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AniDB Definition:Anime (view source)

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To meet the AniDB definition of "anime" it must be:
To meet the AniDB definition of "anime" it must be:


:* An anime needs to be '''animated'''. Live action, or something with just a few animated scenes and/or picture dramas (audio dialog over still images) is not an anime.
# An anime needs to be '''animated'''. Live action, or something with just a few animated scenes and/or picture dramas (audio dialog over still images) is not an anime (these items can still be added as S episodes if they are released as a BD/DVD special).
:* An anime has to be '''professionally produced'''. This means that fan made shows are not considered anime.
# It has to '''have a plot'''. For instance an animated soap commercial is not an anime.
:* It has to '''have a plot'''. For instance an animated soap commercial is not an anime.
# The anime needs to be '''Japanese, Chinese, or Korean ("CJK")''': this means it is created primarily for the '''CJK market''' by '''CJK producers''', as defined below. '''Exceptionally''', other East Asian markets and/or East Asian producers may also be allowed. Refer to the CJK definition table below for a visual description of the policy.
:* The anime needs to be '''created primarily for the Japanese, Chinese, or Korean ("East-Asian") market'''. For instance, Disney may collaborate with a Japanese company on the making of a film for the United States, but it is not an anime even though a Japanese company is involved.
## '''CJK market''': a CJK market must be the '''primary audience''' for the anime. For instance, Disney may collaborate with a Japanese company on the making of a film for the United States market, but it is not an anime even though a Japanese company is involved.
## '''CJK production''': CJK companies/creators must be '''primary producers''' of the anime (see definition below); this generally means that at least one CJK company/creator is credited for anime production. The following points must be taken into account:
### Just having a hand in the animation is not sufficient; this is especially true of subcontracting work, which is not considered a part of the production work.
### Co-productions with other countries are acceptable, but only if CJK companies/creators have enough influence on the final product; the minimum threshold for sufficient influence depends on a subjective analysis by AniDB staff.
#### In co-productions, companies are considered to hold a larger sway than individual creators; for example, {{short|cr205|Kamiyama Kenji}} may direct a movie for Warner, but that movie is still not anime even though direction is a key creative position.
## '''"Other East Asian" exception''': we '''''generally''''' will accept East Asian animated works not from CJK if/when someone wants to add them. At the same time, we will not actively seek out those works, and neither will they be a priority. In this exception, East Asian is loosely defined as '''''any Asian country lying mostly to the east of India'''''. However, please note that we may block/delete specific works and/or countries, as the analysis of their own "anime-ness" is less straightforward.
## '''Non-CJK''': Animated productions that aren't CJK or at least East Asian per the definitions above are not allowed.
# An anime has to be '''professionally produced''' by a CJK producer.
## Professionally produced re-cuts are considered anime.
### Example: {{short|a6399|Dragon Ball Kai}} is a Japan-produced full re-cut of {{short|a1530|Dragon Ball Z}}.
### Example: {{short|a1530|Dragon Ball Z}} contains several [[Content:Episodes#Guidance_for_O_episodes|O episodes]] representing re-cuts of a handful of episodes by official US distributor 4Kids.
## Fan-made shows and/or parodies are not considered anime. Fan-made re-cuts are also not considered anime.
### Both are [[AniDB_Definition:Anime#Other_fan-made_content|sometimes allowed as parody episodes]]; please check with a moderator.
 
====CJK definition table====
{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align: left"
|-
!  Legend
!  Definition
|-
!  style="background-color: #ccffcc;"|✔
|  Add to AniDB
|-
!  style="background-color: #ffffaa;"|'''?'''
|  ''Generally'' add to AniDB, decided on a case-by-case basis
|-
!  style="background-color: #ffcccc;"|✖
|  Do '''not''' add to AniDB
|-
|}
 
