MAL MCP Server

Overview Schema Source Related Servers Discussions Admin

Search people

search_people

Read-only

Find MyAnimeList people such as voice actors, directors, or authors by name and get the mal_id required for retrieving person details.

Instructions

Search MyAnimeList people (voice actors, directors, authors) by name. Returns the mal_id needed by get_person.

Input Schema

Name	Required	Description
`q`	Yes	Person name.
`page`	No	1-based page number for pagination (1-20000).
`sort`	No	Sort direction. Only takes effect together with `order_by`; ignored on its own.
`limit`	No	Max results per page (1-100).
`letter`	No	Restrict results to entries whose title starts with this single letter.
`order_by`	No	Field to order by.

Output Schema

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

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed6 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 (1-1000)."New value: +"1-based page number for pagination (1-20000)."

changedInput schema / properties / page / maximum
```
Previous value: -1000New value: +20000
```
addedInput schema / properties / q / maxLength
```
Added value: +300
```

changedInput schema / properties / sort / description

Previous value: -"Sort direction."New value: +"Sort direction. Only takes effect together with `order_by`; ignored on its own."

Changed3 schema fields changedv0.10.0Aug 24, 2026
- addedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / credits_truncated
```
Added value: +{
+  "const": true,
+  "type": "boolean"
+}
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / total_anime_credits
```
Added value: +{
+  "maximum": 9007199254740991,
+  "minimum": 0,
+  "type": "integer"
+}
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / results / items / properties / total_manga_credits
```
Added value: +{
+  "maximum": 9007199254740991,
+  "minimum": 0,
+  "type": "integer"
+}
```
Changed30 schema fields changedv0.9.0Jul 30, 2026
- addedInput schema / properties / letter
```
Added value: +{
+  "description": "Restrict results to entries whose title starts with this single letter.",
+  "maxLength": 1,
+  "minLength": 1,
+  "type": "string"
+}
```
- 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 (1-1000)."
```
- changedInput schema / properties / page / maximum
```
Previous value: -9007199254740991New value: +1000
```
- changedInput schema / properties / sort / enum
```
Previous value: -[
-  "desc",
-  "asc"
-]New value: +[
+  "asc",
+  "desc"
+]
```
- 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 / required
```
Added value: +[
+  "mal_id"
+]
```
Addedv0.8.0Jul 29, 2026
Removedv0.7.1Jul 22, 2026
Addedv0.2.0Jun 29, 2026

TDQS

A4/5.0

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 the external-data nature are covered. The description adds the useful note that results carry mal_id, but says nothing about result volume, pagination behavior, or empty-result cases. Adequate but thin given how little annotations leave unsaid.

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 short sentences, purpose first, chaining advice second; no filler or restated title text. Every clause carries information.

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 and full in-schema parameter docs, the description needn't explain return values. It covers purpose and the get_person handoff; the main remaining gap is behavior on empty or ambiguous name matches, which is minor for a search 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% and every parameter (q, page, sort, limit, letter, order_by) is documented in-schema, including enums and the sort/order_by dependency. The description adds no parameter meaning, so the baseline 3 applies.

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

Purpose5/5

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

States a specific verb (Search) and resource (MyAnimeList people/voice actors, directors, authors) with a name-based scope. This cleanly separates it from search_anime, search_manga, and search_characters even without opening a schema.

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?

The line "Returns the mal_id needed by get_person" gives an explicit downstream workflow, telling the agent this is the lookup step before a detail fetch. It lacks exclusions, though – nothing says when to prefer get_top_people or get_random_person instead.

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

Deploy Server