Mangabaka Data Policy & Submission Criteria
# Titles Traits ## Primary Title We prefer only official licensed titles. A title is chosen as primary per language. If you are unsure whether an title is correct, verify that it matches the title used by an official publisher (e.g., Viz Media, Yen Press, Seven Seas, Norma Editorial, Tokyo Pop, etc.). If no official licensed version exists, leave it without traits. > **Note:** Fan translations or scanlation titles are accepted without traits. Always prioritize the title from the official license holder or native when available. ## Romanized Title The romanized version of the original title for works originating from Japanese, Chinese, or Korean. This is used to make the title readable for non-native speakers. ### Mangabaka Romanization Rules Romanization must follow the Mangabaka Romanization Guides: - [Japanese (Hepburn, modified)](https://mangabaka.org/pages/2) - [Korean (Revised Romanization)](https://mangabaka.org/pages/3) WIP - [Chinese (Pinyin)](https://mangabaka.org/pages/4) WIP > **Note:** If the publisher's native romanization appears on the cover, it has to be added with the "alternative" trait, since publishers do not always follow a consistent standard among themselves. ## Native Title The original title in Japanese, Chinese, Korean, or English always with as primary title. Note that some Asian-origin works may have English as their native title (e.g., webtoons originally published with an English title by the creator). > **Note:** Do not use fan translations or romanizations here. If the work was originally published with an English title, that English title is considered the original and should be used here. Always verify the native source. --- # Descriptions ## Official Preferred descriptions are those from official English sources. The source must be mentioned at the end of each description. - Source: Publisher ## Translated If an official description is not available, a translation from the native publisher or official platform will be preferred. The source must be mentioned at the end of each description, followed by a comma and "translated". - Source: Publisher name, translated ## Original We do not allow original descriptions written by fans or taken from scanlations, except in the following case: When you translate two or more native descriptions and combine them into a single original description. In this case, "edited" should be added at the end. - Source: Publisher Name, Publisher Name 2, Edited > **Note:** The goal is to maintain accuracy and traceability. Always prioritize official or translatable sources over fan-written content. --- # Metadata ## Media Type - **Manga:** Comics originally published in Japan (Japanese language / Japanese publishers). - **Manhwa:** Comics originally published in South Korea (Korean language / Korean publishers). - **Manhua:** Comics originally published in China, Taiwan, or Hong Kong (Chinese language / Chinese publishers). - **Novel:** Includes both traditional novels and light novels. Typically text-focused, may include illustrations. - **OEL:** Comics published in Original English Language (or first released in English). This category also serves as a blanket term for Western works created in the style of manga, regardless of language. Variants include: Comics from Europe, Latin America, or other regions that follow manga aesthetics. - **Other:** Used for non-standard publications such as artbooks, illustration collections, fanbooks, or hybrid works that don't fit the above categories. > **Notes:** > - Media type is determined by the country of origin and original language of publication, not by the creator's ethnicity. > - For Novel, OEL, and Other, there is currently no distinction based on country of origin or original language. These categories are used broadly regardless of where the work was published. > - While OEL technically stands for "Original English Language," it is commonly used as an umbrella term for all non-Asian manga-style works until more specific language-based distinctions become necessary. ## Content Rating - **Safe:** Clean content, suitable for all ages. No sexual themes, nudity, or suggestive elements. Focuses purely on storytelling. - **Suggestive:** Equivalent to "ecchi". May include partial nudity (e.g., topless characters, underwear) without explicit sexual context. Features mild innuendo or teasing situations, often playful or fanservice-oriented. - **Erotica:** Centers on sexual themes and intimacy with artistic or narrative intent, but not in an explicit way. May depict nudity or sexual situations, but genitals are not depicted. Focus is on mood, tension, or sensuality rather than explicit acts. - **Pornographic:** Explicit sexual content intended primarily for arousal. Includes the depiction of genitalia, sexual acts, or fluids — even if censored (e.g., mosaic bars, light flares, steam, or other masking techniques). Censorship does not change the rating. > **Note:** Any visible or implied genitalia, regardless of censorship, automatically classifies the content as Pornographic. ## Status Indicates the serialization status of the work, not the translation progress. - **Ongoing:** The series is still being published. - **Complete:** The series has finished publication. - **Hiatus:** The series is on a break. Use only if an official announcement has been made. - **Cancelled:** The series has been officially discontinued. Use only if confirmed by the publisher or author. > **Note:** Do not guess or assume based on lack of new chapters. If no official announcement regarding hiatus or cancellation exists, the work should be treated as **Complete** if it has ended, or **Ongoing** if publication is still expected to continue. ## English License Determines whether a work has been officially licensed and translated by an English-language publisher. Select **YES** if an official English title exists (e.g., published by Viz Media, Yen Press, Seven Seas, etc.). Select **NO** if the work has only fan translations, scanlations or no English release. > **Note:** The presence of an official English title indicates a license exists. If only the original title is available with no official English version, leave as NO. ## Anime Status Indicates whether a work has an official anime adaptation. Select **YES** if an anime exists (TV series, OVA, movie, etc.). Otherwise, select **NO**. > **Note:** This refers only to animated adaptations. Promotional videos (PVs) or motion comics do not count. ## Volume Count