Anime Expo has always been a exciting convention to go to for those who love all things anime.  But one of the most well loved competitions that takes place every year at AX is the AMV competition.  This year had a plethora of wonderful AMV’s created by very talented people.  Here are the winners (and some runners-up) of AX 2018’s AMV competition and my thoughts on them!

Most if not all anime fans have seen at least one AMV in their life and have really enjoyed the art and talent that people have creating these Anime Music Videos.  Talented editors know just what parts of an anime or a fandom to showcase and the best ways to spark an interest in a show or movie that they really love.  So it was a great pleasure to get to watch all of the finalists in this competition as well as some honorable mentions.

The AMV competition, held every year at AX for the past 27 years, consists of several different categories of AMV’s and then fans in the audience get to vote which was their favorite AMV for each category.  This years categories were action, drama, fun & play, sentiments, rhythm & beat, and humor & comedy.  There were also two bonus genres ( parodies of tv commercials/tv intros, and parodies of movie trailers) which were judged by the judges, but were eligible for the Audience Choice Award.

I have created a youtube playlist of all the finalists (save for the few I couldn’t find) as well as a playlist for the winners.  I’ll add on the full list of finalists at the very end as well as a link to the playlists, but first let’s get into the winners!

Action Category

Finalists:  

– Heroes by AntaresHeart07 Song: “Home” by My First Story Anime: My Hero Academia

-Harum-Scarum by BioticAMVs Song: “Reckless” by Jaxson Gamble Anime: My Hero Academia

-Legends by EnergyPants Song: “Legend” by the Score Anime: My Hero Academia

-Holding out for (more) My Hero Academia by DL Song: “Holding Out for a Hero” by Jennifer Saunders Anime: My Hero Academia

-Chunchunmaru Hype by Hiroto Sumi Song: “Wanna Get Hype” by District 78 Anime: Konosuba

-Fire Alarms by Justis Song: “Death Valley” by Fall Out Boy Anime: Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress (found this AMV later. Further down list).

As one can see My Hero Academia dominated this category, and each of these videos were very strong, but the winner chosen (though I didn’t vote for it, I do appreciate how well made it was) was….. Holding Out for (More) My Hero Academia by DL!

This was very well edited and went so well with the song.  It was a tough choice to make between my choice (which was #6 due to liking darker content) and this one.  Well done DL!

Drama Category

Finalists:

-Down the Road by DopplerDo Song: “Down the Road” by C2C Anime:  Cowboy Bebop

-Lost Determination by Trenzilla (Tsunderbird Studios) Song: “Afraid” by No Wyld Anime: Terror in Resonance

-Covert Haven by PaNTSU oF d00m Song: “You Let me Walk Alone” by Michael Schulte Anime: Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood

-You Will Never Leave Me by Maboroshi Studios Song: “Fur Elise” by Hidden Citizens Anime: Memories: Magnetic Rose

-Rise Now and Fight by Tigrin (Otaku Lounge Productions) Song: “Save our city” by Ludo Anime: Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress

-Something Like This by Nekokitkat Song: “Something Like This” by Coldplay and the Chainsmokers Anime and Manga: My Hero Academia

This genre had, in my opinion, the best grouping of videos.  Each and every one of these entries were stellar.  There were definitely two, though, that really stood out.  These two stood out so much that there was such a close race between the two AMV’s for winner.  The judges awarded a runners-up award.

The Runners-up of the Drama Category is… Covert Haven by PaNTSU oF d00m.

Now this was my personal choice, but it was really close call for me between this one and the one which was the winner.  The reason why I chose this one was because I have a special place in my heart for Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood.  It is in my top four animes of all time.  And this AMV moved me to tears.  I thought it was so well done and really captured the heart in that anime as well shoot an arrow through my own heart.

As for the winner, this one was a stunning masterpiece.  I had a hard time not picking it. The only determining factor was the fact that Covert Haven moved me to tears.  And the winner of the drama category was… You Will Never Leave Me by Maboroshi Studio.

These two videos actually stood out as some of my favorites in the entire competition.  Well done to Maboroshi Studios and PaNTSU oF d00m.

