One Year Later

Has it really been a year since I started I Watched an Anime? It doesn’t quite feel like it’s been that long. A year ago today, I acted upon a whim and decided that I wanted a way to really remember the anime I was watching. I discovered that for some anime, I knew it was special to me but I couldn’t remember all the reasons why. In all honesty, I started this site as a fun way to remember what I had seen. I never expected it to turn into what it has. I’ve discovered an anime blogging community that I didn’t know existed and have been endlessly entertained ever since.

Even though it doesn’t actually feel like it’s been a year, looking back, I can see a dramatic shift in both the quality and direction of my writing. When I first started, I was more focused on stating facts about what I had seen than actually digesting it. I figured facts made it easier to approach the anime from a technical perspective and give a sense of purpose to my scores.

As time went by, I began to really see how lifeless those kinds of reviews were. Anybody can look up a synopsis. This was meant to be My Personal Reviews on Anime. I needed to dig deeper to try to understand and explain what I was watching; I gradually shifted from writing less about the what and more about the why. This was a key shift for me.

Once I moved from plot regurgitation to thoughtful breakdowns, I saw an almost immediate change in how I perceived and understood anime. The entire viewing experience grew into something a little more personal. Of course, this also impacted the length of some of my more excited reviews, and for that I’m truly sorry….

Through all of this, I’ve tried to remain as objective as possible, but I’m no longer prioritizing objectivity as a gold standard. I’m not a professional writer (a fact that I’m sure shocks everyone who reads my writing), so I no longer strive for a totally non-biased perspective in my reviews because again, these are meant to be my personal reviews. Not everyone will agree with me and that’s OK.

I just have to be careful that I don’t swing too far in the other direction and become a little too opinionated. You know, one of those anime fans. While I certainly have hills that I’m willing to die on when it comes to certain aspects of anime, there is a time and a place for that. I can be critical without being insulting, and I hope to always remain that way.

While the number of people who read this site may be small, I hope you know that I appreciate each and every one of you who take the time to read and interact with me here. You truly do motivate me to do better, whether it’s something as big as writing improvement or as little as site design. I’m proud to be part of this community, and I hope to be around for many years to come.

Thanks for reading.