New Affiliated Blog!

If you don't pay particularly close attention to the main page (I'm guessing that would be most of my readers) you may have missed the new link we added to our list of affiliated sites recently. Brainstorm! is the anime review blog of Christina Soe, who eschews the more common format of episodic commentary for frequent full-series reviews - how she finds the time to watch so many series to completion is truly a mystery to me, but very admirable.

She includes a good selection of screencaps with each of her reviews, and employs a rating system based on how much she would recommend a series to others.

So go ahead and check her blog out at Brainstorm! and be sure to leave her some comments if you like what you see.

All Stopped-Up

So a few things have happened lately that have affected the timeliness of the reviews on the main site. Some of them are out of my hands and some of them are clearly my own issues and I figured I would outline some of them.

As far as the stuff that's out of my control, the main thing would be the review updates. There are some Summer series reviews that still haven't appeared. This can be attributed to Boris' laptop needing work and then an illness and what I assume is busy-ness with school (the time-consuming combination of work+school is something I definitely don't miss). It's also not his top priority, nor should it be, since it's mainly a repository for my own content and perhaps what one might call a vanity project, since I make no illusions of writing academic-level material here.

On my end, the fact that Summer has been left hanging has made my motivation to watch and write about the Fall season almost non-existent. That doesn't mean I haven't done any work; there are enough reviews finished to last for a few decent updates, but where I could normally crank out quite a few on an unoccupied weekend such as this, I've been very unable to focus and get enthusiastic about it. That doesn't mean I'm in an anime slump or anything; I've been watching plenty of shows and there are quite a few that I can enjoy, it's just getting to that next level and wanting to put words down that's getting to me. It's very frustrating.

Another issue that I've come across is that my obsessive following of the ANN Fall Preview Guide has left me feeling like I already know what to expect from most of the Fall's series, and when you already have an inkling that something's going to be pretty terrible, it's very tough to make yourself watch it. I think that reading other reviews is valuable in that you get a taste of other opinions and ways of approaching a particular subject, but I think from now on I'll try to keep my distance until more of my own work is completed.

In the meantime, I've been sort-of trying to keep this blog updated at least once a week with things, mostly links to AMVs but at least it's something. I don't honestly know how many visitors I have or how many people give a crap, but I like to believe that there are a few people who enjoy this stuff.

MAS Halloween AMV Show: The List

All right, here's the list and pertinent links to the AMVs from both the official AMV show, things that were shown throughout the night that I have access too, and whatever else I had in the folder that may or may not have been shown (I honestly can't remember everything). Some of these may be repeats from previous posts.

Main Show

Watchmanga by Ultimatetransfan

A multi-source video set to the Watchmen Trailer. I can usually take or leave trailers, but I found this one to be particularly well-done and it uses some sources that go together very well with the audio.

The Box of Sorrows by Bea$t

It combines footage from the Hellraiser movies and the Silent Hill 4: The Room video game to come up with something exceedingly creepy in addition to its technical accomplishment. It was difficult to see in the auditorium due to the stupid side-lights, but should be easier to see on a computer monitor.

Michiko Hurricane by Alternababe

An amusing portrait of Michiko from Michiko to Hatchin being badass. As a friend commented to me, there are very few videos with this anime as a source and it's surprising that a good one like this even exists. Very action-oriented and entertaining. Slight spoilers for the end of the series (but if you don't know what you're looking for you might miss it anyway).

Vehemence by VeeBee

A Bakemonogatari AMV, since we were watching it last night. The author manages to make the already beautiful footage look even better. The video focuses a lot on Senjougahara and lends her sort of a mysterious air.

To Serve Man by godix

A video set to "A Little Priest" from Sweeny Todd. A comedic video about eating people. The author doesn't seem to happy with it, but I thought it was very amusing and it used some good source choices.

Era by Tana-sama

Mononoke AMVs do exist! Even a couple of decent ones, as I found out recently. This one provides a good overview of the series, and highlights some of its unique visuals.

(This Is) MADNESS! by Creed_FR, Arcos

An up-tempo Soul-Eater AMV which manages to feature a shounen anime and not be complete garbage. Shown since we were watching the first episode of the show.

The Last HOPE by Pipian

Probably the only Dennou Coil AMV I've ever seen that hasn't been junk, and there are very few to begin with. It captures the spooky feeling certain parts of the show have, and serves as a nice trailer to boot.

Warrant on Murder by Archivist

A video that features stunning imagery from the Kara no Kyoukai series of films, the video screamed "Halloween" the moment that I first watched it. It's definitely eye-candy, and makes me interested in watching the movies (I have them sitting around, I just haven't gotten around to it yet).

Extras

De:Light by Aggressor

An action video that uses Shikabane Hime as a source. What I saw of the show was pretty so-so, but this is a very technically-sound production with a lot of intense visuals.

