Retro Matsuri's Animated Music Video Contest [Winners Posted!]

[PotsAndPants]

Hello friends!

My name is Kate/Scribbles, but my editor name is PotsAndPants. This year, I'm happy to announce Retro Matsuri's Animated Music Video Contest!

Rules Can be Found Here
Submission Link

Highlights

• Deadline: All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on June 28th, 2025

• Refreshness rule: All entries must be less than three years old at the start of the Retro Matsuri convention date. (July 25th 2025)

• Rating: PG-13 Contest

• Video: At least 75% of the footage in an entry must be from animation footage that dates from 12/31/2005 or earlier to be retro. Any type of animation is acceptable from around the world.

• Video: Live action, video game footage, post-2005 Anime count can count for the 25% of footage.

• Audio: Music and/or audio does not have to follow the retro 2005 rule.

Categories

• We All Dread Gym Class (Action) - If we are sweating we are doing it right…right?

• Let Me Explain On AIM (Drama)- Spill that tea, tell me ALL the details. Tell us a story and don’t hold back. Oh you wrote it already on your Myspace? Let me login.

• To Kool for This (Fun/Comedy) - A time when fart jokes were funny.

• High School Crush Dreams (Romance) - Remember your first crush? This is them now.

• Old Skool Dance Party (Upbeat) - Show us your sweet dance moves to impress your crush. Ah crap, spilled the punch.

• Art Class is Weird Sometimes (Other) - Entries that don't fit into the rest of the categories, but they are still cool enough to be displayed in the hallways. (Horror, experimental videos, art pieces, WTF'ers, etc.)

• Saturday Morning Cartoon Commercials (Ads, Trailers, Shorts go here) - Back when we couldn’t skip ads.

This is my first time runing a AMV contest, however not my first time volunteering at Anime Convention. I've been volunteering for cons since 2011 and I finally have the chance to run an AMV contest! I got the idea for the contest because I've seen so many AMVs that use older footage that are edited well, but they never seem to make it into contests often since newer sources seem to get recognized. So I always wanted to do a contest for older anime to get to shine! That said, please let me know if I miss anything, or if you have questions, I'll do my best to answer them! Note: I will busy around memorial weekend working a con, so replys will be delayed then.

Can't wait to see your videos!

EDIT:
Thank you for your patience! The other convention I run is now done and I will start processing videos with emails sending out.

[PotsAndPants]

Greetings Friends!

I have completed the backlog of entries now that I finished my other convention work for another con. I have sent processing emails out for anyone who submitted in May. Thank you again for your patience! Keep the videos coming! I've enjoyed all the sweet jams you've submitted so far, it beats listen to 'Wheels on the Bus' for two hours stright (ㅠ﹏ㅠ)

EDIT: Updated 6/29
Status
We All Dread Gym Class (Action) - 13
Let Me Explain On AIM (Drama) - 26
To Kool for This (Fun/Comedy) - 9
Art Class is Weird Sometimes (Other) - 15
High School Crush Dreams (Romance) - 13
Old Skool Dance Party (Upbeat) - 9
Saturday Morning Cartoon Commercials (Trailers / Ads / Shorts) - 9

Total Submissions: 120

[PotsAndPants]

Hi Friends!

We have 11 days to go or so before the deadline, so don't forget to submit if you have a retro video from the last three years! I've been updating the catagory numbers and we are little low on Saturday Morning Cartoon Commercials, High School Crush Dreams (Romance), and To Kool for This (Fun/Comedy).

Can't wait to see your videos!

[PotsAndPants]

Hi All!

Getting down to the deadline here! Less then three days to go before the deadline of 6/28. Just remember the deadline is eastern standered time.

Thank you for all the submission so far! ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ Y'all have given me more then I can process after work tonight so next batch of emails will go out tomorrow.
EDIT
Thank you for waiting! I have sent all the processing emails out.

[PotsAndPants]

Hi All! Here are the finalists for Retro Matsuri's Music Video Contest!

