Site feedback after using Astra for a week — some suggestions

Been using the site for about a week now, coming from [other sites I won't name]. Overall really impressed, especially with the video quality. Here's my honest feedback:

THINGS I LOVE:
- The video player is smooth, no buffering issues for me
- Library system (watching/completed/etc.) is actually useful
- The forum is a nice touch, most streaming sites don't have community features at all
- Dark theme is easy on the eyes

THINGS I'D LOVE TO SEE:
- Skip intro button (even a manual 'skip 90 seconds' would help)
- Ability to leave episode-specific comments, not just anime-level
- Keyboard shortcuts for the video player (space to pause, arrows to seek, F for fullscreen)
- Download option for offline watching
- A 'random anime' button for when I can't decide

Not complaints, just suggestions. Keep up the good work honestly

The skip intro thing is the one I feel most strongly about. I've watched enough Demon Slayer episodes that I could recite the opening from memory. A skip button would save my sanity.

Also seconding keyboard shortcuts — space to pause should be literally the minimum for any video player in 2025.

Episode-level comments is a really good idea actually. Half the fun of watching anime seasonally is reacting to specific moments in specific episodes, and there's nowhere to do that currently.

Also adding my own suggestion: a 'currently airing' or 'seasonal' section so it's easy to see what's new without searching. Even just a filter on the browse page.

Random anime button would make my life so much better. Decision paralysis is real. I spend 20 minutes choosing what to watch and then fall asleep before I watch anything.

Actually what would be even better: a 'spin the wheel' for your own watchlist. Like 'pick a random show from my Plan to Watch list.' That would be genuinely useful.

xalyut wrote:

A 'spin the wheel' for your own watchlist.

This is a brilliant idea that I want immediately. Especially for people like me who have 80 shows on plan to watch and always end up rewatching the same 3 comfort shows instead.

The download option is complicated because of licensing but I'd love it for long trips. Even a 'download this episode for 48 hours' type thing like Netflix does.

On keyboard shortcuts: I tested it and spacebar already pauses on my end? Maybe it's browser dependent. Arrow keys don't seek though which is the more useful one honestly.

Spacebar works for me too. I think it might depend on whether you've clicked the player first. If the page focus is on the player, space works. If you accidentally click somewhere else on the page first, space doesn't work because focus is lost.

That's probably worth fixing separately from full keyboard shortcuts.

One more suggestion I thought of: profile customization. Being able to set a banner or a bio or a favorite anime. Right now the profile page shows your history which is great but it doesn't say much about who you are as a person.

Also — not urgent but would be cool — badges for milestones. Like a badge for watching 50 episodes or completing 10 anime. Little gamification things keep people coming back.

Badges idea is good for retention. Even something simple like 'First Watch' or 'Marathon Mode' (watched 5 episodes in a day) would add personality.

Overall though: this site is already better than most alternatives I've tried. The fact that it has a forum at all puts it ahead. Happy to be here.

Late to the thread but want to add: the search could be more powerful. Right now it finds by title which is fine, but being able to filter by genre, year, status (airing/finished) would be really helpful for discovery.

Like if I want 'completed fantasy anime from 2018-2022 with 24+ episodes' I currently can't do that. MAL's search is good for this even if the site itself is clunky.

Advanced search would be huge for discovery. The browse page showing everything alphabetically is functional but it doesn't help you find something new.

Good thread. Hope the devs read the suggestions section. The site has a lot of potential.