Top 10 Anime Adaptions That Were Better Than the Manga

Most anime, if not all, originate from serialized manga series. Many fan favorites, such as Attack on Titan, One Piece, Bleach, and Sailor Moon, started as manga and were later adapted into anime as their popularity grew. However, manga can sometimes be more challenging to get into as a medium. This can be due to limited accessibility to certain titles, although the current popularity of manga and anime has led to an increasing number of manga being licensed in English.

Despite the growing availability of popular manga, some readers still struggle to engage with certain series due to their art styles. Older manga, in particular, may have art styles that seem outdated to modern audiences. What was once an appealing style might no longer resonate with contemporary tastes. Additionally, some art styles are better suited to animation. Even if a manga's artwork is impressive, the story may benefit from the added elements of music, voice acting, and color found in anime. For various reasons, here are some anime adaptations that surpass their manga counterparts.

10. Mob Psycho 100

Shigeo Kageyama, also known as Mob, is a seemingly ordinary student with extraordinary psychic abilities. Despite possessing immense power, Mob struggles to control it, which has become an emotional burden for him. While attempting to live a normal life as an assistant to the con artist Arataka Reigen, Mob finds it increasingly challenging to manage his abilities.

The creator of Mob Psycho 100 is also the author of the popular anime and manga series One Punch Man. However, while One Punch Man features a more detailed art style, Mob Psycho 100 adopts a simpler approach. This simplicity can make it difficult for some readers to engage with the series, even though it is as great as its predecessor. This is why Mob Psycho 100 excels as an anime; the vibrant, contrasting colors vividly depict Mob's incredible power and bring the creator's vision to life through animated effects.

9. Land of the Lustrous

Phosphophyllite, known as Phos, is a delicate gem who, unlike her harder friends, cannot fight due to her fragility. Often overlooked by her peers, Phos is given the task of creating an encyclopedia of information. She encounters Cinnabar, an outcast who cannot be near other gems due to her toxic nature, and the two form an unexpected friendship.

Land of the Lustrous is a distinctive anime, often compared by American fans to Steven Universe because of their similar themes. It's important to note that the manga's art is stunning in black and white; Haruko Ichikawa, the artist and writer, uses shading techniques that make the illustrations stand out. However, while the manga's art is impressive, the anime enhances it with vibrant colors, making the characters truly appear "lustrous."

8. Gintama

Set in the Edo period, where humanity is under attack by the Amanto, Gintoki Sakata is a freelance samurai who takes on various odd jobs. During his work, Gintoki meets Shinpachi Shimura, a samurai-in-training, and Kagura, an alien. Together, the trio starts a business called Yorozuya, where they continue to take on freelancing gigs.

The art style of the Gintama manga is quite appealing and complements the anime well, with detailed and attractive character designs. However, where the Gintama anime truly excels is in its voice acting. As a comedy, the anime's voice acting brings the characters to life and enhances the humor, solidifying the beloved comedic trio that every Gintama fan has come to adore.

7. Naruto

Naruto is an orphaned outcast who often causes trouble for those around him. Despite his mischievous behavior, he has one clear goal: to become Hokage. To achieve this, Naruto must become the greatest ninja in his village and protect humanity from emerging threats.

The Naruto manga is far from unattractive; in fact, the art style in Shippuden is often even more appealing than the anime. However, the Naruto universe is vast and heavily focused on battles, and sometimes the manga doesn't fully capture the intensity of these fights. A prime example is the Pain arc; while the art and hand-drawn scenes are stunning, the full impact is best experienced through animation. So, while the manga art is beautiful, the anime offers impressive visuals that bring the story to life for the audience.

6. InuYasha

High school student Kagome Higurashi falls into the Bone-Eater's Well and finds herself transported to the feudal era, where demons pursue her for the Shikon Jewel hidden within her body. In an effort to protect herself, she awakens the half-demon InuYasha by removing the arrow that kept him pinned to a tree. After the jewel is shattered, InuYasha and Kagome embark on a quest to collect the shards before the evil demon Naraku can.

