As a disclaimer, this is not a post to shit on anime or anime enthusiasts. It just is what it is. I don't enjoy anime, I couldn't tell you when it happened, just that I get a really odd taste in my mouth when I hear about anime and references to it. It might be that I watched an anime that gave me a really bad impression when younger, I don't remember. I really haven't dissected my feelings to put the thoughts into comprehensible words yet though, there are some notorious reasons, but overall I don't know, just that my relationship is at potential risk because of it and my most immediate concern.

He's not super into it, he's more of a casual watcher, and the types he watches are somewhat palatable to me, but it's still anime so a hunch I can't get over. Other than this he's fantastic, everything I wanted in a partner and more. I'm very attracted to him, and it's been evident since we met. I knew I wanted to snag him (among other things) within an hour of talking to him. And it just kept getting better and better after that because he was riddled with pleasant surprises. I went from attracted to him to obsessed. We've been going strong for 3 years now. He's been instrumental in my development as a person and I couldn't be more appreciative. I was a prisoner in my own mind before him so to speak.

He knew I didn't like anime since the beginning, but didn't know just to what extent my dislike went, and since he didn't watch it a lot, thought it wouldn't be a big deal and didn't mention it. Honestly I never thought I would care this much either. Especially about something he watches only once in a while. But here we are. We've talked about why he likes it, and he said he got into it to be more relatable and make socializing easier while in high school. I can understand, because I also tried getting into it for the same reason. Finding out he watched it too felt lonely. This made me very judgmental. I've cut it out, but my attraction keeps dwindling any time he references anime. He tries to dial it back but if he finds something funny which makes him happy, he wants to share it with me. It doesn't happen a lot, but the times it does are enough to make me feel like it has a substantial effect on my attraction toward him. I don't want that. He has interests and hobbies I don't share and I'm fine with, I want anime to be included. I just don't know how to go about it.