'Ask John' addresses AMV popularity

rubyeye · Post by **rubyeye** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 11:53 am

In his ever expanding rhetorical ramblings, AnimeNation's Anime Guru finally answers the question, Why Are Anime Music Videos so Popular?

SQ · Post by SQ » Mon Sep 08, 2003 12:03 pm

... Interesting.

Some random person: "Why are AMVs popular?"
Another random person: "It's all about the language barrier and subconcial stuff!"

You choose Sam,the rest · Post by **You choose Sam,the rest** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 12:10 pm

Neat but didn't we already know this?

AbsoluteDestiny · Post by **AbsoluteDestiny** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 12:11 pm

It's quite an interesting opinion.

I'm intruiged by the idea that we do things on a visual rather than an itellectual level - I've seen some very intellectually inspired videos but they are in the minority.

However, I think there's a practical concern as well. Having tried my hand at a live action video recently I discovered first hand that the manipulation of live action is very different to that of anime.

As joeysnackpants once stated, live action doesn't fit that rythmic nature of music in the same way that anime does. Movement and action have a very different presence in movies to the point that they dont lend themselves all too well to music. It was interesting seeing a Harry Potter video in the DisneyDDR project - it worked very well but it's not an easy thing to pull off a live action video in that way.

It's hard to explain. In many ways live action videos are much more difficult than anime ones and I think that is part of the reason for their relative lack of popularity. Even here, game music videos are more popular although I'm sure more people here prefer movies over games and again I see it as a rythmic thing.

Valid opinion though, I can see where he came to those conclusions.

Ashyukun · Post by **Ashyukun** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 2:10 pm

Mwaahaahaa. His answer to the question is amusing- I think what AD said holds a bit more water, though. I also have to wonder, are music videos in general as popular or prevelant in Japan? I know they exist (thanks to dji, predominantly), but I don't know if they're quite as common as here. Also, I wonder if the Western world is a bit more tuned in to liking things in somewhat short snippets, like AMVs & commercials, than the Japanese.

All of that is kind of a moot point for me though- I love that review simply for the fact the guy uses an Afro Ken as his avatar. 8)

MistyCaldwell · Post by **MistyCaldwell** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 2:13 pm

Am I being caught in my infidelity? Nah, just a coincidence ^_~

I go there on occasion because there are thousands of members...and no one represents the AMV! Well no one really knows about them. I think the mean age over there is much lower than here.

In any case, I think tha people who were never before interested in Video Production are getting (have gotten?) into amvs where they never would have before if not for cons or the internet. I am pretty sure that even 6 years ago the majority of people making them were already into production and had access to equipment that differs a lot from non linear editing. I know that is true with me, and several others I knew.

SQ · Post by SQ » Mon Sep 08, 2003 7:11 pm

Whoa,

In response to AD:
Amen to that! Live-action stuff is WAY harder then it looks. It's just that in real-life subtle things can't be edited frame-by-frame, since there's just too many movements in one frame(if that made any sense). In fact, my video prod teacher stays on my back all the time about how he wants me to quick making AMVs because I'm "slacking off"(Although the stuff I do takes way more time and effort then the crap the other students barf out-- Live-action or not).

In response to Misty:
Indeed. I started AMVs and Video Prod at the same time... And now I use Video Prod as an excuse to make more AMVs(Although the AVIO is hell to edit with...)

Org Profile · Post by **Vlad G Pohnert** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 7:12 pm

Live action videos are not as tolerated as anime ones are. The american companies are more on the "we are out to get you" warpath and so it's risky having a live action music video contest.... Anime just falls inbetween the crack so it's lucky that way...for now...

Vlad

Nappy · Post by **Nappy** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 7:17 pm

Those who can't draw, edit :l

Zarxrax · Post by **Zarxrax** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 7:54 pm

The Japanese have AMVs too, but they are less prevalent, and are vastly different from the style of AMVs that we make. They tend to make videos with things like Gundam/Evangelion crossovers like they are from 1 anime... or weird junk featuring a robot shooting lasers from its crotch.