Haruko the Superfreak

Download: MPEG-1, 352x240 (36.3 MB) (Please right-click and select "Save As...")
Or from AMVs.org: XviD AVI (will play back with DivX 5), 480x352 (50 MB) (just click it)

Convention record:
Asuka Award co-winner (with "NERV Evening News") at Nan Desu Kan 7
Judge's Award "for technical quality and general fun-ness" at AnimeNEXT 2003
Also a participant in the Anime Weekend Atlanta 9 Video Art Expo

Notes:

Finally, the first video for which I can say I actually knew what I was doing, technically speaking. Just about the only thing that I can think of that I didn't do but should have is to put it through a cleaning filter or two.
If you can get the XviD AVI version hosted on the Org, please do so. Unlike with "NERV Evening News" where I really don't care which version you get, in this case, the AVI simply kicks the MPEG's butt.

When Synch-Point finally released the third and final volume of FLCL on DVD in July 2003, and the copy I'd preordered through BestPrices.com finally arrived, one of my first thoughts was of what AMV could I make from the footage. Personally, I love FLCL; it's one of my favorite series. So I really wanted to make a video with it.
My first thought was actually to use "Long Lost" by Better Than Ezra (I'm kinda surprised there are only three BTE vids on the Org...) and have it be a dramatic-type video... the music seemed to fit the show's style very nicely, and the words work fairly well as well. However, when I thought of using "Super Freak", I knew "Long Lost" would have to sit on the back burner for a while.

If you've seen FLCL, you know that Haruko is a pretty freaky character. I tried to include as many of her wackiest moments as possible for this video.
And if you haven't, this video doesn't include any spoilers as far as I know.
Credit is due to Cyanna for the idea for the "such a freaky scene" lines. :)

At AnimeNEXT, this video found itself in the same category (Comedy) as videos from such creators as Doki Doki, Absolute Destiny, Tom the Fish, and Kusoyaro. Absolute Destiny won with "I Wish I Was a Lesbian", as I'd expected. What I didn't expect is that someone I didn't know (and who is not listed on the Org last I checked) would take honorable mention ahead of Doki, Tom, and Kusoyaro, AND that I'd get the Judge's Award (which a video could only win if it hadn't gotten first or honorable in its category).

Further information can be found at this video's information page on AMVs.org.