10 Epic Manga That Transformed into Must-Watch Anime

Mangaka typically have minimal involvement in the production of their anime adaptations, but there have been a few exceptional cases where they played a significant role. Normally, the original mangaka has little influence in the overall production of the anime, aside from minor contributions. Hiromu Arakawa, the creator of Fullmetal Alchemist, for instance, allowed Bones to deviate from the manga in the initial adaptation. It is not uncommon for mangaka to design original characters for movies and filler arcs. However, it is uncommon for a creator to be extensively involved in the creation of their anime. Although rare, there have been instances where the mangaka has contributed to the production of their anime. In each case, the original manga creators have played a role in some capacity, whether it be scriptwriting or having a significant hand in the overall production. This level of involvement, though varying among creators, undoubtedly enhanced the quality of each anime.

10 Takehiko Inoue - Slam Dunk

9 Katsuhiro Otomo - Akira

One noteworthy instance of a mangaka who contributed considerably to the production of their own anime adaptation is the relatively recent case of Slam Dunk by Takehiko Inoue. Many years after the completion of the manga, Inoue returned to the franchise to oversee the creation and direction of its new feature film, The First Slam Dunk. Not only did this film finally bring the manga's narrative to life on screen, but it did so with an exceptional artistic flair that distinguished it as one of the finest releases of that year. Inoue, already established as a prominent figure in the world of manga, clearly demonstrated the full extent of his talent and skill as a director through his work on The First Slam Dunk.

Katsuhiro Otomo, another mangaka, is renowned for his contribution to the creation of the iconic 80s film Akira. Interestingly, Otomo not only authored the original manga but also directed its theatrical adaptation. Despite the manga being incomplete at the time, Otomo successfully crafted a movie with a captivating narrative and visually stunning elements that continue to be revered even after three decades. Excitingly, there are reports of Otomo collaborating with Sunrise on a new Akira anime. If his involvement in the anime matches his level of dedication to the film, we can anticipate an equally, if not more, remarkable production.

8 Cardcaptor Sakura - CLAMP

CLAMP, a prominent name in the world of manga, has made significant contributions to the adaptation of their various manga series, most notably Cardcaptor Sakura. Nanase Ohkawa, the head writer and leader of CLAMP, played a pivotal role in the anime adaptation by writing an impressive 53 out of the total 70 episodes. Additionally, Mokona, the main artist, contributed to the anime's success by designing exclusive outfits and creating the captivating Clow Cards. Ohkawa's involvement continued in the sequel, Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, where she brilliantly penned every single episode. This noteworthy contribution is set to continue in the recently-announced season 2. Undeniably, Cardcaptor Sakura stands as an iconic anime, largely attributed to the immense involvement of CLAMP.

7 Shoji Gatoh - Full Metal Panic!

While Shoji Gatoh played no significant role in the creation of the original Full Metal Panic! anime, his involvement in the subsequent works is noteworthy. Gatoh wrote the spinoff series Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu, which took the lighthearted side stories of the light novel and transformed them into an amusing parody. The series also holds significance as Kyoto Animation's inaugural anime production. Additionally, Gatoh penned seasons 2 and 3, both of which adhere more closely to the canonical storyline. Regardless of the content, each show that Gatoh was associated with showcased a meticulous attention to detail, undoubtedly a testament to his exceptional writing skills.

6 Hayao Miyazaki - Nausicaä Of The Valley Of The Wind

Hayao Miyazaki's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, a renowned Studio Ghibli film, is actually based on a manga that Miyazaki himself created. Despite having only 16 chapters at the time of the film's production, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind had to eliminate a significant amount of content from the manga and reframe many of Miyazaki's ideas. One notable example is how the Giant Warrior was used. Nonetheless, the film remains incredibly impactful even to this day. The fact that it achieved such success with limited source material is a true testament to Miyazaki's remarkable abilities.

5 Kazuki Takahashi - Yu-Gi-Oh!

In addition to the original manga, Kazuki Takahashi had a deep involvement in Yu-Gi-Oh! across various mediums, including the anime. In celebration of the manga's 20th anniversary, Takahashi penned Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions, a cinematic masterpiece that seamlessly continued the storyline from the original manga. This film provided a much-needed conclusion to the character arcs of Yugi and Kaiba, and served as an exceptional epilogue to the manga. Tragically, this was Takahashi's final contribution to the Yu-Gi-Oh! universe before his passing in 2022. It is truly remarkable that he was able to make such a grand return to Yu-Gi-Oh! in such a significant way prior to his untimely demise.

4 Tite Kubo - Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War

3 Masashi Kishimoto - Naruto

The news that the Bleach anime would finally conclude with Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War was met with considerable excitement, largely due to the involvement of Tite Kubo. Kubo, who has complete supervision over the production of Thousand-Year Blood War, ensured that the anime includes elements that were previously omitted from the original manga, such as Unohana and Shinji's Bankai, as well as a deeper exploration of the Soul King's mythology. With Kubo overseeing the project, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War presents the ultimate way to experience the final arc of the series, which has been embraced by both fans and critics alike.

While the Naruto manga concluded in 2014, Masashi Kishimoto continues to actively participate in the anime side of the franchise. Shortly after the manga's conclusion, Kishimoto personally penned The Last: Naruto the Movie, providing an epilogue for the series. A year later, he wrote Boruto: Naruto the Movie, the sequel to Naruto, which would later serve as the foundation for Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. Although the later stages of Naruto and beyond have faced criticism, it is commendable that Kishimoto has extended his involvement across various aspects of the franchise.

2 Eiichiro Oda - One Piece

Eiichiro Oda, the renowned mangaka behind the iconic manga series One Piece, not only created the narrative but has also actively contributed to the franchise since 2009. Oda's involvement extends to the production of each new One Piece film, where he serves as an executive producer for films like One Piece Film: Z and One Piece Film: Gold. In addition, he played a key role in shaping the storyline of One Piece Film: Red and even wrote the script for One Piece Film: Strong World. Oda's dedication to maintaining the essence of the original manga has consistently resulted in these films being rated among the best in the series. Given this track record, it is highly anticipated that future One Piece films will continue to captivate audiences with their seamless portrayal of the manga's spirit.

1 Akira Toriyama - Dragon Ball

Akira Toriyama, the mangaka behind the legendary manga Dragon Ball, stands as the most recent example of a creator actively contributing to the anime adaptation of their work. Dissatisfied with the critical and commercial flop of Dragonball Evolution, Toriyama made a triumphant return to the franchise with Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods. His deep involvement led to the continuation of the series with Dragon Ball Super, during which he even penned two additional movies: Dragon Ball Super: Broly and Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. Over the past decade, the animated content of Dragon Ball has flourished, and none of this would have been possible without Toriyama's involvement.

A strong staff is crucial for creating an exceptional anime, and as demonstrated by the examples provided, having the original manga creator involved often leads to success. Whether through general supervision or full participation in the production process, every anime mentioned here had the original manga creator on board. This ensured that the high-quality work that made their manga successful was successfully translated into the anime adaptation. While it is not necessary for the creator of the original manga to be involved for an anime to succeed, the fact that many of them were is certainly noteworthy.