Do you really need your bf/gf to like anime?

no, but i would at least need them to understand that it's a major interest of mine and not to bash me or tease me about it. i don't think i'd be able to date a person who had NO geeky/nerdy interests, however.

totally agree with @nbdyspshl, I would certainly never want to feel like I'd have to hide my interests or be embarrassed about it :( if our interests didn't intersect at all, that might be a little hard. Not just for me but for them too.

Honestly, anime is such a big part of the definition of my emotional spectrum that I think I would need my GF to at least watching some anime.

I doubt I'd have enough chemistry with someone if they didn't like anime or at least weren't a fan. Its pretty much the center of my hobbies and I'm okay with that since the rest of my life is completely different, but being as my hobbies are my fun pastime I don't know what else we would do together. Its easier to connect with someone with mutual interests.

It's not entirely necessary, however it'd be preferred since it's an interest of mine. I can't go out with someone that isn't the slightest bit geeky, it just doesn't work that way. All of my previous exes liked anime.

I would never force that on them for example I hate reality tv and stuff like that and I would never not want that forced on me. I would however like not to be judged by liking anime or manga just as I would not judge them for anything I didn't personally like. I would offer it and if they didn't like it I would watch it alone and stuff. It would help to have someone that does like anime, gaming, and etc as both of you could bond over that kind of stuff.