@ukqv6 said:

Why can't the TMDB anime guidlines be changed to reflect actual seasons?

Because TMDB is a democratic government that doesn’t listen to its people.

Look, it's your guys' database at the end of the day, I guess, it just really feels like you're bending over backwards to justify a rule that none of your users like or think makes sense

It's a shame that the other options that Plex has for metadata on anime topics are quite bad, otherwise I would directly use another one because this one, apart from this one, also has several other mistakes, such as putting OVAs in movies or the same content in some series and in other movies.

@-Ryner said:

It's a shame that the other options that Plex has for metadata on anime topics are quite bad, otherwise I would directly use another one because this one, apart from this one, also has several other mistakes, such as putting OVAs in movies or the same content in some series and in other movies.

It really is a shame but I switched to TheTVDB (Aired) on Plex and that works fine.

Why should anime guidelines be any different from those of other shows? Everywhere, anime is considered to be a different season, so this site should reflect that. Even if we name the episode "Episode 13," it should be in another season. This misguided rule affects not only users of this platform but also others who pull data from it. If every other site on the internet is placing the new episodes under season 2, It would be absurd to not do it here. Opting out of standards doesn't look good for the site and causes nothing but strife.

@kingofhollows099 said:

Why should anime guidelines be any different from those of other shows?

Assuming you're talking specifically about how to add new episodes, it's because some anime restart their episode numbering with every new "season" while others use continuous numbering. Anime TV entries also need to follow the general TV guidelines in addition to the anime guidelines.

Everywhere, anime is considered to be a different season, so this site should reflect that.

These new episodes are listed as a separate anime, not a new season, on both MyAnimeList (MAL) and AniList. Have you contacted them to ask why is "Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-" listed on their databases as a separate anime from "Solo Leveling," and asked them to reconsider their rules and add it as a new season instead of a separate anime?

That's just how MAL and AniList do it and this is how TMDB does it. TMDB has its own rules just like how Wikipedia, IMDb, AniList, MAL, TVMaze, TVDB, etc. have their own rules.

Even if we name the episode "Episode 13," it should be in another season.

The name of the episode is irrelevant. It's the episode number that is taken into consideration.

This misguided rule affects not only users of this platform but also others who pull data from it. If every other site on the internet is placing the new episodes under season 2, It would be absurd to not do it here.

This entry has episode groups available that split the episodes into seasons.

Opting out of standards doesn't look good for the site and causes nothing but strife.

There is no "standard" as whether or not continuous episode numbers are used for new "seasons" varies from anime to anime. For example, Blue Exorcist restarted its episode numbering from 1 for the recently finished "-Beyond the Snow Saga-" and restarted from 1 yet again for the currently airing "-The Blue Night Saga-" but "Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-" didn't. Any ideas as to why one anime restarted its episode numbering for its new "seasons" while the other didn't?

I was always annoyed by the fact, that MAL creates a new show for every season. That's why I don't use it anymore. Is it not possible to change anime seasons into story arcs and have "fake seasons" then on tmdb?

"Oh, you all think the way we sort seasons is backwards, makes no sense, and you all want it to change? Well this other website also has terrible formatting! Checkmate, losers!"

Issue is not fixed, thread shouldn't be closed.

To adrress raze64's comments,

"These new episodes are listed as a separate anime, not a new season, on both MyAnimeList (MAL) and AniList. Have you contacted them to ask why is "Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-" listed on their databases as a separate anime from "Solo Leveling," "

You try to make it sound like they are treated as stand alone shows but that isn't they case at all, they are shown as continuing series with links to their previous seasons and they are named correctly and even show season artwork and arc/season names (which you delete\make obsolete).

And as you point out so often we aren't on tmdb to try and fix MAL/Anilist, were here because you are the only one who insists to force wrong data.

You are just doing the same thing as so many other users do, use another database's rules to justify your own. Except in this case you are they only one who insists on doing it differently and will not listen to the hundreds or maybe even thousand's of YOUR users that are trying to fix this site.

"Opting out of standards doesn't look good for the site and causes nothing but strife."

Per good old merriam-webster: "Standard (adjective) 1a: constituting or conforming to a standard especially as established by law or CUSTOM" (caps are added)

The simple fact that every other site organizes anime this way has established a "standard" and the previous user is absolutely correct to call you out for not conforming to it.

As for strife you just need to look at Attack on Titan's discussion page and realize that more then 90% of the 120 content issues are related to episode numbering. I can only imagine what would happen if you actually combine One Piece, My Hero Academy or Dragon Ball Z.

