Anime Music Video Recommendations!

[Letheliah]

^{This probably belongs in the "Anime" sub-forum, but AMVs are totally art that don't always strictly use anime, and besides, this sub-forum just looked so lonely for topics!!}

So! Just like the title suggests, what are some anime music videos that you think people simply MUST see?

I believe a well edited AMV has the ability to transcend its song, making it more impactful and impressing on us emotions we may not have felt quite so clearly if not for the added imagery and connotation of the anime depicted alongside the music. So what are some AMVs that are very important to you? Perhaps the AMV was so well edited it's a technical ingenuity simply must be seen? Maybe it's the funniest thing you've seen since AMV Hell but with twice the effort?
Be they classics you think everyone has to see once, or a new gem that you feel is going unrecognized, please share your favorite AMVs!
[ul]
[*]Please link us to the video along with the genre of AMV. If it was submitted to a contest, chances are the editor has the genres written in the description.
[*]It goes without saying that we'd like to know why we should watch the AMV; write a bit on why the AMV is amazing, even if it's only a few words like "It made me cry from laughter/angst/happiness!"
[*]It doesn't have to be just Japanese anime or music videos; manga-centric music videos, original animation music videos, Vocaloid/UTAU animated videos, and trailers are just a few other options I can think of that are still similar and powerful enough to be added to this list.
[*]Do not link to NSFW/Hentai AMVs here (there's another sub-forum for that).
[/ul]
I look forward to watching your recommendations!

 

[Letheliah]

_{Woooh OK, now to spend hours rewatching my fave vids to write this post LOL}
OK here's my recs! Any you know? Sad ones first then the comedy because there's only so much sobbing anyone can handle.

AMVs That Made Me Cry

you can be king again - "Hotarubi no Mori e" - Romance/Sentimental, drama
Probably one of the most popular AMVs on YouTube. There's literally not a single time where I've watched this AMV and not cried. Very simply edited but it managed to tell it's story clearly, thus making it such an AMV classic. I actually saw this before the movie and it was watch compelled me to check it out in the first place (Hotarubi no Mori e is fantastic, and definitely worth a watch!).

Fiat Lux - Tokyo Godfathers - Drama, Christmas cheer!
First off, I still haven't seen Tokyo Godfathers and I know that's probably a sin considering how much I love this AMV; it's clear it's an absolutely riveting and beautiful anime if this AMV is anything to go by. This AMV was so powerful for me; the editing and choice to capitalize on the anime and music's mutual Christian overtones clearly works well together. The right scenes are used, the story is clear. I honestly can't explain it any better than I cried at how beautiful it was, so please do give it a try.

The Greatest Gift - Multiple Anime - Sentimental/Tear-Jerker
[INSERT UGLY SOBBING INTERSPERSED WITH CHUCKLES AND THEN MORE CHOKED CRYING]
This is a tribute to love. Specifically, the love parents have for their children, whether they be biological, adopted, or the time spent with them sadly cut short.
The best AMV adaption of this song, hands down. I think there's good editing in there too, but it's hard to tell wITH HOW MUCH IT MAKES ME CRY OH GOD

Familiar - She and Her Cat - Romance/Sentimental
I'm running out of tissues. You'll cry. I dare you to rec a more romantic AMV than this. This is so goddamn relateable.


AMVs That Made Me Laugh

Mr. Suave - Sakamoto Desu Ga - Comedy, (...romance?)
I can not get enough of this AMV. Extremely well edited, the song is so damn catchy. No better fit to this song than this anime. Honestly with the amount of footage available for this song, I'm actually kind of curious which clips were left out.

Fun Fun Yum Yum - Food Wars! - Comedy, Upbeat
Ok I know I said no Hentai AMV, and I promise this isn't hentai (but wow is it borderline...), it's just "Food Wars!"—besides this is just too funny and well edited to pass up.

Blades of Yuri - Yuri!!! on Ice - Comedy, Trailer
It's funny, and I adore Anime Trailer Dubs.

Reiterate Things - Uta no Prince-Sama - Comedy
Yaaaaaay subversion! Listening to this at half speed is a trip.

Yuri!!! on Ice - Honest Anime Trailer - Yuri!!! on Ice - Comedy, Trailer
Just some good, honest comedy right here.

Pixel Perfect - Ore Monogatari!! - Romance, Comedy
Just loved this one <3


AMVs That Made Me Question Reality _{AKA The "Other Slightly Less Important Feelings" Category}

Timeless - Literally All the Animes Ever (Almost) - Sentimental, Upbeat
Tribute to the history and love of Anime. Iconic in that I'm not sure AMVs even exists for some of the anime this editor used. Editing and pacing gets better as the AMV progresses.

