AB’s Top 5 Videos of 2025

It’s already somehow the end of 2025, and here I am writing another list of our favorite videos. This is the 3rd year we’ve had the opportunity to make a top 5 for AB, and while I admit it does seem silly and a bit antiquated at times doing the ‘year end list’ formula, I think it is incredibly important to slow down at the end of the year, and take a thoughtful look back at the insane amount of work people have put into these projects.

To select AB’s Top 5 Videos of 2025, we compiled every NW video that dropped this year and sent the list to our contributors (& a few friends) to vote on their favorites. Over the next few weeks we will be releasing interviews highlighting each of our official Top 5 Videos of 2025, so check back here for updates.

LIOness

Our first selection we’re highlighting for 2025 was the Lioness video from Portland brand Otherness. The video was a collaboration between Mat O’Brien and Dane Ichimura, and the duos creativity paired wonderfully. The video was short and sweet but full of flavor, with lots of art, animations, illustrations, textures throughout the edit.

Beyond helping with filming, editing and animations, Dane also provided us off with the perfect amount of footage from him to keep us wanting more. We also got to see some skating from the two NW transition kings Levi and Brent, who really just make swimming in the deep end look a bit too easy. One of the many unique aspects of the video was how they blended HPX and VX footage simply by layering a textured backdrop, which I thought was a really simple yet beautiful way to handle the every pervasive black bars on the side of most VX footy. Overall, we loved this video, and we can’t wait to see more from the crew.