Have AMVs ruined anime?

[Qyot27]

Maybe it's because I was watching anime for some 6 or 7 years (granted, not constantly) before I began editing, but in general I've not found editing to be much of a deterrent at all, and it's not so much that I've gotten bored of anime, but technical limitations and having had to divide my time between watching, editing, and college for a couple years there took a noticeable toll on my ability to watch a show. I've got a queue of some 260-ish shows, movies, and OVAs to watch that have accumulated over the past 2½ years, and the only times during that period where I avidly enjoyed a series and made a point of watching it was when it was really compelling to do so, for whatever reasons I might find compelling. Galaxy Angel, Mahoromatic, Azumanga Daioh, Elfen Lied, School Rumble, Kimi ga Nozomu Eien, Haruhi, and Bleach (chronologically as viewed) are the most notable entries that I really found cause to go out of my way to watch, and except for continuing to watch Bleach, all of that was done prior to this year.

Even when I started to try to catch up and whittle away at that queue I found that I just genuinely don't want to sit in an uncomfortable swivel chair hurting my back staring at my computer unless I really want to watch something, and that's saying something because that's also the same chair I normally sit in when using the computer at any other time - if I'm going to sit in it I'd rather either be involved in some sort of activity that doesn't involve passively sitting around. And with the case of the H.264-encoded fansubs - and H.264-encoded AMVs, for that matter - most of the time my computer chokes (doesn't stop me from getting them anyway, eventually I'll get a newer comp or I can just use my grandparents' computer to watch them). The only reason I don't edit AMVs more often is lack of motivation to put up with Premiere's atrocious loading times and the tediousness of actually scouring and rendering out clips for footage. In essence, the more I've found myself caring about making the footage look good, the less motivation I've had because my computer takes forever to render well-filtered footage.

As others have commented on music being the one actually impacted, I suffer from a half-case of that - I was also a music lover long before I started editing, and sometimes I'll get images flashing in my mind for potential ideas, but it usually doesn't consistently affect me on any particular song - if it does, then there's a good chance I'll actually edit with that one (and with how comparatively short my editing ideas list is, obviously that doesn't happen too frequently). And I rarely, if ever, see someone else's video when listening to a song, even if I first discovered the song via that video. I don't even routinely see my own videos when I listen to a song I've used, although this depends fully on how much I listen to the song anyway - I rarely see Please Teacher flashing before my eyes when listening to "All Night Long", but the chances of me envisioning Chrono Crusade while listening to "Wish I Had An Angel" are demonstrably higher.

[Serv0]

It seems like this is no longer a question of the affects of an editor's hobby, but merely the realization of a common human behavior. This topic and post has been really confusing to this editor because I'm not sure if this debate addresses the affects of AMVs to the general public, or the affects of the practice of AMVs for the editors themselves. Never the less, Servo will attempt to apply his own opinions on the subject posted, and perhaps try to find a flashlight to some of this.

The human mind is more than happy to adapt to the new, just as long as it remains new. It's somewhat the same application here. A lot of the points and opinions made here are similar to the same points and opinions addressed in the 'What's Originality' topic. It seems like Anime to the fellow editors here on the org is losing its shine...
Why so?
A lot of the editors, production studios, and collaborations that I've been 'growing up' seeing have seem to disappeared into the world, and never to be found again in the world of AMV.
Theory: The pioneers that I've grown up seeing have grown up themselves.
Application: To anime it's the same case. Whether it reflects on the practice of AMVs or not.
In all respects, this reviewer, editor, and fellow member believes that the question proposed in this topic is answered with the natural human paradigm called: 'growing up.'

The cause of this growing up can be but not limited to:
-boredom of source interest
-the taking over of modern day obligations such as work, family, college, work, lover, work, work, work.
And what I believe is the REAL cause because previous causes stated is BS:
-The paradigm itself.

There's a myth that anime, let alone AMV's itself, is a bit childish that must be given up to uphold manly things. Such as: work, family, college, work, lover, work, work, work.
It really is unfortunate to me to see fellow friends give a chance of giving up a wonderful art. I'm not referring to AMV's here. I'm referring to anime itself. Is there a border between anime and the common movie that comes out in the theater? Sorry for the new question that belongs in a different post, but it really has to do with this topic of debate. Do we see anime as a bit childish? Can you really classify, Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop, Speed Grapher, Trigun, and other worthy titles as a mere hobby given up for the sake of manly things.

This editor believes the above paradigm is a cause to all of this. If points made are unjust and non-relevant to this topic, then they'll be posted in their own proper topic. If not, then I hope someone can perhaps address this.

[Emong]

I actually get extremely hyped up when I hear a song and pair it with an anime in my head

x2

!

Although, I can't listen to music the same way I did before I started editing. I automatically think how I could sync to a certain song, or what anime or movie I could use for it. I don't want to say I always do that though, because it certainly isn't true, but often when I'm hooked to a certain song, I automatically start building a video on it in my head. If a strong inspiration hits me, I'll get all hyped over the planning process while listening to the song. Man, sometimes I could listen to the same song for an hour or so just visualizing the video in my head at the same time. It's fun, but I'm still somewhat annoyed that I can't just simply enjoy a song without attaching it to a video in my head :/ Though, this only happens with the songs I -really- like or when a certain anime/music combo is just so obvious.

I don't have the same problem with watching movies or anime though, which I'm glad about =P Well.. Sometimes, maybe, but that's like really rare.

[CorpseGoddess]

It also depends on my headspace. When I was trying to come up with clips for AMV Hell 4, EVERYTHING around me was fair game. I would watch or listen to things and clip ideas would immediately spring to mind.

