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Video title: Duology
Editor: TheLazyDaze
Anime: Bananafish
Song & Artist: yes & no - XYLØ
Comments: One day I might get around to creating that Bananafish MMV idea I’ve had since 2009. At some point I might also knuckle down and finish that Bananafish AMV I started editing in 2020 but got stuck on half way through. Until then, TheLazyDaze’s “Duology” fills the void in me which yearns for Bananafish content. “Duology” is only a bite sized AMV of 1:18, but my goodness the amount of symbolism TheLazyDaze packs into that runtime which so cleverly conveys the concept of the title “Duology”, is astounding. TheLazyDaze’s timing and rhythm in this is exquisite, emphasising the desolate emotions perfectly.
Video title: I Don't Believe in Titles
Editor: Pablo Shoe
Anime: Various
Song & Artist: Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) - My Chemical Romance
Comments: “I Don't Believe in Titles” is one of the more unique AMV’s I saw in 2022, as it’s made entirely of production material clips where the animation is incomplete. I had no idea such material was so freely available on the internet, I always assumed that kind of thing was kept safely by the animation studios and occasionally added to DVD extras. It seems however that quite often the animators themselves will post short work in progress clips to their twitter and then people will upload these to clip aggregate sites such as sakugabooru - which is where Pablo Shoe found all this wonderful material to create with.
The My Chemical Romance song is one many people have used for AMV’s in the past, which I believe in this case enhances the concept. The familiar audio helps to galvanise the unusual visuals into something that plays out like a love letter to AMV’s, anime and animation.
The whole thing is also just super cool to look at.