Whilst undiagnosed, I am 150% confident that I have obsessive compulsive disorder. It’s difficult to explain but, I have an unhealthy obsession with lists. I just love writing lists, there’s something really comforting about the order of ‘em. When you’ve written a list of stuff to do you feel as though it’s gonna get done, you know? That passion for lists, and all that they stand for, plays a huge role in my anime watching habits.
Discovering MAL was like all my birthdays had come at once! However, when I first set up my own list I was disgusted by how little I had watched, (seriously, there was like 15 entries!) I must watch more and make the biggest list known to man, I thought whilst laughing hysterically. I started by choosing three shows to watch simultaneously, selecting another three once I had finished them all. After a couple of months of this I decided, a list of three shows to watch at a time just wasn’t enough! I must make an even bigger list! By Christmas ’09 I was writing lists of 25 shows to focus on for every third of the year.
I am still doing this today. Every couple of months I trawl through the depths of MAL and various other websites to compile a list of a mixture of shows. Not only must I watch a variety of different genres I must also watch shows beginning with a variety of different letters. Why? Well, I haven’t watched enough good anime beginning with the letters a, e and u of course! See, told you I had OCD!
Additionally, every season I must pick around three airing shows to watch- excluding sequels! The selection process is freakin’ meticulous! I must examine the show’s length, the day it airs on, (Mondays are a no-no as I’ve already got Fairy Tail and Gintama to watch on ‘em) genre, studio, (SHAFTs are pretty much guaranteed to get chosen by me straight away) how many other people seem to be watching it and what my sister’s watching- we like to cover as much of the season between us as possible.
So, if I announce that I’m writing a list of 25 shows to watch next or that I’m struggling to pick shows to watch in the run-up to a new season, message me some suggestions. But, please don’t take advantage of my oath to never drop a show! One of my friends once recommended Freezing, for a laugh, “It’s like Claymore!” she said…
She got what was coming to her…
Watashi Wa Bucho!! 
I lack anime that starts with I, J, L, Q, ,W and X. It bothers me a little.
I just hope you don’t inject juice into your sisters. If not, you’re safe.
Ichigo Mashimaro, Jigoku Shoujo, Lovely Complex, Welcome to the NHK and XXXHOLiC are my favourite shows beginning with those letters, if that helps…
Can’t help you with the Q- I’m in no hurry to watch either Qwaser no Stigmata or Queen’s Blade…
No, but, I frequently correct their speech and diction, they see me as some kind of perfectionist grammar-nazi, I’m afraid…
You’re still so far sway from my completed list of 840!
Say 5 shows you’ve watched have a sequel/prequel all in the same season. (Unlikely I know) Would you end up watching 8 shows from that season?
No need to brag… >.>
It really depends, if it is the continuation of a show I despise, I am unlikely to watch it! I think the most I’ve ever started one season was about 6 shows.
I lack anime on my list, I’ll put the rest on when I feel like it.
I’ve seen more but it’s not like I’m striving for perfection.
Except when dropping anime. I don’t drop, I pretend not to have watched.
I am a notorious perfectionist, if something’s not perfect, or as close to it as humanely possible, I’ll trash it- one of my many wonderful personality defects!
Right, I’ll get the right place this time >.<
Really good, I like doing lists as well but you already know hmmmm.
You need a q not an a, e or u !!!
So, does anyone else have any anime-watching rituals or am I the only one here that’s crazy?
Well I tend to pick up almost every show (except sport shows) and then just stop watching any I can’t stand/don’t like. Not sure if that counts as a ritual though.
I think the same could be said of most people! Shame on you for not watching sports shows hot-blooded shounen!
Only when I’m going to watch something when I really want to watch. I need to be in the perfect mood, sit in a comfortable way and so on. But that’s pretty much it.
I hope…
Another one of my rituals: I always buy myself doughnuts to eat during a much-anticipated finale of a show I’m particularly enjoying…
Making the most of my youthful metabolism!
This sounds a bit like how I get into series, only I’m a lot less committed to it. I come up with some system, like watching certain shows in a specific order every day, and within a week I’m doing something else. I do definitely agree that finding MAL made everything a whole lot more streamlined.
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