> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://api.simkl.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# About Anime

> Look up anime, browse what's airing or premiering, and pull episode lists.

The Anime API mirrors the TV API but uses **AniDB** as its primary source for episode/season numbering. None of these endpoints require an OAuth `token` — a `client_id` is enough.

In addition to the standard show fields, anime responses include `anime_type` (one of `tv`, `special`, `ova`, `movie`, `music video`, `ona`) and `en_title`.

<Note>
  Anime episodes are numbered using AniDB. If you receive scrobbles or IDs from TMDB/TVDB-based sources, expect the API to remap them — see the [Scrobble overview](/api-reference/scrobble) for details.
</Note>

## Look up an anime

Item-level lookups for when you already know which anime you want. Both are Cloudflare-cached by Simkl ID — see [Rate limits → Parallel requests](/resources/rate-limits#parallel-requests--when-allowed).

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Anime details" icon="circle-info" href="/api-reference/simkl/get-anime">
    `GET /anime/{id}` — full record (overview, studios, network, runtime, status, genres, episode count, AniDB-mapped TVDB seasons, related titles, ratings, posters, fanart, trailers, external IDs, alternate titles).
  </Card>

  <Card title="Episode list" icon="list-ol" href="/api-reference/simkl/get-anime-episodes">
    `GET /anime/episodes/{id}` — every episode with `aired` flags and airdates. Specials appear with `type: "special"`.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

If you only have an external ID (MAL, AniDB, AniList, Kitsu, etc.), resolve it to a Simkl ID via [`GET /redirect`](/api-reference/redirect) first — header-only, Cloudflare-cached, and the canonical resolver.

<Tip>
  On `GET /anime/{id}`, add `?extended=full_anime_seasons` to additionally receive `mapped_tvdb_seasons` plus per-season IMDB/TVDB/TMDB IDs for shows with 2+ seasons — useful when bridging anime-native episode numbering to TVDB-style players.
</Tip>

## Browse & discover

Find anime by what's on now, what's coming, what's top-rated, or by genre / network / year.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Airing" icon="signal-stream" href="/api-reference/simkl/get-anime-airing">
    `GET /anime/airing` — what's airing right now.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Premieres" icon="calendar-day" href="/api-reference/simkl/get-anime-premieres">
    `GET /anime/premieres/{param}` — upcoming season and series premieres.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Best of" icon="trophy" href="/api-reference/simkl/get-best-anime">
    `GET /anime/best/{filter}` — top-rated anime by filter (year, all-time, etc.).
  </Card>

  <Card title="Genres" icon="compass" href="/api-reference/simkl/get-anime-genres">
    `GET /anime/genres/...` — browse by genre, network, year.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Pre-built data files (no per-user cost)

Two static JSON resources on the CDN cover the most common "what's hot / what's airing" surfaces without paying any per-user request budget. Send the standard URL parameters and User-Agent; no `Authorization` token needed.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Trending anime" icon="fire" href="/api-reference/trending">
    `https://data.simkl.in/trending/anime_today.json` + week / month variants, plus Top-100 and Top-500 versions. Refreshed daily. Drives "Most Watched" / "Trending Now" surfaces without polling.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Anime airing calendar" icon="calendar" href="/api-reference/calendar">
    `https://data.simkl.in/calendar/anime.json` + per-month archives at `/calendar/{YEAR}/{MONTH}/anime.json`. Updated every 6 hours. Far cheaper than polling `/anime/airing`.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>