Guide · Open source
How to use Anime4K: install, run in mpv or Plex, and tips
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
Anime4K is an open-source set of shader algorithms that sharpens anime video as it plays, so 1080p anime looks cleaner on a 4K screen. This guide explains what it is good for, how to get the repository, and where the README points for player-specific setup. By the end you will know which player setups it supports and what to expect from the results.
Anime4Kbloc97/Anime4K · ★ 21.6k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Check your source. Confirm the anime is native 1080p encoded with h.264, h.265 or VC-1, since the README says that is the target.
- 2Clone the repository. Run git clone https://github.com/bloc97/Anime4K in a terminal to download the project.
- 3Choose your platform guide. Open the README link for your OS and player, such as Windows with MPV or Mac with IINA.
- 4Follow the player setup. Work through the GLSL instructions in the linked guide to load the shaders into your player.
- 5Play a test episode. Open a 1080p episode on your 4K screen and compare it against the unprocessed version.
- 6Adjust shader components. Try different modular components or the advanced modes if the default look does not suit you.
What Anime4K does and who it is for
Anime4K upscales anime in real time during playback. It does not re-encode your files, so the original video stays as it is. The project's README argues that re-encoding to 4K is non-reversible and can add artifacts and use much more disk space.
The README says Anime4K is optimized for native 1080p anime encoded with h.264, h.265 or VC-1. It is a good fit for people watching 1080p anime on a 4K screen who use a player that supports GLSL shaders.
- Best for native 1080p anime on a 4K display
- Best for viewers who want upscaling during playback instead of re-encoded files
- Best for users who want to tweak behavior through modular shader components
Check whether your anime is a good match
The README is clear that Anime4K is not optimized for downscaled 720p, 480p or standard definition anime such as DVDs. It states that older anime often has artifacts that are hard to remove, such as bad deinterlacing, camera blur, severe ringing, film grain and older MPEG compression artifacts.
For very low-resolution images, the README points to SRGAN-style models as performing better, although they are slower and not real time. Its own experimental SRGAN shaders for 360p to 4K are described as a separate effort.
- Good fit: native 1080p anime with h.264, h.265 or VC-1 encoding
- Weaker fit: 720p, 480p, DVD-quality or older material
- Not the right tool if you need the best quality on very low-resolution images
Clone the Anime4K repository
The README's install step is to clone the repository with git. Run this command in a terminal where you want the project folder to appear.
The README does not list any prerequisites for this step. Player setup is handled in the platform-specific guides described in the next section.
git clone https://github.com/bloc97/Anime4KPick the setup guide for your platform and player
Anime4K has no single installer. The README links a separate guide for each combination of operating system and player. Choose the one that matches your setup.
Windows has guides for MPV and Plex. Linux has guides for MPV and Plex. Mac has guides for MPV, IINA and Plex. The README notes that the project is not a one-click app, so expect to follow the steps in the guide for your player.
- Windows: GLSL with MPV, or GLSL with Plex
- Linux: GLSL with MPV, or GLSL with Plex
- Mac: GLSL with MPV, GLSL with IINA, or GLSL with Plex
Understand the shader modes and components
Version 3 broke the original monolithic shader into modular components, so you can pick parts for specific types of anime or your own taste. The README lists several component types, including line art CNN upscalers, line art deblurring, denoising, and blind resampling artifact reduction.
The README also includes an experimental line darkening and line thinning algorithm. It notes that thinner, darker lines are perceived as higher quality, even if that is not always the case. Mode letters such as A and B are referenced in the README, with details in the advanced GLSL instructions.
- Line art CNN upscalers (6 variants)
- Line art deblurring, including blind deconvolution and DTD shader
- Denoising, with Bilateral Mode and CNN variants
- Blind resampling artifact reduction
- Experimental line darkening and line thinning
Compare Anime4K with other upscalers
The README says Anime4K provides a similar effect to SRGANs for real-time 1080p upscaling and is much better than waifu2x in its comparisons. It also says waifu2x and Real-ESRGAN are not real time, while FSRCNNX and Anime4K are.
Other projects that use or build on Anime4K are listed in the README, including Magpie for Windows, Anime4KMetal for Apple platforms, and a PyTorch re-implementation. The README lists video2x as an anime video upscaling pipeline.
- Real-time: Anime4K and FSRCNNX, per the README
- Not real-time: waifu2x and Real-ESRGAN, per the README
- Other projects built on Anime4K include Magpie, Anime4KMetal and Anime4K-GUI
What people use it for
- Watching native 1080p anime on a 4K TV or monitor in mpv
- Upscaling anime during playback in Plex using GLSL shaders, following the README's Plex guides
- Testing shader components to find a look you prefer for a specific series
- Comparing real-time upscaling against files that were re-encoded to 4K
Frequently asked questions
Is Anime4K free to use?
Yes. The project is released under the MIT licence, as listed on its repository page. Check the licence file in the repository for the full terms.
What do I need to install Anime4K?
The README lists no prerequisites. The install step shown is cloning the repository with git, and the player-specific setup is covered in the linked platform guides.
Does Anime4K work with Plex?
The README links a GLSL setup guide for Plex on Windows, Linux and Mac. Follow the guide for your operating system.
Can Anime4K upscale 720p or DVD anime?
The README says it is not optimized for 720p, 480p or standard definition anime. It may work, but older material often has artifacts that are hard to remove.
How does Anime4K compare to waifu2x?
The README says Anime4K gives a similar effect to SRGANs for real-time 1080p upscaling and is much better than waifu2x in its comparisons. It also notes that waifu2x is not real time.
Why does Anime4K not re-encode my videos?
The README argues that re-encoding to 4K is non-reversible, can introduce artifacts, uses much more disk space and loses information. Anime4K runs during playback instead, so the source file is left alone.
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Our verdict
Anime4K suits people who watch native 1080p anime on a 4K screen and use a player that supports GLSL shaders, such as mpv, IINA or Plex. Skip it if your library is mostly 720p, DVD or older anime, or if you want a simple one-click app, since the README points you to separate setup guides for each player.
Install options & downloads