Obsessed With the AMV Scene: Am I Alone?

Everyone loves something on YouTube. Whether it’s cute babies, cute babes, or something that is in no way cute, people can’t help but go to YouTube. Of course there’s that whole problem with Viacom and their privacy-infringing demands because of all the copyrighted material posted on YouTube, but whatever. Let’s not go there.

A popular thing for the video-editing otaku among us to do is create an “AMV,” or “amateur music video.”

After the jump, you can check out some of my favorite AMVs for a handful of my favorite RPGs. If you haven’t heard the songs in these videos, it’s time to be educated.

First up is a video that uses Imogen Heap’s “The Walk” alongside Xenosaga III: Also Sprach Zarathustra.

Imogen Heap is probably best known for two songs, though she has been made known through a number of other works. The first song is called “Let Go,” when she was a part of the group Frou Frou. The song was on the Garden State soundtrack, and was probably where Ms. Heap first got some recognition in the United States. Then, she released the vocal-only (with a lot of effects) track “Hide and Seek,” which became a veritable theme song for the TV show The O.C., particularly during the second season. Here, the AMV creator chose one of my all-time favorite Immy tracks, “The Walk,” alongside a game that I currently have ranked as my all-time favorite RPG (out of 136 completed…), Xenosaga III. The blend is almost uncanny. I think both Kajiura and Mitsuda would like this song.

Next up? Final Fantasy IX meets Panic! at the Disco:

“Time To Dance” can be found in a variety of versions, though the AMV creator made the right choice in using the old demo version that was sent to “Fueled By Ramen.” It was this sound that got the band signed, after all. The timing is excellent, especially in the bridge, leading back to the chorus, during Garnet’s “let’s chop off my hair” scene…simply beautiful. And let’s not forget how awesome the CG FMVs were in Final Fantasy IX.

Compared to the slough of crappy FFVII and FFX AMVs using awful pop-radio hits that this blogger simply cannot stand, I’m happy to find a few now and then that really work. You have any to share with us? Hook us up, leave a comment below. Also, does anyone have any AMVs that combine videogame music with something that’s not from a game? Example: FFX‘s “Otherworld” put to some clips from a teen-oriented drama? THAT I’d like to see…