I was once explaining to a friend how amazing a certain anime was and how i'd watched the series like 8 times or so (I lose count). My friend responded by saying the anime was only good because the manga was good. I had already read the manga and was not very impressed by it, but I didn't argue the point because II knew the discussion would go no where. These are two different mediums both with their own pros and cons.
However, as I wander around online I see this issue coming up frequently. I hear a lot of people saying that an anime simply can't surpass it's manga counterpart. I obviously believe this to be false, but that's just me.
Considering anime and manga are essentially telling the same story , more or less frame for frame, I believe there can quite reasonably be a direct comparison between the two. Which medium do you think is superior?


What I really want to ask is whether or not a movie can be better than the book it originates from. I too often hear people summarily dismiss this issue without stopping to consider it. The main thing here is is that a movie takes ~2hrs while a book is read over a much more substantial length of time. But movies of course have both sound and visual, which are clear points in its favor for me. Books, however, give a lot more behind-the-scenes, which might be its main advantage. Suggestions? Opinions?

The manga is usually going to be better than the anime, usually because studios have this tendency to pick up a manga that's unfinished and then change the story bacause of lack of source material. I've only seen this work out reasonably well one time with the original FMA and people still bitched about it at the time. If the manga and the anime are both exactly the same, like no variation at all, then I'd probably say the anime is a better choice if it's animated well, or the soundtrack is good or something, otherwise it doesn't really matter which one you go for.

How the story goes in a manga solely depends on the author. How the story goes in an anime depends on a lot of factors, mainly the budget. If the manga's story line is ridiculously long, the anime will have to cut out some "Unnecessary" details that was in a manga in order for them to create, say, a 12 episode series. When the sales of said series are high, they will continue and push a second season. Anime portrays the story of a manga depending on what the Director(and among others) wants.

An example would be "Sword Art Online" in which, the Light Novel's flow of story didn't match up with that of the anime's. In fact, in the LN, the introduction of the story started some time later(Around a few chapters) compared to the anime. That's why a lot would claim that "Anime can't surpass Manga".

It's pretty much what Drone says imo, especially on

Quote from Drone

If the manga and the anime are both exactly the same, like no variation at all, then I'd probably say the anime is a better choice if it's animated well, or the soundtrack is good or something,

Quote from Drone

If the manga and the anime are both exactly the same, like no variation at all, then I'd probably say the anime is a better choice if it's animated well, or the soundtrack is good or something, otherwise it doesn't really matter which one you go for.

I dunno. Manga allows for the use of imagination, which doesn't seem so important but kinda is. I myself actually prefer manga, despite my post. Finishing a manga is more rewarding in my experience. For me it's not just a flash vs pivot kind of issue. There seem to be some more fundamental differences that separate the experience of reading the manga vs the anime.

Personally, I tend to prefer manga, for the simple fact that it's more on my schedule, and convenient. With anime, you have a set amount of time it will last, moving at its own pace, and when you have the time for it, yeah, it's awesome. But when you have a hectic or constantly changing schedule, then reading manga at your own pace is much betters and a lot easier since there are more reading mobile sites than video viewing mobile sites (because phones are assholes).

That said, I also doubt you'll find animated versions of most manhwas and manhuas.

Lol, mobile sites
smells like an apple user :)

Quote from Drone

Lol, mobile sites
smells like an apple user :)

Android. I'm not one to buy the latest iPhone every 4-6 months.

Quote from Azure Kite

Android. I'm not one to buy the latest iPhone every 4-6 months.

Androids are compatable with almost every video player, you don't need to use mobile sites to watch anime on an android

idk maybe he has slow internet like me which cant load videos for shit.

I have an old phone. :P It's pre-Nexus.

Definitely manga. Drone pretty much explained why you'd choose a manga over the anime (most of the times).

Quote from 420Ace Drake

Definitely manga. Drone pretty much explained why you'd choose a manga over the anime (most of the times).

Actually, to be fair, his post was about manga that has anime adaptations. There are anime with manga adaptations, and standalones in both categories, which his post doesn't account for.

That said, I'm still for manga.

I appreciate the author's original vision enough to read manga, but let's be frank and say that sometimes the anime just does it better. Sometimes the anime can explain something the manga cant and vice versa. So as to the factor of adaptation, I'd say its pretty fair down the middle.

I have a few friends who prefer anime over manga since anime can illicit more emotion for them. Say action anime like FT or AoT.

I like both though.