Title: Moving Forward
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist
Pairing: gen
Categories: character study, fanvid, MMV (Manga Music Video)
Length: vid, 4min12s
Warnings: Some blood/horror and child characters in dire situations as per canon.

Author on Livejournal: n/a?
Author Website: Csakuras on YouTube | On AMV.org (as greyrose)

Summary: A tribute to Edward Elric.

Review: I will not be beaten//You have yet to see me shining, shining//I wont take this lying down

If you haven't stumbled across MMVs ever, they're simply still comic strip manga panels trimmed and edited and then vidded to music... the same as AMVs are the animated clips vidded to music. I think this particular video was the first MMV I ever encountered and it made an impression, managing to achieve unexpected heights with monochrome manga panels, song choice and timing, and I've always found it to have a real emotional impact in delivering the character's story.

The song (which I suspect I might not like so much in other circumstances) is perfect, and the vid captures all the arrogance and failure, pride and strength and contradictions and tragedy of Edward Elric, in a fashion I've yet to see matched by vidding the anime. This is one of those favourites I used to play on repeat when I was desperately awaiting the next chapters of the manga.

The vid is downloadable on AMV.org or streaming on YouTube.

Moving Forward

9/24

Title: Who We Are
Fandom: Gravity Falls
Pairing: Gen
Categories: Action/Adventure, Family, Supernatural, Vid
Length: 5 minutes
Warnings: Epilepsy Warning

Author on Youtube: All Channel Names Linked Here
1:AspellAnderson
2:Velo Cira
3:mistypancakez
4:mosse
5:Finchwing
6:ShadowRaven
7:watersee kitty
8: MtfoxX3
9:Flavvore
10:watersee kitty/Becca DeP
11: Jimsdeadbones
12:Meorow
13:Talarik
14:Dismay Dreamer
15:Kittson
16:WhiskerMoon
17:colacatinthehat
18:Nightrizer
19:MINE
20:Velo Cira/Shelby Stockstill
21:MapleSpyder
22:TheWitebear
23:harpiefunfun90
24:DS-Sketch
25:Thö Marawa
26:XxHazelstripexX
27:Callipepla Californica
28:ForsakenSpirits FS/Callipepla Californica/Deadly-Punch/Ayaneo/Toshii/R­ory Butt/Animatrocities

Summary: This video is an M.A.P. (Multi Animator/Artist Project) done in honor of Alex Hirsch's wonderful cartoon, Gravity Falls! 30+ incredibly skilled people all came together to bring this video to you over the course of four months, so leaving a like, fave, and comment really lets us all know you appreciate our effort!

Review: This is an interesting collab from a large number of different artists. Each of the different lines of the song are used to represent a different episode in the Gravity Fall's series.

Each of the episodes is illustrated by different artists. If you are familiar with the episodes, it is definitely neet to see them visually summarized.

As well as to see the different parts of the series that each of the collaborators wanted to highlight.

Who We Are

Title: Deep
Fandom: Farscape
Pairing: John Crichton/Scorpius
Categories: fanvid, dark, slash,
Length: VID, 4mins 8s
Warnings: Many, many warnings. Violence, torture, body horror, bloodplay, and definitely a non-con vibe. All of it direct from the source material. (Vidder rates Teen, I'd rate Mature.)

Author on Livejournal: rhoboat
Author Website: Rhoboat on AO3

Summary: You make me feel there's a part of me that I want to get back again.

Review: I'll start by quoting the prompt that sparked this vid, as the vidder does: "I have long wanted a vid that explores the creepy, sexualized, intertwined nature of their relationship, right down to the blood-licking in the last season. It would also focus somewhat on the Scorpius that lives in John's head, and how he can never get away from his tormenter, and their twisted relationship." - Prompt from Destina

Considering how overtly sexual the relationship was on-screen, there's not a whole lot of Crichton/Scorpius around. I guess that's because Scorpius is very much not a pretty boy in the conventional sense, but he was a unique and oddly tragic/sympathetic figure, and his enemy/ally(/enemy) relationship with Crichton was fascinating from any angle. This vid plays up the sexual, slash angle and makes as much a meal of the stuff that was on the screen as Scorpius lunching on Crichton's brain matter. (sorry.)

