One great thing about watching anime is that if you pay attention, you'll learn a lot of nonverbal gestures. Nonverbal communication is very important in learning any new language or culture, and it's saved me quite a bit since I've come to Japan.
Just today an old lady stopped me to ask me for directions to someplace and she couldn't hear me because of the loud traffic right next to us, but she saw me make the sign for "I'm sorry" (open "ready to karate chop" hand in front of your face as you bow) and understood that I couldn't help her.
(Although, she ended up thinking that I didn't know where the place was and replied that it's OK and left... Honestly, I was actually apologizing because I'd missed half the question and didn't understand what she was asking at the time.
)