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AniList API

Free AniList GraphQL API with no key for public data: anime, manga, characters, staff and studios with precise field selection in one query. Tested POST.

No API key requiredCORS enabledHTTPSFree tier

Endpoint tested and returned HTTP 200 on 2026-08-20

What is the AniList API?

The AniList API is a free, key-free GraphQL API for anime and manga data, providing series, characters, staff, studios and user statistics with GraphQL's precise field selection in a single request.

AniList is one of the few free public APIs that is GraphQL-only, which makes it a genuinely useful place to learn GraphQL against real data. You describe exactly the fields you want and get precisely those back, with no over-fetching.

That also means every request is a POST with a query in the body, even for reads — which surprises people expecting REST. There is no GET endpoint at all; the interactive GraphiQL explorer on their site is the fastest way to build a query.

Quick facts

Base URL
https://graphql.anilist.co
Authentication
Public data needs no key. Accessing or modifying a user's own lists requires OAuth.
Rate limit
90 requests per minute per IP.
Pricing
Free.
CORS
Enabled — callable directly from browser JavaScript
Official docs
Read the docs

How to use the AniList API

Every request below was executed against the live API on 2026-08-20, and the response shown is the real body it returned — not an illustration.

1. Query anime data with GraphQL

POST https://graphql.anilist.co

curl
curl -X POST 'https://graphql.anilist.co' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"query":"{Media(id:1,type:ANIME){id title{romaji}episodes}}"}'
JavaScript (fetch)
const res = await fetch("https://graphql.anilist.co", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({"query":"{Media(id:1,type:ANIME){id title{romaji}episodes}}"}),
});
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${res.status}`);
const data = await res.json();
console.log(data);
Python (requests)
import requests

headers = {
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
}

payload = {"query":"{Media(id:1,type:ANIME){id title{romaji}episodes}}"}

res = requests.post("https://graphql.anilist.co", headers=headers, json=payload, timeout=20)
res.raise_for_status()
print(res.json())
Response — HTTP 200
{
  "data": {
    "Media": {
      "id": 1,
      "title": {
        "romaji": "Cowboy Bebop"
      },
      "episodes": 26
    }
  }
}

Parameters

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
querystringRequiredThe GraphQL query, in the JSON POST body. {Media(id:1){title{romaji}}}
variablesobjectOptionalQuery variables, for parameterised queries. {"id":1}
Content-TypeheaderRequiredMust be application/json. application/json

Response fields

dataobject
Results, shaped exactly like the query you sent.
data.Mediaobject
A single anime or manga, when queried by id.
data.Pageobject
Paginated results with pageInfo, for list queries.
errorsarray
GraphQL errors — present alongside data, with HTTP 200.

What you can build with the AniList API

  • Build an anime tracker fetching exactly the fields you render
  • Learn GraphQL against a real public API with no signup
  • Search anime and manga with rich filtering
  • Display studio, staff and character relationships

Common errors and how to fix them

405 or 404 on GET

AniList is GraphQL-only.

Fix: Every request is a POST with a JSON body containing the query — there is no GET endpoint.

HTTP 200 with an errors array

GraphQL reports errors in the body.

Fix: Check for an `errors` key even on a 200 response.

429

Exceeded 90 requests per minute.

Fix: GraphQL lets you fetch more per request — combine queries rather than making many small ones.

AniList API — frequently asked questions

Is the AniList API free?

Yes, public anime and manga data requires no API key. OAuth is only needed to read or modify a user's own lists.

Why do my GET requests fail?

AniList is GraphQL-only. Every request, including reads, is a POST with a JSON body containing the query. There is no REST endpoint.

How is it different from Jikan or Kitsu?

AniList is GraphQL, so you fetch exactly the fields you need in one request rather than over-fetching or making several calls. Jikan scrapes MyAnimeList; Kitsu is REST with its own database.

How do I build a query?

Use the GraphiQL explorer on AniList's docs site — it has schema autocomplete, which makes constructing a valid query far faster than reading documentation.

Tools that pair with this API

JSON Formatter

Format, beautify and minify JSON online with 2-space, 4-space or tab indentation. Sort keys alphabetically and catch syntax errors instantly — free and private.

JSON Validator

Free online JSON validator: validate JSON and find syntax errors with the exact line and column. See root type, key counts and depth — instant and 100% private.

AniList is an independent third-party service and is not affiliated with ByteTools or ByteVancer. Details on this page were verified on 2026-08-20; always check the official documentation before relying on this API in production, as terms and limits can change.