*KLAXONS GO OFF AND RED LIGHTS FLASH*
OH CRAP! THIS COULD GET UGLY!
*dives in to save the thread before the flames start to rise*
*grabs fire extinguiser and sprays out these words*
Okay, you touched upon some sentimentalities that I share as well, but unless put in the right context, this could explode into something that can and WILL offend people! So let me if I can help re-word this post a bit to keep all kinds of hell from breaking loose!
almost everybody decides to award all of the kudos to AMVs of Naruto, Inuyasha, Kenshin (which is really just the kiddy version of Samurai X) and DBZ.
FIRST! Samurai X IS Rurouni Kenshin, not a kiddy-fied version. The Rurouni Kenshin TV series IS the original Kenshin based off the manga. The Samurai X OAV and the second Kenshin movie use more serious and dramatic styles because that's where the OAV AND MOVIE DIRECTORS wanted to take it, NOT THE MANGA-KA, the guy who made Kenshin!
I want to make this LOUD AND CLEAR that you do not think of the Kenshin TV series and first movie as any less than the original TV series. They are all part of the same story, but the attitudes are different because of the settings and times, and there are times in the TV series when Kenshin gets pretty tough as is. I bet you haven't seen as much of the TV series as I'm sure you've seen the four part OAV which is the prequel to the TV series.
Stuff from the OAV shows up in the TV series later on, so it's all tied together!
We clear on that? I want to make sure you are so that NOBODY else tries to correct you and do it in a mean and insulting and flame war starting way! Okay?
Next topic:
I mean, of all the really good anime out there, like Serial Experiments Lain, Akira, Samurai X, .hack//Sign, Ceres, maybe even Steel Angel Kurumi
Now there are some good AMVs out there based on these series. I know that there are some VERY good Lain videos out there, and I recall Steel Angel Kurumi being used very well in a DDR Project video.
I for one have my own issues regarding people around here NOT using the more classic anime in their vids. Rarely do I see Astro Boy, Kimba: The White Lion, Gigantor, or even Speed Racer (you think there'd be more if even GEICO can use it for a vid!)
These vids are rare and in between, but every now and then there's a diamond in the rough, and when used properly, they can blow others out of the water.
Going back to what you said earlier about the BILLIONS of other vids that are based off of the "popular" anime, I have to admit that finding good vids in these series is a hard thing to do. BUT, because of their popularity, they supposedly have LOTS of footage, and from that comes a good vid.
Naruto has starting rising as having just as many bad vids as DBZ thanks to its popularity. Now here's the good news:
Because it's so popular, sometimes a REALLY good AMV can come out of it that's totally mind-blowing. One example is the Naruto "I Feel Great" video. It takes the infamous, un-aired Nutri-Grain commercial audio and used Naruto footage that fit GREAT! The lip synching was great and it was totally awesome.
The same can be said for series back when they were FIRST popular. Sailor Moon, for example, used to have vids made for it all the time, and one of the best was "Senshi on Springer" which was FREAKIN' HILARIOUS!
So here's the dillemma:
If a not-so popular series has an AMV made out of it, is it a good AMV, and how can one make it good?
And, is there enough material to make a good vid if it's a two-part OAV?
This leads to vid SPLICING!
And there's a handful of the AMVs that recieved 1,000,000 views and high opinions, simply because they squeezed 157 different anime into one AMV.
I am reminded of the Odorikuruu vid that came out a few years back which had a constant barrage of anime charas dancing around. It made good use of effects and had some good audio and video editing to make it all flow seamlessly.
The good thing about multi-anime vids is that there is a near UNLIMITED amount of footage that can be used because you aren't limiting yourself to one series. Even using two series "Tainted Donuts" can produce fantastic results IF used properly! The theme of Odorikuruu was "A Celebration of Anime" more or less, and it did a good job of it. "Tainted Donuts" also made good use of editing and created a theme that worked great!
It doesn't always work though:
And a lot of these AMVs don't always match up to the music very well either.
This is a gripe of many because amateur vid makers may not know what they are doing. When making a vid, you are the Director, just like the Director of a real music video or a movie. You have to make the music and the footage flow, and try and get the feeling and mood to match as good as possible. It may not be easy, BUT THAT'S WHAT MAKES AMV's FUN! Trying to match footage to audio is a fun CHALLENGE! Do well, and it gets awards and applause. Do poorly, and try again!
The worst crime that happens in AMV is that there are some GREAT vids out there, and people don't leave opinions. Even for bad vids, people don't give the constructive criticism that could help a person keep from making better vids, or even REDOING the vid!
As for the music, it doesn't bother me as much. But it's always the same Linkin Park, Evanescense (sorry folks, but that's NOT real Goth Rock), some psuedo-metal, etc. Looks like some people need to get out of the house more.
There was another thread about this, and I have to agree that AMV makers need a more diverse range of music. I see it as a two-part problem:
1) The AMV maker is very well schooled in anime and decides to make an AMV using an anime that's good, but not often watched or seen. They think it's good, and it is good too. BUT THEY KNOW SQUAT ABOUT MUSIC! They take their MTV (the supposed "source" for good music) stuff and try and put it together to a vid. Since the music is so overdone, the vid comes out bad!
2) The musically talented person may know music history by heart, and can list albums and the songs on them without batting an eye. They want to express their love of music and anime by meshing the two into an AMV. BUT THEY DON'T KNOW MANY ANIME! They take their Cartoon Network and Adult Swim sources, and mesh them together into a vid that can come out good, but because the show is so overdone, it often gets ignored because it's just "another DBZ vid", even if it's the best vid ever with DBZ!
The real skill is to have a knowledge and mastery of both music AND anime to create the really great vids. I remember Kevin Caldwell (considered one of the greatest AMV makers of all time) did the William Tell Overture to Child's Toy. Child's Toy was not released in the US, so it would have been considered rare at the time, and the music was CLASSICAL MUSIC! Practically NOBODY had used classical music before!
But he put them together, edited them, and it WORKED! It worked so well, that even non-members of the org can watch it because it is considered a PRIME example of good AMV making.
So how to stop the influx of new and bad videos?
1) Be helpful on the forums. Answer people's questions and give advice. As long as your nice, some people will actually listen and you'll walk away feeling happy that you helped someone.
2) Leave an opinion for a vid, ESPECIALLY if it has less than 10 opinions. Even if the vid is bad, constructive crticism helps. You might get a reply back from the AMV creator thanking you for your criticism and promises to make a better vid next time, or re-do the vid they made (always allowed!)
3) Share! Always share your knowledge, your wisdom, advice, and especially links to OTHER sources of information. It will help people out greatly.
I've been here for a while now, and I've seen some people from here and abroad thank me for some of the things I've said. Granted it's not all the time, but when it happens, it gives me a sense of satisfaction for staying here on the boards. Makes it all worthwhile, ya' know?
It has even inspired me to try and publish in a weblog or through an online magazine some of my discoveries and advice so that it can be more widely read and recognized and useful.
You never know who might thank you!
~Otaku-Man