AMVs

An AMV, or anime music video, is a fan-made montage composed of clips from one or more anime series or films set to a pre-recorded song or music track. The form originated with hobbyist editors using consumer video equipment in the late 1980s and 1990s and spread online as fans shared edited clips. AMVs are typically created to showcase editing skill, evoke mood, or tell a concise story through carefully timed cuts and transitions.

Creation involves selecting source footage, syncing cuts to the music’s tempo or lyrics, and applying transitions, effects, color grading, and sometimes lip-sync or beat-matching. Editors work with software ranging from commercial suites such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and Sony Vegas to free tools like Shotcut or OpenShot. The process often emphasizes rhythm, pacing, and the alignment of visual spectacle with musical cues, though narratives or character-driven montages are common as well.

The AMV community organizes around sharing videos online and at anime conventions, with critique, collaboration, and contest participation as common activities. Many editors gain recognition through online view counts, awards, or invitations to events, and some move on to professional video editing or animation work.

Copyright considerations are central to AMVs. They reuse copyrighted anime footage and songs, which can trigger takedowns or claims on distribution platforms and complicate licensing. Creators typically navigate platform policies and fair use debates, balancing fan expression with rights holders’ controls.