Great vid that captures the performances of the two actors and what they did with this relationship, which started out as interrogator/victim, and ended with the characters living so much in each other's minds and goals. The vid is also very violent and definitely has a non-consensual vibe to it.

Deep

Title: Na Na Na (Mad Max: Fury Road)
Fandom: Mad Max
Pairing: Gen
Categories: Action/Adventure, Apocalypse, Fusion, Future, Science Fiction
Length: 4 minutes
Warnings: Canon Typical Violence

Author on LJ: violace
Website: Violace's Youtube Channel

Summary: This is simultaneously a tribute to my favourite movie of the year and a nod to my favourite band and one of my favourite music videos of all time.
I know many of my old MCR era friends loved the movie as much as I did and it inevitably reminded them of Danger Days as well, so if any of them are reading this, know that I thought of you and the times we had on tour a lot while making this vid. ♥

Review: The Epic mashup between two post-apocalyptic desert and car themed fandoms.

Violace did a great job matching up elements of the movie with elements of the song. I particularly love how they wove in the drum beats of the song with drum beats of the movie.

A fun vid to get your blood pumping.

Na Na Na (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Title: Two-Faced Lovers
Fandom: Tiger & Bunny
Pairing: Gen
Categories/Genres: Music Video
Length: Short (3:08)
Warnings: Epilepsy warning

Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: dexm

Summary:

「チャーハンの具にしてやんよ！」　背腸ぬいたれやー。im1400924
お借りしたものは動画内にて

(SNP: No, I don't know what that means, and neither does Google Translate. Sorry.)

Review:

So long story short, MMD is a Japanese dance program that lets you choreograph dances using character models. dexm's video is actually a recreation of another video that uses the same choreography but a different version of the song. (Which makes this rather tenuously a Tiger & Bunny rec.)

As someone who can't understand a lick of Japanese, I find the majority of MMD videos to be briefly interesting, then rather boring. So while I'm certainly no MMD connoisseur, the fact that I can watch this one from start to finish without glazing over is the most poorly framed yet sincere praise I have ever given and will probably ever give. The camera angles constantly draw the eye and dexm introduces new video effects to keep the viewer ooh-ing and ahh-ing right up until the last frame. The color scheme of light and dark greys calls back to the song's original Vocaloid version and its video, but dexm introduces the darker color scheme and the Tiger & Bunny fandom's Dark Tiger to highlight the singer's ambivalence and confusion. Though there may be a great deal that's recycled from previous MMD versions of the song, dexm adapts and improves on the formula in a way that makes their version a must-see.

Visually, it's a delight, and the singer has a great rock and roll type voice that gives the song a certain vibrancy that the Vocaloid version sorely lacks. If you only watch one MMD video in your life, make sure it's this one.

NicoNico: Two-Faced Lovers
Youtube (not the creator's upload!): Two-Faced Lovers

Title: The Folly of 'Youth' (Feat. Daughter)
Fandom: Gravity Falls
Pairing: Gen
Categories: Au, Dark, Comic
Length: 4 minutes
Warnings: Spoilers for series,

Author on LJ:
Website: NormallyScott Youtube Channel

Summary: Either a dark prediction or an alternate timeline, all depending on when you watch this! Please support the amazing artist that let me/help me make this video!

Review: Lyric Comics are big in the Gravity Falls fandom. And I admit to a softspot for the medium.

They are basically comics/pictures, set to music with lyrics as the narrative to pull you through the story.

The art here is a nice call back to the original art in the series. And the narrative takes you through the events of the first half of the second season.

Definitely worth a watch if you are a fan of the series, I'm not sure how easy it would be to follow if you weren't familiar to begin with.

