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Last updated
Last updated
Your synopsis must be 100% original content. It may not be a rewording of an existing synopsis, a synopsis generated from AI writing services such as ChatGPT or Grammarly, or a machine translation from a non-English language.
To better ensure your synopsis is not flagged as AI-generated content, please write in the synopsis document itself. Do not write in a separate document and copy/paste the synopsis. Refer to the Plagiarism section for more information.
The goal of each synopsis is to help the reader learn what the work is about, so it is critical to introduce the core elements of the story. These can include, but are not limited to:
The main character(s)
The central conflict
The stakes
The setting
Try to only cover the content of the first three episodes (anime) or the first three to five chapters (manga). In cases where the introductory episodes or chapters do not reflect the main events of the series, the content of later episodes or chapters may be covered. Refer to the Claiming a Series section for more information.
Movies: Try to keep it within the first 10-15 minutes while vaguely alluding to events that happen later on in the movie. Example(s):
One-shots: One-shots vary greatly in length. Try to write about the events before the climax of the story. Example(s):
OVAs and ONAs: Depending on length, format, and story, it can be treated as a regular anime series or as a side/standalone story. Example(s):
Anthologies: Each story can be treated as a one-shot synopsis. Example(s):
While these are the generally recommended ways to approach non-standard anime/manga synopses, series of the same format can still greatly vary. Always use your own discretion when determining the content and structure of your synopsis. For more details, please consult the Writing Irregular Synopses guidelines.
Avoid spoilers which could detract from the reader's enjoyment of the work. Even if it is a plot twist or shocking moment that occurs early on, this should only be hinted at or completely removed.
Remember that for some readers, this is their first interaction with the series.
Your synopsis should contain no inaccuracies. Be particularly cautious of:
Time periods: When specifying years, centuries, etc., please make sure you are using the right time period.
Titles, Names, and Genres: Make sure to stick to MAL's naming conventions and check all the spellings carefully. Refer to Rewrite's Terminology guide.
Ages of the characters: A 16-year-old is just as much a high schooler as a 17-year-old, but it is still absolutely essential that we maintain accuracy across all the facts we present to MAL users. When in doubt, go through the character description on MAL, Japanese Wikipedia, and, if available, the official anime/manga website. Also, rely on the first chapter/episode of the original source for the appropriate age to use.
Events in the story: It is easy to skip details that seem obvious to us, but omissions could make a synopsis misleading. Similarly, do not make assumptions about a series if the anime/manga specifies no such thing.
Numbers: Amounts of money, prices of objects, number of wins and losses of a legendary sportsperson, etc. are easy to get wrong.
Post in the anime-fixes or manga-fixes channel in our Discord server to report errors such as inconsistencies in spelling and other details across MAL. If you are not a member of our Discord server, then you may notify Red-Comet.
Do not conclude your synopsis with a "recap sentence," especially one that contains the title of the series. Rather than using the structure "Anime/Manga Title tells the story of characters A and B, who explore these listed themes and feelings," find a more creative way to include important information throughout the entire synopsis.
If you are confused about what points you should cover in your synopsis, try to find someone else who has watched or read the series on our Discord server or reach out to a coordinator.