My Songs & Stories | DBZ AMV - Sentimental/Drama? Coming-of-Age?
I honestly think this is Doug's best DBZ AMV, regardless of what the views say. I'm not that big into DBZ, but hardcore fans should really appreciate the full nuance of this video. It blends the song with manga, anime, and editing effortlessly to show the stages of Goku's life and the life of the DBZ story itself. Inspirational as fuck.

The Creationist - Hinata no Aoshigure - Romance, Upbeat
I got goosebumps watching this. It's so pure, and it's sooo well edited to the music (and I love this Kerli song so....~)

Just Funkin' Dandy - Space Dandy - Upbeat, Comedy
This might be one of the best editing I've ever seen. It was absolutely mesmerizing to watch.

Down the Road - Cowboy Bebop - Drama
Actually this might be my favorite AMV ever; Cowboy Bebop? Check. Bluesy Song? Check. Masterful editing that the average viewer would take for granted but I know how long it just takes to edit? Dear stars above, check! This may seem like it's been done a billion of times previous with other AMVs, but I assure you they are not done so well as this one.

The Passing of Men - Metropolis - Sentimental?, Other
I'd be a bad comrade if I did add this to the list. It gave me goosebumps. I love The Great Dictator, and this is so perfectly matched and edited with Metropolis.

Pride + Prejudice + Butlers - Kuroshitsuji - Drama, Trailer
Great lip-sync, and this is the perfect Black Butler AU let's be real...

Petal Dance - Sakura Trick - PURE GAY ROMANCE!
It's gay and cute AF and I L O V E it.

Mahoupocalypse - Multiple Magical Girls/Boys -Action, Upbeat
There are alot of great action AMVs, but I think this might be one of the best that I've seen, if only because the editing and pacing are so perfect.


Ehhhhh..... that's enough for now I guess. LOL

 

[Samhill]

You put on a lot of requirements to post AMVs.

 

[ununseti]

Well, since original animated videos are allowed as well, here are a couple of must-sees!

Bad Apple - Touhou - Upbeat
Possibly the most famous Touhou music video ever. I think like 50% of the Western Touhou fanbase originally got into Touhou through this video. The black/white shadow animation is really unique and done well.

Porter Robinson & Madeon - Shelter (Official Video) - Short Film with A-1 Pictures & Crunchyroll - FEELS TRIP
It's not often that you see a collaboration like this between the English and Japanese-speaking worlds! The visuals are amazing, of course, because it's animated by an actual anime studio. And the story is um, very intense. And sad. That Gallifrey giant planet in the sky really does its part in setting that ominous post-apocalyptic atmosphere.

Also now for some more traditional AMVs:

√Bestmadsofalltime ▪ Walpurgisnacht アニメMAD - Puella Magi Madoka Magica - Drama, Zetsubou, Bad End
I discovered this one through a rec on TvTropes. This one's pretty unique in that it actually outlines a coherent plot, with an alternate timeline and everything.

Konata & Kagami: A Passionate AMV (April Fools Day Joke) - Lucky Star - Comedy, Romance
A Konata x Kagami tribute. So at first it seems as if it's going to be a deep, romantic song... and then suddenly, it changes to Weird Al! This AMV actually fits very well with Konata's personality, and I love it.

Osaka - She's Just Oblivious - Azumanga Daioh - Uplifting, Comedy
Osaka! She's great. I love her.

:: you only meant well :: - Death Note - Sentimental
Some L & Light stuff. Short, but ridiculously catchy.

【Touhou MMD】This Is Halloween【東方】 - Touhou - Horror, Festival
Since it was Halloween recently, here's a creepy Touhou MMD music video! Some spoopy Halloween fun.

 

[totallynotmike]

Not really fan of AMVs, but sometimes visuals play nice complimentary (or even complementary) part to all those sample based lofi / jazz-hop / vaporwave / future funk / movie remix (or however kids are branding things those days) tracks. Some work well without them, some can't:

1) subways - アイスクリーム Magic Ways (hyouka)
2) potsu w/ chance trash - take me there (studio Ghibli clips)
3) potsu - letting go (night is short, walk on girl)
4) knight ali - honey love (tatami galaxy)
5) night tempo x tomggg - 好き？Suki (flip flappers)
6) saib - space cowboy (cowboy bebop)
7) ward wills - distance (serial experiments lain)
8) jou beats - brasil (girl who leapt through time)

Most of them are about the mood though, they don't tell their own story or anything like that.

