Everyone has their own various ways of watching anime and mine have changed over the years. Since I was introduced to it through a friend, I originally tended to watch in a group. But as my fandom grew I started to also watch things on my own. Up until perhaps the 2000s, in either of these scenarios I would watch anything and everything to the (sometimes bitter) end as long as I could find it. But I am not a completionist at heart.

So, as the availability of anime has grown, my tolerance for watching things that I’m not enjoying has dropped close to zero. That isn’t to say I won’t give a show a fair shake or the minute a show steps out of line I forget about it immediately, no, I’ve hung on from time to time. But my point is the minute I find myself complaining about a series too much, I let go. I’ve even been known to do this near the end. Afterall, the likelihood of someone else (whose opinion I trust) finishing it nowadays is great so I can find out if I should continue or not.

This is my entertainment after all, it seems silly to go too far in misery! The only real exception is if I’m watching with someone else, this can account for why I watched all of Banner of the Stars II and Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory among others.

So in general, when I finish a show it has a lot of meaning, personally. Something about the show was compelling enough to want to know how it ends; not merely want to say I finished it. With so many options, it only seems sensible for me.

What are your viewing habits?