TL;DR
Anime is a valid study tool if used correctly. Focus on "slice of life" shows, look for short emotional reactions, and don't look up every word. Capture phrases that you actually want to use, and let the rest wash over you as immersion.
Anime is a goldmine for Japanese learners, but it can be a trap. If you try to look up every single word, a 20-minute episode takes 2 hours, and you burn out.
The 3 Rules of Anime Mining
- Ignore the jargon. Unless you plan to pilot a mecha or fight demons, you don't need to memorize "Flux Capacitor" or "Blood Demon Art". Focus on the banter between characters.
- Look for short, punchy emotional reactions."Majide?" (Seriously?), "Yabai" (Crazy/Bad/Good), "Uso desho" (You're lying). These are high-frequency conversational anchors.
- Don't pause for everything. Only mine a sentence if it sparks joy or if you heard it clearly. Let the rest wash over you as immersion.
When you catch a good line, type it into Babelbits immediately (or use voice dictation). Tag it #anime. Over time, you'll build a deck of emotive, powerful phrases that textbook Japanese never teaches you.