What got you hooked

I first got started into anime one night when I was in high school. I went to Blockbuster Video with a group of friends and rented "Akira", "Fist of the North Star" and "Vampire Hunter D". After seeing these, I became interested in seeing more.

I stayed mostly to one-shot movies for a very long time. This was mostly because I couldn't afford to pay the $30 for a VHS tape with 2 episodes on it.

My anime buying habits changed about 2 years ago when I came across the first 4 DVDs of "Rurouni Kenshin" for $10 each. I figured, for that price, It was worth the risk. Before I knew it, I owned all the DVDs in the series. I haven't been the same since...

So far as cels go, I got started after falling in love with "Blue Gender". The series was the first one I saw that I couldn't wait for the next DVD to come out. After enjoying the series to completion, I went looking for wallpapers. I didn't find any, but I did stumble across a gallery here. I believe it was Gojita 4's.

I asked this kind person where they got their cels. They told me where they got their cels and I have been collecting ever since...

"It all started when..."
I lived in Okinawa from the last half of 4th grade through the first half of 7th grade. (Yes, I was a Navy brat) I developed a place in my heart for the Japanese style of art. When we left, I tucked that spot far away, deep inside - basically because when we went back to the States, no one had a CLUE what I was talking about! Many, many, many, moons later (we're talking like over twenty years here...) my friend's husband brought over a DVD of Record of Lodoss War. I watched it with my husband, and it all came rushing back. THIS was part of what I was missing. We then watched Berserk! and Outlaw Star. Started buying shortly thereafter. (There's a reason we don't have any kids!) I now own all of Bebop, Kenshin, Outlaw Star, Trigun, Dual, RahXephon, Weiss Kreuz, Fushigi Yugi, and many many more. I'm currently waiting for the fifth season of Ranma to come in...

Cel collecting, I don't remember exactly how, but I stumbled onto a cel of Tamahome, and my spending switched gears! Being able to pause your DVD and compare the cel in your hand to the picture on the TV is just incomparable for me. Especially so, when it's a favorite moment or expression.

Geez... I didn't think I'd write a book.
It is soooooo good to finally find people who understand!
Long live Rubberslug! Woohoo!

A friend was recovering from surgery at home and on one day that I stopped in to visit him he was watching Ranma 1/2. He asked me if I minded watching it with him because he was tired of his own company. I have been hooked ever since. Ranma was followed by Tenchi Muyo then riding Bean. Eventually I borrowed Akira to see what the hades he was talking about. Ranma got me hooked but I truely got into collecting and watching Anime with Zenki, Yoriden Samurai Troopers(ronin warriors) and Sailor moon.

Sorry man, me? hooked..on acetate? And,I am NOT in denial. An acetate junkie, you say?? What a joke..hahaha.. No way.. never! You guys are fools.

Later that SAME day..

Strapped tightly into a straight jacket,..E kicks and lunges hysterically, as two Gigantor-sized Shaq-like men dressed in white coats busting at the seams, drag him away, violently slapping on a leather dog muzzle (a la Hannibal), as they toss him into the double-bubble-padded-white-walled mini-van..The only thing left behind are a 90's collection torn cardboard box full of old and worn OVA tapes and DVD's, rancid drool marks slowly evaporating on hot concrete, and the muffled cries of a mad man fading into the distance. All this because he's been told that anime has gone completely digital. But this is no ordinary man---This is a man,...hooked on anime.

=)

Peeps from the corner........I used to set my alarm for 6:30 am to watch Sailor Moon (International channel subtitled, yes before it was picked up by Cartoon Network) I loved it! Then I sent away to Canada for the Fansubs, oh I was so hooked! As for cels I was kinda poking around the Cental Park Media website loking for cough cough La Blue Girl, when I found some Iria and Genocyber cels for sale. I bought one as a gift for a friend...........the rest were all for me!!!