How to Start Making AMVs
If you want to start making anime music videos but you do not know where to begin, this is the roadmap I wish I had when I started. It is not a deep technical tutorial. Think of it as the big picture: the order to learn things in, and why each step matters. Once you understand the path, each step has its own deeper guide you can follow when you are ready. Let us go through it the way I would actually do it if I were starting today.
Quick answer To start making AMVs: get your footage, understand basic encoding so your quality survives, pick one editing software and master it before adding others, learn the plugins and presets that save you time, then find inspiration and get creative. Pick a song that sets the mood, and most of all, have fun and keep improving. Everything you need is free and accessible in 2026, so there is no reason not to start.
The 6-step path (tap any step to jump)
Get your footage
This is the first thing every editor needs to learn, because you cannot edit anything without clips. Footage curation just means collecting the scenes you want to work with and keeping them organized. Good footage is the raw material of your whole edit, so it is worth getting right from day one.
The fastest way to get clean, ready-to-use anime clips is our own library at animeclips.online/clips. Every clip is pre-cut, in its original framerate, with no logos or watermarks, so you can drag it straight into your editor. If you are brand new, our guide on how to download anime clips walks through the whole flow.
If the show you want is not in our library yet, you can grab the raw episodes from nyaa.si and cut your own clips. We even host a built-in nyaa.si search so you do not have to leave the site. Cutting your own footage takes more time, but it teaches you a lot about pacing and what makes a clip usable.
Keep it organized. Make a folder for each project and keep your clips sorted from the start. A messy clip folder is the fastest way to kill your motivation halfway through an edit. Good habits here save you hours later.
Understand encoding
Before you start editing, take a little time to understand how video quality works. I am putting this early on purpose, because so many new editors make a beautiful edit and then ruin it on export with the wrong settings. If you understand the logic now, you will never have to wonder why your AMV looks worse on YouTube than it did on your timeline.
You do not need to become an expert. You just need to understand the basics: what a codec is, what a container is, and the difference between remux, encode, and transcode. I broke all of that down in plain English in our guide on remux vs encode vs transcode. It also covers the export settings I recommend for a final AMV.
The one rule that matters most: match your source framerate, never change it. Anime is usually 23.976fps, and forcing it to 60fps is one of the most common beginner mistakes. I explain exactly why in our guide on anime frame rates and why you should never edit AMVs in 60fps.
Pick one editing software and master it
This is the most important step, because your editing software is where you will spend the vast majority of your time. So my advice is simple: pick one and master it before you touch anything else. Do not jump between five programs as a beginner. Learn one deeply, get comfortable, then later you can add other software to your arsenal once you actually have a reason to.
Below are the common choices, split into free and paid so you can pick by budget. Tags show the cost and who each one suits.
Free to start
DaVinci Resolve Free
Free version is fully usable. Studio is a one-time $295, no subscription.
The strongest free option by a mile. Multi-track editing, Fusion effects, and the best built-in color tools of anything here. The free version has no watermark and no time limit. Steeper than CapCut, but the ceiling is high.
HitFilm Free
Free tier, optional paid add-ons.
Editing plus a built-in effects and compositing engine. A good free pick if you want VFX and cinematic looks without jumping straight into After Effects.
Shotcut Free
Free, open source.
Fully free and open source, broad format support, runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Less polished than Resolve, but completely free with no catches.
Kdenlive Free
Free, open source.
The most feature-rich of the open-source editors. Multi-track timeline and effects that rival some paid software. Great if you are on Linux or just want zero cost.
OpenShot Free
Free, open source.
The simplest free desktop editor. Light and easy, good for very first cuts, though it is the most basic of the bunch.
Paid (the industry tools)
After Effects Paid
From about $22.99/mo on the annual plan (Adobe Creative Cloud). Students pay less.
The most popular choice for modern AMV and edit styles. Huge plugin ecosystem, great for effects, transitions, and anything flashy. Steepest learning curve, but the highest ceiling.
Vegas Pro Paid
From about $17.95/mo, or a one-time buy around $219.95.
