Happy April Fools! Thanks to everyone who forgot what time of year it was and got fooled by our prank~ We hope it made you laugh once you figured it out. For new users: April Fools is a tradition around MAL, something we've been doing for over a decade. Try not to take goofy site changes literally when they're posted around the first of April :'D Though of course I hope you'll forget this advice until after you're fooled again next year.  Anime can have a poor reputation outside of dedicated anime viewers for being too lewd. To grow our userbase and attract more interest from potential investors, we have been considering this problem very carefully. Ecchi and hentai images are easy to find and replace in the database, but the biggest problem lies in user uploaded images. Due to MAL's anonymous nature, most users do not use personal profile pictures; and indeed, the concept of what should be "safe for work" seems to vary radically in the community. But then it dawned us: everybody loves isekai. So why not give existing users the feelings of being reincarnated in another world as a MAL character as a poor excuse for while changing all profile pictures to cute animals? And thus our new branding was born: MAL Chara Desu ga, Nani ka? (I'm a MAL Character, So What?) We hope you're as excited and delighted by this change as we are! Oh—And before I forget. If you don't like your new profile picture, don't worry: we've set it so you'll get a new one tomorrow! To keep everyone happy, the images should refresh once a day~ Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go back to reversing my sudden villainess image by baking some burnt delicious cookies... |
KinetaApr 1, 2021 10:03 PM
I’m very happy to see that MAL has taken a step in the right direction. MAL has slowly become lewder and lewder, so this change is definitely welcomed! Let us all join hands paws, as we leave the realm of lewd, and enter the world of wholesomeness. |
| wait, you’re saying I can’t have a custom profile picture? can’t you just implement a feature where you can see custom profile pictures if you verify you’re over 18 at least? |
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| I got a big scare, but I liked the idea, very innovative! |
you can send a friend request at will!(ɔ◔‿◔)ɔ ♥ |
| While I don't like my current profile picture since it isn't Bleach related, I also like this change. NSFM pictures have become a pain to deal with and with younger audiences getting into anime and using MAL, it seems like a smart move for MAL to implement. |
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| Wait, is this a april's fool joke? please tell me it is |
| This is as unbelievable as it gets. Please step up your game MAL. Even last time was better than this, and that is saying something. |
| "Life is too bitter, so coffee, at least should be sweet..." - Hikigaya Hachiman (Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatte Iru) |
| This was the best prank I experienced in a long time now!! (Someone please tell me where the cat from my profile picture is from btw) |
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Murasa22 said: Wait, is this a april's fool joke? please tell me it is Yup, it'll change back soon |
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ |
| The horror, the horror you sons of.... oh wait..... checks date.... ya got me. |
| “I just spent the last two years thinking that you guys knew more than me about life and I just found out that you guys are just as dumb as me.” “Duh-doy.” “Yeah, duh-doy.” |
| idk if this is a joke or not but i do like it lol |
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| It's April 1st in Japan so |
| Fantastic news. Couldn't have been better... perfect way to detoxify our entire community! |
| Here we go again... |
| If this isn't an April's Fools joke, I'm out. |
| - Justin T. Poindexter |
| Please say sike |
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Justp94 said: If this isn't an April's Fools joke, I'm out. Yeah, me too |
| I understand MAL decision and the motivation for doing this, but I really liked my Mikasa pfp :/ |
samashi20Mar 31, 2021 8:59 PM
| I sometimes forget to finish my sentences. |
| This is funny af, probably my favorite April Fools prank |
| ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ |
| I really love mine tbh I wonder who it is and where it came from EDIT: Bc my laptop's browser is an idiot thanks to adblock, it didn't show my Hamtaro pfp kek Anyways, happy April Fools' y'all! (I already knew right away this is a prank from MAL probs one of their best after the fake shop thing) Maybe next year our anilist will get hacked but who knows (￣ω￣) |
KarenShirotoriApr 1, 2021 5:03 PM
 set by mal secret santa 2023 |
| Shock at a moment, April fools? but this is a great idea somehow |
BlackwolfzuMar 31, 2021 5:34 PM
| Great! now my profile picture is soot sprites from Spirited Away. Thanks i guess... |
| What a wonderful move this is from MAL. As the announcement expertly points out, the problem of anime lewdness and it's impact on the community's reputation is one that must be addressed. But to think that the obvious solution was there in front of us all this time, the end to all our troubles perfectly within our grasp, and yet nobody ever realized it! Indeed, the plan you have come up with is foolproof, surely this will lead to a sharp decline in lewdness in the anime community. I have no doubts. And let us not for a moment forget the decline in toxicity we can expect to see as well, the soothing pictures of cute animals calming the hearts of even the most troubled individuals. Imagine how harmless a fiery, venomous raging rant would sound if it was coming from the likes of a cute little kitten! Indeed, this change is one that will change the direction of the anime community into wholesomeness forevermore, and I do hope we see investors recognize the genius of MyAnimeList staff that is evident in this move. Hopefully, more and more forums, both in the anime community and outside of it, will recognize the upcoming positive effects this move will engender and proceed to copy this change for themselves. Animal profile pictures on Discord, anyone? |
SamfrogMar 31, 2021 5:28 PM
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| I got a cute bear! I can't wait to see what I'll get tomorrow. What a pleasant change to the website. |
| It isn't even April 1st where I leave yet come man XD. |
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| Finally a good update! Something that'll make MAL a stronger community! Let us unite, my fellow MAL users, to an online society never before seen by mankind! |
| Say sike right now, don't take away my Nagatoro pfp T~T |
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Ceo0fSimps said: You get what you get :)Please tell me this is an April fools joke, I don’t want to be a fucking rat |
 People with boobs > people with no boobs. My lemons > ur lemons Please just send to profile ^^ |
| OMFGG I literally screamed inside my head until I realized that it was April 1 tomorrow. You got me freaking good MAL. |
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| lol k thanks for telling us. I literally made a support forum on this XD I was so scared thought I was getting hacked. |
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| kinda scared of my cow ngl, where is this thing from |
| cool, i like pandas. full support |
| Scream! |
| damn i guess April fools came early. |
| I now know the reason why the hmanga database backlog rarely ever moves. You exposed yourself OP! |
 "For the sake of humankind, I forsake my humanity." - Cherry |
| This is absolute genius, why has nobody thought about this before ?! |
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| I almost fell for it, but I learned from last year... |
_zrush said: Imagine if this turns out to be real... It's real, congrats you are Abciee now, check your profile picture. |
| You removed my Pekora profile picture?? This is like a violation of my religious freedom. Shame MAL, shame.  |
| Uhm, i want mine back, the same old Senku face. Can't stay without it :( |
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