#ManlyMango

[someawesomeamvs]

Warning: Spoilers, depiction of suicide, violence

Title: Ctrl Alt Delete

Editor: ManlyMango

Studio: Tsunderbird Studios

Song: Did It To Myself

Artist: Orla Garland

Anime: Wonder Egg Priority

Category: Drama/Character profile

[seasaltmemories]

Top AMVs of 2024 - 20 - 11

A more in-depth breakdown of what I am doing can be found here, as well as the past entries here. Today's entries are as follows:

20. Royal Revue by Scoobisms

Audio: One Girl Revolution by Superchick

Visuals: Princess Peach Showtime!

I am always a sucker for gmvs that make use of actual gameplay footage, and Scoobisms pulled off this exact trick with a very unexpected source. It turns out though, that Princess Peach Showtime!’s theatrical setting and variety of outfits/roles for her to try on gives a lot of material for Scoobisms to work with. There is a good balance here with the gameplay footage helping accent the flashy cutscenes while still remaining interesting with little flourishes of internal sync.

This vid is also not lacking at all for personality, and I think the song choice especially helps threads that needle of “fun girl power anthem” while still giving less traditionally feminine aesthetics a chance to shine. A good example is the instrumental break where we get the focus on spy!Peach and all these fun classic espionage scenarios. Overall both Peach and Scoobism put on a great, charming show.

19. Ctrl Alt Delete by ManlyMango (CW: Suicide)

Audio: Did It To Myself by Orla Garland

Visuals: Wonder Egg Priority

I sometimes find I have hot takes when it comes to storytelling in amvs. As much as I try to make sure my prior knowledge of a source doesn’t influence my judgment, I find that compared to clear, linear narratives, I often value visceral, detailed conflicts and emotions even if the exact events are vague. I can’t help but give bonus points when I not only can summarize the video easily, but I feel like we take the time to untangle more complex stories.

Thankfully, plenty of people seem to be in agreement that the storytelling of Ctrl Alt Delete hits hard. I have heard about Wonder Egg Priority’s troubled production/unsatisfying ending, but ManlyMango manages to get to the heart of mess by exploring our protag having to grapple with both monsters and her best friend’s suicide. What she “did to herself” is vague and unspecific (perhaps the fact she didn’t save her friend from her troubled circumstances) but what is important is how clearly it showcases the guilt and frustration she puts upon herself.

And while the music is upbeat and poppy, I love that the ending actively denies us catharsis. No matter what she does, her friend is gone, and we in the audience also just have to sit with that loss. Mango mentioned being surprised with the warm reception it got at several contests, but it really pulls off what could be a convoluted, hard to approach topic with a deft touch.

18. Champagne for the Exes by JazzVids

Audio: Who Do You Blame (Ablainkan Remix) by SAINt JHN

Visuals: Noragami

In comparison, JazzVid’s amv took me a while to get. While the basic premise of a break-up is clear, I was real unsure why Noragami was being used as the source with this song, what motivated her to included a comedy sketch in the middle of the vid, or what purpose the border and text work was for.

Still something about it all together just works for me. There’s a deliberate back and forth between the prideful boasting of the verses with the vulnerability and sincerity of the chorus/outro. And editing-wise, she includes a good amount of slapstick to keep it a fun time, but also plants some set-up and payoff (the fact we don’t see Hiyori’s face clearly until the end for example) that just makes all the disparate elements resonate. It is always a treat to encounter the type of art I might struggle to categorize but that compels me all the same.

17. ToxiCommoner by Spuddstaaa

Audio: You Signed Up For This by Maise Peters

Visuals: The Apothecary Diaries

I am a strong believers that artists should make whatever they want, but it is always exciting to see people explore outsider their comfort zone. Despite being known for more goofy, upbeat vids, Spuddstaaa has spent a lot of 2024 dipping his toe into the drama/sentiments pool and this one is my fave of his experiments.

Outside of the basic premises of the show, I don’t know much about this series or Maomao’s particular struggles, but there still manages to be this engaging underdog narrative to it all. It is nice to see this sorta loser coming of age amv with a female protag, both a bit tongue in cheek yet empathetic. The sparkly overlays really work, as does the dance footage for the climax, and by the end of things I feel the I want to sign up for this gal and all her shenanigans.

16. A Story of Despair and Hope by MarshmallowGoop

Audio: 15 Min Flame by Poets of the Fall

Visuals: Witch Hat Atelier

Although she had worked with some manga elements in the past, MarshmallowGoop said this was her first full on Resolve MMV, and I could barely believe it. There is no fear in using overlays, masks, and animations, to create so many engaging compositions.

