Anime Codex
← Catalogue
Guide

Everything Anime Codex can do.

We've built a set of tools — some for fans browsing the rankings, some for creators building content, and some for everyone. Here's what each one does and how to use it. New here? Start with the Catalogue, then explore from there.

For fans

Browse, compare, and argue about the rankings.

Catalogue

For fans

Every anime, ranked by the six-criterion rubric.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants the master ranked list.

How to use it
  1. 1Browse the full ranking, sorted by overall Codex score.
  2. 2Use the filters to narrow by demographic (shonen, seinen, shoujo, josei, kodomomuke) or genre.
  3. 3Click any show to open its full breakdown — per-criterion scores and the reasoning behind each one.
Open Catalogue

Codex vs MAL

For fans

The biggest gaps between our rubric and the MyAnimeList crowd.

Who it's for: Fans who want the 'is this overrated?' arguments.

How to use it
  1. 1The left column lists shows the Codex rates higher than MAL; the right lists shows the crowd rates higher than we do.
  2. 2Each row shows the gap (Δ) — bigger Δ means a sharper disagreement.
  3. 3Click through to a show to see exactly which criteria drive the gap.
Open Codex vs MAL

Compare

For fans

Put up to three shows side by side, criterion by criterion.

Who it's for: Anyone settling a 'which is better' debate.

How to use it
  1. 1Pick two or three shows with the selectors at the top.
  2. 2Read straight down each column to compare per-criterion scores side by side.
  3. 3The highest score in each row is highlighted so the winner of each category is obvious.
Open Compare

Tune the rubric

For fans

Move the six weights and watch the rankings re-sort live.

Who it's for: Anyone who disagrees with how much each criterion should count.

How to use it
  1. 1Drag the six sliders to set how much each criterion matters to you.
  2. 2The catalogue re-sorts instantly as you change the weights.
  3. 3Click a criterion's label to snap it to 100% and see a ranking built on that one thing alone.
Open Tune the rubric

The criteria

For fans

What the six scoring criteria mean — and the top shows in each.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants to understand how scores are built.

How to use it
  1. 1Read the definition of each of the six criteria.
  2. 2Click any criterion to see the top 25 shows ranked on that criterion alone.
  3. 3Use it alongside Tune to understand how the weighted overall score comes together.
Open The criteria

Find your next watch

For fans

Rapid this-or-that that hands you a ranked watchlist.

Who it's for: Anyone stuck on what to watch next.

How to use it
  1. 1Pick fan or creator, then choose between two shows, fast.
  2. 2We read your genre lane from the picks.
  3. 3Get a ranked shortlist of high-Codex shows you haven't seen yet.
Open Find your next watch

For everyone

Tools both fans and creators reach for.

Analysis tool

For everyone

An in-browser data studio for the whole catalogue — with written takeaways, not just charts.

Who it's for: Power-fans and creators who want to find patterns, not just a list.

How to use it
  1. 1Start on the Insights tab — it reads the data for you: biggest disagreements with the crowd, strongest genres and studios, what drives scores, and whether buzz tracks quality.
  2. 2Unlocked? Hit 'Polish into a briefing' to turn the findings into shareable prose.
  3. 3Switch to the chart tabs (Codex vs MAL, Buzz vs quality, Leaderboards, Show radar) to see the same data visually.
  4. 4Open Explore to build your own chart — choose the X and Y, color and size the marks by genre/studio/any metric, switch between scatter and bar, and read the live correlation.
  5. 5Filter by genre, hover any point for the show, and click through to its full ranking.
Open Analysis tool

The Codex

For everyone

Long-form rankings, deep-dives, and arguments from the data.

Who it's for: Anyone who'd rather read the take than the table.

How to use it
  1. 1Browse or search posts; filter by tag to find a genre or theme.
  2. 2Posts link straight to the shows they discuss — the 'Featured in the Codex' block jumps you to the rankings.
Open The Codex

Seasonal calendar

For everyone

What's airing now, this week's schedule, and next season — free.

Who it's for: Anyone keeping up with current anime.

How to use it
  1. 1Open This season for everything airing now, with studios and AniList scores; shows we've ranked carry their Codex score.
  2. 2Check the Airing schedule for which episodes drop each day this week.
  3. 3Browse Upcoming for next season's most anticipated, by AniList popularity.
Open Seasonal calendar

Anime news

For everyone

The latest anime headlines, aggregated and linked to source.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants the news in one place.

How to use it
  1. 1Scan the latest headlines from across the anime web, newest first.
  2. 2Click any headline to read the full story at its source.
  3. 3For our own opinionated takes, read The Codex (blog) instead.
Open Anime news

Make a list

For everyone

Build a shareable, Codex-anchored anime list — rank it, add notes, share the link.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants to share their picks.

