[Image: Pool Cleaners From Distant Planets]

About Our Work

Until 2002, the Pool Cleaners from Distant Planets were strangers to the anime community. Then, at Nan Desu Kan VI, the strangers introduced themselves by offering candy known as "Could We Please Have Sex?" That's right, they entered the anime music video contest. As for the choice of song, not only was the message right in line with the PCfDP "mission statement" (i.e., getting laid), but it was also by Opie Gone Bad, one of the best musical acts in the Denver area.

The Pool Cleaners didn't win any awards, but they certainly got the crowd's attention. The music rocked, the anime was from 25 different sources, and the content was extremely suggestive without really showing anything. Or, to put it another way, the video found the line that divided the MPAA's PG-13 and R ratings -- then danced all over it. In large boots.

See a sample of the video here.

The good-natured naughtiness continued with two more videos produced for the 2003 convention. Well, okay, maybe they weren't as naughty, but they were a lot of fun. Sadly, only one of the videos was shown. The first project, seen only by the contest judges, was "Abracadabra" by Steve Miller, which used 23 anime sources (and two video game sources) to show the different ways magic is used in anime. And fire...lots of fire.

The second project was "Big Eyes" by Cheap Trick. This video was done as a salute to anime in general -- and cute anime girls in particular -- and works on several levels. First, obviously, big eyes are one of the most notable characteristics of anime characters. Second, Cheap Trick has a very loyal following in Japan. Third, the recording of the song used is not the studio version, but a live recording from their famous concert at Tokyo's Budokan Hall. Finally, the frequent references to eyes in the lyrics of the song allowed the Pool Cleaners to use 32 different anime sources to show exactly what the song was about.

Again, the Pool Cleaners went away without awards, but did leave with new, much-needed insight into the contest. There was surprisingly limited response to "Big Eyes", and the Pool Cleaners decided that the problem was with trying to create something for the crowd rather than for themselves. This resulted in two projects for 2004.

The first was the largest project to date, and required both new hardware and new software to be properly implemented. The finished product, entitled "Channel Surfing", used 38 sources of anime, included music from 18 different performers, and ran over 8 minutes long. In voting for fan favorite, it came in fourth out of 31 videos shown. The second project was "Wide World of Anime", and used the narration and music from "ABC's Wide World of Sports". It has some good laughs despite being only just over a minute long, most notably the "agony of defeat", which is worse than just about anything that ever happened while coming off a ski jump. Best of all, the two projects were given the honor of having "bookend" positions for the music video contest; "Wide World of Anime" opened the show, and "Channel Surfing" closed it.

As we're writing and uploading this, we've just finished up our first evening at NDK in its new location (and we have to say we're impressed with the facilities), and we're looking forward to the presentation of the videos tomorrow afternoon. We're still not sure if we'll win any awards, but we at least expect to entertain the audience with our take on a song by one of the best bands of all time: "Happiness is a Warm Gun" by the Beatles.

Speaking of guns, it might be jumping the gun a little, but we've already had some initial discussions for what to do in 2006. We're hoping that the time and budget constraints that kept us from doing more in 2005 will be less of a factor, of course. Still in the works is a special edition of our very first video, using upgraded hardward and software, new sources of anime, and music from Opie Gone Bad's remastered re-release of their first album. Stay tuned.

Finally, in addition to just creating and submitting our own videos, we began last year giving out an award of our own. We're doing it again this year, and for as long as they let us. We're hoping that someday the Golden Pool Cleaner award becomes as coveted as NDK's Asukas -- or nearly so, anyway. Below are the guidelines to winning a Golden Pool Cleaner Award.

Guidelines for the Golden Pool Cleaner Anime Music Video Award as presented by the Pool Cleaners from Distant Planets at Nan Desu Kan

  1. The Golden Pool Cleaner AMV Award is awarded to the video maker(s) winning the highest number of votes from the membership of the Pool Cleaners from Distant Planets.
    1. The current membership of the PCfDP is five, so the only the only type of tie possible (a five-way tie) is very unlikely.
    2. Membership is closed at this time.
      1. New members may be considered in unusual circumstances.
      2. Prospective new members will be tested for extraterrestrial knowledge, alien genetic material, or large sums of cash that can be readily distributed among current members. Any of these factors will prove worthiness to join the PCfDP.
    3. "Significant Others" of PCfDP members may be solicited for an opinion, but will not have an actual vote.
      1. As of the time of this writing, membership for PCfDP Significant Others was still open.
      2. Propspective new members will be tested for female characteristics, ongoing breathing, tolerance of geek radiation, sense of humor, and very little else.

  2. The award is given primarily for two reasons:
    1. To show our organization's appreciation for the art of AMV production.
    2. We do not always agree with the NDK "fan favorite" choice and desired that our opinions be heard.
      1. Some of you are obviously on drugs when you vote.
      2. If necessary, we will provide official-looking documentation to the effect that we have much better taste than you do.
        1. Yes, we're arrogant.
        2. If you don't like it, start giving out your own damn award.

  3. Out of fairness, the Golden Pool Cleaner AMV Award will NOT be awarded to any video to which one or more members of the PCfDP have contributed.
    1. No, really.
    2. We're not kidding.

  4. Our choices may be completely arbitrary, but anime music videos that receive votes will almost always be funny, technically impressive, or both.
    1. Trust us; we know funny.
    2. We also know the difference between technically impressive and going over the top.
    3. Did we mention that our choice could be abitrary?

  5. If the NDK AMV team continues being kind and/or foolish enough to provide microphone time to our spokesalien when this award is given, the audience will receive an explanation for our choice.
    1. And perhaps some minimal verbal abuse.
    2. And no telling what else, really.

  6. The Golden Pool Cleaner AMV award may also be awarded in response to a bribe.
    1. Bribes of equivalent value must be offered to all members of the PCfDP.
    2. Cash is always welcome.
    3. Please ask if goods and/or services are wanted/needed by the PCfDP before offering them.
      1. Some services are always wanted/needed.
      2. Wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more.

Site Copyright © 2003-2006 Pool Cleaners From Distant Planets. All Rights Reserved.