Forum - View topicWhat do you look for in an anime?
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CyberViper
Posts: 218 Location: Matsumoto, Nagano Japan |
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What factors do you consider before watching an anime?
And what determines for you whether the show was good or not? Plot, characters, length, ending...ect.... And what Genre of anime do you prefer most? --------------------------------------------------------- Before I watch a series, I always check the encyclopedia here for ratings, a synopsis, and a picture. A synopsis can be all good, but it could have horrible animation! I usually check the ratings, but not to see if it was rated well or not, but to see how many people have rated it. Before I watch an anime I always try to look for Rarity. If very few people have seen it, even if it's rated poorly, i'll give it a go. The factors I take into account most in an anime are always...(and this cause be a bad choice I know)...Characters, the ending, and unexpected plot twists. Even if the plot is horrible...but the characters are developed very well and are all lovable (meaning no annoying characters you just want to strangle to death...and there's almost always one in every anime.), then chances are that i'll consider it a good show. The ending also has a be good. Usually I don't like cliffhangers, except in the case of Gantz...which was amazing. The series itself could be absolutely wonderful...but even a single event at the end could completely ruin it for me. For example in Outlaw Star when spoiler[Gene (i don't know how to spell his name) kissed Melfina...what WAS that...i really enjoyed the anime until...that.] And also in Shingetsutan Tsukihime when spoiler[(sorry i can't remember names) The guy and the vampire lady slept together...] just ruined it for me. Completely random. I also appreciate a good plot twist. Bleach has plenty of these...practically every episode is another twist! If i'm gonna go "NO WAY!!!" in an anime then it's great! As for my favorite Genre of anime...I would have to say anything Comedy, Romance, Shoujo, and Drama. Yes I know... |
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2Real
 Posts: 249 |
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ok personly i dont pay 2 much attention to rattings, i usuly ask around about the story and read short exerts from it.
it has to have a good fundation something that is appealing in someway to me. since i dont like romance 2 much i tend to stear away from anything that is love based (like a anime soap opra). other then that i am prety open minded about things. ooo and i enjoy good animation (the over all detail of the artwork), its a a requierment its just something i look for in a show. |
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Kruszer
 Posts: 8015 Location: Minnesota, USA |
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The storyline is the main factor for me. If an anime's plotline is uninteresting after about 3 or 4 episodes, I'm unlikely to continue with it. It could be the main storyline itself, certain elements of the story, or a subplot. Anything that keeps the attention of either the intelectual side of me that likes to think or the other half that likes to see some action and things getting destroyed. Characters can also carry a series in some cases, when they are interesting enough.
I tend to prefer science fiction, action, and martial-arts, but I'll watch anything really. |
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CyberViper
Posts: 218 Location: Matsumoto, Nagano Japan |
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That is pretty important. Sometimes however i'll stumble across an absolutely hilarious anime, with poor or mediocre artwork. Take 2x2 Shinobuden for example. The artwork kind of put me off at first...and the first episode was very slow, so I was wondering if it was going to go anywhere at all. Turns out it didn't go anywhere whatsoever, but it was absolutely hilarious and I couldn't stop myself from laughing. But yes, artwork can sometimes make or break the anime.
