Spread out your tastes. There is a problem with some anime films and TV shows, and it is that 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 something to be said for your local 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 of dollars. Last, 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.
Build on classics first. Remember all those titles from different genres mentioned before? 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 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 questions of the right people. A good place to find out about animes is your local comic book store. Some of these may 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. Ask the local card players and comic collectors what to buy. They might also be interested in trading.
Trade titles. 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. Consider networking with people, as this will save you time, money, and allow you to enjoy the right series.