Cataloging sites are an important pillar to any Anime Fan since it keeps track what we watched, completed or planning to watch. People share these lists with others so other people can see what the person watched.
The evolution to good and easy to use Cataloging Services have been a rough one. MyAnimeList from the opinions of other users have been rather negative for unnecessary changes, random bugs and no open APIs that its been a frustration for both regular users and developers alike. AniDB hasn’t changed much and still too advanced for the average user. AnimePlanet is rather new still and still missing some features. However, its still better than MyAnimeList in many aspects. Lastly, Melative, the whole kitchen sink remains powerful and became more accessible to users. However, it does not have a really pretty web UI. In this State of the Union, I will discuss my thoughts on what’s good and what’s not good about these services and which one benefits the user the most.
Note: Fanart used in this post is made by えびばーちゃん
AniDB
AniDB has been around for a while as an advanced user’s Anime cataloging system. AniDB is catered for the power user since it uses advanced API via UDP, which is pretty hard for most programmers to grasp. Also, the updating system is not as simple for average users. AniDB does have one thing that other services don’t have, a Java based program that can through your fansub collection and catalog them.
For those who read Manga, AniDB is simply not the right website to use since you can’t catalog Manga, which is a disadvantage besides its user unfriendliness.
AnimePlanet
AnimePlanet is probably the closest alternative to MyAnimeList you can get since it has some of the same features like Anime/Manga cataloging, Blogs, Forums, list status signatures and the ability to have favorite characters. Compared to Melative’s Anime Database, AnimePlanet’s database is also incomplete, but still improving. Not to mention, AnimePlanet is still in continual development, compared to MyAnimeList, which their development have become stagnant. I guess having a group of people working on the project can drive cooperative development compared to a company owning a site and not making any improvements whatsoever.
Like with Melative, AnimePlanet can import Anime/Manga Lists from AniDB and MyAnimeList XML.
The import process was rather simple and it imported all the titles from MyAnimeList, unlike AniDB. It records a log of what was imported, which is pretty useful in finding titles that don’t exist in the database.
Although you may find that some of the library cataloging features like the number of Downloaded episodes/DVDs, start/end state and etc missing from AnimePlanet, the interface is rather simple to use for an average users. Unlike MyAnimeList, AnimePlanet allows decimal scores, which allows people to put down scores like 3.5/10 for example. Still, the scoring system is rather restrictive since you can’t have a score like 75.5/10 or something like that.
AnimePlanet only shows the most basic information and does not list people who are in the production team. However, it does have an extensive list of related Anime to get you in the right direction on what to watch next…
Lastly, AnimePlanet does not have an Open WebAPI. To be fair, its still a new service and I don’t expect them to have an API right now. However, they are planning to make an official mobile application in the future, which will be good for people who watch Anime on their mobile devices and want to update the list without viewing the full site.
Overall, AnimePlanet is a decent alternative to MyAnimeList, but still missing a number of features and information in their databases. After they fill in these gaps, they should consider opening up their service more by providing APIs so that developers can extend the functionality by building web apps and also desktop programs to manage lists without going to the site directly. Once they have Open APIs, it will give an advantage against MyAnimeList over openness.
MyAnimeList
Months after the controversial redesign, MyAnimeList haven’t changed much. It remains one of the most closed and buggiest cataloging services out there. Unlike AnimePlanet and Melative, MyAnimeList owner is not interested in optimizing or improving their services. This is the main reason why there is a good amount of people complaining on how buggy the site is.
Also, Developing for MAL is still a royal pain the ass. I know since I developed for it and have to deal with the Unofficial MAL API going down at random times. Thats right, MyAnimeList needs an Unofficial API just to fix its rather incomplete Official APIs that the owner is unwilling to fix. On the other hand, for those who doesn’t use the API like the closed sourced MAL Updater, they have to go through HTML Scrapping. HTML Scrapping is a lousy and difficult way to develop a program since something can change at any time, which results in the program’s functions being broken. When the program breaks, this leaves a lot of angry users you have to deal with.
On the bright side, it has clubs that allows people with the same interests to participate on the same manner like on Facebook. Also, it has advanced features like tags, start/end date and media tracking features (number of episodes, DVDs, etc). If you don’t use these features, you won’t be missing much if you left MyAnimeList for a different service.
