Watching AMVs is one of the great pastimes of the otaku community. Creating them, too. I've always wondered where they came from, though. Well, Fanboy.com answered the question for me: Jim Kaposztas was the first. It's a fascinating article that goes into a bit of indignation towards a con that wouldn't grant him a staff position.

Deb Aoki sat down with Garrett Boast, who is in charge of the upcoming project ShojoBerry. Meant to be a replacement for Shoujo Beat that Viz canceled earlier this year, they've got an ambitious project on their hands. But, as I read about it -- running a magazine as a private venture, doing the printing themselves -- I really have to wonder how well this project is going to do. I'm putting myself in the "very skeptical" camp for now.

Still, best of luck to them. If they can pull this off, all the better for them.