When I read through season previews and check out promo videos and websites, I notice that several triggers often toggle my interested/disinterested switch. So while I was taking an initial look at some summer previews for 2008, I wrote down some of the factors that triggered my flags. I guess as I become more cynical over time, I tend not to get super-excited over a small serving of teaser information. However, I did notice that certain factors immediately made me move a series down in my mental watching-queue. Also, keep in mind that this list is mostly based on what I will blog, and not what I will watch.

That Floats My Boat

• Nice Art: This is the number one thing I look for when I am scoping out season previews. I’m not saying that I absolutely won’t watch retro-looking or fugly shows, but I always watch shows with nice designs and good production values first. Think of it like a nightclub with a line to get in. The good-looking shows keep cutting to the front, and when the club is full the ugly shows gotta wait in line.
• Low Episode Count: I like variety, especially since I am one of those boring episode summary bloggers. I will always cut some slack for a show that comes right out as a 13-episode affair, because it represents very low risk. I’ve found in recent seasons that I prefer not to drop shows midseason. In fact, I’d rather wait a few episodes and play catch-up than watch a few episodes and drop a show.
• Nice Choreography: Nothing is more frustrating than a bunch of long speeches followed by speed lines and clash-and-fall. If I am going for a show because of the action, the choreography better be sweet.
• Feelings Of Commitment: If I made it through the first season, I will probably cover the second season. This even applies to ZnT3, no matter how scared I feel.

You Sunk My Battleship

• Too Fringe: I like my summaries to be read, and I like to talk about series I watch. So while I don’t only go for sure-fire hits, I avoid shows that I am sure will receive little coverage. These shows often run into problems getting subbed, which just leads to disappointment down the road. Hey, I liked Shigurui too, but I wouldn’t blog it.
• Too Many Characters: This isn’t just in terms of harem. Keeping all those names straight is a lot of work, and often many of the characters are under-utilized. When I see the promo-art or OP featuring a bazillion people, it’s cause for concern.
• Based Off A Game: A number of Eroge adaptations have been alright, but in general I have found that most game-based shows do not fare well.
• Mystery: I guess I don’t like to work that hard when watching anime. I’m ok with there being mysteries in a series; I am talking about the genre itself.
• Gigantic Chichi: If more than 1 main character has a huge rack, it often says something about the focus of the series. I did watch Dragonaut for its so-bad-it’s-funny appeal, but usually this appeal doesn’t last very long. Also, Dragonaut had thong-face going for it.
• One Trick Pony: If it looks like a series is going to rely exclusively on fanservice, or fighting over characters and story, I usually put the series on a very short leash. If that’s all you’re coming with, you better have some of the best fanservice and/or fighting that I’ve ever seen. This especially applies to anything that even pretends to involve The 3 Kingdoms.
• Sports: Unless it is about basketball, I typically avoid sports anime. If the sport is not really the main focus (e.g. Bamboo Blade or Suzuka), I may make an exception.

Really Not Important

• Voice Actors: I really can’t keep track of VA at all, and I never pick shows based on who has been signed on to do voices. No matter how good a VA is, that VA cannot save a show with crappy lines.
• Intriguing Plot Description: Half the time they’re lies anyway. Interestingly, some really great series sound really stupid when distilled down to 3 spoiler-free sentences.

Related posts:

1. Initial Reactions to the Summer 2005 Season
2. Kaleido Star 26 (First Season Finale)
3. Summer 2008