Track Your Anime: Build A Notion Watchlist!

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Track Your Anime: Build a Notion Watchlist!

Hey anime fans! Are you tired of losing track of all the amazing series you're planning to watch, currently watching, or have already binged? You're not alone! Managing your anime watchlist can quickly become overwhelming, especially with so many new shows coming out all the time. That's where Notion comes in.

In this article, we'll show you how to create a super cool anime watchlist tracker in Notion. Get ready to say goodbye to scattered spreadsheets and hello to a streamlined, visually appealing, and totally customizable system to manage your anime journey. Let's dive in!

Why Use Notion for Your Anime Watchlist?

So, why Notion? What makes it better than just jotting down anime titles in a notebook or using a generic to-do list app? Here's the lowdown:

  • Customization is King: Notion is incredibly flexible. You can tailor your anime tracker to fit your exact needs and preferences. Want to add fields for the number of episodes, genre, studio, or your personal rating? Go for it! The possibilities are endless.
  • Visual Appeal: Let's be honest, aesthetics matter! Notion allows you to create a visually appealing watchlist with cover images, icons, and custom layouts. Make your tracker a joy to use and look at.
  • All-in-One Organization: Notion isn't just for anime tracking. You can use it to manage your entire life – from school projects and work tasks to travel plans and personal goals. Having your anime watchlist in the same place as everything else creates a seamless and organized workflow.
  • Accessibility: Access your anime watchlist from anywhere, on any device. Notion syncs across your computer, phone, and tablet, so you're always in the know.
  • Sharing Capabilities: Want to share your watchlist with friends? Notion makes it easy to collaborate and share your lists, so you can discover new anime together.

Step-by-Step Guide: Creating Your Anime Watchlist in Notion

Okay, let's get down to the nitty-gritty and build your anime watchlist! Follow these steps, and you'll have a fully functional tracker in no time.

1. Create a New Page

First things first, open up Notion and create a new page. You can title it something catchy like "My Awesome Anime Watchlist" or keep it simple with "Anime Tracker." It's your call!

2. Choose a Database View

Notion offers several database views, but for an anime watchlist, the Table view or Gallery view usually works best. Table view is great for detailed information, while Gallery view is perfect for visual browsing with cover images. Select whichever view you prefer (you can always switch later!).

3. Define Your Properties

This is where the customization magic happens! Properties are the different pieces of information you want to track for each anime. Here are some essential properties to get you started:

  • Name: (Text) – The title of the anime.
  • Status: (Select or Multi-Select) – Use options like "Plan to Watch," "Currently Watching," "Completed," "On Hold," and "Dropped." This is crucial for organizing your list.
  • Genre: (Multi-Select) – Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Slice of Life, etc. Use multi-select so you can assign multiple genres to a single anime.
  • Episodes: (Number) – The total number of episodes (if known).
  • Watched Episodes: (Number) – How many episodes you've watched so far. This is great for tracking your progress.
  • Rating: (Select or Number) – Your personal rating for the anime (e.g., 1-5 stars or a numerical score).
  • Studio: (Text) – The animation studio behind the anime (e.g., MAPPA, Kyoto Animation, A-1 Pictures).
  • Start Date: (Date) – The date you started watching the anime.
  • Finish Date: (Date) – The date you finished watching the anime.
  • Notes: (Text or Page) – Any additional thoughts, comments, or recommendations.
  • Cover Image: (Files & Media) - Add a cover image for visual appeal, makes the tracker more engaging and fun to look at.

Feel free to add more properties based on your personal preferences! Maybe you want to track the director, voice actors, or source material (manga, light novel, etc.).

4. Populate Your Watchlist

Now for the fun part: adding anime to your watchlist! Start filling in the properties for each anime you want to track. Copy and paste information from MyAnimeList, AniList, or other anime databases to save time.

5. Customize Your Views (Filters, Sorts, and Grouping)

This is where Notion's power really shines. You can create different views of your watchlist to focus on specific information. Here are some ideas:

  • "Currently Watching" View: Filter the database to only show anime with the status "Currently Watching."
  • "Plan to Watch" View: Filter to show anime with the status "Plan to Watch."
  • Sorted by Rating: Sort the database by your rating, so you can easily see your favorite anime.
  • Grouped by Genre: Group the database by genre to quickly find anime of a specific type.

To create a new view, click on the "+ Add a view" button at the top of your database. You can then configure the filters, sorts, and grouping options to your liking.

6. Add Some Flair (Icons and Cover Images)

Make your anime watchlist visually appealing by adding icons and cover images. Notion has a built-in icon library, or you can upload your own. For cover images, you can use screenshots from the anime or official promotional artwork.

Advanced Tips and Tricks for Your Anime Notion Tracker

Ready to take your anime watchlist to the next level? Here are some advanced tips and tricks:

  • Use Formulas: Notion formulas can be used to automate calculations and create dynamic displays. For example, you could create a formula to calculate your average rating for all completed anime.
  • Create Relationships: If you're a manga reader too, you can create a relationship between your anime entries and your manga entries. This is useful if an anime is adapted from a manga and you want to easily access the source material.
  • Embed External Content: Embed trailers, opening themes, or reviews from YouTube or other websites directly into your anime entries.
  • Use Web Clipper: Use the Notion Web Clipper to quickly save information about anime from websites like MyAnimeList or AniList directly to your watchlist.
  • Automate with Integrations: Explore Notion integrations with other apps like IFTTT or Zapier to automate tasks like updating your watchlist when a new episode is released.

Example Setups & Templates

To give you some inspiration, here are a few example setups and template ideas for your anime Notion tracker:

  • Simple Table View: A basic table view with columns for Name, Status, Genre, Episodes, and Rating. Perfect for beginners.
  • Visual Gallery View: A gallery view with cover images, showing the anime title and status. Great for visually browsing your watchlist.
  • Kanban Board: Use a Kanban board to track your progress through different stages, such as "Plan to Watch," "Watching," and "Completed."
  • Detailed Anime Pages: Create individual pages for each anime with detailed information, reviews, and embedded content.

Where to Find Templates

If you don't want to build your anime tracker from scratch, there are plenty of Notion templates available online. Search on websites like Notionery, Gumroad, or Reddit to find a template that suits your needs.

Benefits of Using a Dedicated Anime Watchlist Tracker

Still on the fence about creating an anime watchlist tracker? Here's a recap of the benefits:

  • Stay Organized: Keep track of all the anime you want to watch, are currently watching, and have already watched.
  • Discover New Anime: Easily browse your watchlist and find new series to watch based on genre, rating, or other criteria.
  • Track Your Progress: Monitor your progress through each anime and see how many episodes you've watched.
  • Personalize Your Experience: Customize your watchlist to fit your individual preferences and needs.
  • Enhance Your Enjoyment: A well-organized anime watchlist can make your anime viewing experience more enjoyable and less stressful.

Conclusion

So, there you have it! A comprehensive guide to creating your own anime watchlist tracker in Notion. With its flexibility, visual appeal, and powerful features, Notion is the perfect tool for managing your anime journey.

Start building your tracker today and say goodbye to anime chaos! Happy watching, anime lovers! Remember to constantly tweak and adjust your setup as you discover new ways to optimize your tracking. Your perfect anime Notion setup is a journey, not a destination! Now go forth and conquer your watchlist!