Contests

Art Contest:  Please see the Exhibitors page for info.

AMV Contest Rules

This will be the first year of the Motaku Anime Music Video Contest. Please read through all of the rules before entering your video. As this is our first year, we don’t expect to have an overwhelming number of entries this year, but there is still a chance there won’t be enough time to show them all, however slim. Please remember we are all human and some mistakes can be made, but we hope to have given ourselves enough time to be able to correct any issues before the convention.

  • Do not send us your only copy of your video, as it will not be returned to you. We will be far too busy to also add shipping videos back to our list of things to do. If you want to stop by the contest registration room on sunday after the contest, we can get your disc back to you at the convention if its that important to you.
  • You may send as many videos to the contest as you wish, but staff may only show some of them for time constraints or quality issues.
  • Please keep videos under 5 minutes if possible, if your video goes over the 5 minute mark by a bit, just let us know why in your entry notes and we can work with you. Minimum length is 30 seconds.
  • No extreme graphic, sexual, or overly vulgar content. Some artistic content will be permitted, but the judging staff reserves the right to disqualify any video they deem in poor taste. Generally, Keep it PG-13. Please use radio edits of any songs that would have a mature content rating.
  • Approximately 80% of each video must be made from video footage acquired from an anime source or video game cut-scene footage. Computer graphics, and similar material is acceptable; non-anime animated material is allowed, but not encouraged.
  • Approximately 80% of each video must be set to a music accompaniment. Alternate audio sources are acceptable for trailer-style videos, but are otherwise not encouraged.
  • Enties may NOT contain any audio taken from a commercial English dub.
  • Entries must be entirely the creation of the entrant, and not infringe on the rights of any third party.
  • Do not submit any videos that include subtitles or any commercial studio logos, only parodies of said logos. This includes DivX and website watermarks, and other logos not associated with the video. If you make a subtitle or logo yourself that serves a purposeful use on the video that is fine.
  • Specific times and dates for AMV events will be announced with the finalized schedule.

Submission Due Date

All videos must be in the hands of the AMV Staff (not postmarked) by midnight, September 15th, 2010. If for some reason you cannot make this deadline, you must make prior arrangements with the AMV staff before this date or your entry will not qualify.

Judging and awards

Prizes will be announced at a later date as they become finalized. One award will be given in each of the following categories:

  • Technical Achievement — Best use of editing, effects, and complex style.
  • Action/Adventure – Most adrenaline pumping.
  • Drama/Romance – Go ahead, make us cry.
  • Comedy/Parody – Make us laugh the most.
  • Judges’ Choice – The judges’ favorite, voted by the judges before the contest.
  • Audience Choice – The audience’s favorite, voted by ballot during the contest.
  • Best of Show – The overall highest scoring video in the contest.

The audience will vote by ballot for their favorite video in each category, along with their choice for best in show video, The audience response is 50% of the results, the judges are the other 50% (other than the Audience Choice and Judges’ Choice)

Editors do not need to be present at the con in order to win or receive an award.

Title Bumpers

Please do not include title bumpers to your videos. Title bumpers are defined as anything before or after the video itself that says what the video is, or who made it. We will be adding uniform title bumpers to each video shown in the contest. If your video is submitted with a title bumper, Motaku AMV staff will have you re-submit the video without the bumper in order to be eligible.

Submissions

All video submissions must be accompanied with appropriate video and editor contact information. Without the following information, one or all of your videos will not be eligible:

  • Editor Name(s)
  • Studio Name (if applicable)
  • E-mail address
  • Phone number

Also for each video provide the following information:

  • Video Title
  • Music or audio artist(s)
  • Music or audio title(s)
  • Name of footage sources
  • Name of ONE category preferred to be entered (AMV staff reserves the right to move any video to the category best suited for it)

There are two methods in which you may send in your entries:

The prefered method is to submit entries on-line by our upload form. Please be sure to make sure you send all the above info in the notes field, or your video may not be eligible.

