Reflections on 2002

Declan_Vee · Post by **Declan_Vee** » Sat Dec 14, 2002 6:52 am

It recently occured to me that the year is almost over. I was wondering how everyone felt about the AMV events and or releases this year. Anything that stood out as being great, revolutionary, something awful that we should all learn from, etc.

Ashton · Post by **Ashton** » Sat Dec 14, 2002 7:17 am

This has really been my second year of involvement in the community, but in a way it was my first. I released my first AMV this year, I first posted to the forum this year, I went to my first convention this year, so in many ways I will consider the end of the year, the end my newbie faze. This both means I loose the ability to place blame on my inexpirience and gives me a wider range of contact with the comunity. I also got a very good sense for what is going on in the anime scene, and started watching most of the new bigname releases.
This year, AX sucked. I wasnt there, but I saw the same documentary everyone else did, and it SUCKED. The doc for AWA isnt released yet, but I hear similar things about it. It seems that the bigger names in the convention arena are starting to show sines of becomeing too large (maybe they have been for years, but this is the first that I have heard of it.)
While it only happened at the end of the year, I would definately like to say that Mission: Iprobable has been a blast. And except for this little controversy at the very end, it has been entirely enjoyable. Thank you DW and Klinky, its leaders like you that make this community stronge.
What about releases, well off the top of my head, here are my personal highlights:
Koopeskevas Rei-mix. This will definately be my vote for best of the year. The most technically superios video I have seen since I first heard of Kevin Caldwell, and my personal number 2 of all time. cheers koop ^_^
For overall fun Im going to say Path of Deus (Angelic Layer to Chop Suey by System of a Down) as probably my favorite action video ever.
SpPandas Session 2 "Because She..." (Cowboy Bebop to Thief by Our Lady Piece) because it ranks in my top five drama vids, definately my favorite drama vid of the year.
Overall, I can not, for obvious reasons compare this year to any other year, but I would like to say that I have IMMENSELY enjoyed everything. The community, the conventions, the work, the jokes, and really, above all, the videos have been so much fun to watch. Its been a great year everyone, Ill be back in the US for the next one, and I look forward to enjoying another year with everyone!
And for the new year, Kampai!

Paul Kievits · Post by **Paul Kievits** » Sat Dec 14, 2002 10:37 am

Well in my opinion there are two phases to this year ... pre-AWA and post-AWA. Pre-AWA had very few new and innovative ideas and people kept yelling "Year of slump" then came AWA and a shitload of great videos came a long and everyone was happy again.

Personally this was my first year as a creator and have released two videos ... the first sucked ass, the second was better I'm still not there yet though.

Machine · Post by **Machine** » Sat Dec 14, 2002 11:45 am

Ashton wrote:This year, AX sucked. I wasnt there, but I saw the same documentary everyone else did, and it SUCKED. The doc for AWA isnt released yet, but I hear similar things about it. It seems that the bigger names in the convention arena are starting to show sines of becomeing too large (maybe they have been for years, but this is the first that I have heard of it.)

The AX doc wasn't suppose to be all that great. It was me and Charles showing everyone how AX was a huge con and ended up being a huge let down.

As for the AWA doc, remember that I addressed this issue back in the Anime Conventions forum. There was AWA doc because of too much heat that was going around at the time. So rather than make enemies at the con, I decided not to film much since I did want to meet everyone and stay on good terms with them, thus retiring from Doc making. David Violence said he was going to release his own version of the AWA doc but I think he fell of the face of the earth.

As for the 2002 year, I think it has been great. This was the first year I went to CONs all over teh place. I attened the very first Ushicon, A-KON 13, Anime Expo 2002 (the amv dinner was awesome), AnimeFEST!, and finally AWA (The birth of La Familia and several other events).

Video wise, this is my third year making AMVs. I went back and watched alot of my old stuff and realized that my skills have gotten alot better. I still remember when I made my very first DBZ video almost 3 years ago. Its a good thing it doesn't exist anymore. Saves people the torture:D

One thing I've really gotten into is live action during 2002. I made several short films with friends as well as attended short film festivals and.....may I add.....

College has been a real eye opener this first semster...one thign is for sure...Computer Science is not for me! Unfortunatly I had to find this out the hard way since I didn't do to well in my CS classes.

