My Year of Anime Backlog: A "Daryl Talks Games" Inspired Challenge

Like many, I have my favorite YouTubers and the videos I eagerly anticipate. For the past few years, one of my holiday season must-watches is from "Daryl Talks Games." Daryl spends the year tackling his video game backlog, and in November/December, he shares his progress with his viewers.

This idea instantly resonated with me. As a long-time anime watcher, we all have a backlog, right? I saw this as a perfect opportunity to finally prioritize my mountain of unwatched anime instead of just adding to it. So, last November, I made a list. It included shows that had been on the backburner way too long, plus the anime I knew I’d be watching throughout the year—a necessary addition, because who remembers what they watched by December?

The final list contained a grand total of 70 titles—a diverse mix of Comedies, Dramas, Romances, Fantasy, and Horror. I was surprised by the variety; I think part of the reason my backlog grows is that I feel I need to be "in the mood" for a romance, for instance, when I could easily default to a comfort watch like Evangelion. Now, let’s dive into the year’s viewing experience.

The Drops and the Disappointments

Out of the 70 titles, I only dropped one. I know some will think I’m crazy, but that one was Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. It had been on my list for ages, hyped up by everyone, with reels and cosplays everywhere. But I simply couldn't get into it. I made it to episode 5 of 10 (halfway counts, right?) before putting it away. I was genuinely bored. I’m still wondering what I missed, as I couldn't connect with a single character. The only name I remember is Lucy, and I'm not sure if that's from the show or the endless cosplays. If anyone can enlighten me, I’d appreciate it!

My lowest-rated anime that I completed (besides Cyberpunk) was Black Butler: Public School Arc. I've been a fan since 2009, but Public School Arc was the most tedious of all of them. It felt like a chore, likely because of the setting. Ciel Phantomhive, our strong, demon-wielding, ass-kicking mystery solver, stuck in a prep school? Emerald Witch was vastly superior.

Surprises and Favorites:

On the Netflix front, The Summer Hikaru Died aired during the summer season and instantly became one of my favorites of the year. I started it for the horror elements, but the background Boys' Love (BL) deeply hooked me. Romance is typically my least-watched genre (though this project may be changing that), but the subtlety of the relationship development was captivating. It creeps up on you, making you realize, "Maybe this is love."

The complete opposite experience was Domestic Girlfriend. That was a crazy, trashy-good ride, warming my soul in the same way 90 Day Fiancé does. It's the kind of trainwreck you can't stop watching. This one sat on my shelf for years—every time Gigguk mentioned it, I promised myself I’d watch it. Now that it’s over, I miss it! It was an unexpected experience that made me love the show far more than I thought possible. Thank you, Gigguk. It genuinely makes me question if I should be watching more romance anime.

My highest-rated anime of the year (outside of the big seasonal hits like DandaDan) is definitely The Witch and The Beast. It has Fantasy, Mystery, and Drama, and it kept me guessing—which is the one thing I always look for in a show. I want to tell you more, but I’d rather leave it a mystery for you to enjoy. If you haven’t seen it, give it a shot.

The Final Tally

Out of the 70 anime titles I listed, I successfully made it through 30. It’s not quite half, but as a working parent, I consider completing almost two anime a month (while also keeping up with seasonal releases) a huge accomplishment.

Inspired by Daryl, I am absolutely doing this again. I will set a new list for December 2025 to December 2026 and aim to make it even further next year!