A long-time favorite in the AMV community. Friendly timeline, fast to learn, great for cuts and beat-syncing. Less intimidating than Premiere.
Premiere Pro Paid
Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, similar pricing to After Effects.
A solid all-rounder, good if you also do other video work. Pairs naturally with After Effects since both are Adobe.
Then choose your device
Here is something a lot of older guides miss: editing is not limited to having a PC, and it has not been for a while. Mobile editors have carved out a real space in the community, and some incredible AMVs and edits are made entirely on a phone. If a computer is not an option for you, that is no longer a dealbreaker. Pick the device you actually have and start there.
Mobile editors
CapCut Free
Free, with an optional Pro tier. Android and iOS.
The easiest entry point, period. Clean interface, tons of built-in effects, and 4K export with no watermark even on the free version. Where most short-form editors begin.
Alight Motion Free
Free with watermark. Pro is about $4.99/mo or $29.99/yr to remove it. Android and iOS.
The serious mobile editor. Real keyframe animation, layers, vector graphics, and easing curves. The go-to app for editors making complex animated edits on a phone.
Node Video Free
Free with limits, paid subscription. Android and iOS.
A powerful mobile option with node-based compositing and strong keyframe control. A step up in capability for editors who outgrow CapCut.
There is no single right answer. Pick the one that matches the style of edits you want to make and the device you have. The goal is mastery of one, not a shallow understanding of many.
Learn your plugins and presets
While you are learning your software, learn the plugins and presets that work with it. This is one of the biggest advantages of starting in 2026: almost everything you need is free and accessible. There is genuinely no reason not to use every tool available to you. Plugins and presets save you time and effort, and they let you focus on being creative instead of fighting with technical setup.
If you chose After Effects, we have two guides to get your toolkit started:
- Our roundup of free After Effects plugins every new AMV editor should install.
- The recent news that Motion Fun made all of its After Effects tools free, including a color palette tool that used to cost money.
Do not go overboard installing fifty plugins on day one. Learn a handful well, the same way you are learning your software. A few tools you understand deeply beat a folder full of plugins you never open.
Find inspiration and get creative
Once your footage, encoding, and software are sorted, this is where the fun begins. Inspiration is everywhere. The best way to find it is to go on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube and watch your favorite edits. When you see something you love, try to understand what the editor is actually doing. Break it down in your head, frame by frame if you have to.
Feel free to copy edits you admire. Recreating an edit you love is one of the fastest ways to learn, because it forces you to figure out every step the original editor took. This is not cheating, it is how almost everyone learns.
As you watch, start to curate. Pay attention to the kind of edits you keep coming back to and ask yourself: what style of AMV do I actually want to make? There are many styles out there, and you do not have to be good at all of them. Pick one that calls to you and slowly delve into it. Study it, recreate it, and build on it until it starts to feel like yours. Over time you might branch into other styles, but starting with one direction keeps you from feeling lost. Just remember: every style, no matter how flashy, is built on understanding the basics of making an AMV. That foundation is a topic for another article, but it is what holds everything else up.
My honest advice on buying project files: when you are just starting, do not buy other editors' project files. Most of the time it is a waste of money. What you usually get is a messy, unorganized project that confuses you more than it helps. You learn far more by recreating an edit yourself than by opening someone else's tangled timeline.
Beyond watching edits, sites like Pinterest are great for moodboarding and for finding free assets to use in your videos. Build a board for the vibe you are going for and pull from it while you edit. A clear mood makes every other decision easier.
Choose your song
Song choice is huge, because the music creates the mood and the vibe of the entire AMV, and it drives your scene selection. The song tells you which clips fit and how they should flow. That is why it is worth listening to a lot of music: the more songs you know, the more ideas you will have, and the easier it becomes to picture an edit in your head.
Think of it the same way you think about anime. If anime is going to be your medium, the more shows you have watched, the more footage you can pull from instinctively. Music works exactly the same way. The more music and anime you know, the easier it is to enter a flow state when you sit down to make a new edit. That flow state is where the best edits come from.
