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Get top characters

get_top_characters

Read-only

Retrieve the most popular or favorited characters ranked overall from MyAnimeList. Use pagination to browse top characters by page and limit results per page.

Instructions

Get the most popular/favorited characters, ranked overall. Use search_characters instead to look up a specific character by name.

Input Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`page`	No	1-based page number for pagination (1-20000).
`limit`	No	Max results per page (1-100).

Output Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`page`	Yes
`results`	Yes

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed4 schema fields changedv0.11.0Oct 25, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / limit / description

Previous value: -"Max results per page (1-50)."New value: +"Max results per page (1-100)."

changedInput schema / properties / limit / maximum
```
Previous value: -50New value: +100
```

changedInput schema / properties / page / description

Previous value: -"1-based page number for pagination. No upper bound — this ranking runs to the end of MAL's own catalog."New value: +"1-based page number for pagination (1-20000)."

changedInput schema / properties / page / maximum

Previous value: -9007199254740991New value: +20000

Changed31 schema fields changedv0.9.0Jul 30, 2026
- changedInput schema / properties / limit / description
```
Previous value: -"Max results per page (1-25)."New value: +"Max results per page (1-50)."
```
- changedInput schema / properties / limit / maximum
```
Previous value: -25New value: +50
```
- changedInput schema / properties / page / description
```
Previous value: -"1-based page number for pagination."New value: +"1-based page number for pagination. No upper bound — this ranking runs to the end of MAL's own catalog."
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / page / properties / current_page / exclusiveMinimum
```
Added value: +0
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / page / properties / current_page / maximum
```
Added value: +9007199254740991
```
- changedOutput schema / properties / page / properties / current_page / type
```
Previous value: -"number"New value: +"integer"
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / page / properties / last_visible_page / exclusiveMinimum
```
Added value: +0
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / page / properties / last_visible_page / maximum
```
Added value: +9007199254740991
```
- changedOutput schema / properties / page / properties / last_visible_page / type
```
Previous value: -"number"New value: +"integer"
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / page / properties / total / maximum
```
Added value: +9007199254740991
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / page / properties / total / minimum
```
Added value: +0
```
- changedOutput schema / properties / page / properties / total / type
```
Previous value: -"number"New value: +"integer"
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / anime / items / properties / mal_id / exclusiveMinimum
```
Added value: +0
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / anime / items / properties / mal_id / maximum
```
Added value: +9007199254740991
```
- changedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / anime / items / properties / mal_id / type
```
Previous value: -"number"New value: +"integer"
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / anime / items / required
```
Added value: +[
+  "mal_id"
+]
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / favorites / maximum
```
Added value: +9007199254740991
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / favorites / minimum
```
Added value: +0
```
- changedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / favorites / type
```
Previous value: -"number"New value: +"integer"
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / mal_id / exclusiveMinimum
```
Added value: +0
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / mal_id / maximum
```
Added value: +9007199254740991
```
- changedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / mal_id / type
```
Previous value: -"number"New value: +"integer"
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / manga / items / properties / mal_id / exclusiveMinimum
```
Added value: +0
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / manga / items / properties / mal_id / maximum
```
Added value: +9007199254740991
```
- changedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / manga / items / properties / mal_id / type
```
Previous value: -"number"New value: +"integer"
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / manga / items / required
```
Added value: +[
+  "mal_id"
+]
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / voice_actors / items / properties / mal_id / exclusiveMinimum
```
Added value: +0
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / voice_actors / items / properties / mal_id / maximum
```
Added value: +9007199254740991
```
- changedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / voice_actors / items / properties / mal_id / type
```
Previous value: -"number"New value: +"integer"
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / voice_actors / items / required
```
Added value: +[
+  "mal_id"
+]
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / results / items / required
```
Added value: +[
+  "mal_id"
+]
```
Changed1 schema field changedv0.8.0Jul 29, 2026
- addedInput schema / additionalProperties
```
Added value: +false
```

Changed2 schema fields changedv0.7.1Jul 22, 2026

changedInput schema / $schema

Previous value: -"http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"New value: +"https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema"

changedOutput schema / (root)

Previous value: -nullNew value: +{
+  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
+  "additionalProperties": false,
+  "properties": {
+    "page": {
+      "additionalProperties": false,
+      "properties": {
+        "current_page": {
+          "type": "number"
+        },
+        "has_next_page": {
+          "type": "boolean"
+        },
+        "last_visible_page": {
+          "type": "number"
+        },
+        "total": {
+          "type": "number"
+        }
+      },
+      "type": "object"
+    },
+    "results": {
+      "items": {
+        "additionalProperties": false,
+        "properties": {
+          "about": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "anime": {
+            "items": {
+              "additionalProperties": false,
+              "properties": {
+                "mal_id": {
+                  "type": "number"
+                },
+                "position": {
+                  "type": "string"
+                },
+                "role": {
+                  "type": "string"
+                },
+                "title": {
+                  "type": "string"
+                }
+              },
+              "type": "object"
+            },
+            "type": "array"
+          },
+          "favorites": {
+            "type": "number"
+          },
+          "image_url": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "mal_id": {
+            "type": "number"
+          },
+          "manga": {
+            "items": {
+              "additionalProperties": false,
+              "properties": {
+                "mal_id": {
+                  "type": "number"
+                },
+                "position": {
+                  "type": "string"
+                },
+                "role": {
+                  "type": "string"
+                },
+                "title": {
+                  "type": "string"
+                }
+              },
+              "type": "object"
+            },
+            "type": "array"
+          },
+          "name": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "name_kanji": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "nicknames": {
+            "items": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "type": "array"
+          },
+          "url": {
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "voice_actors": {
+            "items": {
+              "additionalProperties": false,
+              "properties": {
+                "language": {
+                  "type": "string"
+                },
+                "mal_id": {
+                  "type": "number"
+                },
+                "name": {
+                  "type": "string"
+                }
+              },
+              "type": "object"
+            },
+            "type": "array"
+          }
+        },
+        "type": "object"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "results",
+    "page"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}

Addedv0.2.0Jun 29, 2026

TDQS

A3.8/5.0

Behavior3/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true and openWorldHint=true, so safety and reach are covered. The description only adds 'ranked overall' beyond that; it says nothing about how deep the ranking goes, whether pagination bounds are meaningful, or that results are a global popularity list. Adequate given the annotation coverage, but not rich.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Two sentences, zero waste: the first states purpose and scope, the second routes the agent to the alternative. Front-loaded and appropriately sized for a simple ranked-list tool.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

With an output schema present, return values need no explanation, and both parameters are fully described in the schema. The description covers purpose, ranking basis, and the primary alternative; only the precise popularity metric and list depth are left implicit, which is a minor gap for a read-only browse tool.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100% – both page (1-20000) and limit (1-100) are fully documented with bounds in the schema. The description adds no parameter detail beyond implying that the list is paginated. Baseline 3 is appropriate when the schema does all the work.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

States a specific verb and resource ('Get the most popular/favorited characters') and adds the key scoping detail 'ranked overall', which distinguishes it from per-anime character lists like get_anime_characters. The dual 'popular/favorited' phrasing leaves the exact ranking criterion slightly ambiguous, but the intent is unmistakable.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Explicitly names the alternative (search_characters) and the condition that selects it ('look up a specific character by name'). It gives no exclusion for the closest siblings get_top_people or get_random_character, but the browse-vs-lookup split is made clear.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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