Category Archives: AMV of the Day

AMV of the Day: Calling

Posted on by Arleigh

Time of a new “AMV of the Day” post and this time around it involves an anime which I thought was one of the best I’ve seen in the last ten years. This particular anime music video is called “Calling”.

The anime film Summer Wars (released in 2009) was quite a surprise for me. I haven’t really gotten into anime films unless it’s made by Hayao Miyazaki and Satoshi Kon, but this particular one by Mamoru Hosada became quite a favorite. During Anime Expo 2011 an amv by creator NekoKitKat25hug ended up winning AX2011′s Best In Show during it’s AMV Competition. While I wasn’t able to attend AX2011 I was still intrigued to check out the amv which ended up winning the con’s top AMV trophy.

“Calling” pretty much condenses Summer Wars into a four minute video to the tune of Shiny Toy Gun’s “Major Tom“. This wasn’t just a straight-up quick re-telling of the anime, but one that doesn’t really give away too much of the story like other amv’s who follow the same editing style. My favorite section of the video has to be final minute which still manages to make the film’s best scenes come off exciting and new.

Anime: Summer Wars

Song: “Major Tom” by Shiny Toy Guns

Creator:  NekoKitKat25hug

AMV of the Day: Alchanum

Posted on by Arleigh

My time during Anime Expo 2010 was some of the best times I’ve ever had on vacation. It’s why I plan on getting back to Anime Expo for 2012 after missing out on 2011. One of the things which I liked about Anime Expo 2010 was some of the AMV’s I was able to watch. One of them ended up winning Best Drama and also ended up my favorite AMV for the convention. It also happens to be one of my favorite AMVs of all-time. This AMV is the latest “AMV of the Day” and simply titled “Alchanum”.

This AMV was created by Rider4ZMusicVideos and he chose the very popular anime series Fullmetal Alchemist and the song “See Who I Am” by the symphonic metal group Within Temptation. The epic, dramatic sound of the song paired with some very emotional scenes from the series shows just why this particular AMV was such a bih hit at Anime Expo 2010 and why it won the Best Drama category.

For those who have never watched Fullmetal Alchemist can get a basic idea of why this series has remained so popular with anime fans everywhere. Even if one didn’t understand what was going on in the video the emotions conveyed within should tempt these neophytes into checking out the series. The video also highlights just how well Within Temptation’s songs fit well with AMVs especially those of the dramatic stripe. For those who have seen the series this video should just reiterate just why they ended up fans of the series in the first place.

Anime: Fullmetal Alchemist

Song: “See Who I Am” by Within Temptation

Creator: Rider4ZMusicVideos

AMV of the Day: Fullmetal’s Back

Posted on by Arleigh

Ok, I never thought I’d say this but it looks like Backstreet Boys has finally been part of something that’s been fun to watch and quite enjoyable. It’s this very one thing which is the latest entry in our recurring blog feature: “AMV of the Day”.

The video makes a play on the Backstreet Boys’ party song title, “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)”, by taking out the band’s name and putting in Fullmetal. Yes, this is an anime music video where creator Rider4ZMusicVideos has combined the very popular shonen anime series, Fullmetal Alchemist, with the aforementioned Backstreet Boys song. To say that it was a surprise to see the two work well hand-in-hand would be an understatement.

Rider really plays up some of the comedy in the series with scenes chosen, but also does a great job of picking particular scenes to help lip-synch the lyrics of the song. Once again, I was thoroughly surprised just how enjoyable this video was and for the first time in my life I actually enjoyed listening to a Backstreet Boys song.

Anime: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Song: “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” by Backstreet Boys

Creator: Rider4ZMusicVideos

AMV of the Day: This is War (One Piece)

Posted on by Arleigh

[Marineford War spoilers]

The fourth and final One Piece-themed “AMV of the Day” doesn’t come courtesy of AMV creator PixelCreekAMVs, but instead from Regiosk8 and is the best of the four.

“This Is War” takes it’s title from the 30 Seconds to Mars song of the same title. I will admit that I’m not the biggest fan of this group, but for some reason this song of their’s continue to be a favorite amongst amv creators especially when trying to convey and video’s epic nature. The Marineford War story-arc in One Piece definitely fills the criteria of being quite epic. One must consider the fact that this anime was and still is epic on it’s right, but this story-arc took it to a new level. It’s the arc which added a major level of seriousness to everyone’s fun as it’s creator, Oda Eiichiro, decided to kill off several main characters (fan favorites) and do so in a way that didn’t leave no question as to their final moments (American comic book writers could learn a thing or two about how to kill off characters and keeping them dead from manga writers).