The Folly of 'Youth'

Title: Titanium
Fandom: Agent Carter
Pairing: gen
Categories: action, character study, fanvid
Length: fanvid, 3mins51
Warnings: canon level violence

Author on Livejournal: gwyn_r
Author Website: Gwyneth rhys on AO3 or http://www.gwynethr.net/

Summary: You shoot me down, but I won't fall, I am titanium.

Review: Today I bring a vid rec! Which, in all honesty, wasn't what I was searching for in this fandom, but I stumbled over it and it blew me away with its portrayal of Peggy Carter nonetheless. The vid is a character study of Peggy in all facets of action and adversity, much of which adversity is provided by the men who are supposed to be her colleagues and allies.

I've seen this song vidded before a few times (albeit not this exact version). Its use feels totally earned here, though, far too perfect a match to the message to be replaced by anything else. The cutting is pretty much spot on throughout, and some of the clips to lyrics matches are particularly poignant with the period sexism addressed in the show.

The video is streaming on Vimeo and you can also download it on the Vimeo link.

Titanium (LJ link here.)

Title: Check, Please! The Musical!: I Need Him on My Line (Reprise)
Fandom: Check, Please!
Pairing: Gen(-ish?)
Categories/Genres: Song
Length: Short (4:11)
Warnings: N/A

Composer on LJ: N/A
Composer Website: sailorsun7

Summary:

“Check, Please!” is an amazing webcomic, by the amazing artist Ngozi, about hockey, pie, and friendship. Check it out here: http://omgcheckplease.tumblr.com. It’s also just begging to be a musical (as are most things)! Here’s my take on hockey captain Jack Zimmermann’s big 11 o’clock number, in which he has an “aha moment” about a certain Southern baking boy…

Review:

So to provide a little context, the concept of a Check, Please! musical stems from an AU idea that the comic's creator, Ngozi, tossed up on Twitter one day. To the delight of the fandom, sailorsun7 took the idea and ran with it, unleashing upon the world this marvelous piece of artistry.

If you're a Check, Please! fan, this is not to be missed. If you are not (yet) a Check, Please! fan, fingers crossed that sailorsun7's amazing song is your gateway into the fandom. If you've already listened to it, come join me in my little corner as I simultaneously guffaw and weep about how in character the lyrics are for Jack.

Check, Please! The Musical!: I Need Him on My Line (Reprise)

Title: Megamind Tries to Be Like Grace Kelly

Fandom: Megamind
Pairing: Megamind/Roxanne
Categories: Fanvid, romance, humour
Length: video, 3.02 mins
Warnings: none

Author on Livejournal: n/a?
Author Website: raspberryseedz on YouTube

Summary: ... Roxanne doesn't like it.

Review: I could be brown / I could be blue / I could be violet sky
I could be hurtful / I could be purple / I could be anything you like

This may not be my favourite song in the world (Grace Kelly by MIKA) but it's perfect for Megamind's exuberance in this good-natured, fast-paced vid. The clipping and timing is spot-on and it manages to make the song its own.

My favourite aspect of this is probably the use the vid makes of the shapeshifter/master of disguise element in the movie, matching the lyrics to Megamind's attempts to be anyone but himself.

Megamind Tries to Be Like Grace Kelly

Title: Farther Along

Fandom: Haven
Pairing: Audrey/Duke/Nathan
Categories: OT3, friendship, romance, angst
Length: media: vid, 2mins 49
Warnings: none standard; covers seasons 1-3 only, religious imagery in lyrics.

Author on LJ: ant3ka
Author Website: Ant3ka on YouTube

Summary: Farther along // we'll know all about it // farther along // we'll understand why. Nathan, Duke and Audrey realize that they're stronger together.

Review: A while back I did propose to occasionally rec media, and since I posted earlier than usual, I figured I'd post a media rec, too.

We’re all cast-aways in need of ropes
Hangin’ on by the last threads of our hope
In a house of mirrors full of smoke
Confusing illusions I have seen...

