How to Download Bilibili Videos and Play with Danmu Using Python

Introduction

The author, a Python enthusiast, wanted to download Bilibili videos after watching a free crawling tutorial that required constant internet access. This article shares a practical solution for downloading videos and playing them locally with danmu.

1. Bilibili Video Download

While the you‑get library can download videos and danmu together, recent tests show it may fail with errors. Alternative solutions include visiting https://www.hotbox.fun/ to register and download videos (danmu must be handled separately).

2. Local Bilibili Playback

The author recommends the BililLocal player, which mimics Bilibili’s interface and supports danmu. After installing, double‑click the executable, drag the video file to the left pane, then select the corresponding XML danmu file. Click the play button on the right to start playback.

To extract danmu text for further use, apply regular‑expression parsing on the XML file.

3. Summary

This article demonstrates how to obtain Bilibili videos, resolve download issues, and use a local player to enjoy videos with danmu, encouraging readers to try the method and join the Python learning community for further discussion.