There is a great anime that shows us how not to make us invested in the anime and actively tries to make us forget or miss things. Kyoukaisenjou no Horizon.
It's a fucking clusterfuck exposition dump with a big enough character zoo to not give a shit about anything. I dare you to watch it without 110% concentration and be able to recall the plot or any of the characters.
If you demand respect or gratitude for your volunteer work, you're doing volunteering wrong.