Beauty or Memories?

[Hakiri]

I've been wondering on this for a while. But which would you choose? I honestly wouldn't know. I guess it would lean toward memories, but it is hard to decide...

Ok, here's another question that people can answer on this thread if they would like. ^_^ (The poll question space doesn't allow enough space for me to explain this... ^^;; )

This is quite similar to the one above.

What if the really pretty cel was from a show you have watched, but from an episode you had not seen? What would you choose then? *curious as to know the answers*

[sensei]

While I wouldn't buy a genuinely ugly cel from a memorable moment, I still consider anime as being a form of storytelling rather than as a sequence of artistic images. So I would consider it a nearly fatal defect if I knew absolutely nothing about the story. Good news for people who do know the story and therefore get the cel before I do, I suppose.

[Hakiri]

While I wouldn't buy a genuinely ugly cel from a memorable moment, I still consider anime as being a form of storytelling rather than as a sequence of artistic images. So I would consider it a nearly fatal defect if I knew absolutely nothing about the story. Good news for people who do know the story and therefore get the cel before I do, I suppose.

Thanks for your thoughts. I see what you mean. But i still feel bad when I miss out on a cel even if I do know nothing about it. It was pretty and it attracted my attention afterall. ^_^ I've posted another question.
Thanks to all of you! This is really helping! It's to help me decide on something that has been puzzling me. I may post another question later on.

[Kujaku]

Memories are the best! A Key moment is what makes us clamor for more. What makes my eyes twitch as I am scrolling through websites trying to find that particular moment on acetate and paper.

Kujaku

[Krafty]

Pah, I'm the only one to vote for beauty so far (I'm so shallow, heh). It's all very subjective, being in your situation I may go for the sentimental one. Heck, if the decision was too hard to make I'd go for both!
This week I turned down some cels from a series I love in favour of a nice looking cel from a series I've never even heard of. The composition was just right, the line art was bold, great night-time colouring and the character's eyes were vivid. I can't ask for more than that. In the last few months I've diversified a lot and won't be boxed in by simply collecting from shows I've watched and loved, it's really come down to the art style more than ever and I can imagine scenarios for the unknown shot anyway.

[Hakiri]

Pah, I'm the only one to vote for beauty so far (I'm so shallow, heh).

Ah, see? Somebody else voted for beauty. You're not alone there. And anyway, my reason for the post is because I was puzzled over what to get between the two categories, so i guess I was shallow too . Well, that narrowed four down to three. Now, out of the three...

Thank you guys. *hugs*

[vapalla]

I voted beautiful, but I admit that I have had to make this choice before and it has gone both ways. People who are familiar with my and my daughter's collection would know that many of the anime cels we have are ones from series we are unlikely to ever see. We collected them anyway because we liked the art so much. We have also bought cels from series that we have seen in part of but never have seen the whole series (yet!). We just added a really lovely CCS of Sakura and had to ask Sensei where in the story it belonged. (Thanks again Sensei!) I started collecting that way too. One of the 1st cels I ever bought was a Boogiepop cel of Mamoru covered in blood, and I never saw the series until months afterward. In a choice between known & unknown, if the scene really meant something to me and I could overlook minor flaws, I'd probably go with the one I knew, but I wouldn't swear on it. If my gut reaction is," this is fantastic, I should get it!" often my initial instincts are right and I've learned to trust that feeling. Anything I bought that way I have never regretted!

[kittens]

I totally agree with sensei..... I would like to collect cels which have strong emotions and story in it....
But also I like the beauty of cels as well (for example, I collect cabbits cels even though I do not watch tenchi )

[metheus]

I'd put both images side by side, then honestly evaluate which image I personally feel the best about. Best case scenario, if possible, buy them both heh. Not voting, I hate A or B decisions, life is seldom so clearly defined.

[tex-chan]

I'm another one who would vote for "memories". I really only collect from shows that I've seen and that have struck some kind of emotional chord with me for one reason or another. Although, I don't think you have to give up beauty to collect on the "memory" side. To me, a large part of a cel's beauty are the feelings and memories it evokes for me. I am often drawn to artwork from shows I've never seen, just because of their beauty or art style. But, typically, I am more than happy to admire them in other collectors' galleries, and keep my meager cel funds free to toss at the shows I love with all my heart.

I was so easily addicted to this hobby, in the first place ... well, if I allowed myself to purchase cels from shows I've never seen, or shows for which I do not have strong emotional ties ... I would be living in a cardboard box under a bridge. But, that's just me. I admire folks who can collect beautiful pieces from shows they've never seen and have the self-control to not buy themselves into the poor house. I am finding I tend to lack that kind of discipline even when limiting my collecting urges to my "favorite" shows.

Now, if the really gorgeous cel was from a show I had partly seen and for which I had strong feelings, I would go for it --- even if it was from an episode I hadn't seen. A prime example for me is Saiyuki. I am addicted to that show and its artwork. I can't get enough of it. And, I started collecting Reload/Gunlock artwork before I had seen any of the episodes. I have now watched Gunlock and only a small part of Reload --- so quite a few of the sketches I am buying are from episodes I haven't seen.

Hmmm ... I just realized this post makes me sound even more nutty than I am ... scary!

*crawls back into cardboard box and closes the flaps*

[Lynxa]

I voted for most memorable! I'm with Sensei, I really like to know where mine came from and, if possible, what episode. I would consider it a BIG strike against it if I didn't know what show it was from!

That's not saying I wouldn't buy an unidentified cel! If I had to choose between the two, though, I'd probably choose almost any Kurapica or Sesshomaru over a pretty A1 face-up shot of a character I knew nothing about!

[aernath]

I just had to make a similar decision!
Mirage of Blaze (yes, Rilezu cels - stop yer moaning)
It came down to two: both were beautiful, and both were from a great moment in the show and both were the same price. But one was more "moment" (where Takaya comes alive in Naoe's arms, Naoe is crying), and the other was more "eye candy" (where Naoe has Takaya in his arms in the boat, just after he has revealed his plan for eternal bliss, but is interrupted and so is looking up. The angle and colors are great, his eyes are lovely).
I agonized for 24 hours (hey, it was a looooong 24 hours for me), and finally came up with the eye candy. My reasoning: if I wanted the moment, I could just pop in the DVD. But the eye candy freezes a perfect moment of beauty without burning a hole in the DVD.

So there you go. I voted beauty. Everyone else but me probably could have guessed what I would choose.

[glorff]

The Beta solution, BUY BOTH

[Keropi]

I voted for memorable.

I have a need to feel connected with the cels I purchase. So that means that I just about always have to see the anime first before buying artwork from it (or at least the episode from where the artwork comes from). I've bought only four cels from anime I haven't seen. But all of those cels were relatively inexpensive. I can't picture myself ever buying from an unknown anime/scene and paying over $100 or $120 for it.

Whenever I see decent artwork from an anime I haven't watched yet I feel the need to see the anime somehow. I need to see it to judge if I want artwork from it.

Sometimes if I catch an auction from an unknown anime early, I can see the anime before the auction is over. That's the win/win situation for me. I don't necessarily have to buy both cels.

[hyelakingsfan]

This is really a hard one... hmm... i think it depends on what cel it is. There should be another option of I dont know, i would go with that. But since there isn't then ill probably go withhhhhhhhhhhhh

Sorry i cant pick