is declared, the entrant will be contacted and provided an opportunity to address and/or dispute the issue.
Awards:
Spoiler :
The pride of our event are our special director’s chairs awarded to each winner. Each chair is a genuine Gold Metal ® “Original Director’s Chair” and are the same brand and type frequently used on Hollywood movie sets.
Each Best of Category winner shall receive an 18”H chair with black canvas bearing the awarded category and Anime Expo logo and commemoration of their achievement.
The Best of Show winner shall receive a 30”H chair with exclusive red canvas bearing the Anime Expo logo and commemoration of their victory.
Additional awards and prizes not yet determined as of this document’s publication may become available at a later time. See our website for the latest information.
Shipping of prizes to out-of-state winners shall be provided at no charge to winners located within the 48 contiguous United States. Winners residing elsewhere shall be provided a $25 shipping expense per award and must make arrangements for any difference in shipping and customs expenses. Arrangements to ship or retrieve each awarded prize must be made by its winner or designated proxy by no later than three months from the event.
Third parties are welcomed to offer an award of their own with awarding criteria of their choosing, pending approval of the coordinators. If you are interested in doing so, contact the event coordinators for details.
Question: My video meets the freshness requirement, but it recently won an award at some other AMV competition. May I still enter it?
Spoiler :
Answer:
Yes, you may. We have no rule against it.
Question: I released my AMV a couple years ago, but I’ve made a lot of changes to it and I’d like to release it as a new version. Can I?
Spoiler :
Answer:
We frown upon that, but we’ll hear you out. Contact the coordinators and explain the situation. We will want to see a "before" and "after" of the AMV in question.
Question: What happens if the judges re-categorize one of my entries to a category that I already have an entry in? The rules say that I may only have one entry per category.
Spoiler :
Answer:
In such a rare case, the judges will be warned that the entrant already has an entry in the destination category. If the judges still insist that the entry must be re-categorized, then it shall be. After all scores are tallied, the entry with the lesser score shall be disqualified.
Question: I have a video that’s a couple years old that I sent to several events, but it never made it to any finals and so it never got played. I’ve never posted it online anywhere, either. Can I send it in?
Spoiler :
Answer:
The Freshness Rule includes “participation,” which includes entries that were submitted to an event regardless of if it made it to the finals. While it is true that other events don’t post detailed public records on what didn’t get in, our coordinators talk with other event coordinators often, and some even serve as judges, so please be honest. (Please see “Inexcusable Rules”)
Question: What happens if the coordinators overlook something and an entry that violates a rule (such as the freshness rule) makes it into the finals?
Spoiler :
Answer:
We make every reasonable effort to ensure sure all finalist submissions are in compliance with all rules. However, if we miss something, please bring it to our attention. If it’s not too late for us to remove the entry, we will do so. If it’s past our point-of-no-return in event prep, then the entry will unfortunately remain and the matter shall be dealt with privately between the coordinators and the entrant post-convention. (Please see “Inexcusable Rules”)
Question: What is the process for selecting finalists?
Spoiler :
Answer:
Subject to further refinement, finalists are determined as follows:
• Pre-Screening
The contest coordinator and assistant coordinator will perform a preliminary check of each entry for rules compliance and audio/visual quality before providing the entries to the judges.
• Preliminary Judging
A group of judges (the majority consisting of AMV community veterans) shall be given access to your video submissions. After viewing all submissions in a category, each judge shall create a list of entries sorted by preference. After creating lists for each category, each judge shall also create a final list consisting of their choice of the top fifty entries overall. The coordinators shall then use the lists to calculate the finalist roster for each category.
• Finalist announcements
Finalist announcements shall be posted to the Anime Expo website and to the AnimeMusicVideos.org forum around early June. Finalists shall be announced by entrant name or group name. Entry names shall not be publicly disclosed until the day of the event.
Question: How are winners selected?
Spoiler :
Answer:
Winners shall be determined by balloted vote. General attendees to the competition are provided a general ballot. Attendees who submitted a non-rejected AMV are provided a Creator Ballot, maximum of one per entrant.
Each “Best of Category” winner is determined from a raw total of votes cast for an entry from all creator ballots and general attendee ballots combined.
The “Best of Show” winner is determined in three parts. The judging panel’s favorite shall represent 33%. The creators’ choice shall represent 33%. The general attendees’ choice shall represent the remaining 34%.
Question: How will our work be presented?
Spoiler :
Answer:
Finalist videos will be presented at 1280x720, 16:9 aspect ratio. Lower resolution videos will be upscaled as necessary. Entries with incorrect aspect ratios and/or letterboxing will be corrected if feasible. Videos in 4:3 aspect ratio will have black “tower bars” added to the left and right sides to preserve 4:3 ratio when displayed on a 16:9 screen.
Question: Where's the submission form? How do I send my entry to you?
Spoiler :
Answer:
We are going paperless this year and are preparing an online submission system. We plan to open the system for entries around early March. You will be able to upload your entry to our servers or upload your submission to an approved cyber-locker site. A list of approved cyber-locker sites will be available on our website.
