Table of Contents
Many anime adaptations aim to stay faithful to their manga counterparts, but producers often face difficulties when the manga is still ongoing. To prevent running out of content, anime studios sometimes begin production before the manga concludes. This approach can result in problems like filler episodes, abrupt endings, or alterations to the original storyline.
While newer anime often adopt the Western “season” model to manage these challenges more effectively, the issue persists. Here are a few anime examples that encountered these problems and how they dealt with them, resulting in varying fan reactions.
1. Dragon Ball
| Manga Release Date | November 20, 1984 |
| Anime Release Date | February 26, 1986 |
| Studio | Toei Animation |
The Dragon Ball series is well-known for its filler arcs and lengthy fight scenes, which have since become popular subjects for memes. However, this isn’t Akira Toriyama’s fault. Much like Naruto, these filler episodes were introduced to keep the anime running while the manga was still being developed.
In Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, fight scenes were often extended to fill time, making the anime seem significantly longer than the original manga. For a more concise and focused experience without the additional filler, new fans are encouraged to start with the manga instead.
2. Naruto
| Manga Release Date | September 21, 1999 |
| Anime Release Date | October 3, 2002 |
| Studio | Pierrot |
Long-running shonen anime often feature numerous filler arcs, and Naruto is a prime example. These filler episodes were introduced to ensure the anime could continue airing while the manga content was still being created. Fans have diverse opinions on these fillers—some appreciated the extra focus on background characters, while others preferred to skip them entirely.
At one point, Naruto had nearly 79 consecutive filler episodes, which left many viewers frustrated. Although its sequel series, Naruto Shippuden, aimed to reduce the filler, some episodes still made their way into the storyline.
3. Fullmetal Alchemist (2003)
| Manga Release Date | July 12, 2001 |
| Anime Release Date | October 4, 2003 |
| Studio | Bones |
The original Fullmetal Alchemist anime, which aired in 2003, quickly caught up with the manga and began to deviate from the original storyline halfway through. This led to a unique ending that set it apart from the manga.
In this version, some characters were altered. For example, villains like Lust were portrayed as more sympathetic in the 2003 anime than in the manga or the later, more faithful adaptation, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.
4. Soul Eater
| Manga Release Date | June 24, 2003 |
| Anime Release Date | April 7, 2008 |
| Studio | Bones |
Fans of Soul Eater may be surprised to discover that the anime’s ending differs significantly from the manga. The final battle against Kishin Asura was not part of the manga and was extended until 2013.
Starting with the anime is a great option for those looking to explore the Soul Eater universe, as it stays largely faithful to the source material with minimal filler. However, if you enjoy the anime and want deeper details, new characters, and a more complete conclusion, the manga is worth checking out.
5. Fruits Basket (2001)
| Manga Release Date | July 18, 1998 |
| Anime Release Date | July 5, 2001 |
| Studio | DEEN |
The original Fruits Basket anime by Studio DEEN gained popularity and amassed a dedicated fan base, but creator Natsuki Takaya wasn’t entirely satisfied with it. The anime concluded around volume 6 of the manga, even though the story stretched across 23 volumes.
Since the anime was produced while the manga was still ongoing, it offered a different portrayal of certain characters, particularly the main antagonist, Akito. Fortunately, fans received a more faithful adaptation in 2019, when TMS Entertainment released a new version that faithfully covers the entire manga story.
6. Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle
| Manga Release Date | May 21, 2003 |
| Anime Release Date | April 9, 2005 |
| Studio | Bee Train |
The creators CLAMP and many fans were disappointed with Bee Train’s anime adaptation of Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle. The studio introduced several filler arcs that disrupted essential rules of the CLAMP universe, such as resurrecting characters, and the final arc was entirely original. The anime also toned down the darker themes and skipped crucial story arcs.
Due to these issues, CLAMP ended its collaboration with Bee Train and handed the rights over to Production I.G for a more faithful OVA adaptation. Many fans recommend skipping the anime and opting for the manga to experience the complete and accurate story.
7. Chrono Crusade
| Manga Release Date | December 9, 1998 |
| Anime Release Date | November 25, 2003 |
| Studio | Gonzo |
Chrono Crusade, created by Daisuke Moriyama, saw its anime and manga conclude around the same time. However, since Moriyama wasn’t directly involved in the anime’s production, the final arc took a different direction. This divergence impacted the characters’ personalities, religious themes, and the overall climax.
As a result, anime and manga are regarded as distinct works, each exploring similar themes but in contrasting ways. Fans remain divided, with strong opinions on both versions, making it a topic of much debate.
8. Trigun
| Manga Release Date | April 22, 1995 |
| Anime Release Date | April 1, 1998 |
| Studio | Madhouse |
The Trigun anime largely follows the manga, but due to the unexpected shutdown of the magazine publishing the original manga, it had to take a different path. Creator Yasuhiro Nightow continued the story in a new magazine called Trigun Maximum.
By the time the anime was in production, the manga had only reached its third volume, which caused the anime to quickly catch up with the source material and create its ending. Trigun Maximum ran for nine more years after the anime concluded, making the manga a great option for fans who want to delve deeper into the lore and character development.
9. Black Butler
| Manga Release Date | September 16, 2006 |
| Anime Release Date | October 2, 2008 |
| Studio | A1 Pictures |
In the original Black Butler anime, the first nine episodes closely follow the manga, but the rest of the series—both in the first and second seasons—takes a completely original direction. The first season adapts only the initial two arcs: the Red Butler arc and the Indian Butler arc.
While some characters, such as Elizabeth Midford, Undertaker, and Grelle Sutcliffe, were portrayed differently, the first season was generally well-received and built a dedicated fanbase. However, season 2 didn’t receive the same positive reception. Thankfully, later adaptations like Black Butler: Book of Circus, Black Butler: Book of Murder, and Black Butler: Book of Atlantic are much more faithful to the original manga.
10. Elfen Lied
| Manga Release Date | June 6, 2002 |
| Anime Release Date | July 25, 2004 |
| Studio | ARMS |
The anime adaptation of Lynn Okamoto’s dark and intense manga series concluded before the manga was finished. Due to budget limitations, studio ARMS had to condense the 113-chapter series into just 13 episodes. This led to a different ending, leaving the fates of Lucy and the Research Institute’s General Director Kurama unresolved.
In 2019, Dark Horse released an official English translation of the manga, fifteen years after the anime’s debut. As a result, international fans had to wait a long time to experience the complete story of Lucy and the Diclonii.
Conclusion
Anime adaptations often encounter the issue of catching up to ongoing manga series, prompting creative solutions to fill the gap in source material. These solutions may include adding filler episodes, diverging from the original plot, or crafting original endings, leading to unique experiences that differ from the manga.
While some fans enjoy these creative spins and the additional content, others prefer the original manga’s pacing and storyline. Despite the variations, each adaptation brings its flavour and interpretation of the source material. For those interested in a more complete experience, exploring both the anime and manga can offer a deeper understanding and greater appreciation of the series.