{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align: center"
|-
!  CJK Definition Table
!  style=width:10em | CJK<br>Market
!  style=width:10em | Other East Asian<br>Market
!  style=width:10em | Non-CJK<br>Market
|-
!  CJK Producer(s)
|  style="background-color: #ccffcc;"|✔
|  style="background-color: #ffffaa;"|'''?'''
|  style="background-color: #ffcccc;"|✖
|-
!  Other East Asian Producer(s)
|  style="background-color: #ffffaa;"|'''?'''
|  style="background-color: #ffffaa;"|'''?'''
|  style="background-color: #ffcccc;"|✖
|-
!  Non-CJK Producer(s)
|  style="background-color: #ffcccc;"|✖
|  style="background-color: #ffcccc;"|✖
|  style="background-color: #ffcccc;"|✖
|-
|}


===Isn't that arbitrary and exclusive of good Western animation?===
===Isn't that arbitrary and exclusive of good Western animation?===
Yes it is.  Thanks for asking.  But we just don't consider it "anime."  We suggest entering it into [http://www.bcdb.com/ The Big Cartoon Database].
Yes it is.  Thanks for asking.  But we just don't consider it "anime."  We suggest entering it into [http://www.bcdb.com/ The Big Cartoon Database].


These rules can be changed if the AniDB mods feel it is appropriate for AniDB.  At this time however, we feel these rules are the closest to meeting the spirit of what we want to catalog.   
These rules can be changed if the AniDB mods feel it is appropriate for AniDB.  At this time however, we feel these rules are the closest to meeting the spirit of what we want to catalog.
 
===Definition of whether an anime was primarily produced by a CJK producer===
{{CollapseBlock|
Expand this section to see our definition of whether an anime was primarily produced by a CJK producer.
|Determining whether an anime is considered primarily produced by a CJK producer involves a subjective evaluation of potentially ambiguous facts. To aide in the assessment, consider the following scale from 0 to 100, where:
* 0/100 means the anime is clearly produced by non-CJK producers.
* 50/100 means the anime is evenly split between non-CJK and CJK producers.
* 100/100 means the anime is clearly produced CJK producers.
 
To assess where an anime stands on the spectrum, we assess the CJK score of each production role in the anime, and sum total the weighted average CJK score of all production roles.
* Higher importance roles and credits are scored with a higher weighting. Examples of higher importance roles include, but are not limited to: direction, production, work, production work, animation work, etc.
* The role's weight is multiplied by the CJK score of the company/creator occupying the role (see definition below), to arrive at the weighted CJK score for the role.
* The weighted average CJK score of all roles determines the CJK score of the anime.
 
  '''Example, ''for illustrative purposes only, non-binding, not precedent setting, needs to be reassessed on a case-by-case basis, and not in itself a deciding factor on its own'':'''
Anime: {{short|a18283|Scott Pilgrim Takes Off}}
* Production: weight 3.0, occupied by {{short|cr54015|Netflix}}, 0% CJK -- 3.0 * 0% &#61; 0.0
* Animation work: weight 2.0, occupied by {{short|cr48093|Science SARU}}, 100% CJK -- 2.0 * 100% &#61; 2.0
* Direction: weight 1.5, occupied by {{short|cr48450|Abel Góngora}}, 40% CJK -- 1.5 * 40% &#61; 0.6
* Storyboards: weight 1.5, occupied by {{short|cr48093|Science SARU}}, 100% CJK -- 1.5 * 100% &#61; 1.5
Weighted average:
&#61; (0.0 + 2.0 + 0.6 + 1.5) / (3.0 + 2.0 + 1.5 + 1.5)
&#61; 4.1 / 8.0
&#61; 51% CJK, with this limited subset of roles described."
 
====Definition of whether a particular company/creator is considered CJK====
Determining whether a company/creator is considered CJK involves a subjective evaluation of potentially ambiguous facts. To aide in the assessment, consider the following scale from 0 to 100, where:
* 0/100 means the company/creator is clearly non-CJK
* 50/100 means the company/creator is evenly split between non-CJK and CJK
* 100/100 means the company/creator is clearly CJK
 
To assess the where a company/creator stands on the CJK spectrum, we assess their qualitative factors, applicable to the specific anime in question, and approximate a numerical score.
 