 

[421cookies]

SFX noises

 

[Samhill]

Spoiler

Now That’s What I Call Poka (Weird Al Yankovic)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUHpbOAmFLE

A-Team (Mike Post and Pete Carpenter)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caVyes1qQo0

Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdUPwR6mzXo

A Little Less Conversation (Junkie XL)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOb3dKStKbU

Date Rape (Sublime)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuvRD46lDTk

Jump (Madonna)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=volnZ7xeMT8

My Baby Loves A Bunch Of Authors (Moxy Früvous)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRNCAGjSnv8

Chihuahua (DJ BoBo)
https://vimeo.com/263452416

We Didn’t Start The Fire (Billy Joel)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoUVEz8n6FU

Jump In The Line (Harry Belafonte)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYSf61cUcUk

Hair (Cast of Hair)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44nsOfrfvos

Right Now (Van Halen)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5-ojeEETNc

Standing Still (Jewel)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SAktYVm7gs

Everybody’s Free To Wear Sunscreen (Baz Luhrmann)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X-bu5A95pA

Code Monkey (Jonathan Coulton)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W_wd9Qf0IE

Shake Your Tailfeather (Ray Charles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdgrl8cy-84

1985 (Bowling For Soup)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfhCg2qPkXM

Stacy's Mom (Fountains of Wayne)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jR5yZLg8FM

A View To A Kill (Duran Duran)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipmkB3AHUvs

Hawaii Five-O (I get three names: Morton Stevens, Brian Tyler, Keith Power)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCKdUsP7mTw

Material Girl (Madonna)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dpub7WwQAE

Ultimate Showdown (Neil Cicierega)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7E7D4W5hrM

Manga Maniac (S.E.X. Appeal)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLn7T7OHUZ4

Horoscope For Today (Weird Al Yankovic)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9VIo9msbUA

This Is Halloween (Marilyn Manson)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB_j8Kl_e9M

Girls With Guns (Tommy Shaw)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1XAia43SXA

It’s The End of the World (The Great Big Sea)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bh8y30h8iOM

High School Never Ends (Bowling For Soup)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyVONYS2wRk

Flash Gordon (Queen)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVXLkptmFIY

Trailers

Army Of Darkness
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQXcRFnuS2s

Resident Evil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7677BK8-rf8

Grand Theft Auto 2: Vice City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evWZpZ616AU

A Walk To Remember
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sce2LRxFqNk

The Matrix: Revolutions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNiDVVXP2-k

 

[Indigo]

Adding Genres will be kind of difficult.
This will be kind of a long list, but here goes:

Paperheart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPcqd_LviIs
by RealQwaqa
using The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Reminds me of Fantasia by Disney.
Heavily Edited Storytelling of a drawing coming to life.
Set to symphonic music.
Uses mix of RealLife footage and 2D Clips.

Pencilhead https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyGFXY7odtw
by RealQwaqa
using various animes
It's a trip.
Heavily edited.

Yurei https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7xp6gbLH2M
by ThePoominator
using various animes
Horror anime that gave me goosebumps.

Into The Labyrinth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-dsLrkAQfw
by lolligerjoj
using Bakemonogatari series
Fantastic buildup.
Matches the madness of the anime.

Binary Overdrive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwMSemZX81U
by nostromo
using Genius Party Beyond - Dimension Bomb
Actually the official Music Video to the song.
Looks and sounds amazing.

The Nightmagi cometh https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgj1LVI1Knk
by KisanziVNS
using Madoka Magica
Fun song to a fun anime (haha). Different interpretation of the Anime's story.
Also it got lip sync which is always an amazing edit.

Japanese Standard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkeKVnkQVxw&t=
by alphaweapon7 (?)
using Nichijou
As chaotic as the anime.

Fracture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpgn555R2as
by Gorz
using various animes
Mindboggling amount of editing.
Tells an original love story in front of a stunning scenery.

Ship Happens https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCeFbK-WEVE
by Vivifx
using various animes
Very funny and creative edits
Tells about the mindset of a fujoshi.

Operation Skuld https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYtv_dqgvSU
by N.EC鱼丸
using various animes
More like a trailer to the most ambitious anime crossover movie ever.
Epic!

I Am So Much Happy With You【アニメMAD】 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVTeg-jQE4A
by ???
using Gekkan shoujo Nozaki-kun
One of the most upbeat AMVs I have ever seen.
Also cute.

Anthem Of Remembrance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfIEz1xd830
by ???
using Sidonia no Kishi
The horrors of fighting aliens.
Goosebumps at 1:05 are over 9000

John the Hellhound https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NBEeN8MDsM
by SilentMan
using FMA:B
Tells a new story using footage from FMA:B
Impressive editing

Notice me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNbuphFkW3U
by AllegoriestAMV (?)
using Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun
The song absolutly fits.
Something to grin about.

Once upon a time in Russia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySlxqMkVRRE&t=
by Vlad G Pohnert
using varius anime (mainly FMA:B and some Code Geass)
Who wants to learn about Rapsutin?
Cool Storytelling via editing.
Also Lip Syncing.
Also mixing of realLife and 2d Footage.
Made me laugh.

