AniTrack

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  AniTrack Screenshot

Inspiration

Anime is meant to be immersive, but the experience is often interrupted—people forget where they stopped, lose track of what happened, and struggle to get back into the story.

Existing tools focus on tracking progress, but not on preserving the experience. AniTrack was inspired by the idea that keeping up with anime should feel effortless and continuous, not fragmented.

What it does

AniTrack helps anime fans stay connected to what they watch by:

• Keeping their watchlist organized across different viewing states
• Surfacing when new episodes air so they never miss a release
• Generating AI-powered recaps so they can instantly reconnect with the story
• Providing a familiar, Discord-inspired interface that feels intuitive and engaging

How we built it

I built AniTrack using React, Supabase, and external APIs, with Medo enabling rapid development and iteration.

I integrated Jikan for real-time anime data and Google Gemini to generate contextual recaps, ensuring users can quickly regain immersion without rewatching episodes.

To maintain a smooth experience, I implemented caching for AI summaries and used edge functions to manage API interactions efficiently.

Every technical decision was driven by one goal: making the user experience fast, seamless, and interruption-free.

Challenges I ran into

I didn’t just face technical challenges—I faced experience design challenges.

The biggest challenge was ensuring AI recaps felt genuinely helpful rather than gimmicky. I had to refine how episode data was structured and how summaries were generated so they were concise, relevant, and fast enough to fit naturally into a user’s flow.

I also had to balance speed and accuracy when relying on external APIs, ensuring the app remained responsive while delivering real-time data.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

• Created an experience that reduces friction in how users return to ongoing series
• Successfully combined multiple APIs into a seamless, user-facing workflow
• Built a polished, familiar interface that lowers the barrier to adoption
• Leveraged Medo to go from idea to working product within a short timeframe

What we learned

Adding AI is easy—but making it feel natural and useful requires careful design decisions. I also learned the importance of optimizing for perceived speed and minimizing friction, especially in apps users interact with frequently.

What's next for AniTrack

AniTrack can evolve into a deeper companion for anime fans by introducing:

• AI-powered recommendations based on viewing habits
• Social features for shared experiences and discussions
• Personalized insights into watching patterns
• Cross-platform support for a more accessible experience

My goal is to move beyond tracking and build a system that enhances how people engage with and enjoy anime over time.

Built With

• gemini
• medo
• react
• supabase