Thread: Anime Versus Manga

I was talking with a friend at a coffee shop talking about anime and stuff. We debate anime and manga and more so which is better. Of course, in Japan, the manga is long time out before the anime ever reaches air.

However here in North Amercia, we see the anime most times before the manga. (Or the manga itself is hacked by translation.) I wonder how we would view anime if we had the manga first.

I've tried to get some manga of some shows, I'm following where it's beyond the anime and see how that affects my viewing of the anime.

I just wonder if others have done the same and what effect did knowing what happens in manga effects how you view the anime?

It's not "of course," the manga is out before the anime -- it depends on whether the anime is based on a manga or original. And for the latter, whether there even is a manga based on the show.

Whether knowing one form affects how I watch/read the other depends in part on how different the two are -- some, it can be little more in common than the premise, in which case, knowing the other doesn't really matter. If the adaptation is closer, though, those series I've seen both, I usually prefer the original format to than the adaptation, no matter which I encounter first. There's the rare case where the adaptation has improved some of the flaws of the original.

Knowing the general story from the other form, though, isn't really any different than rewatching/rereading a series. It's not like you've spoiled yourself by doing that.

If the manga and the anime follow about the same storyline and length, I usually prefer the manga. Usually mangas are better for expressions and (obviously) to focus on the most important moments (pictures).

If they are not the same, it differs. I love "Nausicaä" as manga as well as as anime, but I like the "Ah! my Goddess" manga far more than the anime.

the copy is never as good as the orignial.

an anime copied from a manga is not worth watching. (only for those who are to lazy to read). and of course vise versa a manga copied from an anime is not worth reading.
the story of a copie is inconsistant, fillers exsists, not everything is copied (some parts or small things are left out) and so on. to get the full story you have to read/watch the original.

expections exsists of course.
and sometimes the anime and manga of a series have totally different stories, which just play in the same world with the same/almost the same characters.

so a few expections exsistst

but in general its best to watch/read/play/whatever the orignial

its the same with movies/videogames/normal books and so on. the origninal is allways the best.

Anime vs manga?
Manga!!
Just cuz its smaller to download.
And also cuz..you know, sometimes when you watch an anime after you read the manga, you'll come to a point where you'll say 'why tf that character looked like that?' and 'what? I didn't know that!'. It's kind of disappointing you know..
That's why..

Originally Posted by Ferozban

the copy is never as good as the orignial.

Not "never" -- often is not, but not never. Sometimes the changes made are improvements.

I don't think it's a "manga" is always better or "anime" is always better. It depends on the series. Sometimes anime producers do a really good job translating a manga into anime, and sometimes they do a completely and utter terrible job (Hellsing, Gantz, ect.) and some just go completely away from the storyline all together that you're just like "wtf?" (Excel Saga. although, Rikdo told the producers to do whatever they wanted with it, so it's not as big a deal...and the anime is fun to watch xD But also, samurai deeper kyo or however it's spelled...the anime was so much different from the manga it's not even funny)

So, really, it depends on who makes the anime, and who makes the manga. In my opinion, I prefer to watch anime, not because I'm lazy, but because I'm often doing many things at one time (there isn't a time in my life when I'm not mutli-tasking) and it's way easier to multi-task to anime then it is to manga. But, when I just want to sit back and relax, reading manga is a lot easier.

so I guess it has to do with what you're doing at the time as well, and what you're in the mood for. I think both anime and manga have their winning moments, and their failings ones, so I can't just say one is better then the other.

I agree with pseudo with the part that manga doesn't always comes in first. there are series like Evangelion, Gundam G, Ryvius etc. where they made the anime first then the manga.

As per which one is better. It depends on the series. It doesn't matter which one came out first. If they are good theyre good. For an example. Ryvius. I like the anime and the manga came out later but because it was so brief compared to the anime. I like the anime better. Another one is Evangelion. Same thing for Ryvius. Anime first then manga but I like the manga better compared to the anime. It just really depends on the series and the person who is watching/reading it.

Originally Posted by shinigamewhistle

some just go completely away from the storyline all together that you're just like "wtf?" (Excel Saga. although, Rikdo told the producers to do whatever they wanted with it, so it's not as big a deal...and the anime is fun to watch xD But also, samurai deeper kyo or however it's spelled...the anime was so much different from the manga it's not even funny)

LOL! yeah this is so true! Reminds me of Nadesico. The manga came out first but when it got animated the story and character designed went on a completely way. (I liked the anime better XD). At Excel Sagaa case. I prefer the manga as it actually has a story compared to the anime but nevertheless it was fun to watch.

I haven't actually read more then one or two volumes of the Excel Saga manga, but I do prefer it as well for the story. But since the anime and manga of the two are so different, I think my brain associates them as completely different series, even if they have the same name, so it's kinda hard to really say which is better xD Specially since the original creator of the manga actually gave the full okay (and probably even helped with some planning) on how different the anime is. So, that makes it kinda interesting.

Keep reading it. It gets a LOT better later. spoilers (kinda) when Elgala shows up. Things gets a lot better. Hyatt is nice as a duo for Excel but she drops dead most of the time so she doesn't do much but having El as her comical duo is a lot more fun! XD. I think I'm up to Volume 16 or something (not sure) but I'm at the part that the story is starting to make more sense. More character developments is introduce and less comical relief but it's still overall good! This is one of the series that I'm buying and collecting.