Now that that phase is done, I find it not so much. I know that when I'm listening to something or watching anime there's a portion of my brain trying to play the Match Game, but so far it hasn't interfered in my ability to enjoy what I'm watching.

[Phantasmagoriat]

In my visual culture class,

Semiotics would teach us that symbols [in our case anime scenes] have different meanings depending on who the audience is. By viewing an anime through an editors perspective, the scenes containing 'good visuals/plot progression' derive new meaning-- being transcoded from 'entertainment' to 'scene for AMV.' Thus the intended[hegemonic] meaning of the amv scene as entertainment is lost. So yes, looking "through an editor's eyes" can ruin anime.

However, I'm more concerned with what looking "through an editor's eyes" signifies. And this is what I think:

The majority of the time, anime isn't enjoyable to begin with. There are only two good things about it: a.) the story, and b.) the occasional pretty scene. So most of the time you're just watching filler. Having solely these two things would be much more entertaining.

And this is exactly what the editors perspective signifies, it just makes manifest our realization that there are more entertaining things than anime [and we want to create it]

But then this raises all sorts of other questions regarding what editors consider as important: Personal Pleasure vs Community Contribution [arguably another egotistic pleasure]

[Zero Link]

I actually find myself wanting to get into an anime if I've seen it in a kick ass amv. But then again, I can't just sit down and watch a anime without wanting to edit it. Same with the music, If I hear a song and I really like it, it makes me think about editing to it.. You know, maintaining the song, anime, etc.. I'm sure I'm not the only one thats like this and if i am..

<_<.;.

[Lord Rae]

Usually its just one line or two in a song or a general feel for a song that will get me thinking about it in AMV terms... Lyrics are usually the first hint but not always.

I'd be lying if I didn't say that everytime I hear something entertaining I don't start piecing things together in my head to see if it would work.

[Qyot27]

There's a myth that anime, let alone AMV's itself, is a bit childish that must be given up to uphold manly things. Such as: work, family, college, work, lover, work, work, work.

A) Sure, some editors may feel that way (Kevin Caldwell made reference to it as primary reason for dropping off the face of the community), but I think that's painting the issue with a wide brush. If it was childish and people really and sincerely felt that way, then what the heck are some of our over-30 (or in a couple cases, over-50) crowd doing here? Obviously it's got less to do with the mere creativity of the hobby, as many of them are also involved in anime fandom as a whole.

B) Why would someone knowingly and willingly make entertainment a higher priority than real life? If it was your job to work in entertainment or produce art of whatever type that's one thing, but that's what this comes down to - the concern there isn't being entertained, it's maintaining security. Entertainment for entertainment's sake, whatever art has to do with it, is not important enough to neglect, place higher, or even hold on the same level as one's own family or livelihood. If that's what it came down to, we'd all be shut-ins destined to never do anything but vege out in front of a TV or computer screen. There's more to life than that, and being entertained simply isn't that important in comparison.

[CorpseGoddess]

There's a myth that anime, let alone AMV's itself, is a bit childish that must be given up to uphold manly things. Such as: work, family, college, work, lover, work, work, work.

A) Sure, some editors may feel that way (Kevin Caldwell made reference to it as primary reason for dropping off the face of the community), but I think that's painting the issue with a wide brush. If it was childish and people really and sincerely felt that way, then what the heck are some of our over-30 (or in a couple cases, over-50) crowd doing here? Obviously it's got less to do with the mere creativity of the hobby, as many of them are also involved in anime fandom as a whole.

B) Why would someone knowingly and willingly make entertainment a higher priority than real life? If it was your job to work in entertainment or produce art of whatever type that's one thing, but that's what this comes down to - the concern there isn't being entertained, it's maintaining security. Entertainment for entertainment's sake, whatever art has to do with it, is not important enough to neglect, place higher, or even hold on the same level as one's own family or livelihood. If that's what it came down to, we'd all be shut-ins destined to never do anything but vege out in front of a TV or computer screen. There's more to life than that, and being entertained simply isn't that important in comparison.

Very true, and yes, a large part of it is entertainment, but it's also the desire to create and interpret. And I think one of the cool things about amv's is that if you've got anime, music and software---hey, anybody can be an editor. Not everyone might be good, of course, but anybody can do it. I know there are 13 year old boys on here from different parts of the world. I'm a 35 year old female from Vancouver, BC. And yet we both enjoy watching and participating in the same hobby.

That being said, ANY hobby or interest can become addictive or consuming---it depends on the personality of the person in question, not necessarily the delivery system. So pick your poison---any will do.

And as far as being "childish"? I think the solution is to walk that fine line of maturity between childish and childlike---on one side is the ability to be silly and enjoy things, have fun, create, have a sense of wonder, become lost in the moment. And on the other side is to have all that and yet still do what "needs" to be done as a "responsible adult".

[Qyot27]

Very true, and yes, a large part of it is entertainment, but it's also the desire to create and interpret.

Of course, but the entertainment angle I was getting at was simply watching anime and how those members that have been here pretty much from the beginning are still active in the general fandom, not the AMV-related aspects of it. As far as I'm concerned, AMVs exist only because of the creative desire, and entertainment garnered from them is simply a pleasant result that acts as a motivator to not give up. Watching anime in and of itself, isn't really all that creative unless one starts pontificating over it like people have been doing with Evangelion for the last 12 years - but that's just a natural part of any fandom, it isn't exclusive to anime.

Bringing AMVs into it gives creativity an outlet, but I still don't feel that placing it above personal relationships and the means of making ends meet is a wise decision by any stretch of the imagination.