'''Example, ''for illustrative purposes only, non-binding, not precedent setting, needs to be reassessed on a case-by-case basis, and not in itself a deciding factor on its own'':'''
Creator: {{short|cr48450|Abel Góngora}} for {{short|a18283|Scott Pilgrim Takes Off}}
* Gongora is a Spanish national who's been working in Tokyo for Science SARU since 2013.
* Gongora leads the Japanese production team for this anime.
** Gongora occupies the director role for this anime.
** The director role is owned by SARU on this anime.
Therefore, considering the above, we consider Gongora to score at least 40/100 CJK.
}}


==Exceptions==
==Exceptions==
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====Chinese/Korean productions?====
====Chinese/Korean productions?====
Are animated, professionally produced, TV shows, feature films, and OVAs/OADs created by a Korean/Chinese company for the Korean/Chinese market allowed?<br>
Are animated, professionally produced, TV shows, feature films, and OVAs/OADs created by a Korean/Chinese company for the Korean/Chinese market allowed?<br>
Generally, yes most East-Asian productions for a Chinese or Korean audience are accepted; East-Asian includes Japan, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and North Korea. Check the forum before adding them though. This definition has been discussed [https://anidb.net/post450996 here].
Generally, yes most CJK productions for a Chinese or Korean audience are accepted; CJK includes Japan, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and North Korea. Check the forum before adding them though. This definition has been discussed [https://anidb.net/post450996 here].


====Music videos?====
====Music videos?====
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Adding VTubers videos to AniDB will be allowed on a case-by-case exception basis only.
Adding VTubers videos to AniDB will be allowed on a case-by-case exception basis only.


When VTubers creating videos starring themselves, they are essentially "recording a selfie as themselves" and posting these videos on YouTube as their {{short|t7250|video blog (vlog)}}. However, since VTubers are not real people, the vlog is in the virtual world; in some ways, it is a parallel to "live action" videos of a real human person recording a vlog of themselves doing something.
When VTubers create videos starring themselves, they are essentially "recording a selfie as themselves" and posting these videos on YouTube as their {{short|t7250|video blog (vlog)}}. However, since VTubers are not real people, the vlog is in the virtual world; in some ways, it is a parallel to "live action" videos of a real human person recording a vlog of themselves doing something.


Had the vlog been shot with human idols rather than VTuber idols, it would be a live action video and therefore not anime. The substitution of human idols with VTubers does not change the classification of the video as a vlog, rather than an anime produced for broadcast audience.
Had the vlog been shot with human idols rather than VTuber idols, it would be a live action video and therefore not anime. The substitution of human idols with VTubers does not change the classification of the video as a vlog, rather than an anime produced for broadcast audience.
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This policy was confirmed on the Adv. User subforum [https://anidb.net/forum/thread/105123 here] and public forum [https://anidb.net/forum/thread/104564 here].
This policy was confirmed on the Adv. User subforum [https://anidb.net/forum/thread/105123 here] and public forum [https://anidb.net/forum/thread/104564 here].


=====Application of the "needs to be animated" rule, "professionally produced" rule, and "doujin rule" to VTuber videos=====
=====-- VTuber videos: Application of the "needs to be animated" rule, "professionally produced" rule, and "doujin rule" to VTuber videos=====
Similar to standard anime franchises, VTubers may also publish videos that do not meet AniDB's basic definition of anime. This includes:  
Similar to standard anime franchises, VTubers may also publish videos that do not meet AniDB's basic definition of anime. This includes:  
# The animation rule: limited animated scenes, or no animation at all in the case of a picture drama, would fail the animation rule; both formats are not uncommon for VTubers.
# The animation rule: limited animated scenes, or no animation at all in the case of a picture drama, would fail the animation rule; both formats are not uncommon for VTubers.
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If a video by a VTuber does not meet the above basic criteria, they would be excluded from AniDB on the basis of these basic rules before VTuber considerations (described earlier) become relevant.
If a video by a VTuber does not meet the above basic criteria, they would be excluded from AniDB on the basis of these basic rules before VTuber considerations (described earlier) become relevant.


