Is once actually enough?

[Sukunai]

Just curious, if you watch an anime as a sub, and regardless of whether you thought it was merely ok, or friggin incredible, do you find yourself just unable to want to watch it a second time.

I ask this, because some animes are like some movies, once you've seen the surprises, the gags the plot development, there's no reason to see it again. You find out who ends up with who, or how it will end, what the big secret was, and then there's no draw the second time.

I've got a few animes worthy of a second watch, good enough to want on superior quality dvd (not that dvd is actually always superior). But really, other than getting a dubbed release, is there anything to obtain?

And I suppose I am not alone when I say, once you've a sub version, even if the sub version might have been questionable, and listened to the voices in what was the actual voices of the original show, I find a dub sometimes just isn't the same (not to mention they change stuff that might actually matter).

I've watched so many really fun animes but I occasionally wonder, is getting the dvd ultimately worth the energy.

Naturally this has an impact on the argument against fansubbing, can't help that though. Until my local broadcaster can deliver same day (even same year) fansubs if not actual unmangled dubs, there's very little chance I will be buying anime based on "hey this box art looks engaging".

[OzzieArcane]

Oddly enough this is about how I feel about Ranma 1/2. With the exception of Ranma Chan being hot. Which is why I made the video in my sig, so I can enjoy her without rewatching the series. Although, I have problem sitting through it with friends who haven't already seen it.

[OzzieArcane]

Sorry for the double post. But I didn't quite read EVERYTHING you said. I do have it on DVD, but personally have next to no desire to rewatch it.

[Knowname]

I don't like watching subs too much thinking... and reading. Too much effort for just something you enjoy. I happily watched a few animes, Macross Frontier, CB and Evangelion more than once subbed... but that was due mostly to the songs and a few scenes. I didn't really watch it, just had it on in the background as I chatted on the web or skype (2 soundcards).

[Ingow]

With the exception of Ranma Chan being hot. Which is why I made the video in my sig, so I can enjoy her without rewatching the series.

This is most likely the main psychological motivation behind every AMV ever made.

No but honestly, I feel like this so much it hurts. I rarely watch an anime twice, the only ones I did watch several times were Key, Boogiepop, Gravitation, Cowboy Bebop, Lain and the Samurai X movies. Maybe a couple more but over all the years that's really not much. And for some I even regretted it, rewatching Hellsing TV only makes sense for the final battle at the very end, everything else seemed fucking boring.

I rarely watch movies or shows a second time though in general, it just feels like wasted time. Mostly I just do that when I have people with me that haven't seen it yet so that the experience is kinda more than just watching it alone again.

Buying DVDs in general is overrated, that's why so many people only rent movies. It makes total sense IMO. Fuck the snobs that think you have to appreciate the small details, I have to say that I listen to music of course a lot more a second or a 100th time, but if the album is only 'mediocre but still good' I'll just leave it at once too. There's too much stuff out there to waste your time on a second round. Also goes for literature, if all of us weren't such slowpoke readers we wouldn't ever have to actually buy books.

[The Origonal Head Hunter]

Hellsing TV...seemed fucking boring.

That's because it was.

On topic: I will rewatch a series for the same reason I reread a book, the story and characters intrigue me. If a series bores me out of my mind, it will spend the rest of its existence on my shelf till I forget I watched it and have to rewatch it just to remind myself. But a truly good, solid series will get many a repeat out of me.

[Sukunai]

Ingow is amazingly on target.

I have several animes that are like several books I consider incredible, but it hasn't made me watch them twice any more than read them twice.

Often there is something equally pleasing I haven't yet watched or read once, and the item I thought was 'great' usually becomes a shelf decoration with the idea being "I will want to watch it/read it again later" which is usually idiotic in reality, but we still tell ourselves that.

I DO have a friend that routinely buys dvds of films. But unlike him, I am not a 40 year old single guy living at home with a good paying job and no immediate interest in a SO to use up income (the guy likes girls, just not enough to have one as a girlfriend ). So it isn't hard for him to constantly be showing up with recent films on dvd.

It must be single people making Hollywood think there is an actual market for dvds hehe.

[BasharOfTheAges]

I don't exactly have enough free time (let alone desire) to really watch a significantly long series more than once. I'll buy (or borrow) DVDs for videos, but that's about it.

If it ever became an issue, i'm sure i'd just go without. Plenty of other free-to-air material comes out every day to keep me entertained.

[Knowname]

how about zero times? I have video games and dvds that I bought that I NEVER even plan on opening ~.~ Hell I bought a turbo16 game and I don't even have a turbo16 :/ My brother thinks I'm nuts, but I just liked Bonk.

[OmniStrata]

If it's hentai no...

If it's sex, no...

But some anime need a second watching if they pull it off properly... What do I mean?

DUBS!

Watch Black Lagoon's high quality dub and watch it in Japanese and any sane person would automatically pick the dub considering the scenarios...

Full Metal Panic. The producers themselves would have liked to have the show in English. Watch it dubbed and you can thank me later.

I watch the digisub, if it rox, I keep it and then watch it dubbed with my fingers crossed. That's my 2nd viewing reason