AMV Contest

What is an AMV?

"Anime Music Video" (AMV) is a video production that uses footage from one or more animated works in conjunction with a musical track to create a whole new piece of performance art. The source footage can come from anime series, movies, video games, commercials, or even custom animated art designed by the editor. As for the music, any type of song can be used—including tracks created by the editor.

Did you know you can learn how to edit your own AMV? We have great videos that will teach you how to get started. Click the Learn How link below to check out build–your–own AMV videos by our AMV guru, Chris.

How to Participate

If you would like to enter our AMV contest for OneAnime Halloween 2025 at the Davis Convention Center, then sign up below. Also, please review all rules and guidelines provided on this page before entering!

Contest Rules & Guidelines

1. Contest entries must be received no later than 11:59 pm MST on October 15th, 2025. If your submission is late, please contact us ahead of time so that accommodations may be considered. We understand that international shipping can be difficult; however, we absolutely cannot accept any video submissions AFTER October 8th, 2025. No exceptions!
2. Videos submitted to this contest must have a finalization date of no older than January 1st, 2025. Videos older than this must be authorized by the contest staff. All inquiries should be sent to [email protected] via email. Any video previously submitted to OneAnime’s AMV contest cannot be resubmitted.
3. By submitting your video, you affirm and agree to grant the contest sponsors and organizers (herein referred to as OneAnime and its affiliates) the unconditional license to publish, reproduce, distribute, and otherwise utilize your submission—either in its entirety or in part—on the internet, in exhibitions, advertising, media, or wherever necessary for promotional purposes. Credit will be attributed to you. If we use your video, we will inform you whenever possible.
4. By submitting your video, you affirm that it is entirely your creation and does not infringe on the intellectual property or other rights of any third party (including channel, TV, studio, or program watermarks). If it does, you must present proper authorization or license upon request.
5. Each editor is allowed to submit up to 4 videos. This includes submissions from multiple editor projects.
6. All submissions must be no longer than 7 minutes in length. Any video exceeding this limit will be disqualified.
7. All video submissions must conform to a uniform standard of decency. Videos containing excessive violence, explicit sexual behavior, excessive sexual innuendo, or overly explicit lyrics will be disqualified. We aim for a PG-13 rating; suitability will be determined by the judges and contest staff. If you wish to use music with questionable lyrics, please use a clean or radio edit version.
8. Approximately 80% of each video submission must consist of footage acquired from an anime/manga source. While video game footage, computer graphics, and similar material are acceptable, non-anime animated material is not encouraged.
9. No less than 75% of the video's total runtime must have musical accompaniment.
10. Subtitles are allowed only if used for artistic or thematic reasons. Videos with fan-sub or official subtitles, credits, or incidental text not removed prior to submission will be disqualified.
11. All video submissions must be at a minimum resolution of 640×480 (full screen) or 640×360 (widescreen), and must use an approved compression format. (Refer to the Submission Guidelines page for more details.)
12. Parody videos of original or derivative material are allowed, provided all standard submission rules are followed.
13. Videos will be sorted by the judges and organizers into the category that best suits them. Category choices on the submission form serve only as a recommendation.
14. We will add a bumper before and after each video presented during the contest event. These bumpers will display the video title, source material and music, the submitter’s editor nickname and/or studio name, and the video’s category and length. Do not add your own bumpers, logo scenes, website links, watermarks, or personal intros; such additions will disqualify your entry unless deemed an integrated part of the video (at staff discretion).
15. All decisions by the judges and contest staff regarding judging results, presentation, and contest organization are final. For questions, contact the contest directors at [email protected].
16. For multiple editor projects, please designate one Contact Editor to submit the AMV and handle all correspondence with contest staff. This minimizes duplicate entries and ensures efficient communication.
17. Only one copy of each video submission will be accepted, regardless of the number of editors. If multiple copies are received, we will contact each editor and request that all but one entry be canceled. If necessary, submissions will be vetted on a “first come, first served” basis — only the first entry will be kept.
18. By entering a multiple editor project, you confirm that you have express permission from all involved editors to distribute the work. In turn, you grant OneAnime the permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, and display the submitted AMV as needed for exhibition and promotional purposes.
19. Prizes for multiple editor projects will be identical to those awarded for single editor submissions. If multiple editors of a winning video are present at the OneAnime AMV Awards ceremony, please inform contest staff so that all contributors are acknowledged.
20. All prizes will be shipped to the address provided on the submission form. Please allow 4-8 weeks for delivery; OneAnime is not responsible for shipping complications due to customs or external factors.

AMV FAQs

What is an Anime Music Video? An AMV is a video production that combines footage from one or more animated works with a musical track to create a new piece of performance art.

How does the AMV contest work? Editors send us their AMVs, which are pre-screened by our judges. The best submissions from each category will be showcased at OneAnime Halloween 2025. During the event, both audience votes and guest judge evaluations determine the winners.

How do I submit an AMV? Submit your AMV via our online submission form. All digital submissions and emails containing download links must be received by 11:59 PM MST on the deadline.

What are the acceptable video formats? We prefer common formats such as AVI, MP4, MOV, MPEG2, and MKV. Videos must be at least 640×480 resolution.

What audio formats are acceptable? Acceptable audio formats include WAV, PCM, AC3, and MP3 at a minimum bitrate of 160kbps.

Do I have to be present at the contest? No, you do not have to be present at OneAnime. If you cannot attend, you may designate a proxy to accept prizes on your behalf.

Are entries sorted by category? Yes. Entries are sorted into categories such as ACTION, COMEDY, DRAMA, and CATEGORY X. Your selection on the submission form is only a recommendation; judges may reassign entries.

What awards are available? Awards include category-specific popular vote awards, a Best in Show/Fan Favorite Award, a Local Award for the best locally produced AMV, and a Judges' Award for exceptional technical or creative achievement.