My apologies for not posting this sooner, but I've been getting over a severe virus I picked up at the con. It was a tough competition, but here is the list of winners for this year.
Anime North 2004 Anime Music Video Competition Winners
Northern Lights Award (Best Overall Video)
"Delerium" - Amanda Irwin (Anamorphic Productions)
Music: Children in the Sandstorm - Derude w/ Robert Miles
Footage: Various
Amanda's interesting use of strobe effects mixed with off-synched footage and techno-rave music admirably achieved her artistic vision of visual sensory overload.
Momiji no Video Award (Judge's Choice)
"I Just Can't Wait to be King" - Daniel Chang (Ninja Gaijin Productions)
Music: I Just Can't Wait to be King - Lion King OST
Footage: Escaflowne
Daniel's video of a lipsynching would-be-king Van matched well with the catchy tune and lyrical yearnings of Simba from the Lion King. The parodic approach made this without a doubt a favourite of the judges and the audience alike.
Criterion Award for Editing
"Space Invaders" - Jani Kauppila (Arctic Tribe)
Music: Space Invaders - Hit 'n Hide
Footage: Crest of the Stars, Space Invaders (SNES game)
Jani's seamless integration of the old-school Space Invaders game into the Crest of the Stars footage, lipsynching, and images synchopated to the dance-floor beat earned this award.
Criterion Award for Cinematography
"Destroy She Said" - Fred Graupp (Studio Tarantella)
Music: Destroy She Said - Circ
Footage: Metropolis
Fred earned this award by immersing us in the world of Metropolis with sharp video images, editing, and crisp audio.
Criterion Award for Creativity
"Sakura's True Feelings" - Benjamin Tan
Music: Etude No. 12 - Chopin
Footage: Da Capo
Benjamin's edited Da Capo footage into a black-and-white silent movie era short film, complete with text cards, scratched footage and a skipping soundtrack. Combined with rarely-used classical music, it was enough to garner this award.
Criterion Award for Artistic Vision
"Inuyasha and Kagome" - Erin M. Hutchinson
Music: Never Tear Us Apart - INXS
Footage: Inuyasha TV and Movies
The judges were impressed by Erin's black-and-white, washed-out looking footage combined with doujinshi screen captures and japanese text, outlining Kagome and Inuyasha's perceived relationship and feelings.
The Newbie Award (Best NoviceVideo)
"Endless Romance" - Mike Kwan (Garduna Productions)
Music: Right Here Waiting for You - Richard Marx
Footage: Voices of a Distant Star
Mike's footage coupled with the poignant yearning of the song's lyrics struck a chord with the judges.
Honourable Mentions:
"Two Guardians, One Friendship" - Deanna Macie (Nightmare Visions Studio)
Music: Samhain Madrigal - Laura Powers
Footage: Card Captor Sakura TV and Movies
The quiet intensity and solid editing and visuals made this a serious contender for the awards, but it did not quite have enough points to win any category.
"Welcome to Avalon" - Tim Park (Doki Doki Productions)
Music: Tempus Vernum - Enya
Footage: Avalon (by Mamoru Oshii)
Though Live Action, the Latin Lyrics and sombre music matched well with the story told through the cinematography. The unique footage and music also gave it high marks.
"Bebop Road" - Shayne Weyker
Music: Building a Road - Spottiswoode and His Enemies
Footage: Cowboy Bebop
This video used footage from Cowboy Bebop not often seen and worked as a metaphor for the hyperspace network. The blues music also earned high marks. This video had a sense of "coolness" about it.
"Metal Oblivion" - Travis Kuhn
Music: 30 Seconds to Mars - Metal Oblivion
Footage: Full Metal Panic
This was the novice runner-up. The FMP footage matched the music well and the editing and special effects were well done for a novice effort.
We thank everyone for entering the competition and look forward to an even better competition next year.



