Basically don't make KareKano ever and you're on the right track.
Eeeeeh? What did Kare Kano do wrong?
I thought for a RomCom done by Hideaki "PHILOSOPHICAL MECHS" Anno it was actually pretty solid. Even if the manga author didn't like it. Which makes sense. Because philosophical mechs.
Speaking of that actually, I'm a director > studio type of guy, to the point that I don't even really consider much when I see what studio is producing an anime before I watch it. Because if you like Kill la Kill or Space Patrol Luluco, or hell, even Gurren Lagann, you're not going to necessarily like Inou-Battle or The World God Only Knows, because the latter two shows aren't Imaishi and it shows.
Granted, this doesn't mean that every show by the directors will be good, but it definitely gives a better representation of what the anime in question will be like. Going back to what was supposed to be an unrelated point but my brain works in circles, Kare Kano, for instance, always seemed a little odd to me. It was my first Shoujo anime and my first serious Romance series even if it was a RomCom, and it was bigger than me at the time because I was a little kid and it was definitely for an older audience. But coming back to the series later and then later learning that it was directed by Mr.Gunbuster itself first, makes sense and gives a lot of context, and second it both confuses and enthralls me. But I can see that it's by him, I can see his thought patterns and his style strewn across this show. And that's what I like: getting into the heads of the creators and having a metaphorical mental conversation with them. It's not just like this with anime, I like doing this with any creative medium, especially video games.
It's absolutely fascinating to me to get to know a director through their work and more to hear them talk about their work and why they made the choices they did.
...Er, I've gotten off track though. Madhouse is a name I generally trust even if not all of their work is sparkling or golden, but when their work looks good, it looks great. Plus they made my favorite movie, so extra points. Shaft is generally a good time when Akiyuki Shinbou's the director. They have fantastic quality usually due to their mastery of digital animation, but it's the Shinbou stylings that I stay for. So...none, I guess.