I have a couple TV series where I have both the NA and Jap version (Ex: Transformers Energon and Transformers Super Link).
Plex is sorting both of these series into the same show (the English language show, Transformers Energon)… This would be fine if I could define one of the directories as one language and the other as a different language, but this is not the case. Same with Transformers Cybertron and Transformers Galaxy Force (which these two shows, when translated into Engliash WAS changed into a different show - forcing Cybertron into the Unicron Trilogy, where Galaxy Force is a stand alone series, not associated with Micron Legend or Super Link).
But other series, it is not combining, IE: Transformers Armada and Transformers Micron Legend (or Legends of the Microns depending on how you translate it).
Is there a way to separate or combine the series? Or Mark one of them as a different language?
F:\TV\Transformers Armada
F:\TV\Transformers Cybertron
F:\TV\Transformers Energon
F:\TV\Transformers Galaxy Force
F:\TV\Transformers Micron Legend
F:\TV\Transformers Super Link
With many Anime, in Japan they call new seasons of an existing anime by a different title.
If it makes sense, TheTVDB usually does merge those back into the original TV series, only as a new ‘season’. Sometimes it goes back and forth for a while, with duplicate shows being created and erased again (this is a user-generated database after all) until a consensus is reached or an admin makes a decision.
So with all tv shows, but with Anime in particular:
Take the title as it is used on TheTVDB. If there is something in parentheses, take that too. If the title contains invalid characters (depends on your file system), like § : % *, simply leave them out.
Check the naming and the folder structure of your show. Name the top folder of the show exactly after the title on TheTVDB. No abbreviations. No additional subfolders. No aliases. Add the (year) in parentheses of when episode 1 of season 1 of this show was aired.
Name the episode files according to the above linked naming guide. Use the same title as for the top folder. Show's Title (year) - s01e01 - additional info.ext (’- additional info’ can be left out)
After you corrected the naming and folder structure, perform the Plex Dance with all files for this show.
I know they are all TV shows. I want them to show as TV shows. CORRECTLY!!
These Japanese shows do NOT have an entry on TVDB.
These English shows do.
I have BOTH versions and Plex is mixing some them together.
I do not what them mixed. (Unless there is a way to mark one English and one Japanese). As it is now, it is difficult to select which one I want.
EDIT - To clarify. The shows that are getting mixed, are mixed correctly in that Plex is matching the correct English to Japanese shows and episodes. The problem is, when you play the episode, it automatically plays one of the files (sometimes English and sometimes Japanese). After it starts playing the file, it only gives you audio and subtitle options from the file it is playing. When you select the individual file, it only gives you the video quality as a selection (which is of no help when both files have the same video quality).
This would actually be ideal if the audio selection included both files; playing the video from the file the audio was selected from.
Put both versions of the show beside each other, where each one has the full folder structure, like so:
/ Anime
/ Anime Title [english]
/ Season 01
Anime Title - s01e01.ext
Anime Title - s01e02.ext
Anime Title - s01e03.ext
...
/ Anime Title [japanese]
/ Season 01
Anime Title - s01e01.ext
Anime Title - s01e02.ext
Anime Title - s01e03.ext
...
While Plex will initially merge both folders into one tv show after the first scan, you can Split them afterwards and edit the show titles to include the language info.
Splitting of tv shows is only possible at the highest level - i.e. the ‘show’ level. Not on the ‘season’, nor on the ‘episode’ level.
It would be easiest, if you had only one video version and the ‘language’ is only defined by different of audio tracks and (soft) subtitle tracks.
That was more along the lines of what I was looking for. Except there was no split option as described in the link…
The specific shows in question have differences in the Video and Audio. It is not just a straight translation from Japanese to English. Some of the Japanese only shows that did not have English counterpart shows; I do have .wav files for the English Dub. They sorted and playback as expected.
I ended up creating a new library and moving the files and directory structure as they existed. The new library sorted and playback as expected. I dislike having to have a separate library for foreign language stuff, but it is the only way I could get Plex to handle it properly without mixing it with something else…
As a side Note, Ive had these exact files in the exact same folder structure under SageTV, with no issues for the past decade. I expected setting up Plex to be more plug and play then it was… Sadly, that was not the case. I guess I am used to having more access to refine the library / database than I have with Plex.
The split option is only there if you are on the highest level of the TV show. If you are on the season or even on the episode level, you cannot split.
