Happy 2022 everyone!
Last year I made a list of all the AMV’s I enjoyed that I found via Reddit in 2020 and posted it to the org forums: https://www.animemusicvideos.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=131455
I have made this list again for 2021, and now that I have my own blog I am posting it here instead.
I only consider AMV’s for this list if they meet the following conditions:
- The AMV was posted to Reddit.
- I do not naturally come across the AMV on any other website at any point in the year.
- The editor is not someone I’m already subscribed to on YouTube.
I choose to do this because I feel Reddit is a fairly contained place to promote AMV’s, especially if you do not make things which follow popular trends. The videos I find and enjoy from Reddit often don’t get much attention, so I would like to highlight how awesome these are and hopefully give others the chance to enjoy them as well.
The amount of AMV content on Reddit has skyrocketed this year, which has made it difficult to sift through. Thankfully I’ve still been able to find a lot of AMV’s I personally enjoy. Last year this list had 22 videos, this year there are 29!
This is a mix of all sorts of AMV types and editing styles. The editors also vary wildly in experience, from some where it’s their first video, to veterans of the hobby.
To be clear, the purpose of this list is to simply showcase these AMV’s and talk a bit about why I like them. These are posted in date order of when I discovered them on Reddit.
Video title: Wonder Egg Priority | Edit | Life could be a dream Sh-boom
Editor: Hazypan
Anime: Wonder Egg Priority
Song: Sh-Boom (Life Could Be a Dream)
Artist: Various
Comments: In the early part of the year, Wonder Egg Priority was a newly airing anime. While it was new and shiny, several editors made AMV’s with it. This is the only one I’ve continuously enjoyed.
Hazypan released this when the anime had only partially aired, so they had limited footage to work with. Despite that, this is an incredibly well executed video and I feel it possibly would have been weaker if they had included later elements of the show.
The AMV is a fairly typical subversion of expectations trope (everything is lovely until it isn’t). It plays out pretty much exactly as expected, however both sides of the coin are illustrated so well in this AMV that I personally find the switch legitimately unsettling, even after watching several times!
VPR: All
CW: Themes of self harm and suicide
Video title: Baths – Wistful (Fata Morgana)
Editor: Thaddeus Bigsby
Anime: Various
Song: Wistful (Fata Morgana)
Artist: Baths
Comments: There have been a number of editors cropping up recently who edit AMV’s (and other types of videos) specifically to provide visualizations for songs/music artists. This video is one of these. At the heart of it you could argue that all AMV’s are a visualization of the music, however more often an AMV will be created with a particular concept or story in mind, of which the music is part of.
This AMV has no story or overarching concept that I can discern. It is simply a visual representation of parts of the song, and this has been done in a very unique and original way by Thaddeus Bigsby. It’s one of the more fascinating pieces of media I’ve seen.
VPR: All
Video title: The Invention of Gunpowder
Editor: BentKetchupAMVs
Anime: Princess Mononoke
Song: Ashes
Artist: The Longest Johns
Comments: Unfortunately the first thing most people will notice about this video is that it is only available in 360p. Sadly I have no idea why this is, personally I find it does not detract from the experience.
I love this AMV so, so much. Something about it reminds me of much older AMV’s. The style of editing is incredibly story driven in a way that I don’t really see much anymore. That plus the very precise use of internal sync makes this AMV mesmerising to watch.
It’s also a character profile for Lady Eboshi which is something you definitely don’t see very often.
VPR: Fades to black, Fire/Explosions
Video title: AMV – Stella
Editor: Nyolate
Anime: Various
Song: Stella
Artist: Kashiwa Daisuke
Comments: Nyolate takes us on a journey through several different anime movies in this AMV. The scene matching is excellent (with some use of colour correction), as well as matching the sounds of the song and the overall mood of the piece. I would happily watch this for far longer than the 2.09 runtime.
VPR: Frequent fades to black
Video title: [AMV] Evangelion: Memories of…
Editor: Kind_killeR
Anime: Neon Genesis Evangelion
Song: Various
Artist: Various
Comments: Evangelion is a constant within the AMV world. This year however I’ve come across far more than I can remember encountering previously. I believe the surge was caused by the last rebuild movie finally being released, so Evangelion was everyone’s minds more than usual.