Or you can mail your entry in on CD or DVD. If you mail your entry in by disc, please keep them in file format, not in a DVD Movie format. We can NOT accept entries on VHS or other form of videotape. Entries can be mailed to:

Jared Presler
c/o Motaku AMV Contest
1746 N McCoy
Independence, MO 64050

Video Formats

We would prefer that your file arrives as MPEG or AVI. If you choose to select a format that is different from the two listed please send us an e-mail at j.presler@motaku.org to make sure it will work with our system. We prefer that you handle any conversions yourself so you’re happy with the quality output. We have a lot of hard drive space available and would rather sacrifice size over quality, so please do not be afraid to send us the best quality video you have, we’re projecting on some very large screens and we want your video to look good as much as you do.

Also, please have the video name and studio name in the file name when submitting a video. ( AMVTitle – StudioX.avi ) This really helps us match the proper studio with their video in the contest and on the judging forms.

We will confirm all entries as soon after the deadline as possible. If there are any problems with your entry, we will do our best to contact you as soon as we know there is an issue.

If you have any questions, please contact j.presler@motaku.org. Also please keep an eye on the Motaku forums as some questions are answered there, it is also a good place to keep up to date on changes and updates.

Cosplay Contest Rules

Basic Information

We will again be splitting the Runway and Talent/Skits into two seperate events, on two seperate days, this practice will more than likely continue as long as Motaku does.
The runway will be fashioned as such, with three pose points that will be clearly marked on the floor, likely with tape or something similar. One will be located on the right side of the stage, one at the end of the runway, and one on the left of the stage.

Registration

  • All entrants will be required to fill out a registration sheet. All of the skit entrants must be listed, and all skit entrants must sign the form. ( i.e. There are 6 people in 1 skit. 6 people are listed on 1 entry form, all 6 participants sign that 1 sheet.)
  • These sheets will be available at the cosplay registration desk if you would like to fill them out the day of, or if you would prefer, there is a format at the bottom of this post, simply copy it, fill it out, and e-mail it to me at chitosei@mail.com with the subject heading: Motaku Runway Entry.
  • If you submit your registration electronically, YOU MUST STOP BY COSPLAY REGISTRATION TO SIGN THE PAPER. Unsigned entries WILL BE DROPPED.
  • Registration will close 3 hours prior to the event. NO ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS TIME! This allows us time to organize the entries and minimize chaos and confusion.

Green Room

  • Green room will be held an hour or two (depedant on what the scheduling chair allows for it) prior to the contest [The final time will be posted here in red as soon as the schedule is ready. Check back]. ATTENDANCE IS NOT OPTIONAL if you wish to participate. Failure to show up will result in the entry being dropped.
  • There will be a MAXIMUM of a 5 minute lee-way. This allows us time to run through any information, time for any craftsmanship questions from the judges, and time to look at the stage. Be there and ready to go, that hour goes fast.

Craftmanship Award

  • If you wish to submit your Cosplay for the craftsmanship award, please be ready with some form of documentation to present to our judges. It is your job to keep track of it until then.

Coloring Contest

  • Those who entered the Runway and skit portions last year will be familiar with the Greenroom coloring contest. This is available ONLY to runway and skit entrants. There WILL be a prize awarded for the person who colors best. The contest will begin as soon as greenroom does, and will officially end when the last contestant steps off of the runway. Crayons will be provided, you may not bring your own art media. Creativity scores extra points.

More than just cosplay

The runway is not ONLY for cosplay. We would like to see a variety of styles up there. Lolita, steampunk, candy, food-themed, traditional japanese, etc. If you can relate it to Japanese fashion trends or anime, We want to see it!

AWARDS

Last year we had some crossed wires on this one. As of right now, all awards for every contest will be presented at the closing ceremonies (there’s talk of it becoming more of an awards show than anything). If you win and are unable to attend, please notify Leona. THE WINNERS THEMSELVES WILL BE NOTIFIED AS SOON AS THE JUDGES HAVE MADE THEIR DECISION. I have no power to change this. I appologize for any inconvinience in advance.

Runway Rules

READ THEM. FOLLOW THEM.