But now 2003 is coming along! What new pearls will we face this coming year?

I'll add more later

mexicanjunior · Post by **mexicanjunior** » Sat Dec 14, 2002 12:26 pm

Machine wrote: I attened the very first Ushicon, A-KON 13, Anime Expo 2002 (the amv dinner was awesome), AnimeFEST!, and finally AWA (The birth of La Familia and several other events).

Sweet, clean La Familia love.

I sucked last year and I still suck....but not as bad.

anneke · Post by **anneke** » Sat Dec 14, 2002 12:44 pm

This year was interesting for me. It started with me flying out for Katsucon, and meeting a bunch of great people on the East Coast. Katsucon had a terriable contest.

I returned to the west coast and attended Fanime, where I was disgusted by a certain creator who abused/bullied the AMV coordinator. The contest was a disappointment, and unfair.

I then went to AX, where everyone knows how crappy that contest was. I determined that the AMV community for creators had increased so greatly that the AMV coordinators just didn't keep up. I formed a mailing list/support group for AMV Coordinators.

Flew out to Shoujo-con and got to hang out with the wonderful East coast creators again. Met Fungie who would later join my production studio. I also won at Shoujo-con, and had my first experience with 'fans'.

I managed to get hosting set up for my videos. With the hope for reviews. I got fired from running the AMV contest at Ani-Magic. And so there was no contest at Ani-Magic.

Yaoi con was alot of fun, and I found my one video was even to Yaoi for Yaoi-con. I decided I had enough of making hentai videos.

AWA and Otakon I hear turned out rather well. I didn't attend the conventions but entered. So yes I am at fault. If I attended the convention (other then Shoujo-con or Yaoi-con) the contest was destined to be bad.

Was there a slump... I don't think so. I think there was just a time frame between AX and AWA where nothing new was coming out, because people were holding them for AWA.

I think/hope the mailing list I created will help the AMV Coordinators stay ahead of the game. I helped out with the CSun contest, which was awsome. I simply used the principals I developed on running a good/fair AMV contest. This next year, I'm going to just try and keep getting more coordinators onto the mailing list, and hope they will take time needed to run a good contest, and ask for help as well.

Anneke

The Wired Knight · Post by **The Wired Knight** » Sat Dec 14, 2002 1:23 pm

I'm sick of hearing this "year of slump" thing. Every year in the AMV community SOMEBODY calls it the year of slump. It's like Broadway which people have been saying is dying for the past sixty years. I've only attended two conventions this year, an overly large one and a small one and I still think AMVs are in good shape. We still get good videos from both vets and a lot of new people breaking into the AMV community. As for AX, yes, the AMV contest was shit, too many problems convoluting one another. The rest of the convention was fine save for the lines we had to go through. I'm still a supporter of AX and will be going again this year. You can't base the AMV prosperity off of cons (such as AX) where you disagree with the results or the choices. Those choices represent 30 out of the 150+ videos they recieve and less than 1% of all the videos that we make in a year combined. So to cal the AMV community a "slump" based on that small percentage is ridiculous. I see the AMV community growing as it has this year and it has no signs of stopping.

SSJVegita0609 · Post by **SSJVegita0609** » Sat Dec 14, 2002 1:39 pm

Well, this is my n00b year. I've learned a lot since I joined the .org 6 months ago. Nothing I've done yet, no cons or conventions or anything. But hopefully next year I'll get out of my n00b slump.

SSJVegita0609 · Post by **SSJVegita0609** » Sat Dec 14, 2002 1:42 pm

lol, did I say 6 months?

*Begins counting with his fingers

Make that 4 and a half.

Maniac · Post by **Maniac** » Sat Dec 14, 2002 2:41 pm

I too am a newbie, and this is one of the few times i think i should post. I would like to thank everyone at the site for their amazing help. Phade and Ermac, you guys did a wonderfull job on your guides they helped alot. I'm hoping that next year i will be able to get to a con because i will have hopefully earned my drivers licinse. I've enjoyed making my AMVs so far (just finished my second this morning actually) and will continue to do so, and hopefully earn some respect and acknowledgement for my work. So all and all I've really enjoyed this year.