AMV of the Day: Safety Dance (Nichijou)


In what will be one of several posts about my experience during this year’s Anime Expo 201, I have chosen to begin this series by choosing the latest “AMV of the Day”. While I wasn’t present when this video was shown to attendees (the schedule for the AMV contest panel conflicted with several other panels pantsukidasai56 and I were already committed to attending) I still sought it afterwards.

“Safety Dance” by Shin (listed under the Youtube account of tehninjarox) was well-received by those who attended the AMV Contest panel. While it didn’t win Best Comedy category it was picked as the winner of the Random/Fun category which is like the place where the hard to categorize and label videos end up. It’s a hodgepodge group of videos which tend to range from the weird, funky right up to just plain psychedelic.

The video is another feather in the cap of Shin who is considered one of the top AMV producers. Using the song “Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats (plus some dialogue from Futurama) and the quirky anime series Nichijou, Shin has created a really hilarious and unique AMV which really shows his editing skill in keeping the song in-sync with the anime characters in the video. The anime itself works well with the song with all the scenes of dancing (funny dancing but dancing nonetheless).

I think if I was present during the AMV Contest when this video played at Anime Expo 2012 I probably would’ve voted for this to win. I’m just glad that many others thought the same and made sure it won.

Anime: Nichijou

Song: “Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats feat. dialogue from Futurama

Creator: Shin (tehninjarox)

Past AMVs of the Day

AMV of the Day: Cherry – Chronicles of PHOTOpanic


It’s early in the morning and insomnia has hit me quite hard so might as well pick the latest “AMV of the Day”.

The latest pick is a fan-service lover’s wet dream as it highlights the more pervy side of anime. This is all in fun and another reason why anime has continued to rise in popularity. All the anime chosen by the multiple editors in this video are not what you call hentai, but all of them typical teen-focused series that just happens to have an over-abundance of panty shots and over-reliance on boobs.

There’s no other way to describe this video other than it will either sell the entertainment that is anime or swear people off of them for good. In my past experiences I’d bet on the former than the latter.

Anime: Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari, Sora no Otoshimono, Bakemonogatari, Kamen no Maid Guy,  Working!!, Hyakko,  Futurama, Rosario + Vampire,  Needless, Maria+Holic, B Gata H Kei, Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu

Song: “Cherry Pie” by Warrant

Creators: ManoD, Zevs1993, Rebellion, S.A Robert, LukW, J.Fry, Deidara94, Screenshot

Past AMVs of the Day

AMV of the Day: Remember My Name


I’ve been looking for a new AMV that was very recently made (usually means in the last 3-4 months). Finding a good AMV is looking looking for anything creative. One must go through the dreck and dross before finding that diamond in the rough. One of the more recent ones that definitely qualifies as a gem makes it as my latest “AMV of the Day”.

“Remember My Name” is a Sheryl Nome-centric anime music video. Sheryl Nome is one of the main characters in the Macross Frontier series of anime (both tv series and OVA) and who also happens to be one of the most popular female characters in anime of the last couple years. At first I wasn’t too keen on the music used when I heard the first few moments then I realized the song used by the video’s creator (VivifxAMV) wasn’t just titled fame, but was actually a cover of the classic theme song from the film and tv series of the same name. This time around the song was covered by Naturi Naughton (have no idea, but she definitely killed it) and as I watched the video more to its conclusion the more I ended up really loving it.

The song really fits the character of Sheryl Nome very well. Sheryl is what one would call an idol in Japanese pop culture. Meaning she sings, dances, models and does everything else entertainment-wise while being managed by a powerful figure behind-the-scenes. Idols are huge is Japan and the only Western comparison I can make will be someone like Britney Spears and her ilk but ten times bigger in popularity in their home region.

“Remember My Name” is a great AMV of 2012 and my choosing of it for this on-going feature means I’ve also discovered a new AMV artist who I plan to follow closely with each new video made.

Song: “Fame” by Naturi Naughton

Creator: VivifxAMV

Past AMVs of the Day

AMV of the Day: Futuristic Lover (Bakemonogatari)


It’s been almost a week since my last “AMV of the Day” entry and it’s time for a new one. My latest pick is short but it’s a really good one. To better tie it with pantsukudasai56 and his last post about how everyone should be watching the anime series Bakemonogatari this video is all about that anime.