"Any ideas as to why one anime restarted its episode numbering for its new "seasons" while the other didn't?"

Because, as is their right, the developers decided that's the way they want to organize their show all we want you to do is to respect their decisions with regards to episode numbers AND SEASON NUMBERS.

@G.Desmond said:

Issue is not fixed, thread shouldn't be closed.

To adrress raze64's comments,

"These new episodes are listed as a separate anime, not a new season, on both MyAnimeList (MAL) and AniList. Have you contacted them to ask why is "Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-" listed on their databases as a separate anime from "Solo Leveling," "

You try to make it sound like they are treated as stand alone shows but that isn't they case at all, they are shown as continuing series with links to their previous seasons and they are named correctly and even show season artwork and arc/season names (which you delete\make obsolete).

They are separate entries on their databases and listed as sequel series of the original entry; that's not a new season, that's a new show.

And as you point out so often we aren't on tmdb to try and fix MAL/Anilist, were here because you are the only one who insists to force wrong data.

You are just doing the same thing as so many other users do, use another database's rules to justify your own. Except in this case you are they only one who insists on doing it differently and will not listen to the hundreds or maybe even thousand's of YOUR users that are trying to fix this site.

The MAL and AniList example was to show how different databases have different rules. I absolutely hate how MAL lists new "seasons" as separate, sequel anime and, to me, it makes no sense because why would a new "season" be given an entirely new entry, separate from the first "season" instead of just adding multiple seasons to a single entry?

"Opting out of standards doesn't look good for the site and causes nothing but strife."

Per good old merriam-webster: "Standard (adjective) 1a: constituting or conforming to a standard especially as established by law or CUSTOM" (caps are added)

The simple fact that every other site organizes anime this way has established a "standard" and the previous user is absolutely correct to call you out for not conforming to it.

There is no standard or custom because aniDB, MAL, and AniList all list new "seasons" on their databases as separate anime instead of new seasons of the existing anime. TVDB and IMDb add new "seasons" as seasons of the existing entry. TMDB follows the episode number. How can there a standard or custom when there are at least three different ways to list new "seasons" between six separate databases?

As for strife you just need to look at Attack on Titan's discussion page and realize that more then 90% of the 120 content issues are related to episode numbering. I can only imagine what would happen if you actually combine One Piece, My Hero Academy or Dragon Ball Z.

Probably exactly the same as with every new anime season.

"Any ideas as to why one anime restarted its episode numbering for its new "seasons" while the other didn't?"

Because, as is their right, the developers decided that's the way they want to organize their show all we want you to do is to respect their decisions with regards to episode numbers AND SEASON NUMBERS.

Per the regular TV guidelines, the first episode of a season is always episode 1 and nothing else. How can the first episode of "Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-" be the 13th episode of the season if it's the first episode of the season? We can't support whatever the production company and/or studio decides to do since there is no standard regarding episode numbering. The way the anime is listed on Wikipedia, IMDb, TVDB, aniDB, MAL, AniList is because those databases decided to list it like that, it's not because they're "respecting the production company's and/or studios' decisions with regards to episode and season numbers."

For example, is Wikipedia respecting the production company's and/or studio's decisions with regards to episode and seasons numbers when they decided to follow the Western order for Pokémon Horizons instead of the original, continuously airing format used Japan? They're the only ones listing it like that, compared to TMDB, TVDB, IMDb, MAL, and AniList. Is Wikipedia wrong? If you ask a MAL or TVDB user, they'd probably say yes. If you ask a Wikipedian, they'd probably say they're correct and it's MAL and TVDB that are wrong. It all depends on the database you're using.

How can the first episode of "Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-" be the 13th episode of the season if it's the first episode of the season?

You cited Wikipedia, so look at Wikipedia. Overall Episode # vs Episode # in Season. It's actually comedically easy.

We can't support whatever the production company and/or studio decides to do since there is no standard regarding episode numbering

Yes you can. If the production company and/or studio says it's a 2nd Season of their show, you list it as a Second Season. If they don't, and it releases as an ongoing series (i.e. Dragon Ball), you don't. In fact, it's a little weird that you guys have even separated Dragon Ball from Dragon Ball Z at all, considering that Dragon Ball Z continues the same story as Dragon Ball, and Episode 1 of DBZ aired 1 week after the 'finale' of Dragon Ball. I mean sure, the production company slapped a Z on the title, but why respect that studio's wishes in distinguishing from what's otherwise clearly one show, and not respect A-1's wishes in Solo Leveling Season 2 being a 2nd season? How is slapping "-SEASON 2- ARISE FROM THE SHADOW" onto the 2nd season of a show (with a 9 month hiatus, I might add) any less of a statement from the studio than slapping Z on Dragon Ball's title and picking up exactly where you left off 7 days later as if nothing had changed but the title?