Some of my favorite anime's I get really into because the plot is so amazing. Most of the time when I watch something I keep watching it until the very end, hoping and praying it will get better. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it's great at first but by the end it's horrible...Sometimes a series can just take an amazing turn in the last few episodes, so i always watch them through...however i've wasted a lot of time doing the same thing. So i guess it has it's pluses and minuses. Two examples of series that i thought were great until the very last episode, or towards the end were Berserk and Inuyasha. Berserk was GREAT...i loved it...until the last episode...then it was just over for me. Inuyasha was great at first, but as time it went on it became unbearably repetative...but i kept watching anyway until the very end and was very dissapointed...I suppose i should actually make use of all that time and start reading the manga... |
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Praetor
Posts: 5 |
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Animation. I always look for that. If it is substandard, I don't bother with it. Story is most important, as well, but in the medium of visual storytelling, for me, if that animation doesn't come through, especially with anime where more often than not, more likely to come across 'techniques', i.e, where two characters are engaged in dialogue and nothing else is moving, except that slit of a mouth, I lose interest quicker than the next heartbeat. When I am, on those rare occasions, wanting to check out what I hope will be a visually interesting anime dvd, I don't want to make the mistake of purchasing one that is not going to hold the very reason why I enjoy anime, most of all, the stunning art work and beautifully realized animation. THAT is why I take notice of anime, the stories are already varied and unlike here in America, but it is the manner in which the japanese have elevated the art of animation.
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QwazilQwazil
 Posts: 9 Location: australia |
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well you see my taste for anime is quite exquiset because i have my phases some times i like action cool storys and stuff and then some times its only good if its 100% fan service mini skirts and every thing that only lastes for 2 weeks
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Kisa
 Posts: 59 Location: England |
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normally i look for a decent storyline and very good art or though i might go for the fanservice as well but if i read the manga version or hear good things about the show the ill watch it still
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Mitsuhide A.
Posts: 200 Location: somewhere where you aren't |
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I guess you could say that i look for an anime that has a great storyline (not necessarily of epic proportions though), excellent animation and a decent amount of action thrown into the mix. However, i guess you could also say that these are all very vague, run-of-mill answers that really only lead us to say "arent we all looking for that".
So specifically, i prefer storyline that has amazing depth. One that has multiple interpretations and perhaps is more along the lines of being in the cyberpunk genre (Although i also am a fan of watching a classic tale of one you warriors quest for something which leads to that characters growth and development). In terms of animation, i'd rather have a show that is clearly up-to-date, but more importantly then that, i feel that the animation must, in some way, enhance the mood of the show. Be it through the use of unique lighting or by intriguing character designs, the animation itself should add too and,clearly, be a part of the story. Finally, there must be action in the anime, but it doesnt have to be in every episode, nor does it have to last several episodes. In General, it just has to be enough to keep me on the edge of my chair from time to time. Besides thes factors, theres isnt much more that i long for in an anime. Sound is one obvious omission, and while it does help to have nicely orchestrated pieces, i dont mind the music so long as it isnt putrid crap that makes me wish my ears were tightly wrapped up in a sound proof box |
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Praetor
Posts: 5 |
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Just for the record, I did not know about this 'fan service' aspect to animation until I saw "Plastic Little" and other OVAs. Really could care less about it, not interested. Period. Mainly, to see stories and greater than usual animation (not apparent in America) that tell stories in genres that I am invested in, i.e., science fiction/adventure and to some degree horror/action....I'm out.....
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AHZ
 Posts: 166 Location: Metro Detroit |
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Quality of animation/animation style, story, action--the usual stuff.
I also look for good characters and good character interaction. If the interaction is good, it makes the environment a lot more realistic and believable. At the same time, however, there's nothing wrong with a little mindless entertainment every once in a while, such as Dragonball Z, Fist of the North Star, etc. |
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Mimi_Moi
 Posts: 3 Location: Dubai , U.A.E, Middle east |
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Usually before watching an anime i would first look at its pictures to see where the graphics and drawing are good...
