Why is anime a top level category like movies and tv shows?

Isn't it more of a genre? There are anime films and anime series which are nominally movies and tv shows, respectively.

That’s a great question, and it’s one that often sparks debate among media trackers and fans alike. While anime can be considered a style or genre within TV shows and movies, it’s often treated as a separate top-level category for practical and cultural reasons. Here’s why:

1. Distinct Cultural and Industry Classification

Anime, as a medium, is largely produced in Japan and follows its own industry structure, separate from Western TV and movie production. It has unique storytelling conventions, visual styles, and distribution models. Many anime series are seasonal, following Japan’s TV seasons rather than the traditional Western network format. There’s also a difference in episode length, structure, and even the way shows are categorized (e.g., OVA, ONA, specials).

2. Different Fanbase and Consumption Habits

Anime has a highly dedicated and specific fan culture that differs from general movie or TV audiences. Fans often track anime differently than they do Western shows—paying attention to sub vs. dub, seasonal releases, and simulcasts. Because of this, anime communities (like Simkl, MyAnimeList, AniList, Kitsu) have developed their own tracking systems distinct from traditional TV/movie trackers.

3. Hybrid Format – Neither Purely TV Shows nor Movies

Anime exists in a mix of formats:

• TV series (e.g., Attack on Titan, One Piece)

• Movies (e.g., Your Name, Spirited Away)

• OVAs (Original Video Animation) – direct-to-video content

• ONAs (Original Net Animation) – anime made for streaming

• Specials – extra episodes not aired in the main series

• Compilations & Recaps – movie adaptations of TV series

Many of these don’t fit neatly into standard "TV show" or "movie" categories, so keeping anime separate helps avoid confusion.

4. Different Metadata and Organization

Tracking anime involves different metadata than traditional TV shows and films. For example:

• Episode numbering in anime can be complex (e.g., OVAs sometimes count as extra episodes of a series, but not always).

• Seasonal vs. continuous anime affects how episodes are logged.

• Multiple versions exist (e.g., censored vs. uncensored releases, remasters, etc.).

• Fans often track airing seasons separately from ongoing series (e.g., My Hero Academia Season 6 is often treated as its own entry, unlike Game of Thrones, which keeps all seasons under one entry).

5. Consistency Across Tracking Platforms

Because anime tracking services like MyAnimeList (MAL) and AniList treat anime as a separate category, other media trackers (like Simkl) follow suit to maintain compatibility. Since many users import data from MAL/AniList, keeping anime as its own category ensures better syncing and metadata organization.

6. Helps with Filtering and Discovery

By treating anime as a top-level category, users can more easily:

• Filter recommendations separately from Western TV/movies.

• Exclude or include anime in watchlists based on preference.

• Find specialized content (like OVAs or seasonal anime) that wouldn’t fit well in a traditional TV/movie framework.

This is why I like it that way, especially keeping them separate for recommendation reasons

While it’s true that anime contains both TV series and movies, its unique industry structure, fan engagement, tracking needs, and metadata complexity justify treating it as a separate category. This approach isn’t perfect, but it makes anime easier to track and organize—especially for dedicated fans who watch both episodic series and films within the anime medium.