Vidded to a beautiful song by Josh Garrels, this vid begins slowly showing Audrey alone with her personal mysteries, but soon opens out into exploring her relationships with Duke and Nathan, separately and together, their own t(T)roubles and mysteries, and the connection between the three of them... And how very important they are to each other, together through thick and thin, arrayed against the backdrop of the Troubles and the other less supernatural tensions of the town of Haven.

It's a couple of years old now so it doesn't cover the recent seasons 4 and 5(a). In fact, I think it makes quite the taster for the show, skirting the mysteries without too many concrete spoilers (just confusing/unreliable ones), and yes, these people are beautiful together and, yes, this show has one of the most convincing potential OT3s on television. Definitely a favourite.

Farther Along

Title: Fix You
Musical Artist: Coldplay
Fandom: Person of Interest
Pairing: Root/Sameen Shaw, Joss Carter/Cal Beecher, Joss Carter/John Reese, Grace Hendricks/Harold Finch
Categories/Genres: Drama, Action/Adventure, Angst, Friendship, Romance
Warnings: Canonical Character Deaths

Author on LJ: exampleusername
Author Website: Zurik 23M


Review:

So the other day, I was looking at the tvtropes page for Person of Interest, namely the Analysis page, and I was struck by how Zurik 23M's video characterizes almost all the major themes of the show. The vid showcases the cameraderie that forms between the members, witting and unwitting alike, of Team Machine. But while it demonstrates how the Machine's mission has healed and/or empowered the characters, it doesn't hesitate on the theme of loss, and how even as they've done so much good, they have all lost people important to them both in the past and along the way. Zurik 23M also captures the tone of the show with the choice of song, the lyrics hitting home without fail.

If you don't already watch Person of Interest, and you don't mind some pretty serious spoilers, I would definitely recommend this as an introduction to what the show is about and the remarkable cast of characters you'll get to know.

Fix You

Title: Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)
Musical Artist: Kelly Clarkson
Fandom: Die Hard 4: Live Free or Die Hard
Pairing: Matt Farrell/John McClane, Thomas Gabriel/John McClane
Categories: Action/Adventure, Angst, Alternate Universe, Crack, Drama, Established Relationship, Fluff, Humor, Romance
Warnings: N/A

Author on LJ: talitha78
Author Website: talitha78

Summary:

A John McClane/Matt Farrell slash vid set to a Kelly Clarkson song. I don't know what else to tell you.

Review:

So I've been sitting on this vid for, oh, a good two years now, perpetually thinking I'd already recced it. IMAGINE MY SURPRISE when I discover that I had not. No, imagine it. Imagine my wide-eyed cry of shock and the brief but unexpectedly intense spiral into contemplation of the fickle nature of memory. Are you imagining it? Yes? Good.

This is one of my favorite fanvids ever, not just because of the incredible skill with which talitha78 creates a genuinely plausible and definitely enjoyable story out of a mediocre movie and a Kelly Clarkson song, and not even because the clips are extremely well placed to narrate that story within the context of the lyrics. No, this is my favorite vid because John McClane is Kelly Clarkson. He is.

Go watch it. You'll see.

Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)

Title: God's Gonna Cut You Down
Fandom: Person of Interest
Pairing: Gen
Categories/Genres: Drama, Action/Adventure
Length: 2:17
Warnings: N/A

Author on LJ: astolat
Author Website: astolat shalott

Summary:

Everyone gets cut down in the end.

Review:

I've loved this vid for a long time, watched it repeatedly and intently, each time struck by the relevance of the lyrics and tone to the show's canonical story arcs. But I've never thought it more relevant than now, what with the changes that Season 3's finale have wrought on Season 4.

What makes the vid so memorable is the way it cuts to the heart of Person of Interest, to that Newtonian idea that what goes up must eventually come down. Like Icarus, villains small and large have risen up and been struck down by Team Machine, who in turn have been brought low from their height by a frightening new entity. As it bares its teeth in the early episodes of this new season, we can only hope that it isn't immune to the same cycle.