The volume count must match the first released edition in the original language. This refers to the physical or digital compiled volumes (tankobon, single volumes, etc.) as officially published. - **Seasons:** Manhwa/Manhua seasons are not counted as volumes, as they are serialized formats. Seasons may later be compiled into physical volumes if the series gains enough popularity. - If a series is released directly in volumes without prior seasonal serialization, those volumes are the primary reference. - **Doujinshi:** Doujinshi released as standalone issues (e.g., 30–60 page booklets) are not treated as volumes — they are considered chapters. A volume counter is only added if the doujinshi receives a compiled volume release or a "soushuuhen" (総集編) compilation edition. > **Note:** Digital-only volumes that mirror the physical release (e.g., ebook versions) are considered valid. ## Chapter Count The chapter count must match the total from the first serialization. Subsequent chapters outside this range are treated as "extra chapters." ### Extra Chapters - **New Content:** New chapters included in the compiled volume edition or re-editions. - **Side Stories:** Included in the count only if they are part of the same serialization and were not released in a period after the series ended, or under a separate serialization with a different title. - **Afterwords / Oneshots:** Excluded from the chapter count. This refers to oneshots and afterwords compiled in volumes (e.g., pilot chapters, author commentary, oneshots from other series, bonus illustrations). - **Omakes / Bangaihen:** Included if they are part of the collected volumes. - **Split chapters:** Counted as a single chapter. > **Note:** Extra chapters are currently counted in the main total until they can be properly separated in the future. ## Published Year The year specified must be the first serialization date of the work. ### Examples - The release date of the magazine or web platform where the work was first serialized. - If the work was published directly as a book without prior serialization, use the release date of the first volume. - If a series began serialization in a magazine in December 2020, use **2020**, not the volume release date from 2021. > **Note:** A future update will expand this field to support full dates (month, day, and year) for greater precision. ## Standalone A standalone series is one that exists only on Mangabaka, meaning it has no associated IDs from external trackers or databases (e.g., MAL, Anilist, Baka-Updates). ### Examples This is useful in three main scenarios: - When a series has been removed from other platforms but is still hosted here. - When new or niche works appear that haven't yet been listed in any external database. - To fill gaps and preserve content that falls outside the coverage of other trackers. > **Notes:** > - Standalone entries require manual metadata management since automatic syncing with external databases is not possible. > - Only use Standalone when necessary. If an external ID exists now or becomes available later, it should be added to replace the Standalone status. ## Override Auto ID Use this toggle to manually override the automatic ID assignment when the system links to the wrong external entry. ### Examples - **Same title, different author:** When multiple works share the same title but are by different creators. - **Same work, different format:** When a series exists in multiple formats (e.g., manga, doujinshi, novel) and the system picks the wrong one. - **Ambiguous or generic titles:** Titles that could match several unrelated entries in external databases. - **ID mismatch:** When the system assigns an ID that does not correspond to the actual work, even if the title appears similar. > **Note:** > - This toggle gives you manual control to ensure the correct metadata is attached, especially when auto-detection fails due to naming conflicts or incorrect matches. > - If you override an ID, make sure to verify the correct external entry manually before saving. --- # External Source Identifiers Use these fields to link the series to its corresponding entries in external databases. Each source requires a specific ID format — slugs or full URLs should not be used unless specified. Priority indicates the order in which sources are used for metadata fetching (e.g., synopsis, cover images, titles). Higher priority sources are preferred when available. - Anilist **Priority: #1 — Primary source for metadata.** Use only the numeric ID, not the slug. > **Note:** The numeric ID appears in the URL (e.g., `anilist.co/anime/12345` — use `12345`). - Manga-Updates **Priority: #2 — Secondary source for metadata.** Use only the new alphanumeric ID. The old numeric ID format is not supported. > **Tip:** The new ID appears in the URL after `series/` (e.g., `mangaupdates.com/series/abcdef12345` — use `abcdef12345`). - MyAnimeList **Priority: #3 — Tertiary source for metadata.** Use only the numeric ID, not the slug. > **Tip:** The numeric ID appears in the URL (e.g., `myanimelist.net/anime/12345` — use `12345`). - Kitsu **Priority: #4 — Quaternary source for metadata.** Use only the numeric ID, not the slug. > **Tip:** To obtain the ID, open the cover image URL — the numeric ID will be embedded in the image path. - Anime-Planet **Priority: #5 — Lower priority source for metadata.** Use only the slug. > **Tip:** The slug is the part after `manga/` (e.g., `anime-planet.com/anime/title-name` — use `title-name`). - Anime News Network **Priority: Reference only — not used for metadata.** Use only the numeric ID. > **Tip:** The numeric ID appears in the URL (e.g., `animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=12345` — use `12345`). - Shikimori **Priority: Reference only — not used for metadata.** Uses the same ID as MyAnimeList (1:1 mirror). > **Tip:** Do not add a different ID if the MAL ID is already present. - Wiki Data **Priority: Reference only — not used for metadata.** Use the alphanumeric ID (starts with Q, e.g., Q12345). > **Tip:** Do not use the Wikipedia page title or URL — only the Wiki Data entity ID is valid. **Notes:** > - All external ID fields are optional but encouraged for cross-referencing and metadata enrichment. > - Metadata fetching follows the priority order: Anilist > Manga-Updates > MyAnimeList > Kitsu > Anime-Planet. Sources marked as "reference only" are not used for automatic metadata population. # Publishers WIP # Links WIP # Covers WIP # Tags WIP # Publications: Works and Collections WIP