How many of you Hate Subtitles in there AMVs

Dead_Pool · Post by **Dead_Pool** » Thu May 29, 2003 12:18 pm

Just wondering I rather like them it always gives you a feeling of the scene 8)

Zarxrax · Post by **Zarxrax** » Thu May 29, 2003 12:20 pm

1. They are distracting
2. They show you didnt bother to buy the dvds, or were too lazy to edit them out
3. A good amv shouldnt need subtitles to give you a "feeling of the scene".

Lyrs · Post by **Lyrs** » Thu May 29, 2003 12:25 pm

I find that if they are interactive, if you can shut them off when you dont' want them, then i think it's good.

but that only applies to the lyrics to the song being played, because sometimes, the words to a song just aren't all that obvious.

as for subtitles on dialogue...consider it a challenge not to have them. expression through music and video, w/o needing to read, is enough for me.

/end

Dead_Pool · Post by **Dead_Pool** » Thu May 29, 2003 12:43 pm

2. They show you didnt bother to buy the dvds, or were too lazy to edit them out

I have alot of stuff that has subtitles, before they were popular and translated to english

Since I have been watching Anime from a very young age I guess they just don't bother me

EarthCurrent · Post by **EarthCurrent** » Thu May 29, 2003 1:25 pm

good for you

Ashyukun · Post by **Ashyukun** » Thu May 29, 2003 1:55 pm

Subtitles in videos (ones not added by the editor) are extremely distracting... I'd far sooner at least letterbox out the section of the screen with the subtitles on it (if not a more complex method of removing them) if there just isn't a DVD source available (I have a number of shows that I've not ever even seen a LD of for sale...). I haven't seen many (if any) videos that I really consider as being 'good' that have dialogue subs in them. Even back before DVDs and predominantly Digital NLE, AMV editors did their darndest to use footage that did not have subtitles on it or find a way to crop them out.

And, no offense DP, but your statement kind of contradicts itself (even if we probably all understood what you were trying to say...): if a show was too new to have been translated to English, there wouldn't be subtitles on it.

Even with newer shows (you're almost certainly talking about fansubbed/digisubbed) the raw source has to be available in some form, because the subbers had to get it from somewhere. I'd hazard a guess that almost all of us aren't bothered by subtitles in anime... but they do nothing but detract from a music video by drawing your attention away from the editing and what the editor is trying to do with the footage to read dialogue that a) is likely only on screen for a fraction of the time needed to read it, given the length of most cuts these days and b) very likely doesn't have anything to do with the video itself.

Subtitles as part of the video (added intentionally by the editor) are a whole other story. Better than 90% of the videos around (probably closer to 98 or 99%) don't need any form of subtitles in them. However, for some (usually comedic) videos, they enhance it considerably. Doki's "Right Now" is probably the textbook case for this- more recently (at least for me) The Non-Pro's "Gangster Tales of Da Meiji". In both, the subtitles/text make the video what it is, and that's a good thing. But for the most part- the whole point of a music video tends to be to let the music tell the story- almost all videos don't really need (and probably shouldn't have) subtitles.

Of course, these are just my own opinions (though I believe in general they're fairly representative of what most people I know think). If you want to make a video and leave in the original subs, that's wholly up to you- and if you aren't bothered by it, that's perfectly fine- but if you're looking for most other people to appreciate it, don't be surprised if one of the first things people tell you is that the subtitles need to go...

[/soapbox]

Dead_Pool · Post by **Dead_Pool** » Thu May 29, 2003 2:10 pm

I can totally see your point Ashyukun I have friends I try to get into anime, and they will not watch the ones with subtitles

Dead_Pool · Post by **Dead_Pool** » Thu May 29, 2003 2:12 pm

Oh I guess myself if I am making one and it has subtitles I don't even think about it, but as you say if I am making them for others I guess taking out the subs would be a good idea if it distracts them.

Bahamut God · Post by **Bahamut God** » Thu May 29, 2003 7:43 pm

I don't mind if they are part of the video. If it is just what ever line that charter was saying, it's got to go. (zoom in past them ^_~)

I don't think I would mind subtitles to the song lyirs if they are important to the video, and normal people can't hear what they are.

But that's me.

LSM53 · Post by **LSM53** » Fri May 30, 2003 9:32 pm

Bad footage like that is ok for people to practice with, or maybe make a rough version of a idea, but I would never release a video with subs in it as a complete project.