How to Enable Anime4k Upscaling in MPV Player

What is Anime4k?

Anime4K is a set of open-source, high-quality real-time anime upscaling/denoising algorithms that can be implemented in any programming language. This is also not replacement for SRGANs, as they perform much better on low-resolution images or images with lots of degradation.

Samples

Step 1: Install MPV

Windows

Download the installer from the official MPV website and follow the installation instructions.

Linux

Ubuntu/Debian

sudo apt-get install mpv

Fedora

sudo dnf install mpv

Mac

brew install mpv

Step 2: Create a Shaders Directory

Windows

1. Navigate to appdata. This is typically located in %APPDATA%. You can quickly navigate there by entering this path into the File Explorer’s address bar.
2. Create a Folder “mpv” inside that folder.
3. Inside the “mpv” folder, create another folder named “shaders”.
4. Inside that “shaders” folder, create a folder named “anime4k”.

Linux/Mac

mkdir -P ~/.config/mpv/shaders/anime4k

Step 3: Download the Anime4k Shaders into MPV

Windows

1. Download this file https://github.com/bloc97/Anime4K/releases/download/v4.0.1/Anime4K_v4.0.zip
2. Extract the downloaded file, where you can find bunch of .glsl files.
3. Copy that those .glsl files into previously created “anime4k” folder.

Linux/Mac

Run this command to download the Anime4k shaders into mpv shaders folder

curl -Lo ~/.config/mpv/shaders/anime4k/anime4k.zip https://github.com/bloc97/Anime4K/releases/download/v4.0.1/Anime4K_v4.0.zip
unzip ~/.config/mpv/shaders/anime4k/anime4k.zip -d ~/.config/mpv/shaders/anime4k/
rm ~/.config/mpv/shaders/anime4k/anime4k.zip

Step 4: Modify MPV Configuration File

Windows

1. open the mpv folder and create a text file “input.conf”
2. Paste the following lines and save it.

CTRL+1 no-osd change-list glsl-shaders set "~~/shaders/anime4K/Anime4K_Clamp_Highlights.glsl:~~/shaders/anime4K/Anime4K_Restore_CNN_M.glsl:~~/shaders/anime4K/Anime4K_Upscale_CNN_x2_M.glsl:~~/shaders/anime4K/Anime4K_Restore_CNN_S.glsl:~~/shaders/anime4K/Anime4K_AutoDownscalePre_x2.glsl:~~/shaders/anime4K/Anime4K_AutoDownscalePre_x4.glsl:~~/shaders/anime4K/Anime4K_Upscale_CNN_x2_S.glsl"; show-text "Anime4K"
CTRL+0 no-osd change-list glsl-shaders clr ""; show-text "GLSL shaders cleared"

Linux/Mac

1. Run this command to create/open input.conf file

nano ~/.config/mpv/input.conf

2. Paste the following lines and save it.

CTRL+1 no-osd change-list glsl-shaders set "~~/shaders/anime4K/Anime4K_Clamp_Highlights.glsl:~~/shaders/anime4K/Anime4K_Restore_CNN_M.glsl:~~/shaders/anime4K/Anime4K_Upscale_CNN_x2_M.glsl:~~/shaders/anime4K/Anime4K_Restore_CNN_S.glsl:~~/shaders/anime4K/Anime4K_AutoDownscalePre_x2.glsl:~~/shaders/anime4K/Anime4K_AutoDownscalePre_x4.glsl:~~/shaders/anime4K/Anime4K_Upscale_CNN_x2_S.glsl"; show-text "Anime4K"
CTRL+0 no-osd change-list glsl-shaders clr ""; show-text "GLSL shaders cleared"

Usage Instructions

Play a anime video and press ctrl+1 to enable Anime4k and ctrl+0 for disable it.