How do you choose something new to watch?

[yabasugi]

Is it word of mouth, intuition, or even the impression you get from reading the show's summary that makes you try out a new anime show to watch?

When choosing a new series to buy or download, I usually rely on a gut-feeling based on what I've been reading about it, and weigh it against two or three other potential shows that I want to watch at the same time. With that said, I always make sure it's well-received among reviewers or fans on the internet before finally making a go at it.

Time and money is a luxury for me and I always try to make the best decision in picking up a new title.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Well If I have read the manga ahead of time and I like it I normally give the anime (if it exists) a look see. I also get input from people that like the series from sites like this one. I also check out clips online and free episodes when they are up. I give stuff a once over as well when they are broadcast on TV like on Adult Swim , Sci Fi etc..

[memyselfandi]

Read what people are saying about various series here and on other sites ... if it seems interesting I may look into it further to see if I'm likely to like it ... if it seems like a reasonably good bet then I'll look into trying to get it or make a note of it if it isn't out yet.

I have been shallow enough though that I have looked into a series just because I've seen some nice artwork from it

[Ashyukun]

When it comes to watching shows that are currently airing, I tend to rely on watching through the promos that come out and word-of-mouth here- I tend to know whose tastes run similar to mine and can use that to guide what I watch. I use that to weed out the stuff that I pretty much have no interest in watching and then watch the first episode or two of what remains and then trim the list down to a more manageable level from there- though this does occasionally leave me with more than I should trying to follow (as is the case this season).

When it comes to DVD buying, my situation has been shifting considerably... these days there's rarely much coming out on DVD that I haven't seen the first few episode of already to know whether I'm going to have an interest in it.... the last two things that I bought largely 'cold' were the first Code Geass collection (1-9) and Pretty Sammy: Magical Girls Club S1. I'd seen none of Code Geass (as it aired initially before I really got into actively watching new stuff) and only the first episode of Magical Girls Club. With Code Geass though, I'd heard more than enough good about it that I figured it was worth getting at least the first set (though I watched through it before pre-ordering the second). I bought MGC on the strength of that first episode and generally liking the genre & the characters the series was loosely based around (some of the Tenchi cast).

Most of my anime watching on DVD though is done via online rental (I use Greencine and not NetFlix, but same principle) though- and for that if there's something that I've heard might be good, I'll drop the first disc on my queue and make a judgement on whether I continue with it after that. Generally, if there's something that I'm not likely to really want to watch through more than once I'll just watch it via rental. Though I have loosened up my threshold for this a bit since my finances have improved lately, I still primarily only buy things that I'm very certain I'm going to want to re-watch, that I'm pretty certain I couldn't find via rental and/or are a really good deal (Neighborhood Earth Defense Force, at least when it first came out), or I am likely to want to use as AMV source down the line. Or if there's a stupidly good deal on it someplace, of course.

[something]

Honestly, when it comes to the new shows airing in japan each season, I watch damn near everything and just keep up with whatever is interesting. Now, there are some shows I am more excited about/will watch first, and those are either 1) sequels of shows I liked, 2) series from studios I trust (KyoAni, Shaft, JC Staff, Sunrise, A-1 Pictures, Brains Base, etc) or 3) stuff I've been seeing fanart or promo art for on danbooru or moe.imouto.org. I find out about a surprising number of shows in that last way. I don't learn anything about them other than "pretty character designs!" but that's usually enough to make me watch.

I suppose there's also 4) genre, but only to a small extent. I'll automatically watch anything based on a visual novel, for example.

When it comes to buying licensed series on DVD, priority goes to the shows I watched as noted above. Good enough to watch fully fansubbed = good enough to buy, full stop. The only time I blind buy is when a show is 1) very cheap and 2) recommended by people I trust. I prefer both criteria are met but an extreme of either one may make up for a lack of the other.

[DiRF]

What I have used to guide me towards what I have watched...

1. If the series was featured in AMV Hell 3. (I'm not joking, that's what guided practically my first year of Anime watching)
2. If a friend owned the series on DVD and I could borrow it.
3. If I see a series pop up for an unbelievably low price somewhere (like the Geneon 25/$100 TRSI sale), and it has a decent rating on ANN.
4. I accidentally come across a series, and the premise seems extremely odd and interesting. (pretty much only Karin.)

[Suwako Moriya]

I try out series for a variety of reasons. There is no one size fits all strategy. In general shows can be divided into the following categories.

A: I enjoyed the previous series and thus want to try the sequel. For example, I'm watching ef ~a tale of melodies~ because I enjoyed ef ~a tale of memories~. Another example is Sunshine Sketch lead me to Sunshine Sketch x 365.

B: The people involved can make a difference. For example Air TV and Kanon 2006 are both KEY series adapted by Kyo-Ani. Over all I enjoyed both. Thus when I learned Clannad was yet another KEY series and its TV version was going to be handled by Kyo-Ani. Logic dictated it couldn't hurt to give the show a try.

C: In the case of some shows I've already experienced the source material. For example, in the case of both Toradora and Kannagi I tried out a bit of the manga to get a feel for the series.

D: Sometimes the description of a series will catch my eye. Example, the way someone described Hyakko got me interested in the series.

E: I will admit sometimes the design of a few characters is enough to make me try a show. By characters, I mean the females of course.

F: I'm convinced either indirectly or directly by others to give a show a chance. Granted in some cases people try to convince me to give a show another chance, but that's another story.

G: In many cases it boils down to random impulses. There are times I even try shows I wasn't originally planning to try. A decision that sometimes results in a pleasant surprise and other times reminds me of why I was avoiding the show in the first place.
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In terms of DVDs, most of what I buy is based on what I've already seen. I take my past experience with a variety of shows. I weigh it against things like price, release date, etc and then determine which DVD to get next based on that.

I rarely blind buy. When I do it's usually a case of the following criteria being met. The price being cheap enough. The comments being convincing enough. The urge being strong enough. Granted sometimes it's more along the lines of a partial blind buy than full blind buy. Partial as in I saw a bit of the series, but never finished it.

[Garasharp K7]

Usually trailers and reviews do the trick, or maybe an ep or two via the evil format. But my choices are often based on a few conditions:
- sequel to a favourite series
- in a favourite genre
- there are giant robots in it

That last one's pretty important.

Sometimes I might watch a series if a particular director or animation studio are involved, but that's mainly if the show they're working on is similar to another favourite they've done. Case in point: Tatsuo Sato directed both Shingu and Cat Soup. I loved Shingu, but from what I've seen of Cat Soup, I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot clown pole.

[Ashyukun]

Originally Posted by DiRF

What I have used to guide me towards what I have watched...

1. If the series was featured in AMV Hell 3. (I'm not joking, that's what guided practically my first year of Anime watching)

OK, that's downright hilarious... there's no way I can't tell Brian (one of the creators of AMV Hell) about that...

[Shinmaru]

Usually I check out the basic premise of the show to see if it will appeal to me -- I have pretty broad tastes, though, so that does not always narrow things down for me, haha. Positive thoughts from people whose opinions I regard highly (friends who have recommended me series in the past and know my tastes) are often key. Aside from series I am watching this season, most of the anime I have watched have been on recommendation from friends.