How do you choose the cels you buy?

[Keropi]

Hey...I never answered this post.

I generally collect in this order of priority:

1. Genre - I've restricted myself to mainly trying to acquire artwork from anime that were based off ren'ai (romantic love) games. For example right now I'm trying to get artwork from (among others):

AIR
Akane Maniax
Ar Tonelico OVA
Campus
Canvas
Canvas 2
DNAngel
Doukyuusei (English title = "End of Summer")
Doukyuusei Climax Files
Doukyuusei 2
Escalayer
Futakoi Alternative
Guren (Crimson Lotus/English title = "Blood Shadow")
Iriya no Sora
Kakyuusei (TV or Elf ban)
Kanon
Kimi ga Nozomu Eien
Koihime
Mizuiro 1st or 2nd OVA
Natsuiro no Sunadokei ("Hourglass of Summer")
ONE 1st or 2nd OVA
Refrain Blue
Sadamitsu
Sentimental Journey
Shingetsutan Tsukihime
Shuffle!
Sister Princess RePure
Suika (English title = "Wet Summer Days")
Tenkousei
To Heart
To Heart 2
Tokimeki Memorial
Wind ~ a Breath of Heart (TV or OVA, but preferably TV)

2. Anime Title

3a. Character - I'm very character centered. I'm not a "collect-all-the-characters" person except when it comes to the thirteen female characters of the Elf Kakyuusei anime.

3b. Character in a memorable scene.

To summarize, I generally go after either:

1. Good character artwork from a genre anime that I like or...
2. Nice scene artwork with a character that I like in it.

I rarely buy artwork without characters in it that I like. I rarely buy artwork from anime I don't like. I'm less likely to buy artwork from a scene I don't remember and I'm more likely to buy artwork from something that elicits an emotional reaction out of me when I think back on it.

EDIT:

Oh yeah...I forgot something important. The artwork I get almost HAS to have a female character in it. lol

[ReiTheJelly]

For me it is a combination of things:

First of all, I'm a character buyer. I tend to collect "side characters" from my favorite shows. Once I've found a cel of a character I'm interested in, I then evaluate it for it's composition and artistry. Only for very rare characters will I ignore this step. Once I've decided it is something I'm interested in, only then do I check the price. If the price is right I'll buy it. If not, I'll let it pass. I know my limits and have been very good thus far in sticking to them!

[RoboFlonne]

I buy cels and art from Animes I like.

And of Characters I like... Sometimes it's their personality or just their character design.

It really varies in what each cel means a little different to each collector.

And it's really fun finding out what other people think of the same cel and it means something different to them!

[Betty]

I, too, go for a certain character. But that character must also have a certain expression I'm looking for. Price is much less of an option- I'd rather have one great cel than 10 mediocre ones.

I totally agree!

I would like to collect the cels of my favourite characters. But just the better ones, also if they are expensive.
I prefer only a cel, but really fantastic, than few mediocre ones, as hanaeleh!

[Krafty]

It may be an old post but it's still relevant today.

I'm a mixture of all four options but favour "buy what I like".

Grabbing whatever catches my eye happens often because I scan the entire thumbnail listings on YJ each day. Even if I don't actively collect a series- individual pieces will spring out. Series like Memories Off, Tenshi Ni Narumon, Gokudo, GTO, Shining Tears, Dangaizer, Cyber Team Akihabara, Dragon Pink and Galforce...

Of the regular series I collect, a lot depends on what's available on the market place.
If there are hundreds of cels/sketches to choose from I can be a little discerning and pick my faves based on character, pose, cost etc; but other series are rare so I buy whatever I can find.

[rallihir]

Art is always in the eye of the beholder, so my first priority is to buy cels or artwork of scenes that particularly appeal to me. I like complete scenes when at all possible (matching background, douga, genga, layout, and of course as many of the cel layers as possible).

Of course, there are always specific artists and anime that I favor as well.

[graymouser]

For me it's definately #2. I feel that in order to get the proper "feel" of an anime, all main characters should be represented. That includes cels of characters I don't particularly care for. I feel it takes more than a single character to make a great story and I want my gallery to reflect that.

I also try to limit the number of cels per character to no more than 3. Transformed characters are counted separately - such as the Unicorn/Amalthea or Yukito/Yue. (OK I have 2 characters in violation of the rules, but ....whatever.)

Since my goal is to collect a variety of characters, this rule has the advantage of limiting the size of my collection. It forces me to ask myself if I would be satisfied with the cel in question or should I wait for something else nicer to come along. If I own three cels of a character, then I ask myself if the new cel is worth selling/trading one of the ones already in my collection. Over time I end up buying fewer and fewer cels per show just because I end up reaching my limit per character. Eventually, I completely stop and close that section of my gallery (except for the rare upgrade). I have already hit that point in 4 shows and am about 1-2 cels away from that point in eight others.

[sugarcels]

I have "set" goals, meaning a certain character, episode, or scene, but since I rarely come across those I mainly buy what looks nice Price is also a big factor (very big). No matter how much I like something, if I think it's too expensive I likely won't buy it.

[kira]

i buy it if it's a certain character, from a certain scene i like, and if i can afford it.

[klet]

A combination of 2-4. Yeah . . . I'd like to have a cel of each character, but I will sometimes play favorites. Price is always an issue because I'm a starving college student.

[duotrouble]

I'm all about certain characters.

[JWR]

Of the choices given I picked #3

For me , even if the cel might be one of my favorite characters and price reasonable , unless the cel grabs me I will not even bother to show it to my wife for input let alone buy.

Like others , I'm at the point of my collecting that I'm more picky and hence slowing down a bit but in actually spending more.

[kittens]

I choosed the first one.... I do looooooooooooove charactors in Kenshin esp OVAs..... Since these cels are super expensive, I do really focus on the charactors (and of course looks as well )

[aernath]

I'm with Joe. It's definitely gotta grab me.
It may be Ichigo or Ranma, but if I don't like the look of it, there are plenty of others that DO, so I won't even waste my time.

And once I hit that Ichigo wall, I found I was buying less, but spending more as well.

[Keropi]

What do you guys mean by "grab me"? ?^_^?

I'm trying to understand you guys better.