I’m sure that 30 Seconds to Mars’ “This Is War” will be make another appearance in other amv’s but for now this one looks to be the best. Great job by Regiosk8 on the video and a nice tribute to one Edward “Whitebeard” Newgate to end the video.

“Throughout the Battle of Marineford alone Whitebeard had received 267 sword wounds, 152 gunshot wounds and 46 wounds from cannonballs- adding up to a total of 465 injuries upon his time of death. Despite this, there was not a single scar on Whitebeard’s back showing cowardice.”

Anime: One Piece

Song: “This Is War” by 30 Seconds to Mars

Creator: Regiosk8

AMV of the Day: Move Along (One Piece)

Posted on by Arleigh

[Marineford War spoilers]

This latest “AMV of the Day” mark the third entry which has the Marineford War story-arc in the One Piece anime series as the basis for the video.

“Move Along” is also the third AMV I’ve chosen from PixelCreekAMVs who has done a remarkable job of taking scenes from this epic One Piece story-arc. The video takes it’s name from the song used which happened to be by The All-American Rejects. This video once again highlights what has made One Piece such a huge fan favorite. It’s all about non-stop action with bits of comedy or comedy with bits of action. This is a series that goes full-bore and really not subtle about it’s storytelling on the surface.

I’ve got one more video in this One Piece-themed set but this penultimate choice til the last one has become a favorite of mine.

Long live Portgas D. Ace and Whitebeard!

Anime: One Piece

Song: “Move Along” by The All-American Rejects

Creator: PixelCreekAMVs

AMV of the Day: Party Rock (One Piece)

Posted on by Arleigh

We’re now in the second AMV of my One Piece-themed anime music video min-marathon. The previous video was by PixelCreekAMVs and this second one is also by this AMV creator.

The AMV I picked from his collection of One Piece videos is titled “Party Rock” and like the previous AMV chosen it’s also one which highlights the fun, bizarre and wacky nature of Oda Eiichiro’s long-running and very popular manga and anime series. For those who might not recognize this song from LMFAO, they will probably better remember it as the song played with the dancing hip-hop hamsters and dancing robots in those Kia Soul car commercials.

I rather found this particular amv quite catchy to watch and listen to. The song is one of those party anthem songs which tend to come and go every year but combining it with One Piece just makes the song much more memorable. PixelCreekAMVs work on this video is much cleaner with a minimum amount of pre-existing credits and/or subtitles. Even if it had those I would still consider this AMV one of my current favorites.

Anime: One Piece

Song: “Party Rock” by LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett, GoonRock

Creator: PixelCreekAMVs

AMV of the Day: Remember the Name (One Piece)

Posted on by Arleigh

[Marineford spoilers]

Just a little over a year ago a post was put up by resident anime/manga writer pantsukudasai56 in regards to what constitutes as the “Anime of the Decade”. He settled on Oda Eiichiro’s One Piece series both in its manga and anime form. It’s truly the one piece of entertainment in any form that could honestly call itself as epic. It’s an anime which is now nearing 600-episodes and there’s no slowing down in it’s quality and amount of storylines to be told. The latest series of “AMV of the Day” will share in that each amv used One Piece as the foundation to the video.

The first in this series is called “Remember the Name” by PixelCreekAMVs and like most in the series it will include scenes from the excellent “Marineford” story-arc which aired earlier this year. For those who have never watched an episode of One Piece wouldn’t be spoiled by what transpire in this video, but for those who do and haven’t reached the series to this point in the episode listings should be careful about clicking the video. Other than that piece of warning the video itself is quite a fun one.

It’s not the cleanest looking AMV (subtitles, opening and closing credits animation, etc), but in sheer scope of fun and showing One Piece at it’s most bizarre and ludicrous then this video definitely succeeds. It uses the very popular song “Remember the Name” by Fort Minor (feat. Styles of Beyond) from a couple years back. PixelCreekAMVs does a great job of giving each crew member of Monkey D. Luffy’s pirate ship a chance to shine in the video. He also does a great job of picking the right scenes for each line of lyric that the roughness of the overall look of the video becomes nitpicking.