The text also deserves special mention. MarshmallowGoops creates some of the most creative captions you might never see if you never consider to toggle them on, but here she goes all out in the vid itself. Not only does she pull from the lyrics of the song, but she also includes the manga text itself, often sync it to strong beats for pacing and dramatic effect. Which for an already tense part of the song, just ups that suspense even more.

She mentions initially wanting to make this vid longer and possibly coming back to this project to expand, but even just this 30 second snippet is such a delight

15. Crossings by AdventLostKaichou

Audio: Stray Italian Greyhound by Vienna Teng

Visuals: Hyouka

There is such a deliberateness to Kaichou’s editing here. Not only does it take a lot of masking to play with the partially coloring going on for most of the vid, but it is used for such delicious slowburn storytelling purposes.

Another commenter mentioned that Hyouka can be a “talking heads” kinda show, and she admitted to really wanting to make sure she didn’t just spend time using the iconic scenes of the show (and it in fact takes us until 1:49 to get some of the more iconic surrealness). So not only does the gradual increase in color help give us some sense of the male lead’s growing feelings, but she also plays with the coloring reverting back to its dull gray haze during moments of repression like at 2:16. By the time we reach the last chorus and the money shots, it is an earned moment of release that really matches the singer’s similarly overwhelming feelings.

The rest of the video is also great of course, but it is that attention to detail and care that makes a concept that could be one-note and cloying really work.

14. Never-Ending Dream by Madmegatex

Audio: Dreamstate by Son Lux

Visuals: Omori

Speaking of tension, this vid is another example of tight, deliberate control. I have never played Omori (although this vid did make me read up on it) so I can’t say how much the cutscenes are just like this or due to her manipulation, but either way, in the hands of a less skilled editor, this could be a very slow and boring vid.

But not only does Madmegatex make use of ever bit of movement and visual interest, but she is very careful in how information is given out. There is a clear structure and rhythm to it, even foreshadowing the central conflict haunting the protagonist. A scene as simple as the protag getting up to play the violin feels as dramatic as any high energy scene thanks to the careful context that has been built.

Despite the oppressive atmosphere dominating most of the vid, the move towards a hopeful conclusion is nice. Its not a clean ending, but it is one the lets you truly breath a sigh of relief, buoyed by the overall pitch perfect pacing.

13. angsty metal by Silent Hero Studios

Audio: Song 2 by Blur

Visuals: FLCL

Silent Hero is a master of just dropping some of the slickest action without any warning, which I guess is true to his name. Song 2 and FLCL feel like the kind of combo that should have existed the minute the anime came out, but whether this is truly the first time this was done, or this is only the latest render, Silent Hero makes it his own.

Not only is the overall flow and all the heavy beats extremely strong, but he is a genius at nailing down a lot of the more understated song elements, such as infectious riff from 1:15 - 1:18 or the singers vocal inflections at 0:51. I am always a sucker for internal sync, and he just makes it look like the easiest thing in the world. By the time it ends, I’m always just ready to cue it up again.

12. NiteLight by Radical Yue

Audio: The Night Out (Madeon Remix) by Martin Solveig

Visuals: Multisource

I can bounce off of big multisource upbeat videos sometimes as I like having something singular to really focus on. But what really keeps me glued to NiteLight is the atmosphere.

The neon aesthetic definitely unites the various sources together, but overall I really like the relaxed pace to it all. There’s a deliberate rise and fall for each drop that keeps the entire vid from just melting into a compilation of sakuga moments. A good example is the two HSR women dancing. While I’ve seen the more dramatic moments of this clip/video, Radical Yue lingers a lot in the flirtation and tenderness. And when the drop needs to drop we can kick into high gear just as easily, with several sweet masks.

Radical Yue mentioned being inspired by "Welcome to the DCC" by TakeshiAMV and Kuroo and how it seemed a celebration of anime in general. She accomplishes a pretty similar goal with this varied and lovely curated source list. It feels like a big party where there is something for everyone to enjoy, whether they are a veteran fan or just got into the medium yesterday.

11. Long Live Shonen by Sean.PNG

Audio: Lost in the Echo - Linkin Park remix by Paul Udarov

Visuals: Multisource

There have been some serious data about the impact Linkin Park has made on amvs. I could pull you up some sources, but I don’t think they’d be telling you anything you don’t already know. So using a remix to update the classic Linkin Park/Shonen formula is the kinda of concept that on its own gets butts in seats.

Best of all, Sean.PNG also kills it on execution. As talented as he is with stringing so many shows together, what really elevates it is how easily he redirects the motion. Some of the struggle I can get when editing action is feeling constrained and stagnant with my flow, but if Sean.PNG ever felt stuck like that, it doesn’t show in the final product. It all flows great without ever falling into predictability, just as comfortable using either subtle masks or basic cuts. Really one of those amvs I was so grateful I got to see on a big screen this year.