How to use it
  1. 1Search the catalogue and add shows; reorder them and add optional notes.
  2. 2Pick a ranked or grid layout, give it a title, and save — you get a shareable link (no account needed).
  3. 3Every show on your list links back to its Codex ranking.
Open Make a list

Watch

For everyone

Official anime trailers plus free, legal public-domain anime you can stream in full.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants to watch a trailer or a classic for free.

How to use it
  1. 1Browse official trailers for the ranked catalogue — each plays inline on the show's page.
  2. 2Scroll to the public-domain shelf for early anime you can watch in full, free and legally.
  3. 3React or comment on anything — it shows up in the community feed.
Open Watch

Anime places

For everyone

A live map of anime cafés, shops, museums & themed spots — linked to the Codex.

Who it's for: Fans planning a trip or hunting anime spots near them.

How to use it
  1. 1Search a city and filter by type — cafés, shops, museums, themed venues, arcades.
  2. 2Spots tied to a ranked show show an amber 'From [anime] · Codex' badge linking into the catalogue.
  3. 3Add places to a trip and save a shareable, mappable itinerary — no account needed.
Open Anime places

Plan a pilgrimage

For everyone

Swipe real Japan anime spots into an auto-routed trip.

Who it's for: Fans dreaming up an anime trip to Japan.

How to use it
  1. 1Swipe anime cafés, shops, and museums you'd actually visit.
  2. 2We auto-route your picks into an itinerary.
  3. 3Save it — it appears under My trips, and you can edit or share it.
Open Plan a pilgrimage

Community

For everyone

Discussion, new fan lists, and the most-reacted anime this week.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants to see what the Codex is talking about.

How to use it
  1. 1Scan recent activity — comments and new fan lists from across the site.
  2. 2See which shows are drawing the most reactions this week.
  3. 3React or comment on any show or post — no account needed, just pick a handle.
Open Community

My trips

For everyone

Your saved anime pilgrimage itineraries — mapped and shareable.

Who it's for: Fans planning an anime trip to Japan.

How to use it
  1. 1Build a trip from the Anime Places map, or swipe one together with Plan a pilgrimage.
  2. 2Open a trip and hit 'Plan itinerary' to split your stops into balanced days by area, with per-day distances.
  3. 3Reorder, optimise the route, and share the link — no account needed.
Open My trips

Store

For everyone

Data- and POV-driven Anime Codex originals.

Who it's for: Fans who want the merch.

How to use it
  1. 1Browse drops in the store; open a product for sizes and detail.
  2. 2Add to cart and check out — or grab a bundle for the better price.
Open Store

Games & play

Daily puzzles, streak chasers, and swipe games — free, no account.

Guess the Anime

Games

A mystery show — clues unlock with each guess. Daily or Unlimited.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants a quick anime puzzle.

How to use it
  1. 1Type a guess to begin. You get six tries.
  2. 2Each wrong guess reveals one more of six clues (demographic, decade, studio, episodes, score, year) and de-blurs the cover.
  3. 3Play the shared Daily, or switch to Unlimited for endless random shows with a session streak.
  4. 4Solve it in as few guesses as you can, then share your result.
Open Guess the Anime

Higher or Lower

Games

Higher or lower? Compare Codex, MAL, year or episodes. Endless.

Who it's for: Anyone chasing a high-score streak.

How to use it
  1. 1Pick a stat to compare: Codex score, MAL score, release year, or episode count.
  2. 2You're shown one anime's stat and a second, hidden one — guess if the hidden one is higher or lower.
  3. 3Each correct call extends your streak. Choose Sudden death (one wrong ends it) or 3 lives for a longer run.
  4. 4Your best streak is tracked separately for each stat.
Open Higher or Lower

Anime Trivia

Games

Timed questions in three modes — Quick, Marathon, or endless Survival.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants to test their anime knowledge.

How to use it
  1. 1Pick a mode: Quick (10), Marathon (25), or Survival (endless — one wrong answer ends the run).
  2. 2Answer multiple-choice questions against the clock; in Survival the timer tightens as you go.
  3. 3Chain correct answers to build a streak — each one in a row adds bonus points.
  4. 4Beat your saved best for each mode, and share your result when you finish.
Open Anime Trivia

Tier-list maker

Games

Rank anime into tiers and share it — themed templates for any angle.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants to publish their rankings.

How to use it
  1. 1Pick a template — the full catalogue, the top 25, a decade, a studio, a genre, or 'hot takes'.
  2. 2Tap a show, tap a tier to place it. Themed templates keep each list short and replayable.
  3. 3Give your list a title (it's pre-filled to match the template).
  4. 4Save to get a shareable link — every show links back to its Codex ranking.
Open Tier-list maker

Anime Wordle

Games

Guess the 5-letter anime word — daily, or endless Unlimited.