''Example 1:'' '''PUCHISANJI''' by ''Nijisanji (VTuber Group)'' ([https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLout9ZF2aCT_rl62wpTqVXgUGz-qJE4Rg YouTube Japanese airing link] and [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVmWlO7cbVuvhFT8u8FyViqobSSLetAoK YouTube English subbed airing link]) is a VTuber picture drama which does not meet the animation rule.  '''PUCHISANJI''' meets the professionally produced rule, given that the video is produced by a ''Nijisanji'', a large corporation.
<u>Example 1:</u> '''PUCHISANJI''' by ''Nijisanji (VTuber Group)'' ([https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLout9ZF2aCT_rl62wpTqVXgUGz-qJE4Rg YouTube Japanese airing link] and [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVmWlO7cbVuvhFT8u8FyViqobSSLetAoK YouTube English subbed airing link]) is a VTuber picture drama which does not meet the animation rule.  '''PUCHISANJI''' meets the professionally produced rule, given that the video is produced by ''Nijisanji'', a large corporation.


''Example 2:'' {{short|a14583|Virtual-san wa Miteiru}} is clearly animated, so it meets the animation rule. Further, it is produced by traditional animation studios {{short|cr24618|Bridge}} and {{short|cr57333|Lide}}, so it meets the professionally produced rule.
<u>Example 2:</u> {{short|a14583|Virtual-san wa Miteiru}} is clearly animated, so it meets the animation rule. Further, it is produced by traditional animation studios {{short|cr24618|Bridge}} and {{short|cr57333|Lide}}, so it meets the professionally produced rule.


''Example 3:'' {{short|a15971|Holo no Graffiti}} is clearly animated, so it meets the animation rule.  It is not produced by a traditional animation studio; however, it is produced by the VTuber's parent company ''hololive ホロライブ - VTuber Group'', a large corporation that would be able to professionally produce an anime.
<u>Example 3:</u> {{short|a15971|Holo no Graffiti}} is clearly animated, so it meets the animation rule.  It is not produced by a traditional animation studio; however, it is produced by the VTuber's parent company ''hololive ホロライブ - VTuber Group'', a large corporation that would be able to professionally produce an anime.


=====Application of the "music video / MV" rule to VTuber videos=====
=====-- VTuber videos: Application of the "music video / MV" rule to VTuber videos=====
AniDB allows music videos ("MVs"), and has a specific anime type called "music video" for this purpose. Anime MVs are allowed; traditionally, song promoters have chartered animation studios to create anime MVs to promote their songs.
AniDB allows music videos ("MVs"), and has a specific anime type called "music video" for this purpose. Anime MVs are allowed; traditionally, song promoters have chartered animation studios to create anime MVs to promote their songs.


Many VTubers give virtual song performances as part of their online persona. This is especially true if the VTuber is also a {{short|t860|virtual idol}}, where the song performed is potentially a first-party song that is purposefully produced for that virtual idol. While it is possible that VTubers may be contracted by a song promoter to create a traditional MV to promote a traditional song, in the current (2021) context of the VTuber environment, most VTuber MVs are self-promoting.  As such, by default, all VTuber MVs are not allowed on AniDB; VTuber MVs will only be added to AniDB on an exception basis.
Many VTubers give virtual song performances as part of their online persona. This is especially true if the VTuber is also a {{short|t860|virtual idol}}, where the song performed is potentially a first-party song that is purposefully produced for that virtual idol. While it is possible that VTubers may be contracted by a song promoter to create a traditional MV to promote a traditional song, in the current (2021) context of the VTuber environment, most VTuber MVs are self-promoting.  As such, by default, all VTuber MVs are not allowed on AniDB; VTuber MVs will only be added to AniDB on an exception basis.


