I think the creator is just the person who is specifically credited that way -- "Created by XXX" or "Developed by XXX", or list that on the official website. It's true that not all shows have that, and in that case I leave it empty. Showrunners don't count as creators, as they change indeed. They are just the main producer/writer, if I understand correctly.

I think I also saw the "created by" in one of two movies, but I think that isn't really a thing for movies.

But if it has to be an explicit credit then the potential "targets" for this will be even fewer. I don't have a problem with the credit existing but more of how prominent it is in the DB... just leads to more "wrong" uses (by whatever definition).

@alltimemarr is right, it's just about who created it. If a show doesn't have a creator that it cares about, it's ok to leave it empty. It's true that perhaps only recently (as in the last decade) do TV shows make a bigger deal of its creator but I know personally, as a fan of some specific creators I think of them more like a big Hollywood director. People care about about the new David Fincher film because it's David Fincher. Same goes for a TV show's creator. Knowing that Bryan Fuller was behind Hannibal was all I needed to add it to my watchlist. I've loved everything he's done going all the way back to Dead Like Me.

Yeah that is true, I've seen with some anime that the creator of the original work (light novel, manga w/e) was added there too :-P

I don't know why it is really such a prominent place.

Maybe it could be on the crew page. I think there is (or used to be) a "Creator" crewjob too! And then just show that on the page if desidered. Much like the writer/directors are shown for episodes and movies.

I know what you mean Travis but it's those older titles and the content that doesn't care about it that makes it a questionable field to be promoted this exclusively. It's ok to show up at the front but the credit should go to the crew and other roles be shown if it's not filled out imho.

Just checking again: I can delete anyone from the staff, studios themselves and the creators of the original work from the field right? Because at this point I see them added to every anime under the moon... By definition this TV "core field will rarely be used for anime The "bible" is still MIA?

Just checking again: I can delete anyone from the staff, studios themselves and the creators of the original work from the field right?

Pretty much. I think you can safely remove anyone who didn't write the first episode... and anyone who isn't clearly the creator. I usually make exceptions for series written by a single person or a writing duo. We understand they are the creator(s) even if they are not recognized as such in the credits.

@banana_girl said:

Just checking again: I can delete anyone from the staff, studios themselves and the creators of the original work from the field right?

Pretty much. I think you can safely remove anyone who didn't write the first episode... and anyone who isn't clearly the creator. I usually make exceptions for series written by a single person or a writing duo. We understand they are the creator(s) even if they are not recognized as such in the credits.

This reply doesn't make it more clear to me given the "first episode" note... @alltimemarr & @travisbell suggested that it should be an explicit credit which would be easy to make out... Going by "involvement" is a lot more difficult. In case of anime for example (with not as much "original" programming) most would attribute it to the main director of a show but he usually isn't alone in this as there is also someone doing series composition (which usually gets attributed to the creator role in addition to just writing) as well as individual episode directors, storyboarders and script writers as in other media. In addition to that there is a lot of reliance on visuals which is often also driven by the studio entities and makes them recognizable or the talent they have working. Something like for example "Gurren Lagann would not exist or play out like it does if it was made by a different Studio than Gainax.

@travisbell said:

@alltimemarr is right, it's just about who created it. If a show doesn't have a creator that it cares about, it's ok to leave it empty. It's true that perhaps only recently (as in the last decade) do TV shows make a bigger deal of its creator but I know personally, as a fan of some specific creators I think of them more like a big Hollywood director. People care about about the new David Fincher film because it's David Fincher. Same goes for a TV show's creator. Knowing that Bryan Fuller was behind Hannibal was all I needed to add it to my watchlist. I've loved everything he's done going all the way back to Dead Like Me.

So can we get this adjusted someday? I'm constantly deleting original creators off adaptions because people are not filling in the proper credits and the sole reason for that is that it's badly explained and you're forcing the field into people's faces... just link to the regular credits and have it show up there if set OR let us pick what the creator is. Be it production company, director or what else...

Yup, definitely on my list.

I'm deleting creators of the source material on anime in multitudes from new shows btw. and found even locked ones https://www.themoviedb.org/talk/5ac5489c0e0a260c4a05e9fa. Hopefully this gets addressed sooner than later. Imho a (?) hint would already help a bit or just change it up like it's on movies (force the credit selection and allow authors to be included)...

Imho a (?) hint would already help a bit or just change it up like it's on movies

Yup, that can be done.

I already removed the placeholder "We don't have any crew added to this TV Show..." 2 (or 3?) weeks ago, which should also be helping.

Thanks but just the mere fact that it's one of few fields on the "primary facts" still leads to it being filled out ;)...

I have been filling in main director and series composition credits in the "created by" field on anime shows for a while now - as I said I would do in another thread - without anyone removing them, but now noticed that Marr deleted a few of them. So that is now no longer OK ;)? So "Created by" TMDB area is solely for the US (WGA) TV definition of the term - amen (as in the bible)?

(I just noticed that the "Featured crew" area isn't actually showing up anymore if empty so that lowers the issue at last ;))

@sp1ti said:

I have been filling in main director and series composition credits in the "created by" field on anime shows for a while now - as I said I would do in another thread - without anyone removing them

I probably didn't notice that thread. And it's true, I deleted them! (maybe I should have messaged you, I'm not yet really in the habit of doing that, only with real spam. Sorry D:)

It's still in my mind that only credited creators are added that's why indeed. Probably only recent anime exception being Aggretsuko

(I just noticed that the "Featured crew" area isn't actually showing up anymore if empty so that lowers the issue at last ;))

That's indeed huge improvement