Melative
Most people think that Melative is like MyAnimeList. No, it’s serves a completely different purpose besides cataloging Anime and Manga. It can catalog practically every media (for example: Visual Novels, Light Novels, music, Asian Drama, movies, books, etc) out there, allows the user to live blog the media and display them everywhere.
Melative is about Openness and the open display of data. For example, you can show your whole Melative Anime Library on your WordPress Blog (see About Chikorita157 > Anime Library for an example). Other notable examples demonstrating Melative’s openness is animelist, customizable display of Anime Lists (similar to MyAnimeList list customization features) and AniAir, which lists the currently airing Anime times and episode.
A few months back, a new Melative WebUI design was launched. It provided an easier interface for average users to update their libraries and the timeline compared to the old web interface. However, Melative is still not as eye catching compared to the other services, but still functional.
The open nature of Melative also allows developers to make programs rather easily without frustrating themselves with a fake API or HTML scrapping. Notable desktop programs that use Melative’s Open APIs are Melative Library, a MAL Updater like library tracker. MelScrobble/MelScrobbleX, a Melative Scrobbler and live media microblogging client that detects currently playing media. Lastly, MelativeMicro, a desktop client oriented for microblogging specificly. The mentioned programs with the help of the API allows people to update without using the WebUI.
Although Melative database is incomplete like AnimePlanet, it provides a lot more data that rivals MyAnimeList. Because of the open nature of Melative, titles that don’t exist in the database can be added easily and missing information can then be added by other users. This means people can get the latest and accurate information without being misled by outdated information.
Some may be bummed that there is no place for socialization besides the timeline and no ability to love/hate characters/people or create status signatures as you seen on Melative. Don’t be discouraged since Melative is still a work in progress like with AnimePlanet and features are being added on a continual basis.
Not to mention, Melative allows users to import data from different sources like MyAnimeList, AniDB, VNDB, etc.
Conclusion
Overall, the Cataloging services are shaping up rather nicely, except for MyAnimeList for the reasons I mentioned above. From the services above, I can only recommend AnimePlanet and Melative. The reason being is that they are accessible to the average user and they are improving continuously. If you used MyAnimeList before, AnimePlanet will be the best choice since they are pretty similar in features. For those who want to share their libraries on other sites, manage all their media in once place, microblog about Anime and/or manage their accounts with a desktop client, Melative is the best service to use. Sure it has some rough edges, but once you get the hang of the site, you might love it.
As for MyAnimeList, they really need to get their acts together and optimize the site and complete the official API. Otherwise, it can go rot in a ditch. (No offense for those who like MyAnimeList…)
Rawr 🙂 I only care about APIs … whoops. MALs API isn’t that bad, but it is stagnant. AniDB amazingly has had more movement over the last year than MAL, which is rad, but the API is still tough to work with. For basic needs of anime, it’s good, and I think I trust the fansub reviews on AniDB more than anywhere else, because the users have been doing this and didn’t just happen to start using whatever was the most popular.
You don’t know how bad MAL APIs really are. First off, the update APIs is just hard to use since you need to input data in a nonstandard way (e.g. XML). I would rather preferred them to using Form Data since it’s the easiest to implement, even in Objective C. I don’t have to worry about generating XML and such, which becomes nasty.
Second is the Search API… No need to mention how broken it is… just read the comment below… (TL;DR: The Search API was just unusable…)
Third, the documentation sucks… It doesn’t even list how you retrieve the Anime/Manga list… Lame…
Lastly, the API is very incomplete. There is no API to retrieve the title info like you can with Melative with http://melative.com/api/entity/metab.xml. That API function is non existent on MAL, which makes it a bit difficult to integrity check the status the user is updating let along provide the user any info about the title in the client.
In conclusion the MAL API is just non existent, broken and a pile of shit. It’s very hard for a developer to develop for MAL without using Unofficial MAL API that breaks at random times. With the fight I have with Wile (which is a big jerk btw), it just proves that MAL have no intentions of improving its API situation, if ever.
TL;DR: MyAnimeList is a shit bucket when it comes to the site and APIs.
