Amiga Animation Video, Vol. 1; Amiga Animation Video, Vol. 2

Compiled by the editors of AmigaWorld magazine, these two volumes of shorts from semi-professional and amateur computer animators run the gamut from primitive to excellent. Vol. 1, comprised of earlier material, is the lesser in terms of technical achievements, but has the most aesthetically pleasing animation on either volume: "Math in Motion," an exceptional piece using fractals and non-fractal shapes to create a colorful montage of crisp psychedelic imagery. Many of the entries on the first volume are either logos or experimental pieces--objects created and then rotated in 3D. But there are a couple of other noteworthy efforts here: "Mandrill's Maze," a clever exercise in perspective, and "The Oliver Twist," a computer-animated rap video about Oliver North. Vol. 2 is longer and contains several notable pieces beginning with the opening segment "Gumbo," a cute cartoon on evolution. Twice as long as the first volume, the second volume also boasts superior animation in such interesting shorts as "Potshots" (featuring a Mickey Mouse-like character at a shooting gallery of pots and pans who duck), "Digital Frankenstein" (an excellent 3D version of a female Frankenstein monster coming to life), "Looney the Lunarian" (a mock sci-fi cliffhanger serial parody which is well done), and "Night of the Guru" (a deceptively simple piece, at first, which becomes an extraordinary light, shape and color show after a guy gets sucked into his computer). But keep in mind, the bad far outweighs the good, and one has to suffer through several simplistic (either technically or mentally) pieces before hitting a winner. On the other hand, it's impressive to see what people are able to achieve using home computers. Vol., 1 is optional; Vol. 2 is recommended. (Available from: TechMedia Video, 80 Elm St., Peterborough, NH 03458.)