God's Gonna Cut You Down

Title: I Wanna Grow Old With You
Fandom: Merlin
Music Used: Grow Old With You by Adam Sandler
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Categories: AU, fluff, romance, established relationship, mild angst
Length: Short (1:26)
Warnings: Reference to canonical major character death and return

Artist on LJ: lil_lollypop36
Artist Website: Lilybells @ Tumblr

Artist's Summary:
I wanna grow old with you.

Review:
I've always been a fan of Lilybells' adorable Merthur chibis, but seeing them animated and set to music takes it to the next level. This video is unbearably sweet, cute, and just a little bit angsty. I wouldn't call myself an Adam Sandler fan, but this particular song is tender, loving, and drives a wonderful narrative when paired with Lilybells' art. Sometimes it's not about the passion and intensity, and this video captures all those tiny little moments of domestic bliss, all those little ways two people can show their love for one another day in, day out, through small and thoughtful gestures. Admittedly I'm a bit of a sap, but I tear up a little bit every time I watch it, and always feel very warm and happy at the end.

I Wanna Grow Old With You

Title: H4RDBOIL3D
Fandom: Homestuck
Pairing: Karkat/Terezi
Categories: Original animation and voice acting, film noir, frame story, romance, humor, AU
Length: Short (2 minutes)
Warnings: Technically none, although... major character death that isn't actually character death in the end due to plot twist

Artist on LJ: NA
Artists' Website: DW: Team Karkat<3Terezi (team_adorabloodthirsty) in the Homestuck World Cup 2013. Individual artist(s) currently anon.

Artists' Summary: A dark night in a city that knows how to keep its secrets...

Review:
This original film noir animation makes me smile with stellar art, script, voice acting, sound effects and music timed to the action. Terezi is fabulously fun and in character as the private detective. I especially loved her riff on Karkat's scent and the slight echo on the beginning and in her 'evil laugh'. Karkat's great as the background rambling shouter whose Fresh Prince albums have been snatched.

All parts shine! I'm not sure whether the animator and the voice actor are the same person, but this is some great work packed into two minutes. When I think of all they had to do -- from drawing the images and writing the script, to recording and editing the final piece, I'm... pretty much tired just thinking about it. Seriously impressive.

(I originally posted a review of the voice acting at the new DW comm Podfic Love - a good place to look for podfic recs, or to rec one yourself.)

H4RDBOIL3D

Squeezing in one last entry for Alternative Media Week!

Title: Wild Child
Fandoms: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Doomsday, X-Men, Battlestar Galactica, Merlin, The Last Legion, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Robin Hood (BBC), V for Vendetta, Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Rings, Doctor Who, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, 28 Days Later, Children of Dune, Legend of the Seeker, Blake's 7, Star Wars: A New Hope, Terminator: Salvation, Babylon 5, Farscape, The X-Files, Torchwood, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Smallville, Superman II, Pan's Labyrinth, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Peter Pan, Star Trek: First Contact, Enterprise, Underworld, Terminator II: Judgement Day, Aliens, Survivors, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Star Trek, Stargate: Atlantis, Batman Returns, Resident Evil, The Matrix, Star Trek 09, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Ashes to Ashes, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Children of Men, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Star Trek: Voyager.
Pairing: Gen
Categories: Action/adventure, women being awesome!
Length: 3:48 minutes
Warnings: None

Author on LJ: calapine
Author Website: Unknown

Author's Summary:
A multi-fandom vid for halfamoon's celebration of female characters.

Review:
calapine makes an unconventional but beautiful choice with her song, and for something so epic in scope, she makes it impactful on a personal scale as well, and deeply uplifting. This tribute is amazing not only for its subject matter, but also for its diversity. Women are not just awesome when they are gorgeous and kick-ass and come out with both guns blazing, but they're also awesome when they're doing science experiments, or being brave, or making difficult decisions.

Women can be some of the most harshly judged characters on screen -- because often, women are their own harshest critics. This vid highlights some unexpected choices, and reminds us that every single woman is more than just the few seconds we see them on screen -- they each have their own stories.