''Example 1:'' '''ShinySmilyStory''' by 'hololive ホロライブ - VTuber Group'' ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrsGNMMghKM YouTube link] is a VTuber MV which meets the animation rule and the professionally produced rule, given that the video is produced by a ''hololive'', a large corporation. However, the MV self-promotes a song created by hololive for its roster of VTubers. If idols in the MV were replaced with corporeal humans, this would be a live-action MV, which is clearly not anime. Similar to the general VTuber rule, this is an example of essentially "recording a selfie as themselves", only in song rather than as a vlog.
<u>Example 1:</u> '''ShinySmilyStory''' by ''hololive ホロライブ - VTuber Group'' ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrsGNMMghKM YouTube link]) is a VTuber MV which meets the animation rule and the professionally produced rule, given that the video is produced by ''hololive'', a large corporation. However, the MV self-promotes a song created by ''hololive'' for its roster of VTubers. If idols in the MV were replaced with corporeal humans, this would be a live-action MV, which is clearly not anime. Similar to the general VTuber rule, this is an example of essentially "recording a selfie as themselves", only in song rather than as a vlog.


====Fan-Made Shows/Amateur productions (doujin anime)?====
====Doujin anime: fan-made shows/amateur productions?====
Doujin anime are not professionally produced, so generally they are not allowed. However some of them can be of very high quality and even have professional voice actors, in which case we have accepted them.
Doujin anime are not professionally produced, so generally they are not allowed. However some of them can be of very high quality and even have professional voice actors, in which case we have accepted them.


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:''Examples: {{a|5057|Superflat Monogram}}, {{a|9504|Next A-Class}}, {{a|10907|Fastening Days}}'', {{a|9029|Haru wa Kuru}}''
:''Examples: {{a|5057|Superflat Monogram}}, {{a|9504|Next A-Class}}, {{a|10907|Fastening Days}}'', {{a|9029|Haru wa Kuru}}''


====Live Action?====
====Live action?====
Where is the key requirement, "animation", hiding in this phrase? Are you mad? If there are some live action scenes that are incorporated into an anime that otherwise meets the requirements and when looked at as a whole they can still be considered animated, they may be anime (although this may be extremely unwise, common sense not ruling around here, as it's the first step on the sort of slippery slope we're already experiencing in country of origin), and certain official "live action" extras such as interviews are permitted. For stop motion animation, see the next paragraph.
Where is the key requirement, "animation", hiding in this phrase? Are you mad? If there are some live action scenes that are incorporated into an anime that otherwise meets the requirements and when looked at as a whole they can still be considered animated, they may be anime (although this may be extremely unwise, common sense not ruling around here, as it's the first step on the sort of slippery slope we're already experiencing in country of origin), and certain official "live action" extras such as interviews are permitted. For stop motion animation, see the next paragraph.


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Not as separate anime entries. Disk-only specials should be added as special episodes to an existing anime.
Not as separate anime entries. Disk-only specials should be added as special episodes to an existing anime.


====Parody Subs/Dubs?====
====Other fan-made content====
Not as anime entries. These are sometimes allowed as "Parody" episodes (P eps) to an existing anime.
=====-- Parody Subs/Dubs?=====
Not as anime entries. These are sometimes allowed as "Parody" episodes (P eps) to an existing anime; please check with a moderator.
 
=====-- Fan made re-cuts?=====
Not as anime entries. These are sometimes allowed as "Parody" episodes (P eps) to an existing anime, but only on an exception basis as approved by a moderator.


===Specific Cases===
===Specific Cases===
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'''No'''
'''No'''
{{Quote|Der Idiot|American production for the American market.|3=[http://forum.anidb.net/viewtopic.php?t=3639 link]}}
{{Quote|Der Idiot|American production for the American market.|3=[http://forum.anidb.net/viewtopic.php?t=3639 link]}}
{{h4|Pacific Rim: The Black}}
----
'''No'''
{{Quote|CDB-Man|Paraphrasing nwa: Sounds like this is not anime by our definition. The production is American; Japan's role (Polygon Pictures) is in animation, and Japan is not credited with production control.|3=[https://anidb.net/admin/creq/14006217 link]}}


==Anime <x> is (not) listed as anime on anime site <y>!==
==Anime <x> is (not) listed as anime on anime site <y>!==
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