These rules apply only to anime entries. Cross-cutting rules live in General.
Pick the single option that best describes the work as released:
| Type | When to use |
|---|---|
| TV | Broadcast on television (or streamed on a per-episode schedule that mirrors TV). |
| Movie | Theatrical or direct-to-stream feature, regardless of length. |
| OVA | Original Video Animation — released directly to home video (BD / DVD), not aired. |
| ONA | Original Net Animation — released directly to a streaming service from day one. |
| Special | A TV special or extra episode tied to a series that isn't part of the regular run. |
| Music | An anime-style animation that's primarily a music video. |
If a single work has multiple distribution paths (theatrical → BD → TV), pick the earliest official release.
For Japanese productions, use the Japanese broadcast season regardless of where else it aired:
For non-Japanese productions, use the season of the country of origin's first release.
The work the anime is adapted from, not its inspiration:
"Original" means anime-only — not adapted from anything. If the anime later spawns a manga, that doesn't change the source.
The production country, not the language or studio location.
Production studios only — not licensors, distributors, or streaming partners. See Studios for the credit hierarchy.