It really seems like you're just picking and choosing when you want to respect a studio's designation for their show and when you want to assert your own backwards rules with no thought or input, despite your users all telling you it makes no sense. If Solo Leveling is only one season of TV, then Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z should definitely be one season of TV. If the production studio saying "this is a 2nd season of Solo Leveling" doesn't matter to you guys, why does Toei saying "This is Dragon Ball Z, not Dragon Ball" matter to you?

is Wikipedia respecting the production company's and/or studio's decisions with regards to episode and seasons numbers when they decided to follow the Western order for Pokémon Horizons instead of the original, continuously airing format used Japan?

Wikipedia is not a TV database, and is edited by users. Not only do they list the Overall Episode # in Japan, the Overall Episode # in the West, AND the Episode # within the Season, meaning that yes, they are respecting the production company and/or studio's decisions with regards to episode and season numbers while also accomodating their Western audience, it actually goes more in depth, clarifying that Episode 1 of Pokemon Horizons is Episode 1235 of Pokemon, clarifies Season 1 of Pokemon Horizons is Season 26 of Pokemon, and has a separate page for Pokemon Horizons - The Search for Laqua, which specifies it is Season 2 of Pokemon Horizons and Season 27 of Pokemon. Not only is Wikipedia much more clear about the status of the season within the greater context of the ongoing series and lists the ongoing airing episode list you claim they don't, they also aren't a dictatorship that only pretends to listen to their userbase.

It all depends on the database you're using.

So then why not make your database good and actually listen to your users?

@chrundle said:

We can't support whatever the production company and/or studio decides to do since there is no standard regarding episode numbering

Yes you can. If the production company and/or studio says it's a 2nd Season of their show, you list it as a Second Season. If they don't, and it releases as an ongoing series (i.e. Dragon Ball), you don't. In fact, it's a little weird that you guys have even separated Dragon Ball from Dragon Ball Z at all, considering that Dragon Ball Z continues the same story as Dragon Ball, and Episode 1 of DBZ aired 1 week after the 'finale' of Dragon Ball. I mean sure, the production company slapped a Z on the title, but why respect that studio's wishes in distinguishing from what's otherwise clearly one show, and not respect A-1's wishes in Solo Leveling Season 2 being a 2nd season? How is slapping "-SEASON 2- ARISE FROM THE SHADOW" onto the 2nd season of a show (with a 9 month hiatus, I might add) any less of a statement from the studio than slapping Z on Dragon Ball's title and picking up exactly where you left off 7 days later as if nothing had changed but the title?

Those two anime have existed way before my time on the database. Maybe they both should be listed as a single season TV show. Or maybe there's some other reason I'm not aware of since I'm a relatively new user compared to when those entries were created. And once again, TV anime entries are not exempt from the regular TV guidelines, which say the first episode of a season is always episode 1. Episode #13 can't be the first episode of a season if it's episode #13.

It really seems like you're just picking and choosing when you want to respect a studio's designation for their show and when you want to assert your own backwards rules with no thought or input, despite your users all telling you it makes no sense.

There's no picking and choosing. I've been checking various anime entries every new broadcast season for about two or three years now, irrespective of the anime. If it used continuous episode numbers and there's not that much data to move around, I move it. If it's too much, I add it to our anime merge list. But I alone can't check every single anime every single season so unless other mods check entries or a user reports it, some entries slip through the cracks.

is Wikipedia respecting the production company's and/or studio's decisions with regards to episode and seasons numbers when they decided to follow the Western order for Pokémon Horizons instead of the original, continuously airing format used Japan?

Wikipedia is not a TV database, and is edited by users.

Yeah, and Wikipedia has its own rules that its users should follow when editing articles, just like how TMDB has its own rules that its users should follow when editing entries.

Not only do they list the Overall Episode # in Japan, the Overall Episode # in the West, AND the Episode # within the Season, meaning that yes, they are respecting the production company and/or studio's decisions with regards to episode and season numbers while also accomodating their Western audience, it actually goes more in depth, clarifying that Episode 1 of Pokemon Horizons is Episode 1235 of Pokemon, clarifies Season 1 of Pokemon Horizons is Season 26 of Pokemon, and has a separate page for Pokemon Horizons - The Search for Laqua, which specifies it is Season 2 of Pokemon Horizons and Season 27 of Pokemon. Not only is Wikipedia much more clear about the status of the season within the greater context of the ongoing series and lists the ongoing airing episode list you claim they don't, they also aren't a dictatorship that only pretends to listen to their userbase.

