The Eyecatch

TaranT · Post by **TaranT** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 2:58 am

It sort of caught my eye (pun intended!) when I saw these listed on Cybermat's Otakon post. I don't think I've ever seen a fan-made eyecatch.

For those who don't know what it is, an eyecatch is the short picture or clip that they put in an anime TV episode just before or after the commercial break. The eyecatches can be still pictures like the title plates in Cowboy Bebop. Or simple animations as in Cardcaptor Sakura. Or even very short stories - more like events - like you see in Magic User's Club.

For the sake of discussion (if anyone's interested): Is an eyecatch just another type of AMV or something in its own category? How long (5 seconds? 10? ) can an eyecatch be before it becomes just another video? Would you be willing to download and watch eyecatches like you do AMVs? What about putting them in contests? And would you think about making them (if you're already an AMV maker)?

Some minor comments: It seems to me that a good eyecatch might be difficult to make despite its short length. It would require more than simply grabbing some clips from the anime and pasting them together. An animated eyecatch could be made by just editing still pictures. A ten second clip might use less than 200 stills which is do-able from an editing standpoint.

SuperFusion · Post by **SuperFusion** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 4:01 am

I'd watch 'em if they were made. If anything, I'd use them in AMV projects that have breaks.

MomochiZabuza · Post by **MomochiZabuza** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 9:37 am

SuperFusion wrote:I'd watch 'em if they were made. If anything, I'd use them in AMV projects that have breaks.

That does sound cool though... I might have to try and make one, although I have no idea how long it should be

Scintilla · Post by **Scintilla** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 12:09 pm

See the middle of Jarnik's <a href="http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members ... 1">Haibane Special</a> (which is IMHO one of the most underrated videos of 2004) for a good example of a funny fan eyecatch.

At least I think that's what Matt was talking about...

Org Profile · Post by **Otohiko** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 1:32 pm

Eyecatches are fine, but it's hard for me to see them as something separate. I wouldn't really start going after eyecatches all by themselves, to me - I have a term for them actually, which I oh-so-appropriately used on one of Jasper's AMV's once (

) - "Asswind"

(in KCrimsonology, "Asswind" is a short instrumental break meant to clear the audience's mind from the preceding piece/section and ready for the next piece/section)