10 Anime That Surpassed the Manga

Article Key Points

Anime adaptations of manga often face the challenge of catching up to the ongoing source material, resulting in fillers, divergences, or awkward endings.

Studios faced budget constraints or made creative decisions, leading to the need to condense or alter the original storyline, as seen in works like Elfen Lied and Black Butler.

The fan community is often split between those who favor the loyal adaptations of the manga and those who appreciate the distinct perspectives presented in the anime.

Most anime adaptations of manga strive to stay true to the original source material. However, there have been instances in the past and present where producers have caught up to an ongoing manga series too quickly, leaving them with a shortage of content to adapt. To address this issue, producers have resorted to tactics such as incorporating filler episodes, elongating the story, ending the series abruptly, or deviating entirely from the original plotline. Although newer anime series have adopted the Western 'seasons' approach, this problem still persists. The following examples highlight a few shows that have tackled this issue in various ways, eliciting mixed responses from viewers.

10. Elfen Lied

The anime adaptation of Lynn Okamoto's highly provocative manga series was prematurely concluded while the manga itself was still ongoing. Due to insufficient financial resources, studio ARMS was compelled to condense the extensive 113-chapter series into a mere 13 episodes. As expected, the anime concludes in a notably contrasting manner to the manga, leaving several aspects open-ended, particularly concerning the fates of Lucy and the Research Institute's General Director, Kurama.

9. Black Butler

In 2019, Dark Horse finally released an official English translation of the manga, which came fifteen years after the anime. This meant that fans from around the world had to patiently await the complete story of Lucy and the Diclonii.

The original Black Butler anime series adapted the first nine episodes directly from the manga, while the remaining episodes of the first season and the entirety of the second season were original. The first season focused on the Red Butler arc and the Indian Butler arc.

Although there were some changes to certain characters, such as Elizabeth Midford, Undertaker, and Grelle Sutcliffe, the first season was well-received and garnered a dedicated fanbase. However, the second season received a less favorable reception. Fortunately, subsequent adaptations like Black Butler: Book of Circus, Black Butler: Book of Murder, and Black Butler: Book of Atlantic stayed truer to the original source material.

8. Trigun

Vash The Stampede Trigun 1998 Red Coat

The Trigun anime faithfully adheres to the majority of the manga's story; however, it diverges due to the abrupt cancellation of the original series, caused by the closure of the publishing magazine. To persist with the narrative, creator Yasuhiro Nightow resumed the manga in a new magazine, renaming it Trigun Maximum.

Madhouse commenced production on the anime when the third volume of the original manga was released, resulting in a swift synchronization with the source material and a subsequent alteration in the ending. While the anime reached its conclusion, Trigun Maximum continued to be published for 9 years, offering fans of the series an opportunity to delve deeper into the lore and character development by turning to the manga.

7. Chrono Crusade

The anime and manga adaptations of Daisuke Moriyama's Chrono Crusade concluded simultaneously. However, due to Moriyama's limited involvement in the anime's production, it diverged significantly in the final arc. This divergence is particularly evident in the portrayal of certain characters' personalities, the religious symbolism, and the climax. Consequently, the anime and manga are perceived as distinct narratives, exploring similar themes from contrasting viewpoints. The fanbase remains divided when it comes to determining the superior adaptation.

6. Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle

The anime adaptation of Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle by Bee Train was met with great disappointment by both its creators, CLAMP, and many fans. In fact, the dissatisfaction with Bee Train's handling of the adaptation was so profound that CLAMP decided to cut ties with the studio. As a result, they entrusted the rights to Production I.G to create a more faithful adaptation in the form of an OVA.

Not only did Bee Train's adaptation introduce numerous filler arcs, but those arcs also violated several rules of the CLAMP-verse, such as reviving deceased characters, and the final arc was completely original. Moreover, by diluting certain darker themes and omitting crucial storylines, many fans concur that it is advisable to entirely bypass the anime adaptation and exclusively indulge in the manga.

5. Fruits Basket (2001)

Although the first Fruits Basket anime by Studio DEEN gained a significant following and had numerous fans, mangaka Natsuki Takaya felt dissatisfied with its outcome. The anime almost caught up to the manga, ending at approximately volume 6, while the manga continued for a total of 23 volumes.

Since the anime's production began while the series was still ongoing, it portrayed certain characters, particularly the main antagonist Akito, in a different light. Thankfully, fans of this beloved shojo series were treated to a faithful remake in 2019 by TMS Entertainment, which faithfully covers the entire plot of the original source material.

4. Soul Eater

Fans of this beloved shonen anime may find it intriguing to discover that the series took a different path in its conclusion compared to the original source material. The thrilling fight against the formidable 'Kishin Asura' was absent in the manga, which continued its serialization until 2013.

3. Fullmetal Alchemist (2003)

For those intrigued by the Soul Eater universe, it is highly recommended to start with the anime. It faithfully captures the essence of the story without unnecessary detours. If viewers find themselves engrossed in the anime and yearning for additional lore, fresh characters, captivating story arcs, and a more fulfilling conclusion, then delving into the manga is a must.

The 2003 adaptation of the original Fullmetal Alchemist anime diverged from the manga's ongoing storyline around the halfway mark, presenting its own conclusion. As a result, the anime only shares superficial similarities with the source material. Additionally, certain characters such as Lust were portrayed in a more sympathetic light compared to their depiction in the manga or the more faithful Brotherhood adaptation.

2. Naruto

Long-running shonen anime, such as Naruto, have gained notoriety for their lengthy filler arcs, and

is no exception to this trend. These episodes were created to maintain a consistent schedule for the anime, providing time for producers to receive additional material from the manga. Opinions regarding these deviations from the original storyline vary - some fans appreciate the increased focus on their favorite secondary characters, while others prefer to disregard the filler arcs altogether.

1. Dragon Ball

However, the series eventually faced a setback when it included nearly 79 consecutive episodes of filler, much to the disappointment of numerous fans. Naruto Shippuden, the anime that takes place after a time jump, made an effort to minimize this issue, but some filler content still persisted.

Please avoid the use of unnecessary fillers when watching the Dragon Ball franchise, as they have been excessively memed. However, it's important to note that creator Akira Toriyama cannot be blamed for the inclusion of these fillers. Much like Naruto, these episodes were created to ensure uninterrupted airing of the anime. Furthermore, the fight scenes in the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z anime were deliberately prolonged, resulting in a comparatively lengthy anime adaptation. Hence, newcomers are often recommended to opt for the manga instead, as it offers a better-paced story without any filler arcs.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have grown up watching anime and reading manga. I have seen firsthand the challenges that come with adapting an ongoing manga series into an anime. Sometimes, the anime can catch up to the manga too quickly, resulting in fillers, divergences, or awkward endings. Other times, the anime can stay too true to the manga, resulting in a lack of originality.

In my opinion, the best anime adaptations are the ones that find a balance between these two extremes. They stay true to the spirit of the manga while also making changes that are necessary for the anime format. Some of my favorite examples of this are Fullmetal Alchemist (2003), Soul Eater, and Naruto. These anime all made significant changes to the manga, but they did so in a way that enhanced the story and made it more enjoyable for anime-only fans.