This is now completely off-topic as we're now talking about a completely different TV entry but since I gave the example I'll write a final reply about Pokémon.

Where did Wikipedia come up with the Jap. overall # and the Eng. overall? The Pokémon Company and The Pokémon Company International both consider Pokémon Horizons to be an entirely new anime, in Japan and the West, completely unrelated to the previous anime other than being based on the same video game franchise. The first episode of Horizons being #1235 in Japan and episode #1224 in the West doesn't even exist outside of Wikipedia. In fact, Wikipedia had to completely rewrite the article for Pokémon Horizons: The Series once the second dub season was announced because it had "Season 2" in the title and logo. Before November 21, 2024, they didn't even acknowledge that it was the first season of a new anime outside of Japan and after they rewrote the article and moved episode 45 onward to the new article, the episode numbers used on the official website for everything after episode 45 are straight up missing since the anime doesn't have seasons in Japan. Wikipedia is ignoring the original Japanese episode numbers in order to accommodate the Western order and some made up "overall" episode numbers that don't exist since it's a completely new anime, which is entirely their prerogative and within their rights as it's their database and they make their own rules. I don't like it but nothing I can do about it.

It all depends on the database you're using.

So then why not make your database good and actually listen to your users?

Because no other good solution that doesn't conflict with the regular TV guidelines has been suggested. The current anime guidelines regarding how to add new episodes have been in place for at least 5 years, even before I joined, and TV anime entries are still TV entries and have to follow the regular TV guidelines, like the first episode of a season is always episode #1.

How would you suggest "Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-" be added to this entry without ignoring the regular TV guidelines, specifically the rule stating seasons start with episode #1. The first episode is officially listed as episode 13 and can't be anything else on TMDB because the official website doesn't number it as episode 1, just episode 13.

How would you suggest "Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-" be added to this entry without ignoring the regular TV guidelines, specifically the rule stating seasons start with episode #1. The first episode is officially listed as episode 13 and can't be anything else on TMDB because the official website doesn't number it as episode 1, just episode 13.strong text

Like you keep saying to justify YOUR points, anime doesn't fit to western guidelines, so you should adjust tmdb anime guidelines to be seperate from regular tv.

Two super easy ways, allow seasons to start with numbers other than 1 or start every season with #1 but show the absolute number in () after, just like trakt does.

Changing the Anime guidelines is an issue because it still violates the general TV-sho guidelines. Simple solution: Change those as well. The only person in this discussion who is saying that this system is satisfactory is you, mod. Clearly, your community wants a change. And with this being a community-ran site, it would only make sense to adhere to public opinion. If you don't, eventually a new service will arise that does, and users will switch to there, Like whats happening with Fandom right now.

@G.Desmond said:

Two super easy ways, allow seasons to start with numbers other than 1

In my reply to @chrundle, I literally wrote asking them to suggest a way without ignoring the regular TV guidelines, specifically the rule stating seasons start with episode #1 and your first suggestion is to ignore the regular TV guidelines, specifically the rule stating seasons start with episode #1??

or start every season with #1 but show the absolute number in () after, just like trakt does.

That would ignore the episode numbers listed on the official websites since the actual episode number entered on the database would not match with the episode numbers used on the official website. I take it you'd rather TMDB ignore the official episode numbers and always add the first episode of an anime's new "season" as episode #1 of a new season on the database than follow the episode numbers listed on the official websites? Why even follow official episode numbers (for anime or any TV show in general) at that point if they could just be ignored?

@kingofhollows099 said:

Changing the Anime guidelines is an issue because it still violates the general TV-sho guidelines. Simple solution: Change those as well. The only person in this discussion who is saying that this system is satisfactory is you, mod.

They were created years before I joined the database but, speaking for myself, I think the anime guidelines work great because they're about following the episode numbers from the official website and they apply to all TV anime equally. The entries that don't follow the guidelines are either old entries that haven't been fixed yet or entries that should follow them but were never reported so they fell through the cracks. And the TV guidelines are pretty good, too, since we try to mirror a network's website as much as we can.

Clearly, your community wants a change. And with this being a community-ran site, it would only make sense to adhere to public opinion.

Then please create report in the General section of the forums and suggest a way that doesn't ignore the regular TV guidelines.

If you don't, eventually a new service will arise that does, and users will switch to there, Like whats happening with Fandom right now.

I have no idea what's happening with Fandom right now.