AngelicDaze
BecauseImBored1
F-Zero TV
Ileia
Iren S.S.
Katranat
LantisEscudo
MadMegatax
meleechampion
Obsidian Zero
PantsAMV
Rider4Z
Rivkah94
Seasaltmemories
Sonicfreak1111
Speedy180
SpuddStaaa
Synæsthesia Productions
Takeshi
thefanvideoer2
Troubleclef [Joker Troupe]
Tyken & Rider4Z
UnluckyArtist
ZeonicFreak

Congrats to the finalists! Emails have gone out so if I missed anyone please let me know!

[PotsAndPants]

Hello all!

Here is the contest list and the winners. Winners are underlined with [Winner] next to them.

We All Dread Gym Class (Action)

Title: Crisis of '87 [Winner]
Editor: ZeonicFreak

Title: Planetary Parade
Editor: MadMegatax

Title: Kickstart My Heart
Editor: Takeshi

Title: Waltz S | 10th Anniversary Remake
Editor: Iren S.S.

Title: Main Character Energy
Editor: Rider4Z

Let Me Explain On AIM (Drama)

Title: Aim for the Sky
Editor: AngelicDaze

Title: Poison Love
Editor: Rider4Z

Title: Take Flight [Winner]
Editor: thefanvideoer2

Title: BLOOD 4 THE BLOOD GOD
Editor: Synæsthesia Productions

Title: Embers to Ashes
Editor: PantsAMV

Old Skool Dance Party (Upbeat)

Title: Help! These Officers Are Too Cute...
Editor: Sonicfreak1111

Title: Renfield Syndrome
Editor: F-Zero TV

Title: Catch and Release [Winner]
Editor: BecauseImBored1

Title: Together Through the Telescope
Editor: Obsidian Zero

Title: Reveillez
Editors: Tyken & Rider4Z

High School Crush Dreams (Romance)

Title: The Art of Adolescence [Winner]
Editor: Seasaltmemories

Title: She likes a boy
Editor: Katranat

Title: Flint and Spark
Editor: Troubleclef [Joker Troupe]

Title: Duck Lover
Editor: SpuddStaaa

Title: Parallel Valleys
Editor: LantisEscudo

Art Class is Weird Sometimes (Other)

Title: core dump (for alice)
Editor: meleechampion

Title: You Are Already Ken 🫵
Editor: Ileia

Title: Fair Use AMV [Winner]
Editor: AngelicDaze

Title: Stage Presence
Editor: LantisEscudo

Title: The Influencer
Editor: UnluckyArtist

Saturday Morning Cartoon Commercials (Trailers / Ads / Shorts)

Title: Outlawz of the Galaxy vol.3
Editor: Speedy180

Title: The Hero We Need
Editor: LantisEscudo

Title: Emotional Support Sunshine Character
Editor: Troubleclef [Joker Troupe]

Title: Cobra Angel
Editor: ZeonicFreak

Title: Mifune Nights: The Ballad of Speed Racer [Winner]
Editor: Ileia

To Kool for This (Fun/Comedy)

Title: Super Too
Editor: Rider4Z

Title: Holding Space [Winner]
Editor: AngelicDaze

Title: The Lives and Times of Dirk the Daring [Winner Retro Beat Award]
Editor: LantisEscudo
Audio Source: Queen - “Another One Bites the Dust”

Title: Why Not Pretend It's 2004
Editor: Rivkah94

Title: We can(not) endure [Winner Nostalgic Feeling Award]
Editor: Katranat
Video Source: Excel Saga

Coordinator’s Pick
Titles: Hunger Pangs
Editor: Rivkah94

[PotsAndPants]

Task points-

• I will email all finalists and winners to confirm mailing addresses this up coming week. Winners to confirm editor name for certificates.

• All Finalsits will be mailed; A blank ballot, a marked up ballot by me thanking you, a blank badge, and a sticker.

• All winners will recive what finalists get, plus a certificate, an extra sticker, and a flash drive.

• I will also post our AMV blocks that we played at con in Aug once certificates are ordered.

The good news is....we will be having Retro Matsuri for 2026! However we are going to give the retro contest a break for 2026. (Don't worry, it'll come back in 2027.) Which means next's years contest will be... The 2000's Strike Back! That's right, all sources will be from 2000-2016! (Still -kinda- retro)

See ya next year! Thank you editors for all your amazing videos!