Who it's for: Daily word-puzzle fans.

How to use it
  1. 1Guess the hidden 5-letter anime word in six tries.
  2. 2Tiles turn green (right letter, right spot), amber (wrong spot), or grey (not in the word).
  3. 3Play the shared Daily, or switch to Unlimited for endless random words with a session streak.
  4. 4Turn on Hard mode to force revealed letters into later guesses. Stuck? Use the hint, then share your emoji grid.
Open Anime Wordle

Scavenger Hunt

Games

Three clue-chains — anime history, studios & shonen. Some with a real-world stop.

Who it's for: Fans who want a hybrid online + IRL challenge.

How to use it
  1. 1Pick one of three hunts: Codex Origins, Studios & Sakuga, or the all-online Shonen Legends.
  2. 2Solve each clue to unlock the next — answers are hidden across the Codex and anime lore.
  3. 3At a real-world stop, check in by GPS if you're there, scan the on-site QR, or use the Anime Places map to answer remotely.
  4. 4Finish to post your time to that hunt's leaderboard and share your run.
Open Scavenger Hunt

Rate your taste

Games

A swipe game that scores your taste against the Codex rubric.

Who it's for: Anyone who wants a verdict on their taste.

How to use it
  1. 1Pick fan or creator, then swipe shows: love, nah, or haven't seen.
  2. 2Get an alignment % vs the Codex and a shareable taste-type.
  3. 3Unlock the full breakdown, or jump straight into finding your next watch.
Open Rate your taste

For creators

Turn the data into videos, posts, and graphics.

Content ideas

For creators

Ready-to-make content angles pulled straight from the rankings — free.

Who it's for: Creators who need their next video, short, or post idea.

How to use it
  1. 1Browse the idea feed on the Creator page: hot takes, hidden-gem lists, tier lists, comparisons, and seasonal hooks — each with a suggested title and the data behind it.
  2. 2Filter by format (video / short / blog / tier list / comparison) and by your niche.
  3. 3Click through to the shows, or open the analysis tools to go deeper. (AI ideas tailored to your channel are coming with Pro.)
Open Content ideas

Content research

For creators

What to cover next: ranked content opportunities + live anime trends.

Who it's for: Creators deciding which show or angle to make next.

How to use it
  1. 1Read the trend dashboard for what's airing this season, the most divisive shows, and trending searches.
  2. 2Scan the ranked opportunity feed — every show scored by controversy, audience size, and recency, each with a ready-made angle.
  3. 3Pick an angle, then jump to 'Back up your take' to pull the citable score card for your video.
Open Content research

Back up your take

For creators

Pull any show's score + criterion breakdown as a citable card for your video.

Who it's for: Creators who want the receipts for a take.

How to use it
  1. 1Search a show; get a screenshot-ready card with its Codex score, the gap vs MAL, and all six criteria.
  2. 2Copy the stat block straight into your video description, or copy the link.
  3. 3Screenshot the card for a thumbnail or on-screen graphic — credit Anime Codex.
Open Back up your take

Creator Brief

For creators

Free, citable angles: where we disagree with the crowd, best-of-genre, freshest rankings.

Who it's for: YouTubers, bloggers, and streamers who need a defensible hook.

How to use it
  1. 1Scan the Most overrated / underrated lists for instant 'is X overrated?' video and post angles.
  2. 2Grab top-of-genre and freshly-ranked picks for list content.
  3. 3Cite the Codex score and link back — that's the only ask.
Open Creator Brief

Embed a ranking

For creators

Drop a live Codex score card into your own blog or site.

Who it's for: Creators who publish on their own site.

How to use it
  1. 1On the Creator page, paste a show's slug (the bit after /shows/ in its URL).
  2. 2Copy the generated snippet into your page — it renders a live score card that links back to the full ranking.
Open Embed a ranking

Design studio

For creators

Make shareable graphics from Codex data — tier cards, score cards, and more.

Who it's for: Creators who want on-brand visuals without design software.

How to use it
  1. 1Choose a template seeded with real Codex data.
  2. 2Customise the shows, text, and styling on the canvas.
  3. 3Export the finished graphic to share on socials or in a video.
Open Design studio

Creator hub

For creators

Your shareable anime identity page — lists, featured rankings, and links in one URL.

Who it's for: Creators who want a link-in-bio that sends fans into the Codex.

How to use it
  1. 1Claim a handle (animecodex.io/c/you) with your email.
  2. 2Add your bio, links, and featured shows; your saved lists appear automatically.
  3. 3Drop the link in your social bios — every click lands your audience in the rankings.
Open Creator hub