(Note: This post is spoiler-free)
2013 was my first year watching anime simulcasts, and I really dove in with both feet. I watched upwards of 40 shows this year (including retroactively watching a few of the carryovers from Fall 2012), and had a blast experiencing the new shows as they aired and discussing them with fellow fans. Watching a show as it airs certainly has a different dynamic than marathoning one from several years ago, both in the fact that the discussion it is more current and ongoing, and in the fact that the surprises held in store (especially with regards to original shows) are still unknown. Having watched shows like Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica retroactively, I was aware of the tonal turn the show took (even though I didn’t know exactly what would happen). Other shows that I watched retroactively, such as the 2012 carryover Zetsuen no Tempest, were spoiled for me entirely (by accident), which definitely took some of the edge off the surprise (and boy does Tempest have a couple of big surprises in store).