Fun & Play Category

Finalists:

-SPF (Stereotypical Party Filler) by Gina Nelson Song: “Cake by the Ocean” by DNCE Anime(s): Various (51)

– Sweet and Sticky by Pieandbeer (Tsunderbird Studio) Song: “Bang Bang (ft. Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj)” by Jessie J Anime: Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt

-Shiny Teeth by Glitzer Song:  “My Shiny Teeth and Me” by NateWantsToBattle Anime(s): Various (62) Unfortunately, I have yet to find this AMV on youtube.

– S is for Sadistic by Kyci Song: “What Makes you Beautiful” by One Direction Anime: Blend S, New Game!

-Youth in Motion by Xophilarus (PixelBlended Studios) Song: “Afterlife” by Ingrid Michaelson Anime: A Place Further than the Universe

-Technicolor Dreamer by Kireblue Song: “Black and White” by Todrick Hall (ft. Superfruit) Anime: Little Witch Academy Another one where I could not find the AMV on youtube!

Now this was a fun category, not my favorite, but fun enough and two of these videos really stood out to me.  The winner of this category was… Shiny Teeth by Glitzer.

Unfortunately, this hilarious AMV was one I could not find on youtube. Let me just tell you that it was super funny and worthy of the winner’s title.  If I ever do find it, I will update this article to add it in.  I will, though, give a shout out to SPF (Stereotypical Party Filler) by Gina Nelson which was also very funny as well.

Sentiments Category

Finalists:

-Magic of Eternity by MadMegatax Song: “Don’t you give up on me” by Lissie Anime: Izetta: The Last Witch

-Fates Entwined by KushiiSmiles Song: “Between the Raindrops” by Lifehouse (ft. Natasha Bedingfield) Anime: Your Name

-Familiar by shorisquared (Tsunderbird Studios) Song: “When she Loved Me” by Sarah Maclachlan Anime: She and Her Cat: Everything Flows

-Changing the World to Be Ours by Kazemon15 (Espace Studios) Song: “Rewrite the Stars” from The Greatest Showman Soundtrack Anime: Snow White with the Red Hair (Unfortunately, I couldn’t find this AMV on youtube).

-Dream the Impossible by BecauseImBored1 Song: “A Million Dreams” from The Greatest Showman Soundtrack Anime: Gurren Lagann

-Vivant by Pieandbeer (Tsunderbird Studios) Song: “I Lived” by OneRepublic Anime: Wakfu

Now this category is notoriously known for being the tear jerker category, and this year was definitely no different.  There are two outstanding AMV’s in this category.  The Winner has been sweeping the top titles of many expo’s and conventions, and most of time it sweeps it easily.  This competition, though, there was one other AMV which gave the winner a run for it’s money and thus this second AMV got awarded runners-up.

And the Runners-up AMV was… Dream the Impossible by BecauseImBored1.

This was indeed a very good AMV and it definitely peaked my interest in wanting to watch Gurren Lagann, but it was tough beating the winner.

And the winner was… Familiar by Shorisquared (Tsunderbird Studio)

This AMV really brought everyone to tears.  It was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time because most people has had a pet that they have loved and have lost.  This one was just so well done and I want to give a special appreciative nod to Shorisquared for making this insanely moving AMV.  Excellent work, and well worthy of being a multi-con winner with this entry!  I want to also note that this won the judges choice award as well!

Rhythm & Beat Category

Finalists:

-Sunny Days by Pieandbeer (Tsunderbird Studios) Song: “Feel so Good” by B.A.P. Animes(s): Flip Flappers

-Counter by UnluckyArtist Song: “Noisy” by Noga Erez Anime(s): Various (16)

-Wanderlust by Verathin Song: “Undercover Martyn” by Two Door Cinema Anime: Cardcaptor Sakura

-Conquer Your Girl by AntaresHeart07 Song: “Feel So Good” by B.A.P. Anime(s): Various (11)

-Sour Diesel by Shin (PixelBlended Studios) Song: “The Sound” by the Sound Anime: Nisekoi

This was probably my least favorite category, but only due to preference.  This is by no means looking down on these very well done videos.  There was definitely one that stood out for me and, as it turns out,  for many other people as it was named the winner.

And the winner was… Counter by UnluckyArtist

Now this AMV I want to give high praise for the technical skill and all the work put into it.  There is a level of video editing mastery here that is one step short of art.  Well done UnluckyArtist!

