
Animetronic: Going Past Eleven
by Adam "OMEGA" Arnold
What do you get when you put one
part heart-pounding electronic dance music and one part mind-bending
Anime together?
You get Animetronic, the latest development in the otaku world from the merged minds of Pioneer Entertainment and Hyperdisc, plus some yet-to-be-announced new partners.
Though anime music videos are not
anything new to the industry, the concept behind Animetronic
is one that may revolutionize the whole music video industry. And
if Pioneer's earlier attempt with Crimson Blade: The
Mix, a series of music videos featuring clips from the OVA
series The Hakkenden set to Magic Alec's euro-techno
music, is any indicator of the scope of what would come later, Animetronic
is sure to turn some heads in the months to come.
With the domestic release of the Sol Bianca
Animetronic music video on the first volume of Sol
Bianca: The Legacy, the true extent of the music videos can
be fully seen by the public. The music video features a techno-electronic
soundtrack that sets a truly powerful tone as a series of clips
from the first two episodes of Sol Bianca: The Legacy is
presented. The clips portray the elements that stick with a new
viewer who needs a push to pick up the show, such as the crew
drawing their guns at the auction, the discovery of Jun, the
spectacular air battles, and other key events. These images are
all tied together with exciting multi-colored sound-wave visuals
and a wide array of picture distortions, scene multi-layers, and
clip mirroring.
When the Animetronic
announcement was made on March 19 of last year it was stated that
"The joint agreement calls for Pioneer Entertainment
to release and distribute the Animetronic series in the
DVD and VHS formats. The digitally mastered DVD will feature
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, an interactive menu that allows
users to view alternative angles for each video, special artist
interviews, trailer footage, and extensive production notes."
Though this has yet to come to its full potential, a sold out Sol
Bianca Animetronic VHS promo tape with 12" vinyl record
was distributed to Professional DJs who registered at the Animetronic
website (http://www.animetronic.com/).
If plans hold up, future Animetronic
music videos may be released as affordable preview DVDs for eager
anime fans to catch a glimpse of upcoming anime series. In
closing, all that's left to say is that Animetronic is
here, and it blows all other anime music videos and preview
trailers away.
Further Resources:
Pioneer Animation
Animetronic
Hyperdisc Records
AnimeFan Online: News Service: "Animetronic" Melds Anime and Music
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