So let’s say that you’ve experienced success thanks to the services here at Otaku Crush, and you’ve found just the person for you. You want an otaku date, and what better otaku date is there than watching anime together? Or maybe you’re testing out the waters with someone outside of the fandom, and you want to have a simple and enjoyable time. What better way is there to form bonds than some good old Japanese animation? Well yes, I’m sure you can think of other “better ways,” but as fans we tend to want our significant others to, if not enjoy, at the very least understand our hobbies.

No matter what your circumstance, here are five tips for improving your time in front of the screen while there’s someone by your side.

1) Try Out Anime that Neither of You Have Seen

While it might seem a good idea to introduce your date/significant other to an anime you love and adore, doing this can potentially backfire, especially if it turns out that they’re not enjoying it as much as you would have hoped. This is why I recommend trying out anime that both of you are unfamiliar with, as it removes any of those strong feelings towards our favorite shows that we as fans inevitably get. More importantly, it lets you discover an anime together and experience it anew. And if the show turns out to be awful, then you can talk about its negative qualities. That’s not to say that you cannot or should not introduce your favorite anime to them, but doing so comes with a word of caution.

2) Know When Watching Anime is Actually “Watching Anime”

The term “date movie” refers to something that is generally of mediocre quality that you and your significant other watch less to enjoy the movie and more to spend time with one another. Or maybe you’re watching something together in the comfort of your own home, with the intent of having what’s on TV be ambient noise for other activities. That’s all well and good, but you have to keep in mind that otaku are otaku, and as such are very likely to prioritize enjoying the anime they’re watching over increasing intimacy. Or maybe your date is not an anime fan, and they think you don’t actually want to watch this show you’ve brought over. In either case, try to make sure that both of you are on the level when it comes to intent and misunderstandings are less likely to happen.

3) Understand How the Other Person Enjoys Anime

This is related to the entry above about knowing when someone actually wants to watch their anime in the sense that people have different viewing habits. Some will get silently engrossed in a story, while some will talk throughout. Some will prefer to watch from beginning to end, while others will want to pause every so often. There’s nothing wrong with any approach, as enjoyment is enjoyment, but there should be a mutual understanding of each other’s viewing styles so that both of you can watch anime comfortably.

4) Differing Taste Does Not Mean Incompatibility

You like shoujo and they like shounen. You watch anime for the characters and they watch anime for the story. Your favorite show is the one they dislike more than any other. But as strongly as you feel about anime, it hardly means that you cannot watch the same shows together. Though having things in common can be beneficial towards a relationship, completely similar tastes and thinking exactly alike are not necessary for romantic success, and at times might even make things worse. If you do have wildly different opinions on anime, then try talking about it and see if you can have fun with that.

5) Be Honest

This is by far the most important tip here and is the cornerstone of everything written earlier. Know what the other person likes and why, and be ready to communicate your own preferences. At the end of the day, watching anime together is a group activity even if the group is only two heads, and as such is only truly fun if both of you are enjoying the show. Though tensions might rise if you disagree strongly about something, holding things back will make the experience much worse. And after all, if they don’t like it, that doesn’t mean you can’t still watch it on your own.

While I can’t guarantee success, I think these will help you on your way. I can’t address everything, so if you’ve got tips of your own, feel free to share! And remember, understanding is the key.