It’s interesting how songs from singers and bands I usually wouldn’t be listening to would end up being ideal for making anime music videos (AMV). One such singer is Katy Perry whose songs remain quite popular with AMV creators. I’ve already profiled two AMV’s that uses Katy Perry songs with I Heart Tsundere and Fairy Tail Teenage Dream. This time around it’s a less pop sugary Katy Perry song with “E.T.” being used by creator OkamiRvS for the video “Futuristic Lover”.

The video is barely over an minute in a half and only uses part of the song used, but the overall effect of the video doesn’t suffer from it’s short length. In fact, I have a feeling extending the video to the length of the song’s full playtime would’ve made the AMV not as awesome. I like how even in the video’s short runtime OkamiRvS was still able to convey the supernatural theme of Bakemonogatari not to mention the weird harem-like relationship the series’ protagonist, Araragi, have with the different girls he encounters under some weird circumstances.

Definitely one of my favorite videos of 2011 (even though I only discovered it recently).

Anime: Bakemonogatari

Song: “E.T.” by Katy Perry

Creator: OkamiRvS

Past AMVs of the Day

AMV of the Day: Sexy and I Know It (NSFW)


To say that 2010’s Highschool of the Dead was the hit anime series for that season would be an understatement. It’s a series that about a bunch of Japanese highschool students trying to survive the sudden onset of the zombie apocalypse. You’d think that would be enough to pull in the audience, but no the Japanese anime studios needed to really hook the audience and they did so by turning it into an ecchi-fest that’s just a couple steps lower from turning into hentai.

What better way to mark the latest “AMV of the Day” that makes perfect use of LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It” song than using an anime that’s got an overabundance of sexy in your face. There’s nothing else to say other than just sit back and enjoy the finished work of Mystic Shaek.

Anime: Highschool of the Dead

Song: “Sexy and I Know It” by LMFAO

Creator: Mystic Shaek

Past AMVs of the Day

AMV of the Day: Everytime We Touch (Toradora!)


The latest “AMV of the Day” is another in a long line of videos using one of the more popular anime series of the past couple years. Toradora! is one of those romantic/comedy slice-of-life anime that always tugs at the heart strings. It’s no different with this anime as we see with the series’ two main characters in the tiny Aisaka Taiga and Takasu Ryuuji.

This time around it’s a straight up ballad of a video from the point of view of Taiga as she contemplates her true feelings for Ryuuji during the holidays. AMV creator HiddenFlowerDesi picked a very appropriate song to convey Taiga’s feelings with the song “Everytime We Touch” by the German Eurodance group Cascada. Instead of using the more upbeat version of the song the Yanou’s Candlelight mix of the song was used to better use the slower tempo to fit the video and also to put the focus on group singer Natalie Horler’s evocative singing.

Anime: Toradora!

Song: “Everytime We Touch” by Cascada

Creator: HiddenFlowerDesi

Past AMVs of the Day

AMV of the Day: War (Valkyria Chronicles)


Time for a new “AMV of the Day” entry and this time I found one that combines one of my favorite songs of the last couple years with an anime series that I’ve grown to like very much.

“War” is the title of the song and the AMV created by saberslayer. I grew to love this song after I first heard it play during my play-through of Remedy’s Alan Wake psychological-horror game. As for the anime series Valkyria Chronicles this was something that I wasn’t sold on when I first found out it was based on the PSP strategy rpg of the same name. Not being a major fan of anything Sony gaming-related I just dismissed the series as just another attempt by Sony to push the PSP since it wasn’t selling as well as it’s rival the Nintendo DS. Well, to my surprise I tried the series and ended up really liking it.

The video really captures the feeling of the song with the backdrop of a world that’s a mix of World War II Europe with anime-style techno-magic. Saberslayer does a great job in keeping much of the hyper-editing cuts that many amv creators have fallen in love with. While the video still uses some graphical flourishes like making certain scenes play out in sepia-like tones the rest of the video is pretty straightforward in terms of editing and it allows for the song’s tempo to match the video’s pacing. Saberslayer could easily have sped things up but to the detriment of the song and the video’s overall emotional impact.

This is one AMV creator I shall keep my eyes open for whenever they release a new video.

