Practical guide
What Is Bilibili Danmaku? Bullet Comments and Subtitles Explained
Learn what Bilibili danmaku bullet comments are, how they differ from closed caption subtitles, and whether danmaku can be included in video downloads.
Updated October 2026
Quick answer
How to do it
- 1
Observe the streaming comments scrolling horizontally across the video player on bilibili.com (known as danmaku or bullet screen).
- 2
Locate the danmaku control toggle (the icon resembling a small subtitle box with lines or Danmaku switch) on the bottom player bar.
- 3
Toggle the switch to hide or reveal floating comments, or open the danmaku settings to adjust font size, opacity, and speed.
- 4
Differentiate between danmaku and official subtitles: danmaku represents viewer reactions, while subtitles represent spoken dialogue.
- 5
When saving videos with BiliDownloader, receive a clean MP4 file without floating comments, and export official captions separately if needed.
Danmaku vs Subtitles: Understanding Timed Floating Comments
For new visitors to Bilibili, the flood of moving text across the player can be startling. Understanding the difference between community danmaku and professional closed captions is essential:
| Characteristic | Bilibili Danmaku (Bullet Screen) | Official Closed Captions (Subtitles) |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Submitted by thousands of viewers over time | Created by the uploader or official translators |
| Visual Format | Scrolls right-to-left across the top/center/bottom of the video | Fixed text centered at the bottom of the screen |
| Purpose | Shared reactions, humor, memes, commentary, and spoiler warnings | Transcribing spoken dialogue and translating languages |
| Download Format | Rendered by web player engine (not embedded in raw video) | Exportable as standalone text files (.srt, .vtt) |
| File Availability | Excluded from standard MP4 downloads for clean viewing | Available via our Subtitle Downloader |
Can You Download Bilibili Videos with Danmaku Bullet Comments?
A frequent question from video editors and fans is whether danmaku comments can be preserved in an exported video file:
- Why Standard MP4s Are Clean: Bilibili streams the underlying video file and the danmaku comment database as separate network requests. The web player draws the comments dynamically onto an HTML5 canvas over the video. When BiliDownloader fetches the MP4 media stream, it retrieves the pristine, unblemished video track without any text overlays.
- Burning Danmaku In (Hardsubbing): If you specifically require the chaotic bullet comment experience in an offline video, it requires screen recording the browser window or using specialized local desktop scripts (such as Danmaku2ASS) to convert raw XML comment dumps into stylized ASS subtitle tracks.
- Downloading Dialogue Captions: If your goal is reading dialogue translations rather than viewer memes, visit our Bilibili Subtitle Downloader to download clean bilingual SRT files.
When to Turn Off or Filter Danmaku
While danmaku creates an exciting communal atmosphere during anime premieres and esports tournaments, there are times when hiding it improves your viewing experience:
- Educational & Tutorial Content: When watching programming courses or academic lectures, floating text frequently obscures on-screen code or whiteboard notes.
- Spoiler Prevention: During plot twists in mystery anime, anticipatory comments can ruin surprises seconds before they happen on screen.
- Visual Clutter Reduction: Bilibili allows you to adjust the transparency (opacity) and density of comments without turning them off completely, striking a balance between community fun and visual clarity.
Bilibili Danmaku Explained: Social Culture and Video Playback
Danmaku transformed video viewing from an isolated activity into a shared communal event. When you download videos through BiliDownloader, you receive clean, high-definition MP4 archives free of visual distractions.
Explore our complete suite of tools and tutorials:
- Bilibili Video Downloader: Download clean MP4 videos with audio merged.
- Bilibili Subtitle Downloader: Extract official bilingual SRT and VTT subtitles.
- Bilibili to MP3: Save audio tracks and anime OSTs in MP3 format.
- Complete Download Guide Hub: Comprehensive overview of all Bilibili downloading workflows.
Frequently asked questions
What is danmaku on Bilibili?
Danmaku (written 弹幕 in Chinese, meaning bullet curtain) refers to user comments that scroll horizontally across the video screen in real time, synchronized to specific timestamps.
Is danmaku a live chat or historical comments?
Danmaku combines both. While you can send comments during live streams, on regular on-demand videos, comments posted months or years ago reappear at the exact second they were originally submitted.
Are danmaku and closed caption subtitles the same thing?
No. Subtitles transcribe spoken dialogue and narration. Danmaku represents audience chatter, jokes, warnings, memes, and community reactions layered over the screen.
Can I turn off danmaku on Bilibili?
Yes. The Bilibili video player features an on-screen toggle button to disable danmaku completely, as well as granular filters to block specific keywords or reduce on-screen text density.
Do downloaded Bilibili videos include danmaku?
No. The Bilibili video player draws danmaku as a dynamic DOM/canvas layer over the raw video. When you download an MP4 file with BiliDownloader, you receive a clean video stream without text barrage.
Can I download official subtitles instead of danmaku?
Yes. If a video features official closed captions, you can download them as standardized SubRip (.srt) or WebVTT (.vtt) files using our Bilibili Subtitle Downloader.
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