Should official art help judge a series?

[Momo-P]

A different topic, that's for sure, but considering how different official art is from a series anymore, I thought I might as well bring it up. So...what do you think? Should official art be taken into consideration when choosing a series? I know the question is kinda odd, but lately I've noticed quite a few clean series that feature official artwork with the characters in very sexual postions or half dressed. Is it because they're from an H game? For some the answer is yes, but for the others the answer is no. Some of this art is drawn in the same style as the anime and therefore gives off that canon or connected feel to the series. If none of this stuff actually appears in the series though (or even comes close to happening), should it be clumped in?

Just seeing everyone's opinion on the matter. ^^;

[RedMage]

No, it shouldn't be.

[Zeke]

Most likely not, but so times the offical art can ruin a series for you. Well at least thats my two cents

[MasterDias]

No, using art as a judge for a series is not a very good idea in my mind, although I suppose there could be a few exceptions.

And keep in mind, using sex appeal can be a cheap way to attract people to a series, even if the series in question has little fanservice.

[Radical Dreamer]

No, even though it can be pretty awkward to buy a series that's got partial nudity or fanservice on the cover. XD; The other day, I was in Best Buy, and I found the Director's Cut Samurai X OVA Collection. Gooorgeous. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to buy it with my parents around, because it has partial nudity on the cover (at least, the copy I found did). If they even saw that, they'd take my anime-watching into serious consideration until I spent hours explaining to them that it was really really clean. XD;

So yeah. You shouldn't judge the content of the series by the art (and that goes both ways; some really dirty anime might have relatively clean art), but it can be a little awkward to buy something like that. XD Bothersome.

[MorwenLaicoriel]

Yeah, I remember a lot of people being disturbed by one of the DVD covers for Princess Tutu, in which the "villan" (if you can call her that) is shown sitting in a birdcage with a slightly revealing ballet costume. I didn't personally think it was that overtly sexual, but a lot of people were saying it looked like a hentai cover. o.o;

But, the anime itself really isn't sexual...at all. A few innuendos, and some magical-girl type nudity, but...yeah, nothing like what the people were saying the cover portrayed. ^^; So, yeah, official art doesn't always show what the series is actually like.

(....Although I really didn't think the cover for that DVD was THAT bad...)

[Animus Seed]

, I wouldn't be able to buy it with my parents around, because it has partial nudity on the cover (at least, the copy I found did).

That cover parrallels a (marital) sex scene in the OVA, though, so it's not like you could really say, "Don't worry, that's not in the show."

[Radical Dreamer]

That cover parrallels a (marital) sex scene in the OVA, though, so it's not like you could really say, "Don't worry, that's not in the show."

As true as that is, it's far from explicit, and very short. All in all, it is really clean. This is why I'd just have to do away with the cover if I ever did buy it. XD

[Animus Seed]

As true as that is, it's far from explicit, and very short. All in all, it is really clean.

I agree. It really is quite beautiful (though outdone by the one in Reflections), fitting in with Biblical standards and all.

[RineyX21]

It's really not that uncommon for someone to take in a different perspective on what is being advertised to them (in the way of official artwork) and what they actually get. It's like comparing a burger from a display menu and later buying something that doesn't quite look like what's been advertised.

In general, official art seen on DVD covers, magazines, posters, etc., is simply a nice little marketing scheme to make something larger than life. The character designs and artwork look neat for a reason, and much like anticipating something you see in a fast food commercial, it just doesn't compare to what you actually paid for (though you may still end up being satisfied with it in the end).

When it comes to explicit official artwork -- in that the content doesn't actually fit the theme of the anime -- this is taking attention-grabbing a little too far. The most common thing is to feature a "beach situation," where the characters are seen in the artwork wearing revealing clothing. Even some of the Azumanga Daioh artwork feature situations like that and would probably give the wrong impression for those who haven't seen the series.

[RedMage]

Given the near universal presence of beach-themed artwork for every series ever made, I wouldn't take much in the way of impressions about a series from if it was all I'd seen.

[RineyX21]

True, it seems almost cliché to throw around certain artwork that hint fanservice, however subtle it may actually be in the anime. The beach-theme is but one example of this.

[Animus Seed]

It becomes so common, though, that you start ignoring what the official art implies. Example, how many times are the female characters hugging? So when I passed by the box for Kannazuki no Miko, I figured, "There's never any real shoujo-ai in these series. Looks interesting..." *watches DVD* "Uh... oops."