👋 Hello there

Welcome to my blog about the My Anime List Agent (MAL-Agent) – an open-source project I built to interact effortlessly with MyAnimeList through chat and smart features. Here, I’ll share how I created it, the features it offers, what it can do, and how you can use it.

Why I Created MAL-Agent

As a passionate anime fan and developer, I often found myself wanting to simplify tasks on MyAnimeList: updating my watchlist, searching for anime, fetching recommendations, and more. The current MyAnimeList platform has an outdated design and lacks a user-friendly interface. More importantly, there’s no built-in option to Update animes in bulk.

So, I decided to build MAL-Agent – a smart, customizable Assistant that bridges the gap between anime lovers and the MyAnimeList platform to solve these issues with just chat.

How I Built MAL-Agent

1. Planning & Research

• Explored MyAnimeList API v2 to identify user pain points and common interactions.

1. Tech Stack

• Python: Chosen for speed and robust library ecosystem.
• Requests: To manage all API communication.
• Streamlit: Used to build the web-based interface.
• Gemini (by Google): Utilized as the base LLM for intelligent suggestions and interactions.
• Database: SQLite or JSON for storing local user preferences.

1. Core Development

• Integrated OAuth2 for secure user authentication.
• Created modules for search, updates, recommendations, and bulk operations.
• Developed a streamlined web UI using Streamlit.

1. Testing & Refinement

• Ran tests using sample user accounts.
• Improved speed, fixed bugs, and added meaningful error messages.

Key Features

• Anime Search: Instantly find anime titles and details.
• Watchlist Management: Easily add, update, or remove entries.
• Smart Recommendations: Suggestions based on your ratings and viewing history.
• Bulk List Updating: Paste anime links or names with status to update in one go.
• Custom Filters: Sort anime by genre, rating, status, and more.
• Web Interface: Use the agent through a user-friendly Streamlit-powered web page.
• Direct Watchlink: Quickly access anime on Crunchyroll or HiAnime.

What MAL-Agent Can Do

• Automate Repetitive Tasks: No more manual edits – MAL-Agent handles everything.
• Personalized Suggestions: Get custom recommendations curated for your tastes.
• Bulk Operations: Add or update multiple entries simultaneously.
• Data Export/Import: Backup or share your anime list with ease.
• Fast, Flexible Search: Search by title, studio, genre, or tags.
• Status Tracking: Stay updated on airing schedules and your current progress.

How to Use MAL-Agent

1. Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/KunalGupta25/MAL-Agent.git
cd MAL-Agent

2. Install Requirements

pip install -r requirements.txt

3. Configure Your Credentials

• Head over to MyAnimeList API to get your API keys.
• Save them in config.json or export them as environment variables.

4. Launch the Web Interface

streamlit run web_app.py
# Then visit the provided localhost URL in your browser

App Showcase

Here are a few snapshots of the MAL-Agent in action:

Final Thoughts

MAL-Agent was built purely out of passion — a personal project to combine my love for anime and my interest in building practical, AI-powered tools. While it started as a way to solve my own pain points with the MyAnimeList experience, it evolved into something much more useful and enjoyable.

Whether you’re just looking to automate your list updates or explore smart anime recommendations, I hope this tool adds some extra joy to your anime journey.

Contributions, feedback, and feature requests are always welcome. Let’s build a better anime experience together!

Check it out on GitHub
and don't forget to give star if you like my idea.

Created by: KunalGupta25 aka LazyHuman