  1. A maximum of 2 cosplay outfits will be allowed per entrant.
  2. All costumes MUST cover the goods. If it shows more than you’d wear at a public swimming pool, alter it appropriately. (No free shows, thank you.) If you have any questions or would like a final opinion before the con, send a picture of the character or costume or preferably both to chitosei@mail.com
  3. Group entries are allowed, but may contain NO MORE than 9 members. The stage crowds quick.
  4. No fighting. Do not “Take it outside” and don’t do it inside. Any physical fights or loud/disturbing verbal fights will not only get you disqualified, but possibly removed from the con.
  5. If you have read the rules and are submitting by e-mail, please put “Chubby Bunny” somewhere in your message, so that I know.
  6. Any entrants under the age of 14 must have a parent/guardian sign their entry form.
  7. Any entrants under the age of 6 must have a parent/guardian escort on stage.
  8. Motaku staff may enter a costume if they would like, BUT ARE NOT ELIGABLE TO WIN. Staff must wear their staff badge, so as not to confuse the judges.
  9. Motaku staff will be taking photo’s/video of the runway and skits. If you are not ok with this, please write that into your comments box on your entry form.
  10. All weapons/props must adhere to the general con Rules and weapons policy.
  11. If you are digitally submitting your entry form, you must stop by the registration table to sign the form.
  12. If you are able, please bring a picture of your cosplay character for our judges, to assist in judging accuracy.
  13. Shoes are required on the runway! Yes. Even if your character goes without them, you MUST wear shoes. It’s a safety precaution. The stage is slippery, if you fall it will hurt. It wont count against you, we promise. ^-^
  14. if you have read the rules to this point, please also place “Amulet heart” somewhere in the e-mailed form.

Skit Rules

READ THEM. FOLLOW THEM.

  1. A single person may participate in a maximum of 2 skits.
  2. This is a family event, please take that into considerations when costuming and scripting. If in doubt, e-mail the script to and I’ll let you know if it’s appropriate.
  3. A maximum of 9 people in any skit. The stage isn’t that big, and crowds easy..
  4. No fighting. Do not “Take it outside” and don’t do it inside. Any physical fights or loud/desturbing verbal fights will not only get you disquilified, but possibly removed from the con.
  5. If you have read the rules and are submiting by e-mail, please put “Chubby Bunny” somewhere in your message, so that I know.
  6. Any entrants under the age of 14 must have a parent/guardian sign their entry form.
  7. Any entrants under the age of 6 must have a parent/guardian escort next to the stage.
  8. Scripts must be at least 1 minute and a half long, and may run to a maximum of 5 minutes.
  9. Motaku staff will be taking photo’s/video of the runway and skits. If you are not ok with this, please write that into your comments box on your entry form.
  10. All weapons/props must adhere to the general con Rules.
  11. If you are digitally submitting your entry form, you must stop by the registration table to sign the form.
  12. If you are planning on pre-recording audio, please e-mail me to notify me. I’ll need to secure sound equipment.
  13. Shoes are required on the runway! Yes. Even if your character goes without them, you MUST wear shoes. It’s a safety precaution. The stage is slippery, if you fall it will hurt. It wont count against you, we promise. ^-^
  14. Please submit a typed copy of your script in person, or via e-mail, with the skit title at the top.
  15. If you are pre-recording audio, you will need to burn it to an audio C.D. to submit upon entry.
  16. If you have read the rules to this point, please also place “Amulet heart” somewhere in the e-mailed form.

Entry Form

Name: (your name, NOT your badge name)
Age group: (6 and under/ Between 6 and 14/ 14 and above)
Badge number: (You will need to fill this out when you sign this form on the day of the con)
Cosplay character/Genre OR Skit Name: (I.E. Cosplay Naruto, Lolita, steampunk, etc.)
Novice/Advanced: (Novice: less than 1 year of experience and have won no awards. Advanced: More than a year experience or have be previously awarded.)
Comments: (anything else you want us to know about your costume)

Remember. YOU WILL NEED TO COME SIGN THE FORM. ^-^

I will email you to confirm that your entry has been recieved. Feel free to e-mail me any questions at chitosei@mail.com.