Question: Can I use anime-styled non-Japanese footage such as Boondocks, Thundercats, Iron Man, or Avatar: The Last Airbender as the primary footage of my AMV?
Spoiler :
Answer:
Yes and no. Though the rules do broadly say the words “anime-styled,” entries primarily using non-Japanese footage must “fit the spirit of an Anime Music Video event”. That means the judges will very heavily scrutinize such entries and will lean on the side of disqualification. However, if you think you can create an entry using non-Japanese footage in a way that honors anime and the AMV craft, we’ll give your entry due consideration. This is an experiment we are trying for this year, and depending on the response we may decide to continue or rescind it next year.
Question: Will you accept 10-bit MP4s? They’re much better quality!
Spoiler :
Answer:
While indeed it may be better quality, the software we use to process AMV submissions does not play nicely with them, and so we would need to transcode such a submission back to 8-bit in order to work with it. Therefore, we advise against 10-bit MP4s at this time. We prefer normal 8-bit MP4s.
This section is subject to revision as new questions are brought to our attention.
Please check back frequently.
Last edited by XStylus on Fri Mar 01, 2013 9:17 pm, edited 6 times in total.
"Understanding is a three-edged sword: Your side, their side, and the truth." — J. Michael Straczynski
THE FINALIST ROSTER:
(Posted in order of play, and verbatim as they were written on the ballots [typos and all])
(Winning entries are highlighted in RED. Best of Show is in BOLD.)
P1 - Holomon - By Warlike Swans & Warlike Cygnet (Theme song from ”Pokemon” - Bleach)
P2 - Fast & Furious: Valkyria Chronicles - By NightMistress85
(Trailer from ”Fast & Furious VI“ - Valkyria Chronicles)
P3 - Soul Hunters - By Hagaren Viper (Trailer from ”Witch Hunters“ - Soul Eater)
P4 - EVE’s Progress - By Kvakond (”Gimmix, Dat Bass” by HaZeR - Mouretsu Pirates)
P5 - Into Darkness - By Yuusharo (Trailer from “Star Trek: Into Darkness” - Outlaw Star) P6 - Testing Is the Future - By Mad Rush Studios [NoisyNinjas]
(Soundclips from ”Portal,“ “Portal 2,” & other sources - Various Sources [6])
D1 - Into the Labyrinth - By lolligerjoj (”Into The Labyrinth” by Kraddy - Bake/Nise/Nekomonogatari)
D2 - Reverse Nature - By Eake4 (”Ring Around the Rosey” from Dead Space 2 - Various Sources [5])
D3 - madokaAV - By “It’s a Trap!” Productions [drewaconclusion]
(”Kill The Lights“ by The Birthday Massacre - Madoka Magica, Steins;Gate, Chaos;Head)
D4 - Deliver Us - By Nekokitkat (”Deliver Us” by Ofra Haza & Hans Zimmer - Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic)
D5 - Runaway Boy - By Cenit (”Last Night” by Good Charlotte - Eden of the East TV & Movies 1 & 2)
D6 - Dead End - By nicki_013 (”Sail” by AwolNation - Mirai Nikki [Future Diary])
D7 - Moonfall - By PixelBlended Studios [Shin] (”Rabbit Heart” by Florence & The Machine - Escaflowne)
A1 - Aevum - By Espace Studios [AimoAio] - (”The Clockmaker” by Vexare - Fate/Zero)
A2 - JAGDMEISTER KREUZZUG - By Cenit
(”Crucify Me Part 1 [DnB DJ Edit]” by ShockOne Feat. Phetsta - Evangelion 3.0)
A3 - Overcoming Me - By Hagaren Viper (”Overcoming Me” by Kutless - Persona 4: The Animation)
A4 - Solar Hearts - By BxP102 (”Light Years” by Razihel feat. Savant - Macross Frontier Movies 1 & 2)
A5 - Waltz S - By Iren S.S. (”Vienna Waltz“ by Johann Strauss - Samurai Champloo) A6 - I’m Only Getting Started - By Pwolf
(”Blackout” by Breathe Carolina - Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
A7 - Black Rock Beatdown - By Visualized Nightmare Studios [Kristyrat]
(”Tommy’s Theme” by NOISIA - Black Rock Shooter)
U1 - DBZ - Always Hardcore - By Rider4Z (”One [Always Hardcore]” by Scooter - DragonBallZ)
U2 - JaAM [Just Another Anime Mix] - By VivifxAMV (”Pop Culture” by Madeon - Various Sources [36])
U3 - Time Twitch - By BecauseImBored1
(”Ready to Go” by Panic at the Disco - The Girl Who Leapt Through Time)
U4 - Fashion Beats - By Minako (”Saturday” by Basshunter - Various Sources [17]) U5 - BaBOOM!!!!! - By LoneSaiyan115 (”Game Grumps Remix - BaBoom” by Atpunk01 - Nichijou)
R1 - Summer Hearts - By RAWdangers (”Wild at Heart” by Gloriana - Ano Natsu de Matteru)
R2 - BFB - By Jump Cut Productions [Advent87] (”My Best Friend’s Brother” by Victoria Justice - B Gata H Kei)