Belzenef's Awakening by Little Atari

A very cute mock-trailer for Ouran Host Club that utilizes the dub track well. Very silly but lots of fun.

Frozen Ayakashi Beach by y00_black

Short but intense vid using Ayakashi Japanese Horror and Mononoke. Still marvelling that vids using these sources exist and don't suck.

Curtain Call by Rider4Z, Stryyder

One of the few Death Note AMVs that I've been able to tolerate (having the anime set to a Queen song definitely helps). It plays up the theatricality of the series well.

Paradoxical Sleep by Paul Kievets

Definitely one of the most unsettling AMVs that I've ever seen in my life. It uses Spirited Away as its source and plays up the aspects of it that are truly frightening. Might give you nightmares.

Stop Killing Yourself by Hareoic

Truly funny AMV that combines Sayonara Zetsubou-Sensei with Monty Python. "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life!"

Bonus:

Short Film: Kigeki (Comedy)

A short film by Studio 4degreesC about a lone swordsman who provides his services for a very unusual price. People seemed to really like this one, so here it is.

That's about it! I hope people had fun and that they enjoy these fun AMVs.

MAS Halloween AMVs

Hey all, it's late tonight, but I'll be linking to the AMVs that were shown during the MAS Halloween party at some point later in the day tomorrow (after I get home from work). I hope that you enjoyed them and had a good time!

AMV Recommendations 10/23/2009

Since it's getting close to Halloween, I thought I'd post some recs for spooky AMVs today.

The Box of Sorrows by Bea$t.

This video successfully combines scenes from the Silent Hill 4 video game with scenes and imagery from the Hellraiser film to create something that's creepy and a bit gory. I was never a huge fan of Silent Hill 4, but this video takes some of the creepier images from the game and uses them well.

Doombringer by KwAsEk56.

A lot of the imagery in Berserk is rife with the frightening and terrible. This video uses illustrations from the manga to effectively create a horrific feeling in the viewer. Don't discount manga music videos, there are some really awesome ones like this one.

So Very Tired by blabber.

Not scary so much as dark and weird, this video uses some weird homebrew musical track and the bizarre experimental anime Angel's Egg to create a very unsettling mood.

Twinkle by falconone.

Mnemosyne set to the trailer for the video game Dead Space. Blood and nudity warnings. Very creepy and dark.

What's he Building? by Ingow.

This video creeps the shit out of me. Ghost Hunt was surprisingly creepy at times on its own, but coupled with the audio it really sends shivers down my spine.

Macabre Serenade by Ileia.

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei at its weirdest. Lots of Chiri-chan acting murderous and Itoshiki-sensei going insane.

Tokyo Demons by Jayn_Newell.

Kakurenbo set to a song from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.

Phantom of the Opera by Kevin Caldwell.

An oldie-but-a-goodie, set to the anime Memories. From an era when editing was done using a couple of tape decks and was much more labor-intensive than now.

Rozen Malinaby rei.andrea

More gothic than creepy per se, but appropriate for the season. Various seasons of Rozen Maiden set to some German gothic rock.

Hope that helps to get your creepy mood on at your next Halloween party.

AMV Recommendations 10/16/2009

More neat AMVs for your perusal.

Spin On, Simon by machina21

I'm not really a big fan of Gurren-Lagann, but I loved this video. Perhaps because it's one of the few that presents a clear character profile, progresses a story, and uses music that I like (Peter Gabriel!) rather than just stuffing a bunch of manic scenes into a blender. Very enjoyable and ambitious.

Hush by etherealqueen.

A game music video that manages to be very watchable in spite of the fact that the PS1 graphics are extremely dated, something which I consider to be a major accomplishment.

Focal Perspective by LantisEscudo.

Call me soft, but I was really crying by the end of this video, if only because it features Carl Sagan talking about how important our world is to us. I bet you might be moved a bit also. Scientific reality can be very potent in its own way.

Man, now I have to go and cry ;_;

AMV Recommendations 10/9/2009

Going through my AMV backlog, I'm finding that I'm afraid to rec a lot of the AMVs that I enjoy because I know others who make/enjoy AMVs and live-action vids and are probably pickier than I am. Oh well, I shouldn't be ashamed of what I like. At least I wouldn't lead anyone astray into some Linkin Park/DBZ emo-fest ;)

Modern Major Clusterf**k by Side Swipe.

Cute comedy video done to the song "Modern Major General" starring Roy Mustang from FMA. Nothing major to talk about, just an imperfect but very fun AMV.

Only Bob by Infinity Squared.

A curious video from the POV of a robot. Footage from tons of shows. Some original CG animation . The creator obviously put a lot of work in here.

Remember Me by Prodigi.

A sentimental video done to what is maybe not the most unique short in the Genius Party anthology, but one of the most relatable, I think. It's the story of two high school kids playing hooky and spending some time together like they did in the old days, before one of them moves away.