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AMV Contest

Put your favorite video games and anime to the ultimate soundtrack! Combine video and music in a beautiful AMV (anime music video) that can move audiences to laughter or tears...or maybe even both! Whether it’s heartbreaking dramas or fierce action, wow us with your technical know-how and artistic talent.

Videos with content (language, violence, or sexuality) above a PG-13 rating must enter our 18+ contest.

Want to see what your fellow AMV fans have created? Don’t miss AMV showings, where we’ll screen the entries in both categories!

Contest registration can be found in Willow Room and will be open during the following hours:

Friday: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m

Rules:

  1. One AMV (anime music video) entry per contestant, per contest. You may enter both the General and 18+ contests. If an entry is disqualified for any reason, you may enter an alternate AMV at the judges’ discretion. Entrants may also provide additional AMVs for filler screening, not to be entered into the contest.
  2. Videos must be created by the contestant. Any confirmed plagiarism may result in disqualification from this contest and all future Naka-Kon contests.
  3. Mature AMV contest entrants must be over 18 years of age.
  4. Videos may be no longer than 6 min. If your video has a valid reason for needing more time, please contact Contests staff.
  5. Videos must contain at least 75% non-repeating footage of Japanese origin.
  6. Videos may have creator identification at the beginning or end. Intros or ending credits may be no longer than 10 sec. in length.
  7. For the general contest, videos must be kept at a PG-13 rating by MPAA standards, for both music and clips. If you are unsure whether your video meets this requirement, contact contest staff to arrange a preview. Videos disqualified from the general contest because of content will be moved to the 18+ contest.
  8. Judges reserve the right to block a video for any reason they deem necessary, including quality or formatting.
  9. Entrants must be present to win. Contestants must check in at contest registration any time before 4pm on Saturday.
  10. All clips used must be from sources obtained legally. Any indication that material was obtained from other sources will be grounds for disqualification and banning from both contests.

Formatting:

  1. Creators may use any codec or file format they deem appropriate or necessary, provided that it will run in Windows Media Player. If it will not play, the entry will be disqualified. Preferred format is .avi.
  2. Please make your video as high-resolution as possible with proper compression. If it does not play in full-screen mode on your computer without looking grainy, it will certainly look poor on a projector. Low quality AMVs may be disqualified or not shown.
  3. Please use the highest-quality audio possible. If you hear static, pops, or hisses in the background when played through computer speakers or headphones, they will be very noticeable during the showing when played on large speakers.
  4. Videos should be submitted as data-only files (such as .avi). Files burned to disc must not be in VCD or DVD format. Submissions received in an improper format will be disqualified. The preferred method of submission is transfer via USB drive.

Contest Deadlines:

  1. There will be NO electronic submissions. Bring your AMV to contest registration for submission.
  2. Contestants must be present at Naka-Kon to enter.
  3. Entries will be accepted at the convention until 4pm on Saturday.
  4. Judges may limit the number of entries if there are too many AMVs to review beforehand or show at the screening.
  5. Awards will be presented at the end of both General and Mature AMV showings.