One note on order: I put song choice here, after you have your tools and your inspiration, but plenty of editors pick the song first and build everything around it. Both ways work. Do whatever helps the ideas come. When you are starting out, it often helps to have your technical foundations ready first so the music side stays pure fun.
Your starter checklist
0 of 6 doneThat is the whole foundation. Now go make something.
The mindset that actually matters
Here is the thing nobody tells you when you start: this can easily become your favorite hobby, or even a lifestyle. The deeper you delve into the world of anime, music, and videos, the more it stops feeling like a task and starts feeling like a creative home. You will catch yourself hearing a song and instantly picturing scenes, or watching an episode and saving moments in your head for a future edit. That is when it clicks, and it rarely lets go.
At the end of the day, making AMVs is about having fun and creating something you are proud of. Your early edits will not be as good as you hoped, and that is completely normal. Some people will not like them. That is fine too.
Take criticism wherever you can get it. Learn from it and improve. Do not settle for less, and do not think you are already great just because you have been editing for a year or two. Honestly, one to three years are rookie numbers. The editors you admire have put in far more time than that. The only way forward is to keep making things, keep learning, and keep pushing past your last edit.
What will make you stand out is not raw talent, it is the discipline you build over time, and how much you learn about yourself along the way. The more you edit, the more you understand what making AMVs actually means to you. Everyone started for a reason, and you will find yours eventually. When you do, that reason is what keeps you going long after the beginner excitement fades.
And remember the learning curve is not linear, and it is not the same for everyone. Some new editors pick up in months what took others a few years to figure out, and that is completely fine. Everyone starts and learns differently. This is not a race, it is a marathon. All it takes is to keep moving forward at your own pace and slowly find your own way of editing. Do not measure yourself against someone else's timeline, measure yourself against your last edit.
Everything you need to start is free and within reach in 2026. The footage, the software, the plugins, the inspiration. There has never been a better or easier time to start. So pick a song, grab some clips, and make your first one.
FAQ
What is the first step to making an AMV?
Getting your footage. You cannot edit without clips, so the first skill is collecting and organizing the scenes you want to work with. The easiest source is a pre-cut clip library like animeclips.online/clips, or you can cut your own from raw episodes found through a nyaa.si search.
What editing software should a beginner use for AMVs?
Pick one and master it before adding others. After Effects has the highest ceiling and the biggest plugin ecosystem, Vegas Pro is a friendly long-time AMV favorite, DaVinci Resolve has a strong free version, and CapCut is the easiest entry point especially on mobile. There is no single right answer, choose the one that fits your style and device.
Do I need to pay for AMV editing software and tools?
No. In 2026 almost everything you need is free. DaVinci Resolve and CapCut have free versions, and there are many free plugins and presets for After Effects. There is genuinely no reason not to use the free tools available to you when you are starting out.
Should I buy other editors' AMV project files?
When you are just starting, no. Most of the time it is a waste of money, and what you get is often a messy, unorganized project that confuses you more than it teaches. You learn far more by recreating an edit you admire yourself, which forces you to understand every step.
How do I find inspiration for my AMVs?
Watch your favorite edits on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube and try to understand what the editor is doing. Recreating edits you love is one of the fastest ways to learn. Pinterest is also great for moodboarding and finding free assets to match the vibe you are going for.
How important is song choice in an AMV?
Very. The music sets the mood and the vibe of the whole AMV, and it drives your scene selection by telling you which clips fit and how they flow. Listening to a lot of music gives you more ideas and makes it easier to enter a flow state when you edit. Some editors even pick the song first and build everything around it.
How long does it take to get good at making AMVs?
Longer than most beginners think. One to three years is still early. The editors you admire have usually put in far more time. The key is to keep making edits, take criticism, learn from it, and keep improving instead of settling. Consistency over time is what makes the difference.
What export settings should I use for my AMV?
Match your source framerate exactly (usually 23.976fps for anime, never force 60fps), export as an H.264 .mp4, and use a high bitrate so quality survives the upload. Our guides on remux vs encode vs transcode and on anime frame rates cover the exact settings and the reasoning behind them.