Whoops, here we have yet another agreement post! 
If someone looked at one of my cels that I really 
loved (no matter why I loved it) and said "that 
sucks because the character's eyes are closed", I 
would tell them to take a hike.  Right on my cel 
wishlist it says that I value scene, ability to 
see the character's costume, and interaction 
between characters far more than the "grade A 
headshot". Although I lean towards open eyes all 
the same, I have a good number closed-eye cels 
that will never be leaving my collection.

I actually just talked a dealer down on a grade A 
headshot of a character I liked. The cel was 
gorgeous with many extras that came with it, but 
I just couldn't see paying that much for a cel 
that wasn't from as good a scene as another, 
traditioanlly "lesser" cel that I picked up from 
Anime-Cel for $15.

I've always considered it a *bonus* that my 
favorite cels are not the grade A, face front, 
portrait cels. First there are so few cels in 
that particular catagory that it would be really 
hard to find something I liked if that was all I 
wanted. Also they're more expensive. (And they're 
only really more expensive because the Japanese 
seem to value them more - not because collectors 
here do!)

But one comment on liking only the OVAs. . . 
Sometimes some people consider the art or the 
story better in one portion of a large series 
than in another. I can fully understand that. 
There were some scenes in Shin Tenchi that I 
liked a lot - but overall, the original OVA has 
it for me. The Shin Tenchi story just isn't as 
good. But your milage may vary! I absolutely hate 
Akira too, while others *LOVE* the show. I was 
also singularly unimpressed by Cowboy Beebop. 
Does that mean that the cels are "bad"? NEVER! 
When someone shows off a cel from a show I hate 
and goes on about how much they love it, I'm 
thrilled for them! ^_^

Even if the characters eyes are closed. ^_~

Many Sharp Smiles,
--Drac  (running off to work)