Nothing is worse than that feeling when something constantly escapes your mind. You try to use every bit of brainpower you have to peer through the catacombs of your mind, but nothing seems to come up except frustration. This can be especially aggravating when the name of an anime is on the tip of your tongue, but you can’t for the life of you remember exactly what that elusive name is called.
Instead of wandering online without the slightest clue about how to identify that anime, it’s best to learn some tips on how to whittle your options down a bit to ultimately find your target. There are many ways to finally unearth the title you’ve been looking for, one of which is by searching through anime character databases to finally pinpoint that colorful-haired MC escaping you. You could even reverse image search the meme of a show that piqued your interest. There are more ways to attack this issue than you may think.
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Remembering a Character’s Traits Can Help You Track Down the Anime With the Anime Characters Database
A Character’s Design or Personality Can Lead You to the Right Anime
If the name of an anime is trying its best to evade you, you have to try to at least remember a distinguishable character from the show. It would also be great if you remembered any personality traits they have, and the character’s name certainly wouldn’t hurt. With all of these details — or even just a few — you will be able to search through the Anime Characters Database to narrow down the options.
The Anime Characters Database filters various things, such as height, nationality, birthdays, and much more. But luckily, you won’t need to know all of these attributes to find the anime you’ve been looking for. All you need is to go to the advanced search option and insert essential traits like the character’s hair color, their age group, and even some distinctive clothes they wear to make this process easier. After finding the character and then the anime, you can use this website in the future to learn more about other characters — if you’re into knowing about their blood types and sun signs.
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If You Have an Image, a Reverse Image Search Will Scour the Internet For You
The Image of a Key Moment or Meme Can Lead You Straight to the Anime
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If you’re in the position where you have only an image from an anime, like a meme or of a specific character, then that can be enough to deduce what series you’re looking for. There are reverse image sites that will allow you to trace the image to the source. Sites like trace.moe and TinEye help bring you one step closer to the anime you’ve been dying to learn about.
Simply by popping an image into the site, the reverse image search tool will work its magic to find the right match and, thus, the series. Just remember that you must have a distinct image from the anime with clear, discernible features. If you don’t, you will be sent on a wild goose chase.
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An Anime Database Can Help If You Remember the Plot
Key Plot Points Can Assist Along Your Search
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If you loosely remember certain plot points, that could be the key to uncovering the anime you’ve been looking for. There are countless anime databases online that will use that information to help you uncover the anime name that escapes you. With popular anime databases like MyAnimeList, AniList, and more, you’ll be able to pinpoint what you’ve been looking for.
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MyAnimeList has an anime search feature where you can sift through genres, themes, studios, and more to find an anime. It can be time-consuming if you don’t know certain details from the anime, but you’ll narrow down the options. With some patience, you’ll ultimately complete your anime search.
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Search Engines Are Always a Safe Bet to Help You Find an Anime You Don’t Remember the Name Of
Sites Like Google Are an Oldie But Goodie When Scouring the Internet
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The most obvious answer to”how to find an anime you don’t remember the name of?” is to rely on a search engine. There are many options at your disposal, such as Google, Bing, and more, each offering a wealth of information at your fingertips. However, you won’t be able to get far in your search with vague questions because you can’t think of any tangible details.
That’s why you should refine your search with filters that’ll narrow down your results. And if you don’t mind using AI, search engines are quickly becoming more reliant on AI algorithms. Once you type in a question into the search engine, it’ll provide an AI-generated response to answer your question — or try to, at least. AI tends to miss the mark more times than not, so it is best to take anything it provides with a large grain of salt.
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When in Doubt, Use Reddit to Help You Figure Out What Anime You’re Looking For
Reddit Can Be Pretty Reliable at Times
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Reddit always seems to come in handy when dealing with strange queries, and this time is no different. When that anime you used to watch is escaping you, you can go to r/anime or any other subreddit to ask your question. There are countless Redditors out there who are anime lovers ready to assist. You will find the answer to your question in no time if you’re clear and detailed in your description.
Simply explain all of the details you remember from the anime and be as specific as possible so the Redditors can get an idea of what show you’re looking for. You may also be lucky enough to stumble on someone in the predicament you’re in, looking for the same anime. They may even have a bunch of responses to answer your question for you. Either way, Reddit will, at the very least, get you on the right track.
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If You Remember an Anime Voice Actor, Search Their Filmography
A Voice Actor’s Filmography Can Lead You to the Anime
The name of the anime may be elusive, but if you’re a fan who always recognizes certain voice actors, you may, at the very least, remember a voice actor from the series. Many anime reuse voice actors all the time in both the Japanese and the English-dubbed versions. Whether you remember hearing Chris Sabat or Mayumi Tanaka, that distinct voice that you recognized could help you pinpoint the anime you’re on the prowl for.
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After searching the voice actor’s name, you can check out their filmography and see all the projects they’ve worked on. If you were right about the actor’s involvement, then you will discover the anime you’ve been looking for. The list of anime roles they’ve been a part of will be just the thing to lead you directly to the anime’s title.
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Anime Forums May be the Key to Finding the Name of an Anime You Can’t Remember
AnimeSuki and MyAnimeList Will Work Wonders
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If you are still in the asking mood, there are a few anime forums you can check out instead of Reddit. Sites like AnimeSuki and MyAnimeList have just the forums you may be looking for to reach that elusive anime. There are many others as well, so you have the option to explore multiple communities and find the right one for you.
These forums have even more dedicated anime lovers who are like walking anime encyclopedias. When you find the right person to guide your search, even your vague knowledge of the anime you’re looking for can be of help. But just be sure you hit certain key details to help your fellow anime enthusiasts discern exactly what you’re trying to find.
A DM Can Go A Long Way
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When trying to find an anime you’ve forgotten, the first thing fans typically do is take to social media. Sites like Twitter (X), Facebook, and many more have a gigantic anime community that may be rough around the edges but can help you along your anime search. These sites are a great way to pick someone’s brain and receive that much-needed instant gratification.
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You may have a good enough following where you can ask a question on your timeline and get a response in moments. You could also DM knowledgeable anime fans for some insight. Then, you will finally get the answer you’ve been desperately searching for.
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You Can Filter Through Various Anime With Wikipedia
Try Wikipedia’s Lists of Anime
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Wikipedia is another site that can help you out during your anime search. The online encyclopedia has a ton of information that can be daunting at times, but when you know where to go, it becomes a goldmine. Wikipedia’s Lists of Anime is where you should start. Here, there are multiple ways to attack the search, whether filtering through genre, studio, release date, or even if you remember there being LGBTQ characters in the anime.
There are many lists to scour through, including a table of years. If you’re that desperate for the anime and have nothing but time, you can go to the year you think the anime came out and start browsing through the list until you find it. However, this is a time-consuming way to go about things.
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Anime Article Websites Can Give You the Breakthrough You Need
Take Advantage of Sites Like CBR
If you’ve made it this far and nothing has worked for you, you may have a wonky memory of the anime. Fortunately, anime article sites like CBR can dig deep into those wonky details. Websites like this explore everything from characters with white hair to specific personality archetypes, unique plot elements, and much more.
The process of searching based on vague memories can either speed things up or make the hunt feel endless. However, CBR’s countless anime articles might just offer that unexpected breakthrough. Make sure you have enough details about the anime to make the search a little easier.