R3 - Before I Go - By SelfishPromise (”On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons - Ano Hana)
R4 - Holding On - By Argen Team [madaraxD] (”Mouth 2 Mouth” by Kate Havnevik - Various Sources [17])
R5 - Bored With Me - By Digital Memory Studios [pacotacoshell]
(”Finding Something To Do” by Hellogoodbye - Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai)
R6 - Tough Love - By PixelBlended Studios [l33tmeatwad]
(”We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” by Taylor Swift - Toradora!, K-ON!) R7 - Ivy Bridge - By PixelBlended Studios [Shin] (”Little Wonders” by Rob Thomas - Usagi Drop)
F1 - It Started with a Bang - By CDV V [Fall_Child42] (”Gonna Fly Now” by Bill Conti - Various Sources)
F2 - Don’t Stop Arale Now! - By Armed and Out of Medication Productions [Nils Houghton]
(”Don't Stop Me Now” by Queen - Dr. Slump)
F3 - I Choose Hippopotas - By PixelBlended Studios [kireblue]
(”I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas” by Gretchen Wilson - Pokemon) F4 - 50 Ways For Your Partner to Die - By Tsu (”50 Ways To Say Goodbye” by Train - Resident Evil)
F5 - Magic Mouth - By BasharOfTheAges (”Magic” by B.o.B. - Madoka Magica)
F6 - 7 Days with Suzumiya - By VivifxAMV (”One Week” by Barenaked Ladies - Melancholy of Haruhi)
Judges' Choice: Into the Labyrinth
Creators' Choice: Testing is the Future
Audience Choice: Testing is the Future
PRE-SHOW ROSTER:
Videos below are in reverse order. Entries at the top will be last to play (best slot in preshow), entries at the bottom will be first to play (meaning people seated earliest will be seeing it). The coordinators may also make changes to this roster at any time.
NOTE: A video's hierarchy on the pre-show roster is NOT necessarily indicative of how a video scored in the rankings. Also, playback is NOT guaranteed. If doors open late, pre-show blocks will be cut as needed to preserve an on-time start of the event.
Hearts and Houses - [Dean Seirafi (Honorable Mention)]
I Will Die For You - [KyuuYuKi (Honorable Mention)]
Fidelity - [Xophilarus (Honorable Mention)]
My Everything [AimoAio (Honorable Mention)]
Magi, The Dayman - [BakaOppai]
Imma Be A Host - [Cyrix]
Heartcatch Rangers - [MoonieAMV]
The Bird of Hermes - [SVProductions]
Pillar Man, Pillar Man - [LC_Lapen]
Homura's Endless Journey - [Aiyama Studios (Nieev)]
Hall of Fame - [Drabaz]
Live or Die - [Nero Team (TritioAFB)]
The following pre-show blocks were unfortunately cut due to time constraints. Summer Rain - [Sephiroth & 1moongoddess7]
Beyond Her Flowers - [Gintoki23]
Generations of Dreamers - [Dragon/Roy]
Kuro Shite - [Uk@R]
All Burn Down - [Espace Studios (Kazemon15)]
Once Upon a Time on Gunsmoke - [Machina21]
Pseudo Love kNOT - [KinnonakAde Tora Media (Kat)]
Rideback Girl - [Jump Cut Productions (Advent87)]
Utopia Online - [Studios in Technicolor]
Timeless - [Hylia]
Catch You Catch Me If You Can - [SatoshiSakura]
You Can't Deny Us - [BecauseImBored1]
Are Ya Ready 4 Da Ruffneck Bass - [Chemix]
Last edited by XStylus on Sun Jul 14, 2013 11:35 am, edited 12 times in total.
"Understanding is a three-edged sword: Your side, their side, and the truth." — J. Michael Straczynski
Radical_Yue wrote:Ha, I was just about to pm you and ask when you were going to go live with the rules.
Yeah. I've been sitting on these for like three months (which you already knew). Part of the delay was my fault, part of it was waiting for the AX website to post first. In any case, here they are. Let the drama begin.
Now to go spoilerfy the crap out of the FAQ part so that it isn't a giant wall of text...
"Understanding is a three-edged sword: Your side, their side, and the truth." — J. Michael Straczynski
Scintilla wrote:But now how will we fill the void left by the loss of the annual ritual of wondering just what the "Pro" category is for?
I actually have only question: what are the guidelines for frame rate?
I'll accept any standard framerate, but I prefer 23.976 progressive whenever possible.
The presentation Blu-Rays are authored at 720p 60fps, which does a beautiful job of handling 23.976 and 29.98 AMVs without introducing any jerkiness. I would prefer that people not send me their AMVs at 60fps though.
"Understanding is a three-edged sword: Your side, their side, and the truth." — J. Michael Straczynski
