How to Build a Complete Anime Collection
by Jacob Malewitz
On Escaflowne Hush, Heir to Swords, Heir to Kings
Wordpress 100
Siege of Second City, 100
Mercenary Sword, 100, 2 vest Archangels of the Sword
Patlabor Second Kingdom, 2 mill
Building a complete anime collection—one with value and loads of fun—is much like building a comic book collection. For one, these are valuable items. Some of these anime shows will go out of print and people will be willing to pay you top dollar for them. Just like comic books, anime films and TV shows go through every major genre, each film or show in its own way. If you want comedic action and great music you go for Cowboy Bebop. If you want some horror, something more bloody, you go for Vampire Hunter D. And if you want a big, sprawling epic, you go for Akira, Tekkaman Blade, Princess Mononoke, and Ninja Scroll.
Those titles are just the beginning. This guide will show you how to get them through various means, and in ways that are easy on the pocket book.
Spread out Your Tastes:
There is a problem with some anime films and TV shows. They tend to say the same thing over and over again. Clips of mecha fight scenes, for example, are typical of Gundam Wing, Tekkaman Blade, Robotech, Macross, Patlabor, and countless other titles. I am not saying don’t go for all these series—you can. But you may want to build your anime collection with all your various tastes incorporated.
Finding the Right Films or Series
There is somethng to be said for the library. Some libraries will have vast sets of anime films and shows. Some have nothing but books, maybe a few comics, but no real animes. This is a crucial step, because just forking money over for a hit series may leave you disappointed. Renting the shows from a library can cost you zero dollars. On the other hand, many video stores will have countless animes for as little as a couple quarters. Lastly, you can find them on certain TV stations, like Cartoon Network. Before you buy the anime remember to look into renting the series first.
Buying an anime isn’t a problem. More and more online stores and regular retailers are selling them for discount prices. One warning, make sure you check the region on your DVD player. Some of these shows come in region 2, and usually this is clearly listed. Some DVD players allow a region to be changed; some don’t. The two best for buying anime shows are Ebay and Amazon, but there are many others too.
Build on Classics First:
Remember all those titles from different genres I mentioned? You will likely find these to be a good start for your collection. The most popular is often Akira, but Princess Mononoke and Ninja Scroll are just as good, just not quite as epic. Starting out with the classics for your complete anime collection is nice, but you will soon need to branch out.
Ask the Right People Questions:
A good place to find out about animes is your local comic book store. Some of these even sell anime titles. There is a close line between the anime and the comic book, as many comics started out as manga, or maybe even were adapted into regular comic books. So ask the local card players and comic collectors what to buy. They might also be interested in trading.
Trade Your Titles:
Lastly, sometimes you make a mistake and buy the wrong show. Maybe you saw some of it on Cartoon Network, bought it, then figured out you didn’t like it. The good thing about building an anime collection is many people, likely in your area, have complete anime sets too. So consider networking with people, as this will save you time, money, and allow you to enjoy the right series.
Warning:
Be weary of Ebay and buying items from other countries. Animes have the great problem of companies releasing low quality, illegal copies of works. Sometimes you won’t know until you buy the item. Try to stick to brick and mortar stores, or just make sure this is the true title by asking the seller. If the price seems too good to be true, it likely is a copy or cheap version of the work.
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