MyAnimeList Alternatives

Alternatives to MyAnimeList

With the recent issues with anime listing and database website MyAnimeList (MAL), people have started scrambling for alternatives. The site was completely down for some time, eventually returning with numerous features being disabled. This problem was due to the website's API, however this was not communicated publicly at first. More info on the MyAnimeList situation can be explained below, with outside sources for relevancy.

Otherwise, I'd like to recommend a few alternatives for those who wish to switch services, as well as the pros and cons of each.  If you're here just for the recommendations feel free to skip the section below!


For More Information on the MyAnimeList Situation

This is a statement and comment thread from the developer of Taiga, which is an application used to track anime videos on your computer and auto add them to listing websites. This is used mostly to manage things like MyAnimeList without the need for manual updates. This now works mostly with Kitsu and AniList, which are the alternatives that will be discussed today!

Article detailing the beginning of the MAL takedown, also showcases a few statements from the admins.

List of MAL Updates after it's downtime
 Showcases which features have been restored and what still needs work.


Alternative Websites/Resources

Kitsu


Kitsu is an anime listing and database application similar to MyAnimeList. It differs in general layout, customization features, and rating system. As of now, it is compatible with anime tracking application Taiga.

Pros
  • More profile room and customization, allowing for more favorite characters & anime/manga.
  • Cleaner and sleeker interface, mixes the structure of MyAnimeList with a responsive design.
  • Uses reactions instead of reviews, which appear randomly on anime info pages; a concise way to give user feedback on an anime series.
  • Sorts series by genre, allowing for easy and specific searching.
Cons
  • Design can be somewhat cluttered when it comes to certain features
  • Not the best website when it comes to looking for specific information.
  • Customization must be in the realm of the website; differs from MAL's BBcode abilities.
  • Community is smaller than MAL's and interaction is based on groups and following, less friend to friend basis.
  • Certain functions of the website seem to be broken (at least on my end) such as character links not redirecting to a character's profile.

AniList


Like Kitsu, AniList is another anime database and listing website. It is a step up from MyAnimeList is turns of its user interface, featuring a modern and responsive design. Although data-basing anime is important, AniList places an emphasis on it's social features, with users social feeds and forum posts being pushed to the forefront upon entering the website.

Pros
  • Small community, but more tight-knit. (Can go as a pro or a con)
  • High social aspects, comments and discussions are sorted in a feed-like format for easy reading.
  • Various rating systems such as emoticons, number ratings, stars, and more.
  • Analyzes watched anime in terms of time spent watching, top genres, and more.
  • Various search options when looking for anime or manga. (Ex: By genre, season, and more.)

Cons
  • Forum layout could be better designed, currently cluttered with little differentiation.
  • No feature specifically for recommending anime that a user might be interested in, just popular anime. 
  • Again, customization must be in the realm of the website; differs from MAL's BBcode abilities.
  • Character pages and other pages need to be updates with sufficient information. (This is usually done by community volunteers.)

Lastly, there is one more alternative that I would suggest, but due to my lack of experience with the database I cannot recommend it. This website is AniDB. 

Please let me know if this post helped you, and if you have any comments or concerns let me know!

Thank you for reading!


Comments

Post a Comment

Please comment, I want to hear your voice!

Popular posts from this blog

Useful Danbooru Image Grabber

Image
Ever find yourself needing or wanting a large amount of anime images for no reason? Maybe you're running a Tumblr blog and want to keep it active, but you can't be bothered to find and download pictures by searching all the boorus? For bloggers, collectors, or graphic designers, this Image Grabber is one of the best tools ever created. The Image Grabber can found at this location . It's an easy download, and quick setup. To download simply navigate to the page on the website labeled "Downloads." You can pick a version that's available for your operating system. As of now, there's only a Linux and Windows version. For a list of available file names for your pictures, go here . Showcasing side by side windows. For those who don't like to download things unknowingly, I've taken a few pictures of the program. The interface isn't anything fancy, but it gets the job done. It's not too confusing and if you run Windows 8 you can easil...
Read more

The Key to Naruto's Success: Empathy

Image
What makes Naruto such a successful person? Many people have examined and discussed his different traits, his personality, and even the values instilled into him. Yet, I think that while we're looking at the core of Naruto's character, we've forgotten something really important. Naruto, has the ability to understand others and their feelings. He can sense the malice of his enemies and the pain of others. Naruto can understand exactly what they went through and relate, enough to become friends with the people he once called foes. While this seems very simple and straightforward, I feel this sort of understanding isn't a normal thing that everyone has. First, let's take a look at empathy. Most of us probably know exactly what sympathy is, when we feel sorry for someone else due to their problems. Empathy is a little different; it can be described as literally feeling other's pain or emotions. While Naruto possesses sympathy, I feel he also has em...
Read more

Happy New Year from Shooting Star Dreamer!

Image
Once again, it's the end of the year! Throughout this year, a lot of things have changed for this blog and for me. Though it is harder for me to keep Shooting Star Dreamer consistently updated, I cannot help but make a New Year's post for you all. As New Year approached things have felt somewhat different than before. I feel that the anime community and anime in general has been changing, or perhaps even evolving. Whether this is a good or bad thing, I am not sure. All I know is that it has changed my approach to anime. (and my frequency of keeping up with anime) Something that has not changed though is my tradition of creating New Year's Resolutions. After thinking over my resolutions in depth, I do not believe they are goals to simply be met in the future. If these goals aren't met but are worked towards, then the progress and growth is still there. Completing the goal isn't necessarily the point of resolutions, its just to have a guide to work towards. A...
Read more