My boyfriend only watches anime and it makes me upset.

I guess you have to decide how important this is, watching stuff together. I don't think you should force yourself to watch shows you don't enjoy, and it will only cause you frustration if you keep trying to show him shows he doesn't enjoy.

My boyfriend and I have a no phone rule when we watch a movie or show together unless we pause it for a bathroom break. I have a friend that is a lot like your boyfriend and she drives me nuts and I can’t watch anything with her so I understand. Maybe try to enforce the no phone rule and see how it plays out. He sounds like a brat honestly, I’m sorry I don’t have better advice but maybe someone else will.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that its not about the anime. Rather, it's about how you're putting time and effort into appreciating his interests but that effort isn't being reciprocated. This creates an unequal investment of emotional labor. If only one person in a relationship is doing this, then eventually they begin to feel burnt out and underappreciated. Or, as you've discovered, you feel like there is a disconnect. To be honest, he's young. He may not realize that you have to show a bit of good faith in a relationship and make some effort to meet your partner halfway. You can bring this up and say that you'd like it if he tried harder to create common grounds with you. Perhaps discuss movie genres etc. he might be interested in. Then see if he makes an adequate effort to keep you happy. That said, your romantic partner doesn't have to, and perhaps shouldn't, have all the same interests and passions as you do. You need to have your own independent hobbies, friends and activities. There should be some overlap but if he's really not interested, then you can't *make* him appreciate the things you do. There is a balance you have to find. If you can't find that balance. Or if he fails to put in effort, then the relationship is doomed. Better to acknowledge the fundamental differences and break up, than make it into a nightmare of dragged out resentment and passive aggression. One thing I do suggest you consider is whether his lack of engagement and effort in the relationship is a pattern. Are there other areas where he fails and you have to shoulder the burden? Or keep things going? If so, then again perhaps consider it a deal breaker.

I feel like relationships should be like both of you trying eachothers stuff. But you seem to be putting more effort than him :( I’m sorry, girl. This has happened to me before and it ended up not going well. You can tell him to put his phone away, but I think him wanting to try what you want is more important than telling him what to do. You can keep trying but you deserve the same energy you put in :( But i do think you definitely have the right to be upset! Maybe try to be on your phone too and see how he acts. That way you can better understand him. Like maybe he doesn’t even mind if you are on your phone while he’s showing some show. Maybe he’s that relaxed

if he’s not showing interest in things you’re interested in now, he probably never will. you’re 18 and there’s no point wasting your time on someone who isn’t showing interest in your interests. it’s not the fact he’s watching anime, it’s the fact you’re making the effort to be interested in his things, and he’s not for you. defo talk to him seriously about this, don’t just leave. however, if you tell him how much this means to you and he still doesn’t care/change, i’d leave as he never will change xx

Tell him to put the phone away. I wish more people would make that a habit.

As someone who watches primarily only anime as well the take that he is always needing to do so something else while watching (eating, gaming, on his phone etc) really rubs me the wrong way. Personally I wouldn't be with someone like this, his attention span is pathetic. Good on you for watching the things he recommends, it's pretty shitty of him to not reciprocate the effort. I would tell him that you want to see his reaction to what you're watching as well, just like how he wants to see your reaction to his animes.

Is watching things together a big part of the time you spend together? It kinda sounds like he has adhd or something. Neither of you should have to force yourself to enjoy something you don’t like just because the other likes it. Maybe just focus on spending time together doing something you both genuinely enjoy, and when you or him get an itching to watch tv or anime just call it a day and spend time alone.

What kind of anime is it? Anime is just a form of media, and just like other forms of media like TV and traditional movies, there's a wide range of genres. There's drama, comedy, action, horror, etc. Maybe you can find something in the anime realm that suits you both. And then maybe you can find TVs and film that have similar themes to the anime that they watch. But going back to my question, much like there is a lot of trash TV/films, there's a ton of trash anime. It may not be the anime medium you have issue with, but instead just the type of content he enjoys (depending on what it is).

say to him "look theres a bird" and see what he does

Am I the only one who is creeped out by the "his mom forced him to watch (something else presumably)? Why is this such a huge deal with the people in your life? In my relationship (8+ years) we each watch individually what we enjoy. I enjoy some trash tv, anime, horror shows and he watches his educational stuff and some popular shows (that I also watch alone). We do this while eating/gaming/working alone. Same goes for music too btw, we both share "Rock&Metal" but individually we have our own tastes in genres and we only force each other to listen to our own stuff when we drive somewhere, otherwise it's headsets or earbuds :D The time we actually spend together we just.. talk or play/work(chores&garden) together. Media is more a side thing we just do on each own. I don't think "putting in effort" from either of your sides will "fix" your different tastes and habits. If it's really important to you then you should move on, but you can't force someone to have a "natural" interest in the same stuff you do. Btw I'm also super picky with Anime as I really, really dislike main characters that are underage. There isn't much to pick from, but Death Note, Hellsing, Berserk, Cowboy Bebop, Erased are some that I thoroughly enjoyed (though most are more about the gore and there definitely is some sexual content too but in a more "adult" way :D).

Leave him lol men that into anime is a red flag in my experience

I have adhd so my brain will wander while I’m watching something unless I am simultaneously playing puzzle games on my phone or I’m medicated. Having a mindless activity to do with my hands helps me pay attention to the content. It’s different when I am watching anime though because I prefer japanese dub with english subtitles so I can’t be playing on my phone and reading subtitles at the same time.  If he isn’t adhd, either he doesn’t realize he is, or he just doesn’t find what you choose to watch interesting. Except, and correct me if I’m wrong, people who aren’t adhd are capable of paying attention when something is not interesting if it is important to them, so then it would just be disrespectful. In that case, I would communicate something like “hey us watching this show together is really important to me so I would appreciate if you could pay better attention. When you are on your phone, it feels like you don’t care.” Edit to add: I see the sentiment behind engaging in hobbies that he enjoys even if you don’t, but you also have the option of just enjoying those things separately and finding something you both will enjoy together. If he likes a lot of anime, I know many of the ones men typically like are action anime. Maybe try marvel movies or other action-based movies like that. Maybe trashy comedy for the fan-service type content?? 

i feel like you're overreacting but seeing your ages it makes sense why this bothers so much. you have to decide now if sharing your interests and vice versa is important when being in a relationship. because as you get older, you'll see that it doesn't really matter that much i've been in same relationship for more than a decade we both like entirely different things. my partner actually despises my taste in anime, music, shows, movies, etc lol but that doesn't mean they don't care about me. we both have our own interests and we respect each for it

You forgot to write the TLDR.

I wouldnt talk to someone who watches anime bc I have known enough of them to know that they all somehow watch the same disgusting types of p***.

I understand this. I can't do one thing at a time. I concentrate better on movies/shows while I'm also scrolling Listnook. My partner and I watch stuff together and he sometimes gets annoyed that I'm not watching (cause I'm going through my phone) but as a matter of fact I'm aware of what is happening more than he is.