amv

An AMV, or anime music video, is a fan-created video that compiles clips from one or more anime series or films and synchronizes them to a chosen soundtrack. AMVs are typically edited to emphasize rhythm, mood, and storytelling through montage.

Originating in the late 1990s and early 2000s, AMVs spread via fan communities and file-sharing networks as affordable editing tools and video codecs became available. Enthusiasts shared shorter clips online, gradually refining pacing, effects, and lip synchronization to integrate audio and image.

Production commonly involves selecting source material, arranging clips to match the music's beats, applying transitions, color correction, and effects. Editors use software ranging from consumer programs to professional suites. The result demonstrates editing skill and expressive interpretation rather than official narrative control.

AMVs circulate on platforms such as YouTube and other video sites, with dedicated communities on forums and sites like AMV.org. Many anime conventions host AMV contests to showcase editors' work, rewarding creativity, technical ability, and emotional impact.

Copyright considerations are central to AMVs, as they remix copyrighted anime footage and music. In some jurisdictions they may be protected as fair use or fair dealing, but rights holders may still issue takedowns. AMVs are generally created as fan media and are not official products.