The art style of InuYasha has a classic, old-school feel. Rumiko Takahashi continues to use this style, as seen in her ongoing manga Mao. While this artistic choice is beautifully nostalgic, some find it challenging to immerse themselves in the InuYasha universe because of its traditional look. However, the anime enhances the manga with vibrant colors and a rich soundtrack, adding depth and warmth to the love story between InuYasha and Kagome.

5. One Piece

Monkey D. Luffy is a young pirate with a dream of becoming the King of the Pirates. He sails the seas with a group of friends—Nami, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Robin, Chopper, Franky, and Brook—on a quest to find the legendary One Piece left behind by Gol D. Roger. Along the way, Luffy and his crew face numerous dangers and powerful adversaries.

One Piece is one of the longest-running manga and anime series, starting in 1997 and continuing through 2024 with 1,112 episodes and 1,100 chapters, and it is still approaching its final arc. Despite its popularity, the series is sometimes critiqued for its lengthy story and its cartoonish art style, which is particularly noticeable due to the unique powers showcased in the series. Luffy's ability to stretch and contort his body is a prime example, effectively conveyed through Eiichiro Oda's distinctive art style. While the manga captures these abilities well, the anime takes it a step further, fully showcasing the incredible powers of each devil fruit user and bringing their wild abilities to life.

4. Death Note

Light Yagami is a highly intelligent high school student who finds life dull. One day, he discovers a notebook called the Death Note, which allows him to kill anyone whose name he writes in it. He encounters the Shinigami Ryuk, who watches as Light uses the notebook to eliminate criminals and anyone who opposes his vision of a perfect world. Light becomes known as Kira, and the renowned detective L begins a pursuit to capture him.

The Death Note manga is both well-written and well-drawn, but some of its intense moments aren't fully conveyed through the medium. The anime, however, effectively amplifies these tense scenes with excellent voice acting and a gripping soundtrack, enhancing the suspense and solidifying Death Note as a top-tier crime thriller.

3. Attack on Titan

After experiencing a devastating tragedy, Eren Jaeger joins the Survey Corps with the goal of defeating the dangerous and mysterious Titans. During another attack on one of the major walls protecting humanity, Eren discovers that he has the ability to transform into a Titan himself. He must learn to control this power to aid in the fight to save humanity.

The Attack on Titan manga has a somewhat rough art style that, while it may grow on readers, isn't the most visually appealing. In contrast, the anime is visually stunning, especially in the later seasons. The series also features some of the most thrilling action scenes in anime, capturing intense moments (like Kenny vs. Levi) with exceptional skill.

2. Demon Slayer

Tanjiro Kamado is an ordinary boy whose life changes dramatically when he returns home to find his family slaughtered and his sister turned into a demon. This tragedy drives him to become a demon slayer, with the goal of defeating Muzan and restoring his sister to human form. Along the way, he forms friendships with other demon slayers and eventually rises to the rank of Hashira.

Both anime and manga fans agree that Demon Slayer is one of the most visually stunning anime series currently available. The anime employs vibrant colors to enhance specific scenes and uses more muted tones to convey somber moments, such as the whites and grays in the background when Tanjiro first discovers his murdered family. In later seasons, particularly during the climactic battle against Muzan, characters are depicted in glowing, vivid colors, while the background is awash in dynamic orange-red hues, perfectly synchronized with the soundtrack. Although Demon Slayer is enjoyable as a manga, it truly shines as an anime and is poised to become a cultural phenomenon in the anime industry.

1. Dragon Ball

Goku starts out as an ordinary boy until he meets Bulma. Together, they embark on an adventure to collect the seven Dragon Balls. Throughout their journey, they make new friends, confront formidable foes, and their intertwined lives grow as they pursue their individual goals. They also discover that greater threats loom in the universe.

Dragon Ball is a culturally significant anime that is well-known among anime and manga fans. Its simplistic art style makes it accessible and easy to get into. Although the art style is distinctive and effective in both the manga and the anime, the animated versions, including Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT, surpass their manga counterparts in every way. The iconic animated battle between Frieza and Goku, in particular, has become a legendary moment that is frequently referenced and celebrated.

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