Well, I know it kinda sucks to not have filterable queries, like ‘Give me X’s planned list segment’. Or whatever.
MAL’s API is bad. The search API return broken characters and junk. The unofficial API is much better, but I’m not working to work on my MAL client anymore. MAL’s website isn’t that great either.
I would like to would like to have a website where I can catalog more than anime and manga. Live live-action, but also stuff that’s not related to anime or manga. Maybe some people could give it a try? You got my support. ;D
Nowadays, I barely use MyAnimeList for the same reason. I still work on the client, but its at my lowest priority so the Mac users don’t get shafted since there is no real working Mac client and the original developer of iMAL given up. Top that off, the Unofficial MAL API is buggy, making it really unreliable.
My number one priority is to work on Melative since there is a new wave of people coming from all over the place, including The Colorless, which is a Drrr! fan boards operated by Eugen and RyanA. Also, the API is functional, unlike MAL, which makes it a big plus for me since I don’t have to fix the program or worry about it getting broken.
Melative looks nice, but it’s a bit empty and unpolished. And I think I also found a bug. But it looks promosing.
As always, Melative is still relatively young, so I expect it to be rather incomplete. If you find any bugs, just notify RyanA and he will fix it rather quickly…
Unless he is at the beach, of course. :p
Man…reading all that just makes me want to go to a spreadsheet :p. There’s a lot of MAL haet for good reason. The hard part is that, even though it sucks for a lot of what it does, it has a bajillion users. Knock it for the api, the crappy design, etc, but the power of “everyone uses it” or “my friend X uses it, so I do to” will trump crappy design everytime. I still use MAL, but never for anything more than a list. Melative handles it better, and really always has.
We may have a bit of bias when it comes to this, but the comparisons are sound and if anything, I hope that some readers realize the alternatives available to them.
I should also play with my anime-planet account more.
Maybe blog more, too. :p
Its comparable with Facebook since everyone uses it and there are some people that don’t like it because of the privacy concerns and the radical web design changes they done in the past. The differences between Facebook and MAL is that Facebook has a fully implemented API and not as buggy as MAL…
Bad example… How about comparing it with Internet Explorer… Most people uses it and its regarded as worst in the class with web standards and security. It doesn’t stop everyone from using it even though there are alternatives out there…
People have to realize that there are alternatives out there and that MyAnimeList isn’t the only site in the whole game. Its just like people discovering Firefox as an alternative when the media reports that Internet Explorer is the most insecure browser out of the bunch…
Yea, I don’t think MAL and FB should be compared anymore. FB is on a completely different level of what they’re doing, and they have a massive Chord architecture as well as robust APIs.
I only need something simple to keep track of what series I’ve seen and what associated works (specials, OVA, sequels… etc.) are going to come out soon. MAL is the easiest for me. No need to worry about API or anything… I don’t even know what API is.
Melative seems really powerful, but I have no idea how to do anything with it. And there is like literally nothing on there to help explain it. I spent quite a bit of time on the Melative website trying to figure out how to use anything.
Yes, Melative has a bit of a learning curve compared to MAL, but it’s no means on the same level of difficulty as AniDB… Perhaps someone should write a beginner guide on how to use the basic features of the site and such…
API matters with me since I want a program like MAL Updater to allow me to update my list without going to the website, but it doesn’t exist on the OS I am using. The WebUI sucks for me since its too clunky or I don’t feel like loading the site up just to update one title. Then again, Kimaguresan has a good point on why everyone uses the service and also people realizing there are alternatives out there, not just MAL.
Anime-Planet is the most accurate, and with the most friendly community of them all, but the lists they give lack what I want from a list. Melative is not as good-to-go as the others, but it’s totally worth it.. I knew what I wanted, so I just made animulist.com to work on top of melative, and there, I got my lists as I want them.
And MAL is old. It’s just outdated. And the userbase full of trolls.
If you have seen the comments above (which were restored), MAL’s development is stagnant and it’s not going to change anytime soon. The Official API is a sorry mess with broken search function, hard to use updating APIs, no JSON output and official function to retrieve the list…
Simply say that MAL is a recipe for disaster… but people are still going to use it since their friends use it and so on (what Kimaguresan said).