Search by image instead of by description
Text search only works if you remember the right details — “anime where the guy has a sword and a red scarf” matches hundreds of shows. An image search skips that entirely: the picture is the query.
AniTrace looks at the visual content of your frame and compares it with frames from a large library of anime TV series, movies, and OVAs. When the scene is in the index, it typically finds the exact moment, not just the right show.
That makes it a true anime identifier: you find the anime by picture alone, then see the show's main characters, so you can also tell who is on screen. See the anime character finder for how that works.
Ways to feed the anime finder
- Upload a PNG, JPG, WebP, or GIF from your device.
- Paste an image you copied — press Ctrl/Cmd + V anywhere on the page.
- Drag and drop an image straight from another browser tab.
- Image URL — paste a direct link to an image (for example from Discord or Imgur).
TipLarge images are shrunk in your browser before upload, so searches stay fast even on mobile data.
Anime finder vs. Google Lens
Google Lens is great for products and landmarks, but for anime it usually returns pages that happen to contain a similar image — fan sites, wallpapers, Pinterest pins. It rarely tells you the episode and never the timestamp.
| AniTrace | Google Lens | |
|---|---|---|
| Anime title | Yes | Sometimes |
| Episode number | Yes | No |
| Exact timestamp | Yes (HH:MM:SS) | No |
| Preview clip of the scene | Yes | No |
| Works on fan art | No | Sometimes |
Want the full picture? Read our guide to the best anime reverse image search tools.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best anime finder?
For screenshots taken from an actual anime episode, a scene search engine like AniTrace (powered by trace.moe) is the most precise because it returns the episode and timestamp. For fan art or manga, SauceNAO is usually better.
Can the anime finder identify characters?
AniTrace identifies the scene, and therefore the anime the character appears in. It does not recognise characters in fan art or drawings that are not from the show.
Does it work on old anime?
Coverage is broad and includes many older series, but no index is complete. If a very old or obscure title is not found, try a different frame or one of the alternatives in our tools comparison.