[fanarttheater]

AMV Spotlight – With a spring in my step This weekend our AMV Spotlight is "With a spring in my step" by editor ManlyMango. This AMV is an upbeat and lighthearted video sure to bring a smile to your face.

[tattsunsan]

I LOVE YOUR BLOG

^^

[mantoux3]

manlymango replied to your post:manlymango replied to your post:$105 per person...

they’re encouraging us not to bring anyone with that price. our school wants us to remain single forever

Lmao.

[someawesomeamvs]

Warning: Spoilers, violence

Title: Unchained

Editor: ManlyMango

Studio: Tsunderbird Studios

Song: Fairytale (cover)

Artist: Alexander Rybak

Anime: Shugo Chara!, Shugo Chara! Doki

Category: Romance/Drama

[someawesomeamvs]

Warning: Spoilers

Title: Self-Esteem

Editor: ManlyMango

Studio: Tsunderbird Studios

Song: F****n Perfect

Artist: P!nk

Anime: Kamisama Hajimemashita

Category: Character Profile

[someawesomeamvs]

Warning: Potential spoilers

Title: The Opposite of Hate

Editor: ManlyMango

Studio: Tsunderbird Studios

Song: I Do Adore

Artist: Mindy Gledhill

Anime: Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid

Category: Romance

[someawesomeamvs]

Warning: Potential spoilers, potential seizure trigger

Title: Dazzle Me

Editor: ManlyMango

Studio: Tsunderbird Studios

Song: Dazzle

Artist: Oh Wonder

Anime: Chuunibyou demo koi ga Shitai!

Category: Drama/Romance

[mantoux3]

manlymango replied to your post:manlymango replied to your post:manlymango replied...

omg that fucking centenary ughh they have 2 years, fine everyone in the grade below us since they’ll actually use it

Actually tho, but then again the school is actually still in debt because of our senior building i believe.

izukissteak replied to your post:manlymango replied to your post:manlymango replied...

WAIT JUST CHIMING ARE YOU KIDDING ME /KIDDING/ ME 105 DOLLARS I CAN’T FUCKING AFFORD THAT

And yeah, I just looked at the note it says $105 per head. I don't really know if it's worth it to go anymore pfft.

[mantoux3]

manlymango replied to your post:manlymango replied to your post:First thing I want...

yeah generic brown is too common..all I want are purple streaks ;-;. First thing i’m doing in uni too.

I'm only going to keep it for about one year though lel.

[mantoux3]

manlymango replied to your post:First thing I want to do after HSC is get my hair...

NEVERMIND I READ YOUR SECOND THING FIRST AND THOUGHT IT IMPLIED YOU GOT YOUR HAIR DYED IGNORE ME

manlymango replied to your post:I’ve wanted to dye my hair for a long time.

OMFG SERIOUSLY I AM SO JEALOUS I AM NOT ALLOWED OAO

lmao. Funny thing my mum actually asked me if I wanted to dye my hair like my cousins the usual asian brown to black type and I was like nahhhh.

[mantoux3]

manlymango replied to your post “I’m such a weenie omg”

SUPPPPP

OK IM LAUGHING TBH WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE ARE. 

THIS IS STUPID WHAT IS OUR LIVES LMAO.

[9:33:28 PM] Steven .: i'm [9:33:29 PM] Steven .: confused [9:33:30 PM] Steven .: 2 [9:33:31 PM] Steven .: OTL [9:33:37 PM] køυ∂υ¢kυ♤яειи∂υ¢kυ(Femmejaku): OTL [9:34:05 PM] køυ∂υ¢kυ♤яειи∂υ¢kυ(Femmejaku): all the confusion laskjgd [9:34:09 PM] Steven .: ikrr

[mantoux3]

manlymango replied to your post “I really don’t get how this guy fell back in love with me....”

woah what

He asked me if I would give him a second chance, and I just sorta uHM.

[mantoux3]

manlymango replied to your post:I’m so tired….But I still have homework to do...

do you want me to organise your speech cards too? remember wednesday lunch we’ll practice talking

I can do my speech cards, I just won't be printing them off till tomorrow probably, uh are we pretty much done with the speech tho? I haven't checked on it yet and I was going to do that tomorrow too or something since I'm going to need to print off quite a few things anyway. And yep!! I won't be over on Monday lunch cuz of hospo again so yeah -sweats- We can also practice on Tuesday too if you'd like.

[mantoux3]

manlymango replied to your post:manlymango replied to your post:manlymango replied...

oh ok. but $105 is still fucking ridiculous why not 80 or something

Cuz our school is stupid sometimes.