Not only did the amount of Evangelion content ramp up, editors also didn’t shy away from creating ultra long AMV’s.
“Memories of…” Is the first of this kind of Evangelion video I came across this year. I particularly enjoy the way Kind_killer uses three different songs to create story arcs in this video. It’s not something I’d ever really seen done this way before.
VPR: All
Video title: REDLINE – CONJURE
Editor: RAMON [ルイス]
Anime: Redline
Song: Conjure
Artist: Elliot Root
Comments: I find this video to be completely gorgeous. Not because Redline is a visually impressive anime, but because of the way it’s edited. The song has an ethereal quality to it and RAMON leans into this so perfectly with the use of internal sync which creates a simple elegance to the whole feel of the video.
VPR: Flashes to white, flickering, motion, fire/explosions
Video title: EizouCon IV – Eizouken x Daicon IV AMV Tribute
Editor: illdie
Anime: Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!
Song: Twilight
Artist: Electric Light Orchestra
Comments: I have come across illdie’s work before and shamefully I never subscribed, so I am incredibly thankful that this was posted to Reddit.
Honestly, for anyone even slightly familiar with Daicon IV, I shouldn’t need to explain why I enjoy this AMV.
For anyone not familiar with Daicon IV, illdie helpfully provides a comparison video in the description (which is amazing and sometimes hilarious to watch).
Finally, even if we completely disregard Daicon IV, this is an incredible video in it’s own right.
VPR: Flickering, Flashes to white, Motion
Video title: 「AMV」Kill la Kill – I’ll Be Your Contradiction
Editor: Mr. CookieBiscuit
Anime: Kill La Kill
Song: Contradiction
Artist: KSUKE
Comments: This is Mr. CookieBiscuit’s first (and so far only) AMV.
In a world where new editors are focusing on adding as many stock transitions as they can to emulate popular Instagram styles, I found this video to be very refreshing. The editing style is more focused on whole scenes, with matching lyric and internal sync to an overarching concept.
Also, I really love this song.
VPR: Flashes to white, flickering, red emphasis scenes, motion
Video title: Mushishi AMV – Light and Darkness – diaphanous.mp3
Editor: Mushishi Brasil
Anime: Mushishi
Song: diaphanous.mp3
Artist: PurplezZ
Comments: This is one of the more unique AMV’s I watched this year. The editor’s channel is dedicated specifically to Mushishi (which is awesome, sadly they don’t have much content).
This video is a merging of two sources that were meant to be, the result is absolutely magical and completely captivating.
VPR: Flickering, Patterns
Video title: Run with the Wind 風が強く吹いている- Run [AMV]
Editor: Bonchi
Anime: Run with the Wind
Song: Run
Artist: One Republic
Comments: Bonchi posted a number of videos that got quite popular on Reddit during the Summer. This AMV was the first of theirs I watched, and it remains my favourite.
This is an upbeat feel good video and it makes me super happy whenever I watch it.
VPR: Flickering, fades to white
Video title: AMV Downtown (Super Cub)
Editor: Colibolo
Anime: Super Cub
Song: Downtown
Artist: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Comments: This video is adorable. The song works incredibly well with the source and some moments are hilarious. Overall very feel good and fun to watch.
VPR: Flickering, Flashes to white
Video title: life is short, take what you want
Editor: nu.q music
Anime: The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl
Song: life is short, take what you want
Artist: nu.q music
Comments: I’ve come across nu.q music frequently on Reddit, none of their work has particularly appealed to me until this AMV.
It’s a sweet video about enjoying things while you can. I find it also has an air of wistfulness about it, but that might be me projecting.
VPR: High contrast colours, busy/colourful visuals
Video title: Evangelion AMV – moments
Editor: Exkcal
Anime: Neon Genesis Evangelion (mix)
Song: A New Kind of Love
Artist: Frou Frou
Comments: This is another video I’m ashamed to have on this list.
I first came across Exkcal back in 2016, also via Reddit, when they posted another Evangelion AMV that I adore. Of course I forgot to subscribe to them at the time.
