The Craft-Work and Art of the AMV, Part Six: Memories, Dreams and Reflections
Ξ July 27th, 2012 | → 3 Comments | ∇ Music is Life, The Anime Annals |
Kick-(your ass)-off!
The discovery of that dazzling new Nostromo Anime Music Video is all it took to suck me deeply back into the YouTube void, where (after a few hours) I uncovered a very nice assortment of gems for your viewing & listening pleasure! Many of these videos are entrants and winners in the most recent AMV contests, and each is a labor of love and worthy of sharing 
(By the way, Part Four in this series features a half-dozen Nostromo vids that have to be seen to be believed!)
Incidentals: (a) Please watch in Full-Screen and high-quality if possible; it makes a BIG difference! (b) I pick videos mainly of characters and shows I connect with and/or care about, so it’s somewhat biased here 
(c) The selection of music equally so, as I’m just as choosy about likable sounds that accompany the visuals. (But I’ll accept any “good song” in the spirit it which it was created if it resonates with mine in pretty much any sense, and the same goes for the visuals.) And (d) where I add that I try to assemble these in an order that flows to ensure smooth transitions between moods; it takes some time but makes for a more enjoyable journey, I hope
The careful, thoughtful and hopefully heartfelt blending in the resulting AMV, if it gets widely shown and shared, can help promote both the anime and the musical talent by exposing fans of either to appreciate the other. So I hope to share what works for me in the hopes that it resonates with You
Like this well-deserved winner in the Drama category at this year’s Anime Boston contest, where it cleverly depicts Alice (from Kami-sama no Memo-chou) seemingly guiding the fates of several characters from Toradora, AnoHana, Mawaru Penguindrum, and others. Brilliant and very moving, especially if familiar with the characters:
Studio SHAFT’s Bakemonogatari is such a visually striking show that it’s a natural choice for AMV-makers (maybe a little too often if you ask me but who’s complaining as I love Bake and Nise and all the little -monogataris so you didn’t hear it from me!). I’m very fond of the cute-and-dangerous little 500-year old vampire Shinobu (in a distant sort of way), who gets a few moments to shine here:
EDIT: There’s a great new review of Nisemonogatari by Carl Kimlinger at Anime News Network, covering all the hot topics this show generates (i.e. a bunch LOL); well-done!
Dunno why I passed on Guilty Crown when it aired, but this AMV bolstered my interest in Inori to the point I’ll just have to track it down; the show looks epic though looks can be deceiving
One show I did check out, and consider one of the best of 2011, was Steins;Gate; what a mind blower [and just as weird seeing two semicolons separated by just one word]! Melding time-travel with a surprising love story flavored with portents of an impending apocryphal near-future, this well-scripted, funny-yet-dark suspense series kept the viewer mercilessly on the rails and on the hook throughout. Kinda like this vid (NSFW, probably):
Sometimes an AMV doesn’t have to be doing anything other than to show a cavalcade of classic characters in… well, character! Here we have everyone from Sakura Kinomoto (1998′s Cardcaptor Sakura) to Hime (from this year’s Accel World ) and many others in between, seemingly playing in a missing person case (or something) in this touching AMV…
Let’s pick it up a little and have some fun with the lovingly-designed cast and exotic lush settings of Fractale, which I always felt was better than the mediocre reviews it received. YMMV and etc, but at least it’s enjoyable enough to entertain (and you can watch it on Anime News Network via the above link)! The AMV features the rockin’ Matchbox Twenty song “How Far We’ve Come”:
How are your feet? I think they need some tapping! And what better way than subversively via this funny, Russian-themed AMV about – um… well, Rasputin? (Though I think he would have a different concept of “toe-tapping” * shudder*) Loved the hilariously-creepy teacher Kimura from Azumanga Daioh as narrator, with the Haruhi Suzumiya girls as backup singers, and dozens of small cameos from across anime history:
Denpa Onna was another enjoyable SHAFT eye-candy comedy featuring the studio’s typically-sexy animation and the sexiest (and battiest?) MILF ever in Meme Touwa, who I seriously would date. If I were 2D (What an experience that would be LMAO!) As delectable as the rest of the cast was, she stole every scene she was in basically through the sheer force of her sly, mischievous personality:
But platinum-haired and self-proclaimed “alien” Erio is the show; I just loved seeing her onscreen even though she was wrapped up in her futon much of the time. Literally! Character designer Buriki‘s quirky-yet-lovely faces are so expressive; there’s something appealing about them that’s hard to pin down. Maybe because they actually have visible lips, I dunno His cast from Boku wa Tomodachi had that same magic about them, even though done by another studio (AIC).
Since the previous Denpa AMV was so short, here’s another recent one showing the early developments of Erio and Makoto’s relationship, and the epic downhill bicycle ride that cemented things. Very sweet video and song, and sentiment (if able to relate to trying to deal with a cute but withdrawn young relative who insists that she’s actually from space!):
Speaking of sweet, Usagi Drop was a wonderful, funny and touching little story that flew under most viewers’ radars, and it’s nice to see some AMV-maker love come to light. The sudden and then-budding dynamic between Daikichi and little Rin (who must be the most adorable thing ever, especially in light of her unhappy circumstances) is very much warily realistic and sometimes prickly, while always seeing the funny things in parenting along with its responsibilities. (Note that you may be able to watch it on ANN via the link!)
The growth is rich, in this one 
(With a capella vocalizing by Bobby McFerrin as a joyous backdrop; nice choice!)
Let’s finish up nice and quietly, to hopefully send you off happily The next video by Timmie Ng was awarded the Best Overall AMV this year at Tsunacon, a well-deserved honor; it’s simple but direct to the heart. It’s from a film I’d never seen (or heard of), Piano no Mori, and this AMV’s solo piano soundtrack is such a fitting accompaniment. Sometimes the simplest of things can be most beautiful 
Thanks for your visit and do come again; most comments are most welcome so please do if so moved xD
on August 5th, 2012 at 2:13 am
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on August 10th, 2012 at 3:06 am
love Haruhi Suzumiya！
on August 15th, 2012 at 7:24 pm
@ cosplaycostumes: Then you’ll really love the next Haruhi-centric Post (coming soon)