Anime Expo 2014 AMV Competition - Finalist List POSTED!

[XStylus]

Click HERE for this year's list of entries and WINNERS!

Submission Guidelines and Rules
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Deadline: MAY 3rd, 2014
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Visit the following site to register to participate:
http://goo.gl/8md2Ad
[Submission form is now online!]
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PLEASE READ ALL RULES CAREFULLY.
Some rules are new, many have changed.

A downloadable copy of these rules and FAQ can be obtained at:
http://goo.gl/WifmBd

Submission Instructions
Submitting your entry is a two step process.
• Step One: Register to participate using the above link. We encourage you to register even if your AMVs are not yet ready.
• Step Two: We will email you a code and a website link to the AMV submission form within 48 hours. Until then, please upload each AMV to a cyberlocker service (such as Dropbox) as you will need to provide a download link so that we may obtain your AMVs.

We must be able to obtain your submissions by the deadline date!

NOTE: Postal mail entries are no longer accepted.

Please direct any questions or comments to:
amv@anime-expo.org

Genre Choices:

Entrants are to classify each entry under any one of the choices below.

Prime Genres:
• Drama/Theatric
• Adventure/Action
• Romance/Sentimental
Prime Genre Restrictions: Two entries maximum, each must be in different genres.

General Genres:
• Dance
• Fun
• Humor
• Parody
• Upbeat
General Genre Restrictions: Three entries maximum, minus the number of Prime Genre entries you submit. Multiple entries in the same General Genre is permitted.

Maximum total of entries you may submit (Prime Genres + General Genres): Three

(*) There is no difference between Prime Genres and General Genres, except that there are limits on how many Prime Genre entries you may submit.

How Finalists will be Categorized:
Though there are eight genres, the final event exhibition shall have five (possibly six) Finalist Categories. This is achieved by pairing genres together into Finalist Categories**. The coordinators shall determine and announce the genre pairings for each Finalist Category after the judging phase is completed.

Confused? Don’t be. This is exactly how the event ran in 2013, we’re just being more transparent about how we handle categorization. But, if you need a better explanation, please see this post for details.

(**) Each Prime Genre is automatically assigned its own Finalist Category.

Bonus Genre:

• Commercials & Trailers

This genre is a special activity separate from the main competition.

You may submit an unlimited number of entries to this genre. They shall not count against your submission count in the main competition, and they are also exempt from the freshness rule (Rule 8). All other rules still apply.

Entries selected by the event judges will be shown as short intermissions between each Finalist Category. The event judges shall select the award winner for this genre. Bonus Genre entries are still eligible for the Best of Show award.

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) formats.
• Files averaging ~30MB per minute (200MB maximum total size).
• 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)
• 1280x720 (16:9, Square Pixel)

What We REJECT
• Any FLV, OGM, SWF, 3GP, WMV, MKV, VOB, or DV files.
• Files encoded in 10-bit colorspace. (Please use 8-bit only.)
• 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 degree of difficulty to work with.

The Rules:

Policies and Conditions

Spoiler :

• 1) You (the entrant) unconditionally grant us eternal permission to use, copy, share, and exhibit your submission(s) in any way, which may include purposes and usages unrelated to this event, and you grant this permission without any expectation of compensation or remuneration.

• 2) Though we shall defer to your genre choice where appropriate, we have final say over the genre placement and categorization of your entry.

• 3) The coordinators and judges have the right to accept or reject any submission for any fair and justifiable reason not foreseen in these rules, or based on their opinion of whether the entry fits the spirit of the event.

• 4) The coordinators reserve the right to extend (but never shorten) the deadline date if they deem it necessary.

• 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) Submission Maximums
Entrants may submit no more than three entries total. No more than two of those entries may be for a Prime Genre. Entering two Prime Genre entries into the same genre is not permitted. Entering multiple General Genre entries into the same genre is permitted.
NOTE: Bonus Genre entries are exempt from this rule.

• 3) Intros, Closings, and Identifiers
Entries are judged anonymously. Your entry should not contain any information that breaks anonymity, such as intros, logos, or credits of any kind. We will create credit slates for all finalist entries.
NOTE: Bonus Genre entries are exempt from this rule.

• 4) Studio Trademarks
Entries may not use studio trademarks (e.g. Paramount, Dreamworks, WB logos, etc). Trailer entries may use modified green/red bands that do not mention the MPAA or its trademarks.

• 5) Inappropriate Content
Entries that contain 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/Commercial, Parody, and Fun entries are exempt from this rule.

• 7) Non-Anime Content
The visual content of your entry should consist of at least 70% anime-styled or manga-styled content.

• 8) Freshness Requirement
Any video that, prior to the date of the previous AX (July 4th, 2013), was ever publicly accessible online before that time or has ever participated in any other competition and/or exhibition before that time shall be deemed “stale” and ineligible to compete.
NOTE: Bonus Genre entries are exempt from this rule except that the entry must never have participated in a previous AX AMV Competition.

• 9) Video Length
AMV entries must be longer than 1min 30sec, and shorter than 6min. Commercials have no minimum duration, but may not exceed 30sec. Trailers may not exceed 3min 30sec.

• 10) No “Troll” Submissions, which 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 deemed by the coordinators to be submitted in bad faith.

• 11) Watermarks and Logos
Entries must not substantially contain watermarks such as network logos, network “bugs,” or trademark overlays. This includes NHK, Adult Swim, Tokyo MX, TV Tokyo, Divx, and website logos.*

• 12) Subtitles
Entries must not contain subtitles or unnecessary text.*

(*) Exceptions may be granted for entries that use a logo, watermark, or subtitle in a creatively intentional manner conductive to the video’s concept.

