# kitsu.anime_search

**stable** **Advanced**

Search Kitsu anime.

`GET /v1/kitsu/anime_search`

## What you get

A list of Kitsu results in Onekey's unified shape, in `data` (an array). An empty array is a normal, successful answer and is charged like any other; a source that reports "nothing found" as an error returns a free `404 not_found` instead.

## What it costs

- **Advanced · 5 credits** for a fresh fetch, charged only when it succeeds.
- **Free when served from cache (0.2 credit for a cached response over 100 KB).**
- **Free** if the request is invalid (never charged) or the source fails or reports not found (refunded).

## Parameters

| Name | Type | Required | Default | What it is | Constraints |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `q` | string | yes | (required) | Search query | max 200 chars; must match `[^\x00-\x1f\x7f]{1,200}`; trimmed, repeated spaces collapsed |

## Request

```bash
curl "https://api.onekey.dev/v1/kitsu/anime_search?q=naruto" \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY"
```

```python
import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.onekey.dev/v1/kitsu/anime_search",
    params={"q": "naruto"},
    headers={"x-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY"},
)
body = res.json()

if body["success"]:
    print(body["data"])
else:
    print(body["error"]["code"], body["error"]["message"])
```

```javascript
const params = new URLSearchParams({ q: "naruto" });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.onekey.dev/v1/kitsu/anime_search?${params}`, {
  headers: { "x-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY" },
});
const body = await res.json();

if (body.success) console.log(body.data);
else console.error(body.error.code, body.error.message);
```

## Recorded response

A real Kitsu response, recorded and returned in Onekey's shape. Fields the platform does not provide are `null`.

```json
{
  "success": true,
  "data": [
    {
      "entity": {
        "id": "1555",
        "name": "Naruto: Shippuuden",
        "description": "It has been two and a half years since Naruto Uzumaki left Konohagakure, the Hidden Leaf Village, for intense training following events which fueled his desire to be stronger. Now Akatsuki, the mysterious organization of elite rogue ninja, is closing in on their grand plan which may threaten the safety of the entire shinobi world.\n\nAlthough Naruto is older and sinister events loom on the horizon, he has changed little in personality—still rambunctious and childish—though he is now far more confi",
        "status": "finished",
        "type": "TV",
        "stats": {
          "score": 84.06
        }
      },
      "event": {
        "startDate": "2007-02-15"
      },
      "ext": {
        "episodes": 500,
        "popularityRank": 28
      },
      "media": {
        "thumbnailUrl": "https://media.kitsu.app/anime/poster_images/1555/small.jpg"
      }
    },
    {
      "entity": {
        "id": "11",
        "name": "Naruto",
        "description": "Moments prior to Naruto Uzumaki's birth, a huge demon known as the Kyuubi, the Nine-Tailed Fox, attacked Konohagakure, the Hidden Leaf Village, and wreaked havoc. In order to put an end to the Kyuubi's rampage, the leader of the village, the Fourth Hokage, sacrificed his life and sealed the monstrous beast inside the newborn Naruto.\nNow, Naruto is a hyperactive and knuckle-headed ninja still living in Konohagakure. Shunned because of the Kyuubi inside him, Naruto struggles to find his place in t",
        "status": "finished",
        "type": "TV",
        "stats": {
          "score": 80.21
        }
      },
      "event": {
        "startDate": "2002-10-03"
      },
      "ext": {
        "episodes": 220,
        "popularityRank": 41
      },
      "media": {
        "thumbnailUrl": "https://media.kitsu.app/anime/11/poster_image/small-db4debb693482e09f5d9615864b99b3d.jpeg"
      }
    }
  ],
  "metadata": {
    "platform": "kitsu",
    "endpoint": "anime_search",
    "cached": false,
    "stale": false,
    "age_s": 0,
    "fetched_at": "2026-01-01T12:00:00+00:00",
    "credits_charged": 5,
    "request_id": "7f3a9c2e5b1d4c8fa2e6d0b9c4f18e37"
  },
  "error": null
}
```

## Field mapping

How this endpoint's source fields become Onekey's [unified schema](https://onekey.dev/docs/schema.md). Fields the source lacks come back as `null`.

| Source path | Onekey field | Transform |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `id` | `entity.id` | - |
| `attributes.canonicalTitle` | `entity.name` | - |
| `attributes.synopsis` | `entity.description` | - |
| `attributes.status` | `entity.status` | - |
| `attributes.subtype` | `entity.type` | - |
| `attributes.startDate` | `event.startDate` | - |
| `attributes.episodeCount` | `ext.episodes` | `toNumber` |
| `attributes.averageRating` | `entity.stats.score` | `toNumber` |
| `attributes.popularityRank` | `ext.popularityRank` | `toNumber` |
| `attributes.posterImage.small` | `media.thumbnailUrl` | `safeUrl` |

## Caching and freshness

- Fresh for about 2 minutes. Repeat calls in that window are served from cache and are free.
- Between 2 minutes and 15 minutes the cached copy is still served instantly and marked `stale: true` while Onekey refreshes it in the background.
- If the source is down when a refresh is needed, the last copy can be served for up to 1 hour more (marked stale).
- A "not found" is remembered for 1 minute and is free.
- The cache is shared across all customers, which is what keeps repeat calls cheap.

## What can go wrong

| Status | Code | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 401 | `unauthorized` | Check the `x-api-key` header. |
| 402 | `insufficient_credits` | [Add credits](https://onekey.dev/pricing); your balance must cover the price. |
| 404 | `not_found` | Unknown endpoint path. |
| 422 | `invalid_params` | Fix the parameters using the table above. Free. |
| 429 | `rate_limited` | Wait `Retry-After` seconds, then retry. |
| 502 | `upstream_error` | The source failed. Refunded; retry with backoff. |

See [Errors](https://onekey.dev/docs/errors.md) for the full list and retry guidance.

Status: stable (verified against the live source).