Anime Music Videos, or AMVs for short, are appearing more and more on YouTube. Why? Well, to show your appreciation for a show, instead of just clipping out your favorite scenes and sharing it with others, making a full-blown music video is a little more creative and way more impressive.
You can add special effects, use epic-sounding music, control the mood (sad, funny, etc), and basically make a true work of art.
One of my favorite artists is “Raven” - she makes remarkably good AMVs for Avatar. I honestly don’t expect many people beside Charlene and David to appreciate this, but these are pretty cool to watch and they have great music. Hope you like them too. =)
Katara - Mojave / Great focus on character
Avatar - Into the Fire / Good display of character emotions
The “mecha” genre in anime has long been a criticized one.
It’s not because giant robots are impractical or childish (as if anime ever obeyed realistic physics), but because they usually follow a rehashed formula… child finds giant robot, discovers he has some hidden power inside him, meets terrifying enemy (aliens, military, etc), and becomes a better fighter using his mecha until he single-handedly defeats said enemy.
And in this overdone genre, Eureka Seven stands out. Why? Because it tries to be different. That’s not to say it doesn’t contain elements from its genre roots… yes, there’s a mecha, and yes there’s a child with some overpowered abilities… but Eureka Seven goes far beyond that. This isn’t a plot of “travel from point A to B” or “go from zero to hero” – it’s a tale of a boy who needs more from life, who needs to know what he’s supposed to do in this world, and mainly how everyday events keep changing not just him but the people around him. From dealing with his first serious crush, to deciding whether it’s alright to kill an army through a weapon of mass-destruction, Eureka Seven wants to flesh out its characters and story far beyond the typical mecha show.
However, just having a grand scope isn’t enough to make a good show. Fleshing out your characters isn’t worth it if they aren’t likable, and fleshing out your story isn’t worthwhile if it becomes too complicated or confusing. *cough EVANGELION cough* It’s not enough to have a strong idea for a foundation if its parts aren’t put together well. So let’s just find out for ourselves how entertaining this modern mecha is, and whether it will be as memorable as it promises or not…
As the night started and I wondered how to spend it– and I immediately thought of a couple fun ways to keep entertained– I also wondered if I should spend some time with God.
And the question came, do I have to? Since I already spent prayer and study time earlier? I know God isn’t bothered by our usual entertainment time; it’s the condition of our heart that matters. So what’s a good balance between time with the Lord, and everything else?
Then I thought… Heck with it. I want to spend some time with God. =) I want to love Him more than anything else. So I started praying. And almost immediately, I could feel His presence in the room and this sensation of… He loves me and wants me to know it. I thought, this is what it feels like, to feel loved. And I started thinking about the words in this song by Dennis Jernigan, so I played it… and afterwards, decided to blog on it…
Please press the Play button below and hear it for yourself. Just listen to the words, don’t even finish reading until it’s finished. The song is simple, but Holy Spirit inspired:
Sometimes we approach life and perceive God as a set of rules we must abide by, in order to live a full and blessed life. But that’s not what our connection to God is about. It’s not what we were made for. We were made for something much more personal.
And as I listen to this song, I’m reminded… my Father loves me. I can feel loved. He’s actually interested in me… me, as an individual. I’ve seen his favor and forgiveness countless times. And it wasn’t because I earned it, it was because He outright loved me as I am.
It’s such a basic lesson, I know. But sometimes it’s nice to be reminded of the basics. It’s all about love. It’s all about God’s love. And in this daily life… where it feels like I’m not enough, or one slip-up or breaking of the rules and it could all topple over (though that’s a deception)… it’s a comforting thought that I’m loved that much. I don’t live to follow the rules or have a good life. I live this road because I love God, and He loved me first.
