Seisiga-MAD: Japan enters AMV's

Zarxrax · Post by **Zarxrax** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 12:13 pm

/Entering serious mode now

I always found it facinating when people who don't like MADs argue that they have no story, have no creativity, etc compared to AMVs. On, the contrary, I feel that MADs on average often have vastly superior stories to AMVs, and as far as creativity goes, they are simply UNMATCHED. Just because you can't understand the story they have, because its not in your language, or because you don't understand the way its being told, doesn't mean its not got a damn good story.

As far as creativity, I would like to see the critics even TRY to make decent still-picture MAD. You don't have the luxury of having all this pansy "pre-made" footage for you. You have to visualise and create the footage yourself! I have personally tried to create a still-picture MADs about 5 times now over the past 3 or 4 years. Most of the time I would have to drop the project because I was simply unable to even so much as THINK of anything to lay down on the timeline, or because I just felt it was such crap that it wasn't worth watching.
Meanwhile, in Japan, kids with less than 1 year of editing experience churn out MADs that make me drool, simply because I know I am incapable of producing something of that level of quality.

As far as AMVs go, I have never seen a single one that uses still images that actually really impressed me. Jbones Implied Action video is probably the best. VicBond almost had something with his MAD, until he had to resort to simply copying other MADs. And why would he have to resort to copying other people's mads? That's right, because it requires an insane level of creativity, and he couldn't think up anything on his own. I don't blame him, because as I've said, I can't either. I think this says great deals about the level of creativity required to even make a still picture mad, when seasoned AMV creators can't even make a SINGLE ONE thats decent.

SnhKnives · Post by **SnhKnives** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 12:23 pm

one of these days I would like to make a MAD, however I dont listen to enough japanese music to really get any ideas.

FurryCurry · Post by **FurryCurry** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 12:55 pm

pen-pen2002 wrote:Consider this:

It is my understanding that many MAD editors admire AMVs and are incorporating ideas of storytelling, mood sych, and meaning into their work. Many AMV editors admire MADs and seek to incorporate advanced effects into their work.

Both comunities are moving towards each other by incorporating the strengths of the other.

Well said.

I personally find value and enjoyment in both.

Castor Troy · Post by **Castor Troy** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 1:05 pm

I guess all I ever used to make were mads

Douga mads by definition.

Moonlight Soldier · Post by **Moonlight Soldier** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 1:12 pm

I think the only MAD I've seen thus far that I've kept is Chaos around the MAD, despite it's ecchi-ness, it's so catchy. ^.^

I really don't look at them any differently than any other amv though =/

Corran · Post by **Corran** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 2:26 pm

SnhKnives wrote:one of these days I would like to make a MAD, however I dont listen to enough japanese music to really get any ideas.

Why would it have to be a japanese song?

SnhKnives · Post by **SnhKnives** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 2:32 pm

Corran wrote:
SnhKnives wrote:one of these days I would like to make a MAD, however I dont listen to enough japanese music to really get any ideas.
Why would it have to be a japanese song?

well, I guess it doesnt HAVE to be, but I would want to stick with a more traditional approach. not to mention I would like to edit to a japanese song. Since I have yet to do so

JCD · Post by **JCD** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 4:29 pm

I have to agree with Zarxrax, though I myself don't think the gap is that wide. I've enjoyed AMVs as much as MADs:
MADs had a huge gap technical editing and degsin compared to AMVs, but in my opinion that gap is almost closed by now. Some recent AMVs had a really impressive amount on technical creativity and it's definitely going into the right direction in my opinion

I hope we won't make a difference in the future anymore and refer to both as AMVs

Barnacle · Post by **Barnacle** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 4:35 pm

Zarxrax wrote:I always found it facinating when people who don't like MADs argue that they have no story, have no creativity, etc compared to AMVs.

"Oh yeah, there is some text in Japanese, some neat effects and images. And I don't understand at all what she/he is singing... But there isn't any story in it" <.<

Zarxrax wrote:As far as creativity, I would like to see the critics even TRY to make decent still-picture MAD. You don't have the luxury of having all this pansy "pre-made" footage for you. You have to visualise and create the footage yourself! I have personally tried to create a still-picture MADs about 5 times now over the past 3 or 4 years. Most of the time I would have to drop the project because I was simply unable to even so much as THINK of anything to lay down on the timeline, or because I just felt it was such crap that it wasn't worth watching.

I can only say that I completely agree with that.

And I think it's stupid to argue which ones are better, AMVs or MADs <.< There's simply no point in it.

Zarxrax · Post by **Zarxrax** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 4:54 pm

JCD wrote:I have to agree with Zarxrax, though I myself don't think the gap is that wide. I've enjoyed AMVs as much as MADs:
MADs had a huge gap technical editing and degsin compared to AMVs, but in my opinion that gap is almost closed by now. Some recent AMVs had a really impressive amount on technical creativity and it's definitely going into the right direction in my opinion
I hope we won't make a difference in the future anymore and refer to both as AMVs

While AMVs are certainly getting more and more technical, I'm afraid the gap really isn't closing that much. The types of MADs that blew me away years ago are quite elementry by todays standards. The most technical amvs of today are probably about on the level of MADs from about 3 years ago. The MADs of today often have better motion graphics than stuff than I see on tv commercials.
A few weeks ago there was a big seishiga mad contest. I think about 20 videos were involved. I wouldn't hesitate for even a moment to say that at least half of them utilized better effects and motion graphics than ANY AMV that was released in the past year.

Of course, it's all in the eye of the beholder...