The Anime Adventure retrospective brings a playful twist to agile reflection, inviting your team to identify new improvements, eliminate bad habits, and celebrate effective processes by channeling the spirit of favorite anime heroes.

When to use this template

Use this format when your team would benefit from a creative boost, needs to shake up routine retros, or wants to energize reflection with a fun theme.

How to facilitate

Open with an upbeat introduction, inviting everyone to imagine themselves as a team of anime heroes embarking on your next quest.

Explain each column: New Special Moves for new practices to try, Villainous Traps for ineffective habits to eliminate, and Signature Combos for successful processes to continue.

Give team members a moment to reflect, then ask everyone to add notes in each column based on their experiences from the last sprint.

Encourage participants to share what inspired their notes and relate them to anime heroes or techniques to build engagement.

Facilitate an open discussion to clarify, group, and prioritize the key points from each column together as a team.

Establish concrete actions: pick which 'new moves' to adopt, which 'traps' to eliminate, and how to reinforce 'signature combos.'

Wrap up by reflecting on the retro experience and recognizing individual or team heroic traits that stood out.

Pro Tips

Lean into the theme by encouraging fun references or visuals from team members' favorite anime—this boosts energy and participation.

Combine related suggestions into team 'combo moves' for actions that are more impactful and collaborative.

Prompt quieter team members with direct but friendly questions to ensure everyone has a chance to contribute.

FAQ

What if my team isn't into anime?

Focus on the underlying structure—Start, Stop, Continue—and keep the tone light. You can adapt references to other shared team interests.

How do we keep the retro focused amid the playful theme?

Set clear expectations up front that while the theme is fun, the outcomes are real and actionable. Maintain structure and gently steer conversation if it drifts.

Can this format work for serious reflection?

Yes, even with a fun theme, you can uncover meaningful insights; sometimes a lighter approach helps teams tackle tough topics more openly.

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At a glance

Duration
35–50 min
Team Size
4-10 people
Columns
3 columns
Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective

🌸✨ Anime Adventure

Step into the vibrant world of anime! Let’s level up our agile journey by channeling our favorite heroes. Share new moves, defeat bad habits, and master your team’s signature techniques for a legendary sprint!

Template Columns

🌀 New Special Moves (Start)

🚫 Villainous Traps (Stop)

✨ Signature Combos (Continue)

About this template