Hestiastep https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZsC5p9M3p8
by BakaOppai
using Danmachi
Who does not like BakaOppai's edits?
Kinda Experimental, impressive nonetheless.

speaking of BakaOppai
Anime 404 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NXrTujMP50
by BakaOppai
using various animes
By now probably everyone and their mom must have seen this. If not, shame on you...
Not sure if this even counts as an AMV since it is more of highly edited Anime on crack with music.
Pure Comedy.

Enter the New World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBhfANRWDA0
by 8bitcritr
using Shin Sekai Yori
A somber AMV for a tragic anime.
GOOSEBUMPS
Builds up to epicness but always stays kind of sad...

Evenig Tale For Stupid Children https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NmMYWM4sM4
by glitch anzu
using Nichijou
Let us hear a tale about four Motherf*ckers.
Absolutly wild

Saturday Anime Night https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VUYg8Lgrzo
by Masaka!
using various animes
Let's all dance together!
Practically two anime in one (Watch 'till the end)
Lip syncing already is impressive. Add to that dance syncronization and you get something amazing.

Alter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6sHI_D8cJI&t
by AllegoriestAMV
using Fate/kaleid
The anime itself might be controversial but the fight scenes can be crazy.
This AMV showcases the epicness of those scenes. Goosebumps.

Pink F#$%ing Unicorns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26u32u4bh3s
by IleiaAMVs
using Evangelion
Anyone want a song stuck in your head? That's the AMV for you!
Acid trip.
Be carefull about your sanity.

Secluded https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktFOZyCJKKQ
by Čingiz
using Sidonia no Kishi
Space is vast - the AMV
I recommend listening with headphoes or very good speakers. Some parts of the video use very low frequency tones.
Makes me cry a little.

The Comeback https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzJE8Pl8qSw
by Copycat Revolver
using K-On
Bonkers editing.
Seriously, you will need to watch this several times to catch all the little edits.
The AMV is in one word simply strange.
Also, it syncronizes the music with the girls playing their instruments. (Even if the Cymbals are kind of weird...)

Voices https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg0dDnWCUBc
by sirenaim
using Shin Sekai Yori
Fittingly eerie for the anime.

 

[Samhill]

Notice Me – Alexa Ray Joel

You Can’t Stop the Beat – Hairspray Cast

Here Comes the Hotstepper – Ini Kamoze

Rock and Roll is King – Electric Light Orchestra

Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen

Herp de Derp – The Gregory Brothers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCLl0YHPbns

I Ship It – Not Literally
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCeFbK–WEVE

What the Hell – Avril Lavigne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6HXriudHKY

The World Is Ours – Aloe Blacc & David Correy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxbnqF8vSAQ

Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhh–0od8VRQ

Wake Me Up – Avicii
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPU8mGIpFEY

 

[qwe304]

I find it hard to write out a description for all these as the others here have, but here are a handful of AMVs I thought were beautiful &/or had great music.

Let You Down by Dawid Podsiadło - From the cyberpunk edge runners team, a bit heavyhanded in its delivery, buy masterfuly drawn.

"The Wolf" & "Mr. FEAR" more abstract animation, very unique styling, and a good message in there... probably... I cant tell...

Stuck in the sound - "Let's Go" this one got a hearty chuckle out of me

C2C - Delta & Delta heavy - white flag both have beautiful and unique animation.

Porter Robinson - shelter real heartwrencher, more conventional anime style, but clearly big-budget.

few more good ones that I am struggling to write anything notable for (still quality stuff tho)

Flying lotus - pretty boy strut
Wire - Worthikids
RISE (ft. The Glitch Mob, Mako, and The Word Alive)
Imagine Dragons - Birds (sad)
Coldplay - Adventure of A lifetime this counts as an amv right?

pretty much every AMV from eve... heres my three four favs. Do you really watch AMVs if you havent hears of EvE?
White Snow
Night is Faint
Heart Forecast
Living idly and dying as if dreaming

 

[EOTFOFYL]

---

Spoiler: Legend Of The Galactic Heroes

---

 

[owlcity24]

 

[Zephyrus]

Best of You - Foo Fighters

It's actually no exaggeration to say that this AMV introduced me to the Foo Fighters!

 

[Mang-Oh]

The amv ever, I like it cause uh uh good transistions and banger editing ok bye

 

[Ranzo]

One of the best of the classic amvs
Shame that there are just so many that are lost forever

 

[NoDigit]

Eliwure by Kain-X-Spirits - Multiple Anime - Action, Sentimental

Backup

The first link has better quality. This is the first AMV that I remember grabbed my attention and led me down this treacherous path of AMV collecting. Now I have a massive list and file backups. Will probably post more in time.