Well, buddy. Here it is.
Before I get into anything, I do want to say congrats on finally finishing* this. It is something to be proud of, that's for sure. Ultimately, you've taken your medium and used it to craft something above that. I wouldn't feel like this falls under the traditional definition of an AMV. There's Anime, and there's Music, but it stands out on its own from the crowd. It's not anything lesser, not by any means. It's just very different.
I think, for me, this project succumbs to what plagues many projects with such a long development time. Take Duke Nukem Forever, for example. Perhaps an overused example when referring to Eidolon in the past, but I think it's apt. DNF is finally coming out, and it's everything people wanted. But on the same token, people have been waiting so long for it, there's just no way it can be as huge as people expect it to be. Again, it's not at all like it's bad, but there's a certain level of anticipation that just can't be matched. On top of that, you're left with elements that you might have been really satisfied with when the project began (what, 3 years ago?) but are you happy with them now? Is there anything that, given the motivation and time, you would have gone back and tried to tweak even more?
But regardless, this is a beast of a project. You've delivered an astounding compositional piece, not only technically, but in a narrative form as well. You know the little gripes I have with some of your effects, but that hasn't changed over the years
I know you're against using this video as a reel piece, but I think taking the breakdown, tweaking it a little to show a more fluid reveal of the backstage process would give you a
really solid item for a reel. Particularly if you're looking for compositing/effects work, seeing into the process is a HUGE appeal to employers. Just a thought.
Anyway, congrats again on getting this thing done. Relieved to finally have people off your back about it?
*
Creative black spaces, man. I know you could have tightened those up.