I would also ask a few friends/ relitives what they think about it.... and see where it consits and sex (excuse my language) scenes ( of course if it did i would never think of watching it!!  )
But some times it turns out the opposite of what you think!! example: Peach girl the graphics start good.. but then the go to BAD! .. what i hated most about peach girl was spoiler[ when Momo had to choose between Okayasu and Touji!! ] I mean what the hell was that ?! that ruined everything!! and i was looking forward for a good ending! 
oh well ... nothings perfect 
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Kouji
 Posts: 978 |
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I look for the plot and characters. If the plot and characters aren't interesting to me, then I won't bother watching it. I especially enjoy anime with interesting plot twists that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Before I decide on whether or not I watch an anime, I always read reviews from mulitple sites. I read reviews from different sites to get a wider variety of opinions. I never read reviews from sites like Amazon.com because those tend to be generally unhelpful, but I like to go to sites like ANN and various others for reviews. If the anime has enough positive reviews from those sites and it looks like something I'll enjoy, then I'll watch it. I find that as long as I'm interested in the anime I usually tend to enjoy it. The only time I ever bought an anime DVD that I regretted buying was Fushigi Yuugi: Eikoden, and that was the one time I didn't do any research on what I was buying beforehand. The quality of the animation doesn't matter much to me as long as I like the plot because storyline is what I watch anime for. However, if the animation is abosuletly unbearable, then I won't watch it at all. Fortunately, I haven't encountered an anime that had just abosuletly awful animation yet.
However, while the actual animation may not be that important to me, the character designs are. If I don't like the designs of the characters, then it's harder for me to get into the anime. This is one of the reasons why I just can't get into anime like Viewtful Joe or One Piece because the character designs look too strange for my tastes. I also don't like anime with excessive fanservice. If the anime has an occassional sex joke and brief nudity shot here or there, or if the sex is part of the story, then I won't mind it, but if it has fanservice in almost every scene just for the sake of fanservice, I won't watch it because I think excessive fanservice is just disgusting and degrading. I'll watch really any genre of anime as long as it's interesting to me, but the main genres I tend to watch most are shounen, shoujo, magical girl, mecha, and shounen-ai. |
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masterzephyr
 Posts: 21 Location: With the twins! (twingy southern remix) |
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My main criteria when exploring whether a show is worth my time:are the main characters likeable (generally cliche, stereotypical character do not fall in this catergory); can the show constant dodge predictability without losing the overall theme; if CGI is used, is it overdone to where the characters are overlooked for the sake oif maintain a "cool factor", do the character designs include enough quirks (pink ribbons, sunglasses which are lime green) to keep the design from looking like that of ever other show;finally, does the music cause me to feel the right mood at the correctg moment.
Basically, any show that garners a positive response for each of these area is going to get a masterpiece/excellent vote from me. |
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Pleroma
 Posts: 443 Location: Eromanga island |
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I usually go by a pretty simple premise, if it makes me even remotely curious about the setting, I'll watch episode 2. If it makes me curious about the characters ill watch episode 3. If it makes me curious about the story I'll watch episode 4. After that I'm usually past the point of no return and will finish the series. Some shows however required knowledge of some future twist to get me to watch them (Shuffle is a good example.)
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Tolarian
 Posts: 24 Location: Ottawa,ON,Canada |
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When I look for new animes I look at 3 things , what my friends think of it, is it my style, and is it going to piss me off with crap loads of filler episodes *CAUGH NARUTO 4 EPS FOR A BATTLE *CAUGH other then that and tones of filler I enjoyed that anime. Believe it -.-
When I say my stile, I look more to the med-evil era of time... As much as yes some of the mech-animes are good its not my thing... Except Evangellion Misato was hellarious! =P one of my fav charecters! I also look to the story line allot I do like it when they get to the point insted of waisting time explaining what is vusuaully obvious for all to see!!!! -.- It gets annoying... If the story line is longer all the better!!! UNLESS it looses my interest. I find most of the time when I look for a new anime to watch, it usuaully involves swordplay and more often violence with a storyline like Kenshin =P I LIKE SWORDS =P Inuyasha was ok to.... I evantuaully gave up on it, I wont go out of my way to watch it, it became too anoying with 2 eps fight scenes and saying the obvious. so I guess my ideal anime to watch would be Violent, but with a good story line and it must be quick to the point, comedy is also a must, evan when it is romantic-comedyish. -.-..... hmmmm does any one have any good suggestions? |
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