As a recent convert to One Piece this AMV definitely a good way to show the show at it’s most fun and, maybe, even make some newbies to the series want to keep watching or start on it.

Anime: One Piece

Song: “Remember the Name” by Fort Minor feat. Styles of Beyond

Creator: PixelCreekAMVs

AMV of the Day: Imagica

Posted on by Arleigh

The latest AMV of the Day comes courtesy of AMV creator “Chiikaboom” whose works I’ve chosen many times for this feature. This one was just completed and released by Chiikaboom less than a month ago and, like her other AMV’s, this one truly impresses.

This latest AMV from Chiikaboom is simply called “Imagica”. She’s taken on the theme of the mahou shoujo (magical girl) genre which continues to be one of the more popular ones in anime and manga both in Japan and overseas. Casual viewers and readers of the “magical girl” genre tend to view them as just cute and peppy, but for those who have actually watched these series from start to finish know that they’re more than colorful, happy characters.

Chiikaboom latches onto the darker aspects of the mahou shoujo genre and runs with it headlong towards one of the songs which made the Sucker Punch soundtrack one of the best of 2011. The song she picks to shine a light on the darker side of the magical girls is the Emily Browning cover of the Eurythmics classic song, “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)”. The haunting rendition of this song by Emily Browning matches up well with the darker scenes of these magical girls. Scenes which goes beyond young girls and teens with powers, but how such powers weigh heavily on them.

“Imagica” is one of the better AMV’s to arrive on the scene in the last couple months. Once again it’s the one person who seems to have the flair for the dramatic and just the right touches which makes these AMV from Chiikaboom the best.

Anime: Sailor Moon, Houkago No Pleaides, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Movie (1st), Cardcaptor Sakura, Pretear, Mermaid Melody Pitchi Pitchi Pitch, Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne, Uta Kata, Princess Tutu, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Magic Knight Rayearth

Song: “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” by Emily Browning

Creator: Chiikaboom

AMV of the Day: Maya and Company

Posted on by Arleigh

The latest “AMV of the Day” is one that should elicit more than it’s fair share of “awwwwwws” and may even bring some to happy tears.

“Maya and Companion” is the latest AMV which has caught my eye and I’m glad that it had. I’ve been awash in blood and violence for the horror-theme month of October so coming across this video more than balances out all of October. The video takes scenes of the Azumanga Daioh character Sakaki and her pet kitty Maya. Those scenes alone would be enough to bring a smile to my face (this anime is one of my favorites), but editing the scenes together and pairing it with the song “Good Company” from the late 80′s Disney animated film, Oliver & Company, just sent the video into sweetness and big smile overload.

I must give thanks to this amv’s creator, kireblue, for making this video and I wasn’t surprised to read and hear that it was a huge hit with the con-goers at this year’s Otakon 2011 anime convention in Baltimore.This amv would’ve been one I wish I could’ve seen live with a full audience.

Anime: Azumanga Daioh

Song: “Good Company” - from Oliver & Company (sung by Myhanh Tran)

Creator: kireblue

AMV of the Day: Who’s That Chick?

Posted on by Arleigh

Before I returned to posting something about horror I needed to post another “AMV of the Day” entry after discovering and watching this happy little AMV earlier today. This latest anime music video is the aptly named “Who’s That Chick?” by amv creator gloobe90.

The video’s title comes from the Rihanna song which when listened to perfectly encapsulates the Teppen Toppa Gurren Lagann character of Yoko Littner. This anime is part of the shonen mecha genre. It pretty much means it’s an anime series aimed at boys and young men using action and mecha (giant robots) with some comedy and fanservice thrown in just cover all bases. The character of Yoko Littner pretty much has all four of those traits. She’s quite able in the action and fighting department and while she doesn’t pilot one of the many mechas in the series she does take down more than her share of them. Yoko also happens to be a sort of comedy relief in the series both in her actions and attitude but also in the fanservice way she’s drawn and how others react to her due to her appearance.

It’s really not a surprise that Yoko Littner ended up being one of the more popular anime characters ladies end up cosplaying at conventions and anime events. The trick though is whether they can pull of not just Yoko’s look, but her infectious cheerful attitude. This video certainly captures all of that and more.

Anime: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

Song: “Who’s That Chick?” by Rihanna feat. David Guetta

Creator: gloobe90