Humor & Comedy

Finalists:

-Bizarre Dancer by MrShucker Song: “Coincidance” by Handsome Dancer Anime: Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure Series

-A Dragon Like Me by TheDestineeAMV Song: “Friend Like Me” by Robin Williams Anime: Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid

-Tra La LAAA! by Kirbygal Song: “Captain Underpants” by Weird Al Yankovic Anime: Shimoneta

-Dunces and Dragons by Mycathatesyou69 & King Redeem Song: “Dragon Slayer” by Ninja Sex Party Anime: Konosuba and Various (22)

Now this category had some pretty funny entries (as would be expected), but one really stood out and quickly became a fan favorite.

The winner of this category was… Dunces and Dragons by Mycathatesyou69 & King Redeem!

The other entries were good and got a few chuckles, but this AMV had people rolling.  I liked the mixture of different genres and clips from sources you would least expect (the Super Bowl and Game of Thrones being some of them).  It really had the audience in tears from laughing!  Excellent work mycathatesyou69 and King Redeem!

And now onto the bonus categories which were not voted on my audience unless it was to choose it for the Audience Choice Awards.  The next two group of videos were parodies of t.v. commercials and intros and parodies of movie trailers.  The judges decided who won each of these categories.  These videos played in between the different categories as a sort of commercial break.  They were eligible, though, to be chosen for Audience Choice Award.  Here are the bonus finalists.

Parodies of t.v. commercials/intro

Finalists:

-877-Yen-Now by Shorisquared (Tsunderbird Studios) Source Material/Song: J.G. Wentworth Commercial Anime(s): Noragami, Noragami Aragoto (Played after the Action Category)

-Konosubud by King Redeem (Tsunderbird Studios) Source Material/Song: “Bud Knight” Commercial Anime(s): Konosuba, Re:Zero (Played after the Drama category)

-Teen Titans Academia by UnluckyArtist Source Material/Song: “Teen Titans” Intro Theme Anime: My Hero Academia (Played after Fun & Play Category)

-Cialis in the FranXXX by PaNTSU oF d00m Source Material/Song: Cialis Commercial (2013) Anime: Darling in the FranXX (Played after Sentiments Category)

-Thirsty by MadMegatax Source Material/Song: Pepsi Commercial Anime: Yurikuma Arashi (Played after Rhythm and Beat Category)

Parodies of Movie Trailers

Finalists

-Samurai Jack: Fury Road by shorisquared (Tsunderbird Studios) Source Material: Mad Max: Fury Road trailer Anime: Samurai Jack (Played after the Action Category)

-Beauty and the Ancient Magus by FanEditz Source Material: Beauty and the Beast Trailer Anime: The Ancient Magus Bride (played after the Drama category)

-Synced Together Again by Tigrin (Otaku Lounge Productions) Source Material: Synced Together Trailer Anime(s): Various 28 (played after Fun & Play category)

-IT-otoro by Gina Nelson Source Material: The IT trailer (2017) Anime: My Neighbor Totoro (played after Sentiments Category.  Unfortunately, I could not find this AMV on youtube)

-Outlawz of the Galaxy Vol. 2 by Speedy180 Source Material: Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 Trailer Anime: Outlaw Star (played after Rhythm & Beat category)

These parodies were nice breaks between the categories and some of them really had you rolling or kind of touched you.  One of them did win Audience Choice awards.

The winner (picked by the judges) for best Parody of a t.v. commercial/intro was… Konosubud by King Redeem (Tsunderbird Studios)!

And the winner for best parody of a movie trailer was… Synced Together Again by Tigrin (Otaku Lounge Productions).

Both were very clever and very funny.  Check out all the parodies because they were all really good.  The IT-otoro by Gina Nelson actually won the Audience Choice Award.  Sadly, I was not able to find this AMV on youtube, but if I ever do, I’ll update this article!

Overall, I had a blast watching these very creative entries and getting to vote on them.  I also want to give a major shout out to the intro for the competition.  It was really well done and I wanted to show it.

Anime Expo 2018 AMV Competition Intro by Rider4Z (Otaku Lounge Productions) Song: Friction by Imagine Dragons Anime: Cowboy Bebop

Check out our youtube channel for lists of the finalists and the winners!