What playback and streaming options does Seanime support?

Seanime supports four main ways to watch: streaming from torrents, Debrid services, or online sources; direct play or FFmpeg transcoding in a web browser; a feature-rich built-in player; and mobile viewing through the Seanime Tenji client, including a true offline mode. Which option fits you depends on where your media lives and which device you watch on.

Streaming sources

Seanime can stream episodes and movies directly from several source types, with little to no waiting:

• Torrents — stream straight from your torrents rather than waiting for a full download.
• Debrid services — integrated support for Debrid services is built in.
• Online sources — stream from online sources as well.

The docs also describe integrated downloading with built-in support for BitTorrent clients and Debrid services, so the same sources you stream from can also feed your local library.

Automated downloads

If you'd rather not pick episodes manually, you can set up rules to automatically fetch new episodes from your favorite sources as soon as they air. The library updates on its own, which pairs well with the release-calendar tracking described below.

Browser playback: direct play and transcoding

You can enjoy your local library on any web browser. Seanime uses FFmpeg transcoding and hardware acceleration to keep playback smooth across devices. In practice:

• Direct play is used when the browser can handle the file as-is.
• Transcoding kicks in when it can't, converting the media on the fly with hardware acceleration where available.

This is the option to reach for when you want to watch on a computer without installing a separate player.

The built-in player

Seanime ships with a feature-rich built-in player that adds viewing enhancements on top of basic playback, including:

• Anime4K sharpening for upscaling and sharpening video.
• Real-time subtitle translation.
• Playlists for binge-watching — queue up episodes and movies and let them transition from one to the next automatically.

Mobile and offline: Seanime Tenji

To watch on the go, Seanime offers the Seanime Tenji client, which gives you access to your entire anime and manga library from a mobile device. It also supports a true offline mode: downloaded media plays without an internet connection, and local changes sync once you're back online.

Watch parties and sharing

Beyond single-user playback, Seanime includes a built-in watch party feature for inviting friends to watch together. You can also share your local library across multiple instances.

Choosing between them

One more piece that ties playback together: Seanime's smart library scanner matches your local files with AniList automatically, and its discover & track airings features keep you on top of the release calendar so you don't miss episodes of ongoing series. The docs also note an extension system — community extensions can add new sources and functionality, or you can write your own in JavaScript, which can expand the streaming options available to you over time.

For setup specifics, the official guides are the place to start; the options above describe what playback looks like once your library and sources are configured.