What is MyAnimeList (MAL) and How to Use It?

This guide explains what MyAnimeList is and how to use the service. The anime tracker doubles as a website and a mobile app, with native apps for Android and iOS.

What is MyAnimeList (MAL)?

MyAnimeList (MAL) is a free online database for anime and manga. This free tracker is a go-to platform for managing your anime and manga watch and read list.

You can add the titles that you have interacted with to your list and label them based on progress. For instance, if you started watching an anime series but stopped midway, you can mark it as Dropped. Similarly, you can mark your completed shows and anime films as Completed. Other options include On Hold, Plan to Watch, and Watching.

MyAnimeList also offers personalized recommendations tailored to your viewing and reading habits. You can use the platform to plan your next watch, see what other anime and manga enthusiasts are watching, and so much more.

It’s also a community where you can connect with other anime fans and talk about shows, episodes, voice actors, or anything else related to anime. You’ll find honest reviews from people sharing their own experiences.

Lastly, MyAnimeList also features news, articles, and character profiles. You may find various information, such as when your favorite series is being renewed or which actor voices a familiar character.

MyAnimeList Features

Here are some of the features of the service:

• Anime database
• Manga database
• Anime and Manga tracking service
• Personalized recommendations
• Community of anime and manga fans (forums, clubs, etc.)
• Information on where to watch and read anime and manga
• Anime articles, blogs, and latest news
• Character details like animeography and mangaography
• Anime trailers
• Anime and Manga challenges
• Navigable user interface with filters like genre, theme, demographics, and rankings.
• Free MAL account, ad-supported
• MAL supporter account, ad-free for $2.99 per month

How to Sign Up for a MyAnimeList Account

While you can explore and use MyAnimeList as a guest, you need to sign up for a free account to unlock its full potential and personalize your lists. You can also upgrade to a paid account to hide ads. The paid plan costs $2.99 per month and $29.99 per year.

I’ll show you how to register for the free account in this guide. Follow these steps to sign up for MyAnimeList:

1. Open your browser and go to https://myanimelist.net. Click Sign Up.

2. Use your Google, Facebook, Apple, X, or Email account to sign up.  Enter the required details, then select Create Account.

3. Follow the on-screen instructions to verify the account.

4. MyAnimeList will notify you once you’ve successfully verified your account. You should see the notification below or something similar.

That’s all. You have signed up for a MyAnimeList account. Next up, we will learn how to use the platform to track and manage anime and manga.

How to Use MyAnimeList

Now that you have an account, the next step is to explore what this tracking service offers. I found it a bit crowded for a beginner, but eventually, I found my way around the interface. This is what the homepage looks like.

Navigating this platform depends on what you are looking for. If you can think of titles to find and add to your lists, there is a search feature at the top right. You can also explore trending titles.

You may also use the Top Anime or Top Manga tab to discover titles you might like.

Select the title that piques your interest and click Add to list.

Fill in the required details, including status, episodes watched, your score, and finish date (for completed titles). The details vary depending on the status. For instance, a completed status will have a place for watched episodes, start date, and finish date. Click Submit when done.

You should see a Successfully added anime to your list notification.

Each assigned status has a different color:

• Watching: Greem
• Completed: Blue
• On Hold: Yellow
• Dropped: Red
• Plan to Watch: Grey

Other ways to discover new anime and manga titles include using Seasonal Anime, Videos and Trailers, Reviews, and Recommendations features.

MAL offers various metadata, including content summary, score/rating, rank, popularity, number of episodes, and characters.

MyAnimeList lets you export your lists for backup or sharing with other users. To export a list, open the list, then click on the folder icon on the left panel.

Follow the on-screen instructions to import the file into your device.

The bio section shows your profile and associated data, including last online, when you joined, history, favorites, forum posts, and reviews.

The Community tab is one of the best features of MAL. It lets you connect with other users, read and write posts in the forums, read announcements, blogs, etc.

All things considered, MyAnimeList is one of the best tracking services for anime and manga. Let’s discuss how to use the service on mobile devices below.

You are now all set to track and watch your favorite content. However, for a buffer-free experience, I recommend using ExpressVPN. With ExpressVPN, you can bypass ISP throttling and enjoy uninterrupted streaming.

Step 1: Subscribe to ExpressVPN HERE. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can use it free for the first 30 days, and if you are not satisfied with the performance (which is highly unlikely), you can ask for a full refund.

Step 2: Power ON your Fire TV Stick and go to Find, followed by the Search option.

Step 3: Now type “Expressvpn” (without quotes) in the search bar and select ExpressVPN when it appears in the search results.

Step 4: Click Download to install the ExpressVPN app on Fire TV / Stick.

Step 5: Open the app and enter the login credentials you created while buying the ExpressVPN subscription. Click Sign in.

Step 6: Click the Power icon to connect to a VPN server. That’s all. Your connection is now secure with the fastest and best VPN for FireStick.

How to Install the MyAnimeList App on Mobile

Some users prefer using tracking services on mobile devices instead of desktops. If you are one of them, MyAnimeList offers native apps for both Android and iOS mobile devices, including phones and tablets.

I’ll show you how to install MyAnimeList on Android, but the steps are similar for iOS. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Google Play Store app on your device and navigate to the search function. Type MyAnimeList in the search bar and tap enter.

2. Select MyAnimeList Official from the suggested results and tap Install.

3. Wait for the app to be installed. Tap Enable once the installation is complete.

4. Select Open to launch the app.

5. Tap Get Started.

6. Sign in with your MyAnimeList credentials. If you don’t have an account yet, click Create Account and follow the on-screen instructions to sign up.

7. This is what the MyAnimeList app home screen looks like.

8. Navigate to the My List section to see your anime and manga.

You have successfully installed the MyAnimeList app on your mobile device. Start setting up your lists, including the completed, still watching, on hold, dropped, and plan to watch titles.

Wrapping Up

MyAnimeList is a free tracking service for anime and manga. It also provides recommendations, reviews, and a community to interact with other anime and manga enthusiasts. Have you tried this service? Share your thoughts and concerns via the comment section below.

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