In the description for this video Exkcal states, “This was made in 30 minutes over the course of 6 months”, I have no idea if they’re being serious about this. Whether this is true or not, the end result is fascinating to watch.
VPR: All
Video title: Crazy Diamonds – Land of the Lustrous「ＡＭＶ」[Pink Floyd x HnK]
Editor: Diamond Eclectic
Anime: Houseki no Kuni
Song: Shine on You Crazy Diamond
Artist: Pink Floyd
Comments: This is a really long Land of the Lustrous AMV to a Pink Floyd track. It’s edited in way that’s highly perceptive of this combination and it also manages to stay engaging.
If you enjoy long AMV’s then I highly recommend this.
VPR: Flashes to white, Flickering, Patterns, Motion
Video title: IOND – Ramiel fight [AMV Evangelion 1.11]
Editor: I O N D
Anime: Neon Gensis Evangelion (1.11)
Song: Ramiel Fight
Artist: I O N D
Comments: This AMV was made in 2017 but I found it posted to Reddit in 2021, so it’s still on this list.
This AMV is another one that has been made by a music artist as a visualisation for their music. I think it’s also one of the purest examples of this I’ve come across, as the song itself seems to be based on this particular fight scene from Evangelion.
VPR: All
Video title: INTERNET SHOW V1.0 – K!LL SCREEN AMV – 07/11/21
Editor: K!LL SCREEN
Anime: Various
Song: Various
Artist: Various (mixed by K!LL SCREEN)
Comments: Yeah, this is 45 minutes of happy hardcore music that this creator has mixed themselves. Oh and they also edited an entire AMV for it.
It’s totally nuts, and I’m in awe of their design talent for all of the custom graphics and logos.
VPR: All
Video title: You Are (Not) Worthless Shinji. Evangelions Patience AMV
Editor: RequiemOfMan
Anime: Neon Genesis Evangelion (mix)
Song: Nobody Loves Me Like You, Patience
Artist: Low Roar
Comments: This is another long Evangelion AMV with multiple story arcs. This one though focuses on the relationship between Shinji and Kaworu across all of the different iterations of Evangelion.
I feel this has been very tenderly crafted and it is definitely worth a watch.
VPR: All
Video title: Weird
Editor: Drakmalar
Anime: Various
Song: Floème
Artist: Joanna
Comments: I’ve come across Drakmalar on Reddit a couple of times before and this is their first AMV that got my attention.
It’s a mixed anime AMV that is visually fascinating and it’s also in 4:3 which I appreciate!
VPR: All
Video title: bedford falls – come / Goodbye all of evangelion! (NGE amv)
Editor: Akino blue eyed
Anime: Neon Genesis Evangelion (mix)
Song: Come
Artist: Bedford Falls
Comments: This AMV is an ode to Evangelion. I particularly enjoy the overlays and scene matching the editor does.
VPR: All
Video title: Running with the Wolves [AMV]
Editor: Pocket Rishi
Anime: Wolfs Rain
Song: Running with the Wolves
Artist: AURORA
Comments: A Wolf’s Rain AMV in 2021?? Yep, and it’s also edited in an incredibly beautiful way.
VPR: Blurs, Patterns, Overlays, Flickering, Flashes to white
Video title: hohenheim is a rät [FMA AMV]
Editor: Sasaina-san
Anime: Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
Song: Rät
Artist: Penelope Scott
Comments: I’ve only watched about half of the 2003 version of Fullmetal Alchemist, so I’m sure there are some jokes in this that go over my head. Despite that, I find this AMV rather entertaining and also endearing.
VPR: Film grain effect, motion blur transitions, fades to black, fire, flickering
Video title: [AMV] Evangelion-everybody knows
Editor: Gennaro Pacchiano
Anime: Neon Genesis Evangelion (mix)
Song: Everybody Knows
Artist: Sigrid
Comments: The footage in this AMV is distressingly interlaced, which will probably put a lot of viewers off.
I would recommend persevering with this if you can. This AMV doesn’t do anything new with this anime/song, however it does use the combination with great effect. I keep being surprised by how impactful some moments continue to be whenever I re-watch this.
