Anime

What this category actually covers

Two fairly different things sit under the same label for historical reasons. One is reference tools: searching series and manga databases, linking to list services such as AniList or MyAnimeList, recommendations, airing schedules, notifications for new episodes. The other is collection games: character cards in rarity tiers, trading, wishlists, an internal market.

Anyone running an anime community usually wants both, though rarely from the same bot, and the expectations for the two halves have almost nothing in common.

Features that actually matter

For reference tools: the data source. AniList and MyAnimeList hold different catalogues and different title spellings. If your community keeps its lists on one of them, pick the bot that integrates with that one, or nothing lines up.

For collection games: the economy. A card game is an economy with pictures. Everything from the economy category applies: where currency comes from, where it disappears, what a move costs. Collection games without limits tip over faster than any other category, because payouts are tied to time and time is unlimited.

Image sources and content. Anime bots display images. Some pull from sources that have no business on a server with minors. Check whether content filters exist and whether NSFW commands only work in channels marked NSFW. Discord's own flag is the floor, not the solution.

Noise. Card games generate a great many messages. Without a dedicated channel, the collection game takes over the server.

Permissions worth checking

Send Messages, Read Message History, Attach Files and Use External Emojis cover almost everything. Collection games add Add Reactions for trades and confirmations, and sometimes Manage Messages to clean up cards.

They do not need Manage Roles, Manage Channels, Moderate Members or Administrator.

Pay particular attention to Read Message History combined with image commands: a bot allowed to post images in arbitrary channels can also post adult content there, if a member knows the right command. Channel permissions work better here than any in-bot setting.

Where server owners go wrong

The first mistake is a collection bot without its own channel. It is the loudest kind of bot there is, and it displaces every conversation.

The second is not settling the NSFW question. If a bot ships those commands, decide before inviting rather than after somebody complains.

The third is assuming one bot covers both halves. Reference tools are usually better from specialists, and so are collection games. Two good bots beat one mediocre one.