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Continuous episode numbers (anime)
posted by sp1tiSTAFFMOD on September 19, 2022 at 5:51 AM
There is a part in the "bible" I don't like in regards to "continuous episode numbers" vs "seasons".
https://www.themoviedb.org/bible/tv/59f743289251416e71000037 mentions:
Our goal is to replicate how the TV series were originally released on their original network. [...] In most cases, the original airing order (how it was first released) will correspond to the order used by the official Japanese website (how it was supposed to be shown).
But then there is this part setting on arbitrary numbers for what is a "long-running series":
Long-running series with continuous episode numbers (e.g. 867, 868, 869) are added as a single season.
Somehow the latter gets is used as an excuse to overwrite ANY show displaying episodes with absolute numbers on their website (in part also with unannounced split cours) regardless if they're sectioned into seasons or even being close to "long-running" and continuously airing.
IDK how exactly that came to be in the "bible" but the intent was clearly to handle said long running shounen shows like One Peace, Naruto, etc. which were sectioned into arcs, and such on TVDB (mainly because of technical limitations) and served as a basis for TMDBs TV DB... No where does it say (or should) that absolute numbering = same seasons.
Only because they count the episodes up doesn't mean they were intended to be "one season" when it's clearly not how it aired or was marketed. Western shows also have absolute numberings where this isn't applied (ie the Netflix Sabrina mess), if anything in recent years Japan has adopted their terminology to be more similar.
It's also far from future proof as most of these show listings get screwed over after the fact since they get promoted as new seasons and are only moved around when like the 8th episode of said season aired - not good at all for a metadata provider!
Shows where this is incorrectly applied for example:
Bungo Stray Dogs - continuous numbering, clear season namings on http://bungo-stray-dogs.jp/story/ --> first two cours were split, then returns after 2.5years and somehow gets lumped into S1.
My Hero Academia - continuous numbering, clear season namings on https://heroaca.com/episodes/5th/ --> still using those seasons on TMDB currently but planned to get joined but not exactly clear moderation (one topic just closed, the other only gets soft on joining them after second review https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/65930/discuss/62167460fe5c9100432b750c / https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/65930/discuss/61aa541ad2f5b500657577f8?page=2)
Rent-a-Girlfriend, Ascendance of a Bookworm, Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, etc...
Reply by superboy97
on September 19, 2022 at 11:50 AM
I quote the Bible : "When a series is released in two or more parts, the new episodes should also be added to the same season when the episode number are continuous. Sometimes the production of new episodes is halted for a year or more. Examples: Fairy Tail / Fairy Tail (2014), Dragon Ball Z Kai / Dragon Ball Z Kai: The Final Chapters, Naruto / Naruto Shippuden "
But I can't say more, as I wasn't a moderator when the Contribution Bible has been written.
Reply by sp1ti
on May 14, 2023 at 10:33 PM
I guess I never followed this up but when we're talking specialized TV content "parts" does not equal "season"! I don't this is applicable nor the intended usage from the bible. This was clearly aimed at split cours and the long running shounen (which by itself is also dumb as you only know that after the fact).
Reply by SandCat
on May 16, 2023 at 8:32 AM
That so-called “bible” needs amendments. There are so many edge cases when you move aware from current western content.
Reply by blackholeearth0
on February 2, 2024 at 4:50 PM
That is also problem with turkish tv series. İt has 2 sessons. But for s2, We continue to increment number.
Lets use this as example : " one love - kızılcık şerbeti"
S1 has 29 ep. For S2 ep01 . We continue to increase number relative to 1st ep.
S2ep01 but we say ep30. İ want to have . Ep30 as episode number. + title .
But Some people or admin is modifing it . That messes up trakt.
Reply by superboy97
on February 2, 2024 at 5:03 PM
The first episode of a season should always be numbered 1. This is mandatory.
Reply by sp1ti
on February 2, 2024 at 5:28 PM
100s of complaints later and still no mod rethinking the magic bible...
Reply by objc
on April 23, 2024 at 5:46 PM
@superboy97 You've made your stance clear on this. I wish some other mods would chime in. It's clear many of you are not reading the spirit of the rules, or are blatantly misinterpreting the rules. It almost seems like you enjoy misinterpreting them.
Obviously, this is referring to when a series takes a break in the middle of a season, such as airing half the season in the fall and the other half in the winter/spring. This is NOT referring to year-long breaks between seasons, ESPECIALLY when the show's own website breaks the show itself into multiple seasons!
That is a rule that has been shown time and time again to make no sense more often than it does. This rule needs to be rethought. There are PLENTY of shows that use continuous numbering for arbitrary reasons, but still break the show into logical seasons by any interpretation (airing schedule, website, title card, etc). What is the process for updating or amending these rules? Is there any such process?
If such a discussion beyond the responsibility of a single mod, and other mods, or someone with more authority needs to be brought in to discuss that, can you tag them?