Excessive use of AE....a new trend?

[OtakuMegane]

I don't use a lot in the way of effects, though I'm trying out some simple ones on my videos in progress right now(took a nice hiatus from editing most of this year to deal with school). But I've discovered something that works well with me, especially as moderation is concerned. My editing software consists of Quicktime Editor and Photoshop. That's it. Most effects can be done with Photoshop, albeit it takes a little longer(sometimes a lot). Quicktime Editor/Player, it can be tricky to do some things in a linear environment, but quite possible. I've tried Premiere, it does little for me aside from pissing me off a whole lot.

Since it takes time to do effects 'by hand' in Photoshop, I have a chance to really think about what I'm doing, and sometimes realize I don't actually need anything there. Also learn quite a bit seeing how an effect works as you apply it frame by frame.

[Voices_Of_Ryan]

You can do more with mspaint than you can aftereffects.

Ummmm... What the fuck were you smoking when you wrote this???

You can do more with a tree than you can paper.

[Wheee_It's_Me!]

Ahhh, I remember watching Euphoria...it was...um...hrmmm...well it flashed a lot. *shrugs*

You know there's a BIG difference between using an effect to actually ADD something (ie bleding the ANIMATION more into the music) and using an effect...just because you can. If you're doing the later, you're not making an AMV.

The way I see it there 4 major kinds of AMV artists...those who don't know how to do such effects (and sometimes interestingly enough they're the one who are most vocal about NOT using such effects...perhaps it's because they're over compensating).

Then you have those who use such effects with absolutely no regard to coherency...whatsoever. Even in Euphoria half the dancing lil flash boxes didn't even line up in proper synch with the music. But then that's because Euphoria's effects weren't done by hand, they were done by some sort of wave form visualization generator. Really Euphoria isn't much different from playing the song in WMP and turning on random visualizations. Basically these are the people who use effects not because they add something, but simply because they can (these can either be done "well" or sloppy).

Next you have the artists who rip off effects already in the anime. And oh, they usually look pretty damn impressive (mostly cause they were originally done on a professional level), but really, the AMV artist didn't have to do any work. A lot of the time such material is harvested from the series intro and ending where they often like to show off with such original effects.

Last are those who use effects only when it actually has some kind of relavency. A good example is that one Rurouni Kenshine video set to Madona's "Frozen" that does a few different effects that corespond directly to lyrics in the song. Again, these type of videos can be done either really bad or really good.

To me a REALLY good AMV is one that uses effects to better fuse the animation to the music while NOT overshadowing the whole point, which is, hrmmm, yes, THE ANIME. Further, if your effect isn't original (ie it's ass raping the default transitions in AfterEffects and Premiere)...yeah, you might be able to impress mommy or daddy or the stupid half retarded smelly DBZ lovin otaku who lives down the street from you...but to most of us who actually MAKE AMVs...yeah, you'll never be anything more than halfass. Whether that matters to any of you or not...*shrugs*...maybe it does, maybe it doesn't, that's on you.

[AbsoluteDestiny]

I don't really see the point of being prescriptive about what someone should have as the content to their video.... especially considering that people do this stuff primarily for fun.

If people want to do an effects video purely and simply because it looks cool then that's fine by me. I don't see any reason why that's more or less valid a reason than anything else.

[Wheee_It's_Me!]

I don't really see the point of being prescriptive about what someone should have as the content to their video.... especially considering that people do this stuff primarily for fun.

If people want to do an effects video purely and simply because it looks cool then that's fine by me. I don't see any reason why that's more or less valid a reason than anything else.

Like I said, it's all on you. If you're not interested in the competitive side of the art (which BTW is quite a bit more dominant over the "fun" aspect), then hey, don't give a rats ass about what you do, how well you do it, or even why you're doing it all. If you want to create a REALLY great AMV though, one that'll be remember even when such "new" effects become common place and passe 5, 10, 15 years down the line...yeah, classification, interpretation and the study of AMV form, style and execution have quite a bit of relevancy.

[Zarxrax]

But then that's because Euphoria's effects weren't done by hand, they were done by some sort of wave form visualization generator.

You might wish to get your facts straight before making wildly incorrect comments such as this.

I don't really see the point of being prescriptive about what someone should have as the content to their video.... especially considering that people do this stuff primarily for fun.

If people want to do an effects video purely and simply because it looks cool then that's fine by me. I don't see any reason why that's more or less valid a reason than anything else.

I couldn't agree more. And just because effects don't seem to have any purpose to you, doesn't mean that they have no purpose to the creator. It's not all about syncing anime up to music. Some people like to create a visual style or feeling from the effects.

[ANTDrakko]

I'm just making an observation about effects videos that are looking to compete against not-so-effects videos. I have nothing against any type of video @ all. Its just more of a lil observation I've made aboot videos that are competing now-a-days.

I guess the bottom line is that Creating an effects video can be fun and highly informative. However, once competing or comparing one's effects video to a not-so-effects video, you should be careful on how often and how smooth you use those effects if you plan on having the better video.

On a side note:

Dodgeball was a pretty funny movie, you all should give it a look-see

[ANTDrakko]

I'm just making an observation about effects videos that are looking to compete against not-so-effects videos. I have nothing against any type of video @ all. Its just more of a lil observation I've made aboot videos that are competing now-a-days.

I guess the bottom line is that Creating an effects video can be fun and highly informative. However, once competing or comparing one's effects video to a not-so-effects video, you should be careful on how often and how smooth you use those effects if you plan on having the better video.

On a side note:

Dodgeball was a pretty funny movie, you all should give it a look-see

[Wheee_It's_Me!]

You might wish to get your facts straight before making wildly incorrect comments such as this.

You might wanna think about sticking your foot in your mouth before I suddenly get the urge to put up a guide on how to make effects that look EXACTLY like the ones SUPPOSEDLY "done by hand" in Euphoria. ^_^

[Voices_Of_Ryan]

You might wish to get your facts straight before making wildly incorrect comments such as this.

You might wanna think about sticking your foot in your mouth before I suddenly get the urge to put up a guide on how to make effects that look EXACTLY like the ones SUPPOSEDLY "done by hand" in Euphoria. ^_^

You might wanna think about shuting the fuck up.