ani: A One-Stop Cross-Platform Anime Tracking Tool with Danmaku Support

Overview

ani (officially named Animeko, abbreviated as Ani) is an open-source, cross-platform anime tracking application built using the Kotlin/Compose Multiplatform technology stack. It integrates anime discovery, tracking, and viewing into one seamless experience, with deep integration of danmaku (bullet screen) features, cloud synchronization, and offline caching. It aims to deliver a smooth and modern anime-watching experience for users.

Core Positioning: A fully free, open-source, cross-platform anime client that aggregates multiple data sources, supports danmaku, and enables cloud synchronization.

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Platform Support and Downloads

Cross-platform compatibility: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux

• Stable Release: Updated every two weeks, offering stable and reliable features — ideal for most users.
• Testing Release: Updated more frequently (approximately every two days), suitable for advanced users who want to try new features and can tolerate potential bugs.
  • Alpha: Includes cutting-edge but potentially unstable new features.
  • Beta: Offers relatively stable functionality — a balanced choice between new features and reliability.

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Core Features and Advantages

1. Anime Information and Community Integration

• Data from Bangumi: Detailed anime information, community reviews, and broadcast schedules are directly sourced from the renowned anime community Bangumi, ensuring accurate data and a vibrant community atmosphere.
• Smart Schedule: Provides precise new-season broadcast schedules maintained jointly by Bangumi and the Animeko backend.
• Rich Search Options: Supports browsing by new-season schedule and searching via tags, making it easy to discover desired content.

2. Intelligent Anime Tracking Management

• Cloud Sync (Key Feature): Viewing records and tracking lists are seamlessly synced with your Bangumi account, enabling seamless continuity across devices. Wherever you left off on one device, you can resume on another.
• Automatic Progress Update: The app automatically marks episodes as “completed” and updates your progress after viewing, eliminating manual input.
• Seamless Resume: The app remembers your last viewing position, allowing you to resume playback instantly upon opening.

3. Powerful Multi-Source Aggregation and Playback

• Aggregated Video Sources: The app automatically selects the optimal playback stream from multiple aggregated sources, without requiring manual switching.
• Support for Diverse Source Types:
  • BitTorrent (P2P): Built-in optimized libtorrent engine supports "stream while downloading" for smooth playback. Seeding is automatically enabled, respecting the P2P sharing ethos.
  • Online Video Sources: Aggregates content from various online video websites.
  • Media Servers: Supports integration with personal media libraries via Jellyfin and Emby.
  • Custom Sources: Offers a powerful custom source editor for advanced users to add and manage their own sources.
• Danmaku System:
  • Aggregated Danmaku Sources: Integrates danmaku from various sources, including "DanDanPlay".
  • Own Public Server: Hosts Animeko’s own public danmaku server for stable and clean bullet-screen experience.
  • Cloud Filtering: Supports cloud-based danmaku filtering to block offensive or spoiler content, enhancing viewing comfort.
• Offline Caching: Supports local video caching for all types of sources (including BT), enabling offline viewing.

4. Elegant and Modern UI/UX

• Built with Compose Multiplatform: Utilizes a modern declarative UI framework, delivering visually appealing and responsive interfaces.
• Multi-device Adaptability: Perfectly adapted for smartphones, tablets, and desktops, offering excellent experience on large screens.
• Highly Customizable: Offers extensive personalization options, allowing users to tailor the app to their preferences.

5. Technical Advantages and Open Source Spirit

• 100% Kotlin Multiplatform: A single codebase covers all major platforms, ensuring consistent functionality and synchronized updates.
• Performance Optimization:
  • Built-in BitTorrent engine optimized for "stream while downloading".
  • High-performance danmaku rendering engine.
• Powerful Playback Core: Uses ExoPlayer on Android and VLC on PC/macOS/Linux, ensuring excellent compatibility and decoding capabilities.
• Fully Open Source (AGPL-3.0): Code is fully transparent and open for community review, enhancing security and welcoming developer contributions.

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Important Notes

• Content Sources: Animeko does not store or provide any video content. All video data comes from publicly available BT P2P networks or third-party online video websites. The app functions as a powerful "aggregated search and player".
• BT Client Fingerprint: When using BT functionality, the client fingerprint is -AL4123- (last digits vary by version), and the User-Agent string resembles ani_libtorrent/4.12.3.
• Community Engagement: The project is active on GitHub with a large developer community — feedback, bug reports, and feature suggestions are welcomed and well-supported.

Conclusion

ani (Animeko) is more than just a player — it’s a complete anime-tracking solution integrating information acquisition, progress management, multi-source playback, danmaku interaction, and cross-platform synchronization. Its open-source cross-platform nature, deep integration with the Bangumi community, and excellent support for BT and danmaku features set it apart from other anime tracking tools. It is the ideal choice for anime lovers who want to manage their watchlists and enjoy a delightful viewing experience.