Wild Child

Title: Buffy vs Edward: Twilight Remixed
Fandom: Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, Twilight
Pairing: gen
Categories: meta, crossover
Length: 6:03 minutes
Warnings: stalking, main character death

Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: rebelliouspixels on youtube, http://www.rebelliouspixels.com/ & http://blip.tv/rebelliouspixelscom

Author's Summary:
In this re-imagined narrative, Edward Cullen from the Twilight Series meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It's an example of transformative storytelling serving as a pro-feminist visual critique of Edward's character and generally creepy behavior. Seen through Buffy's eyes, some of the more sexist gender roles and patriarchal Hollywood themes embedded in the Twilight saga are exposed - in hilarious ways. Ultimately this remix is about more than a decisive showdown between the slayer and the sparkly vampire. It also doubles as a metaphor for the ongoing battle between two opposing visions of gender roles in the 21ist century.

Review:
This vid is wonderful on so many levels. It's a great mash-up of two canons, showing how Buffy would react to Edward's "courtship" style. It's vampire slayer versus vampire, but it's also an empowered woman against a creepy guy. Go, Buffy, go! Further, it's a great example of a transformative work, showing how you can take video from various sources and create something new and meaningful.

This remix vid has been around since 2009, and has been discussed by many others far more cogently regarding both its excellent social commentary and how it's a great example of a transformative work under fair-use in copyright law. But beyond all that, it's a great vid. I admit I'm not a Twilight fan; Edward's romancing style of watching people while they sleep and following them around always creeped me out, and it's so fun to see Buffy commenting on it, being concerned, not putting up with it,
and finally taking care of business.

[Note: recced previously on epic_recs by jane_elliot here]

Buffy vs Edward: Twilight Remixed

bonus materials:
creator's original post with commentary
FAQ post about the remix
creator's blog post about the recent erroneous DMCA take-down and reinstatement of the vid

Title: They Want More
Fandom: Jurassic Park trilogy
Music Used: "I Want More" by Elton John (edited demo from Lestat the musical)
Pairing: gen
Categories: crack, dark humor
Length: 3:31 minutes
Warnings: per creator: "Dinosaur-related violence, gore, cruelty to animals, morbid humor. One clip has possible overtones of sexual threat. There is lightning at :23-:24 and 1:18-1:19."

Author on LJ: bironic
Author Website: unknown

Author's Summary:
The inevitable outcome of cloning giant carnivores.

Review:
Okay guys, are you fans of dinosaurs? How about dinosaurs serenading you about how bloodthirsty they are and how much they like eating people, complete with full visuals? If this sounds like your type of humor/fun, then this is the vid for you. Bironic must have found every moment of dinos stalking and chomping down on people (and animals) in the Jurassic Park trilogy and set it to Elton John's vampires-bloodlust-for-eating-people song from the defunct Lestat musical. Morbid, yes, but also darkly humorous.

They Want More (vidder's LJ)
They Want More (festivids)

Here's a another entry in our Alternative Media Week!

Title: Star Trek: Tik Tok
Fandom: Star Trek: The Original Series
Music Used: Tik Tok by Ke$ha
Pairing: gen with slight Kirk/Spock
Categories: crack, humor
Length: 2:31 minutes
Warnings: n/a

Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: MissSheenie on youtube

Author's Summary:
Working on the Enterprise is pretty much a non-stop party as far as I'm concerned. (Probably because the only parts I pay attention to are the Kirk/Spock moments, Scotty when he's drinking, Chekov when he's macking on his girlfriend and doing no work, and Uhura singing and just HAVING A GOOF in general.)

Review:
A vid that is just pure fun! Who knew the Star Trek crew was such party animals? MissSheenie must have found every single clip where they're drinking something, I swear. Beyond that, the vid is so well edited to the song, with the crew getting up, putting on their sunglasses and proceeding to party down. Drinking, dancing, fighting, grooving, this vid has it all and is such a blast. If you need a happy moment (and to be reminded of a couple seriously peculiar moments in TOS) check it out.

Star Trek: Tik Tok