Anime: Valkyria Chronicles

Song: “War” by Poets of the Fall

Creator: saberslayer

Past AMVs of the Day

AMV of the Day: Hold On To That Feeling


After finding a whole database full of some of the best AMV’s ever made in the last couple years I have another new AMV to post as the latest “AMV of the Day”. The latest one actually uses a song that is near and dear to my heart.

“Hold On To That Feeling” is the AMV in question and was the collaboration effort of two creators, Ileia and PWolf. I’ve always admired the videos that actually have more than one editor involved in it’s production. When both editors are on the same wavelength as to how the video should look like and play out the ultimate result ends up being quite good to great. This latest AMV is one such example of two creators whose joint collaboration doesn’t even show in the final product and that’s a good thing.

Another reason why I love this video so much is the song the two picked to base the video on. It’s Journey’s classic rock anthem song and one my San Francisco Giants used as their official rally song during their 2010 World Series run. Everytime I watch this video I can’t help but sing along to “Don’t Stop Believin'” and any Giants fan would do the same, but with the extra bonus of great anime scenes from a boatload of great anime.

Ok, enough talking, back to watching and singing along to the AMV.

Anime: 5 Centimeters per Second, Ah! My Goddess, Ah! My Goddess! Always Together, Ai Yori Aoshi, Ai Yori Aoshi ~Enishi~, Birdy the Mighty Decode, Chobits, Cowboy Bebop, Ef – a tale of memories, Full Metal Panic: Fumoffu, Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Hōkago no Pleiades, Kimi ni Todoke, Macross Frontier, Macross Frontier MUSIC CLIP Collection – Nyankuri, NANA Neon Genesis Evangelion 2.22 – You Can [Not] Advance, Neon Genesis Evangelion: 1.11 You Are [Not] Alone, Romeo × Juliet, The Sky Crawlers, Suzumiya Haruhi no Shoushitsu, Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann, Towards the Terra

Song: “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey

Creators: Ileia and Pwolf

AMV of the Day: A Little Late


Usually Arleigh handles this sort of post.  And he did just post one yesterday, so I’m glad he’s taking up the slack that I’ve made.  I mean, ostensibly I was brought on board to handle all things anime.  Anyways, for once I’m actually going to post up something anime related.

Let me say this about this video.  I’m as manly as manly gets.  I kiss puppies and kick babies.  Kill the women and children first!  But even this video brings me to tears.  Funny story, I was sitting in Burger King today, this song started playing over the speakers, and scene for scene I could recall this AMV.  Heck, you don’t even have to be familiar with this anime to get the emotional impact (ef – a tale of melodies.  Watch it now!)  But you know, it really wouldn’t hurt you to watch both ef- a tale of memories and ef – a tale of melodies (didn’t I just mention that?  Yes, yes I did).  Both would help you get the full impact of this AMV.  But either way, can you really watch this video and not feel anything?  If so, then you’re a stronger man than I.  And since there is no stronger man than I, then you are a liar.  And since you’re a liar, no one cares what you think or say!  My logic is flawless.  Enjoy the video!  Full credit goes to Dragon Roy and the AMV contest at Anime Boston.

Anime: Ef – a tale of melodies

Song: “You Found Me” by The Fray

Creator: Dragon Roy

AMV of the Day: Sexy


The latest AMV of the Day is one I was recommended to by YouTube itself when I was checking my emails. It was a winning video at AKROSS Con 2010 by amv creator opiumVIDOK. The video is titled “Sexy”.

All I can say why I accepted this recommendation and used it as the latest “AMV of the Day” is how it perfectly exemplifies the reasons why some people love watching anime: Guns, Sex and Violence. Sometimes one or two in the same anime while at other times all three appear at the same time. It’s only reasonable that the creator of the video chose to use Marilyn Manson’s “mOBSCENE” track to score the video. If there was ever a criticism detractors of anime have it’s always that too much anime are obscene to the point of being pornographic.

I don’t know if I agree with that. I mean just watching “Sexy” it looks to be just 3-minutes of good, wholesome, animated fun.

Anime: Black Lagoon, NANA, K-On!, Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu, Goshuushou-sama Ninomiya-kun, To Love-Ru (TV), Hatsukoi Limited, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei

Song: “mOBSCENE” by Marilyn Manson

Creator: opiumVIDOK