VPR: All
Video title: Berserk: The Golden Age / The Eclipse AMV “And All That Could Have Been” Nine Inch Nails
Editor: Arthas James
Anime: Beserk
Song: All That Could Have Been
Artist: Nine Inch Nails
Comments: One of my all time favourite AMV’s also uses this song, so before watching this AMV I was worried my impression of it would be hampered by unfair comparisons. Thankfully this was not the case as the combination of the anime and the way this AMV is edited is so different to the other AMV I love that there isn’t really anything to compare between them.
Arthas James takes this incredibly slowly, there’s hardly any external sync, most of the focus is on lyric and little bit of internal sync which makes for a very oppressive mood throughout this AMV.
I also enjoy the use of overlays near the end, for me at least it helps to make the art/animation style of this version of Beserk easier on the eyes.
VPR: Fades to Black, Motion, flickering, flashes to white, red emphasis scenes
CW: Violence/gore
Video title: ANIME MASQUERADE [AMV] (“Masquerade” by Kindaichi Mystery Band)
Editor: Erin Tesden
Anime: Various
Song: Masquerade
Artist: Kindaichi Mystery Band
Comments: This is a weird video. On the surface it’s a multi anime AMV with random scenes set to music, something we’ve seen a million times before. However, Erin Tesden has edited this in such a bizarre way; a lot of the clips are looped, and then there’s the sudden descent into darkness sections which clash with the random happy normal things in all the other clips. Also a fair number of clips are of dubious quality, but I find this adds to the appeal and overall feel of the video.
I thoroughly enjoy this, and I’ve found myself re-watching it several times.
VPR: Flashes to white black and red, flickering, red emphasis scenes, fire/explosions
Video title: Washing Machine Heart // Revolutionary Girl Utena amv
Editor: Lux
Anime: Revolutionary Girl Utena
Song: Washing Machine Heart
Artist: Mitski
Comments: A fairly typical but I feel top tier Utena vid, which uses all different kinds of sync very tightly with the music.
VPR: Flickering, Flashes to white black and red, Red emphasis scenes
Video title: DEEP SPACE by Addy Mac / AMV III Davinci + no plugins
Editor: HateKiri
Anime: Naruto Shippuden
Song: Deep Space
Artist: Addy Mac
Comments: I have already spoken extensively (probably way too much tbh) about this AMV in this blog post.
So if you want to read how I feel about this AMV please go there.
VPR: All
Video title: AMV Barakamon – No Friends
Editor: ParadoxArchetype
Anime: Barakamon
Song: No Friends ft. Rosendale
Artist: Cadmium
Comments: This is a really cute and well edited AMV. It’s fairly happy and upbeat despite being about “having no friends”.
VPR: Fades to black, Fades to white, Flashes to white, Quick cuts, Motion
Video title: Medio Mutante – Another Land [Unofficial Music Video] [Knights of Sidonia AMV]
Editor: Phenomeon
Anime: Knights of Sidonia
Song: Another Land
Artist: Medio Mutante
Comments: This is definitely one of the more unusual AMV’s I’ve come across this year.
I’ve never been fond of Knights of Sidonia content due to the animation/art style not really being my thing. This video however is the type of weird that I enjoy so much that I find the visuals don’t matter.
I honestly have no idea what’s going on this. Regardless I do find it very emotionally compelling, and I also enjoy the way Phenomeon syncs to all the strange sounds happening in the music.
VPR: All
Video title: Metropolis AMV – Touch
Editor: Bal Masque
Anime: Metropolis
Song: Touch
Artist: Daft Punk
Comments: And we’re down to the final video which was recently posted on the 30th of December, so only a couple days before this list gets published.
Honestly I haven’t really had time for this one to sink in properly, so I only have some initial thoughts.
I find this to be a rather complimentary pairing of sources which Bal Masque has put together in a very considered way. The focus is mainly on the relationship between the protagonists of Metropolis, and their story of love and loss.
VPR: Fades to white, flickering, red emphasis scenes,
A pocketful of AMV's 