“Inexcusable” Rules: (On penalty of ejection or banishment)

Spoiler :

--- 1) Dishonorable Participation (Penalty variable based on severity)
Participants who 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 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 use parts of someone else’s AMV or 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.

Legal Disclaimer

Spoiler :

For the sake of the entire “Submission Guidelines and Rules” document, the terms “we”, “our” and “us” refer to the SPJA, Anime Expo, its subsidiaries, affiliates, associates, staff, and volunteers, and the term “you” refers to you, the participant.
In consideration of participation in a contest, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the participant, on participant’s behalf, and on behalf of participant’s heirs, successors or assigns, administrators and personal representatives, does hereby INDEMNIFY, FULLY RELEASE, FOREVER DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE SPJA, and each of their respective direct and indirect subsidiaries, affiliates, partners and related entities, their respective directors, officers, employees, volunteers, agents, insurers, attorneys, shareholders and representatives, and each predecessor, successor, and assign thereof, from and against any and all actions, charges, claims, losses, costs, damages, expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) and liabilities of any kind or character, whether known or unknown, in connection with, arising out of or in any way related to participant’s participation in the contest.

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Please direct any questions or comments to:
amv(AT)anime-expo.org

Thank you, and good luck!

[XStylus]

(This post reserved for future use)

[XStylus]

(This post reserved for future use also)

[irriadin]

There should be a "needlessly pretentious" category. ANYHOW. Will submit to this, for sure, this year.

[XStylus]

One thing I want to make sure is pointed out:

This year, there's a two-step process to go through in order to submit an AMV. The first step is to register to participate, which is a quick and easy process. We then send you a code which then allows you to use the submission form. It's very simple and straightforward, and will hopefully help cut down on some paperwork mess.

It is encouraged that you register, even if your AMV is not yet ready.

Also, we're doing something a little different regarding Trailers this year. They are now part of a special Bonus Genre which also includes 30sec Commercials, which we're hoping to see a lot of from ya'll this year. Please see the rules above for the full details, but do note that you can send an unlimited amount of them and they do not count against your submission count for the main genres. Also, for this first year of this new Bonus Genre, the freshness rule is also waived for such entries so that we can kick it off with a bang. Vlad and I are really hoping the Commercials genre takes off, and we're looking forward to seeing what you all come up with this year.

[Castor Troy]

dramaaaaaaaa!

[Tsu!]

Let me see if I understand this correctly...

Full-length trailers, in addition to 30 second commercials, will be put into this trailer category. Right? And while there'll be a prize, it won't be voted upon by the audience. (Edit: Read the rules and saw the bonus prize note.)

Oh. And this means trailers/commercials can't qualify for best in show, right?

One other question. I've noticed most trailer categories specifically mean movie trailer audio. What's AX's standing on game trailers, tv program trailers, parody trailers (like that used in "This AMV will win an Asuka"?

Much obliged.

[XStylus]

Oh. And this means trailers/commercials can't qualify for best in show, right?

Though the Bonus Genre does not have a Best of Category chair award, they are eligible for the Best of Show chair. I originally hadn't intended for them to because the audience voting part of it would be complicated, but... ...let's just say there was a clever vid that very much made me reconsider, and I've since figured out a way to make it not complicated.

One other question. I've noticed most trailer categories specifically mean movie trailer audio. What's AX's standing on game trailers, tv program trailers, parody trailers (like that used in "This AMV will win an Asuka"?

Completely permitted (and encouraged), so long as they adhere to the rules. Trailers may not exceed 2min 30sec 3min 30sec (and should "look" like a trailer), Commercials should not exceed 30sec.

I will also welcome 5sec "After these messages, we'll be right back" and "And now back to the show!" interludes. In fact, really good ones might end up being re-used for future years.

[Tsu!]

Oh. And this means trailers/commercials can't qualify for best in show, right?

Though the Bonus Genre does not have a Best of Category chair award, they are eligible for the Best of Show chair. I originally hadn't intended for them to because the audience voting part of it would be complicated, but... ...let's just say there was a clever vid that very much made me reconsider, and I've since figured out a way to make it not complicated.

Hmmm...! Sounds like it's going to be a very interesting year. Do you estimate, providing enough quality entries are submitted, that time will allow for a similar number of trailers will play as though they were a normal category, or might they be truncated due to time constraints?

Stuff's getting real...

[XStylus]

Hmmm...! Sounds like it's going to be a very interesting year. Do you estimate, providing enough quality entries are submitted, that time will allow for a similar number of trailers will play as though they were a normal category, or might they be truncated due to time constraints?

Stuff's getting real...

I don't think it'll be an issue. The plan is to show at least two commercials plus one trailer between each category. Last year there were six categories, one of them being a Trailer category. This year there are five (six is still possible, but highly unlikely) plus the Bonus Genre, so it's roughly still the same, we're just changing how Trailers are presented, while at the same time creating something new with Commercials. If we get an overflow of them, there's room in preshow too.

How this plays out depends on what we get. I nixed all restrictions from the Bonus Genre in order to help spark it along and get as big of a response as possible, particularly with Commercials (they're short and simple to make, so why not make a bunch?), though getting a bunch of good Trailers isn't a bad plus either. The freshness rule goes back into effect for it next year though.