Here is my argument as to why Manga is better then Anime.
Most animes are derived from mangas originally, and a lot of very good manga never make it to anime form(Ex: Alichino), or they do, but get slaughtered in the process(Ex: Sensual Phrase). Voice actors tend to be a habit that cannot be broken (Ex: DBZ), horrible ones come and go, some just hang out; music is usually good (Ex: FLCL <3), but sometimes can take a turn for the worst.
Another driving factor in my case against anime is the fact that you need thirty minutes to go through a single chapter in a manga. Think about this for a second. For what you could of taken a couple minutes, maybe less, to do, you have to sit around and watch something for thirty (Ex: Naruto has taken almost ten episodes to get through the fight with Zabuza and the manga took about three small books).
The same case can be brought against turning books into movies (Ex: Harry Potter), but we won't go into that now.
My whole argument is that it is a waste of time sitting around watching anime, when you can just read the manga and be done with it. Less fuss, less time to do, and a lot more under your control (Anime you have to use DVDs, VHSs, wait for the episode on TV).
With manga, you won't miss any episodes, it's a lot less costly, and in my opinion, a lot more enjoyable. No crappy voice actors, no bad music, just whatever is in your head or on your stereo.
In conclusion
Manga > Anime
That's assuming bad music and bad voice acting are in place, which isn't necessarily the case if you're referring to the Japanese original. Anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion have excellent voice acting and incredible music, and even though the manga based on the anime is good, the combination of great animation, music and voice acting make the story and characters come alive in a way manga can't conceive. So, I believe that if there's a faithful translation from manga to anime, then anime is better.
It also depends on what property you're referring to. Manga based on anime is usually crap, as evidenced by the Gundam series. On the other hand, the anime based on the manga may be slightly different than the original but still great, like Dragon Ball Z. I prefer the extended battles in the show over how quick the story arcs were done in the manga. The length of the sagas made me get closer to the characters as they were explored more. The fight with Freezer is a perfect example, where the anime version had more ups and downs than the manga, and by the end of it all I felt like I had witnessed an epic confrontation, something I didn't quite get from the manga.
It all depends on what show you're referring to.
Quite true, BB. The original versions of most animes tend to have excellent voice actors and little-to-no change in the animation, music, or otherwise.
Then you have the shows like DBZ and Gundam.
I, myself, could never see shows like Dragonball Z or Gundam in a manga...it just doesn't mesh. Animation would be required to get the best out of giant fighting robots and shooting bombs at each other while flying at super speeds.
You referred to the fight with Freiza, or I'm assuming the fight with Freiza, unless you're referring to Cooler...I've never seen the original adaptation, which I'm going to assume is the one you're referring to...but I've seen the Funi/4kids or whatever version and as epic and climactic and amazing as it truly is, I found myself getting bored when it reached the tenth episode and Goku still had yet to become a Super Sayian...or for the fight between them to start. I do admit, the first Sagas of DBZ are DBZ at it's highest too.
I meant, rather then do this whole thing about Anime and Manga's diffrences, I was trying to make a point that reading a manga takes far less time then to watch an entire series. But somehow I ended up with the post I made, and oh well. But the whole thing is, I've been hearing how much of a waste of time watching anime is, so I decided to put a case for manga out there. My library, school library, even has manga now that it is getting so popular.
And everything you said about Evangelion, 100% truth.
Another point in manga's favor over anime is the art style. Manga focuses a great deal more on up close, in your face characters, as well as still shots for emotional or otherwise significant value, whereas anime is more about the group as a whole, and tends to be less detailed artfully than manga is. For example, in manga, frames generally would focus on a close up of a character's face as he/she ponders something, whereas in anime the character has to narrate everything he/she does, and it loses something in the telling.
However, provided the anime is well dubbed in English(which I admit is rare), sometimes it's more interesting to watch an action anime than read it in a manga, frame by frame. All in all, I like both in different circumstances, but I think I still lean more toward manga most of the time.
Half of everything funny in Azumanga Daioh is the animation. Paper doesn't animate.
I'm sorry, but I think that 90% of all Japanese anime dubbing sounds terrible. However, having to read manga backwards gets annoying, so I really have no preference.
Can someone briefly explain the difference, or at least, what Manga is? I'm familiar with Anime, or at least, I think I am.
Anime is Japanese Animation style cartoons, right? DBZ, Sailor Moon, Evangelion, Ranma, Cowboy Bebop, right? If so, then what is Manga?
Sometimes, I agree. The mangas for Love Hina and All-New Tenchi Muyo are much better than their anime counterparts, in my opinion.
On the other hand, there are stinky mangas like Nadesico that were revamped for anime by someone so much better than the original creator that the result is a TV show and movies that are beyond awesome.
Big Boss, your idea of manga is partially correct, but Mangas are actually graphic novels, rather then just comics.
And action figures are collectible figurines, right?:rolleyes:
I don't consider the dialouge in Manga as prose, so I don't consider it a novel.
I myself prefer anime. most manga I"ve read felt far to rushed. I usually can't connect with a character in a manga as easily as I can in an anime. That coupled with my love for most anime music makes it a hands down winner in my book.
Its still a comic book. Just because you own a dog doesnt mean that you dont own a mammal.
[URL="http://www.dictionary.com"]www.dictionary.com[/URL]
[quote]nov·el[SIZE=-1]1[/SIZE] [URL="https://secure.reference.com/premium/login.html?rd=2&u=http%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.reference.com%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dnovel"][IMG]http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/JPG/pron.jpg[/IMG][/URL] ([COLOR=red][FONT=verdana, sans-serif] P [/FONT][/COLOR]) [URL="http://dictionary.reference.com/help/ahd4/pronkey.html"][COLOR=#0033ff]Pronunciation Key[/COLOR][/URL] (n[IMG]http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/obreve.gif[/IMG]v[IMG]http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/prime.gif[/IMG][IMG]http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/schwa.gif[/IMG]l)
n.
[LIST=1]
[*]A fictional prose narrative of considerable length, typically having a plot that is unfolded by the actions, speech, and thoughts of the characters.[/LIST]
[quote]prose [URL="https://secure.reference.com/premium/login.html?rd=2&u=http%3A%2F%2Fdictionary.reference.com%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dprose"][IMG]http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/JPG/pron.jpg[/IMG][/URL] ([COLOR=red][FONT=verdana, sans-serif] P [/FONT][/COLOR]) [URL="http://dictionary.reference.com/help/ahd4/pronkey.html"][COLOR=#0033ff]Pronunciation Key[/COLOR][/URL] (pr[IMG]http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/AHD4/GIF/omacr.gif[/IMG]z)
n.
[LIST=1]
[*]Ordinary speech or writing, without metrical structure.
[*]Commonplace expression or quality.[/LIST]
Though conversations in manga often seem plain, there is some Shakespeare-like rhythm underlying many of them. If it isn't prose, it isn't a novel.
You know an argument's gone stale when it extends to dictionary definitions. :-/
The one time I've preferred a manga to an anime was with FLCL. That is all.
You know something is wrong with the world when Wikipedia defenitions beat dictionary ones. :P
I lost faith in anime when I saw Love Hina, and realized how butchered it was from it's great manga.
I really like Manga when it comes to Shōjo, while are primarily romantic with diffrent genres attached to them, but focus on a love story (Ex: Love Hina, Kare Kano, Mars, etc.). I find that I can get into a story like that much easier through the manga then the anime for some reason.
Exactly, because the anime handles action better than manga.
But often times when a manga is made into an anime, they cut out so much of the great material. Like with Love Hina and Samurai Deeper Kyo.
Although I despise Sin City, that movie is a good example of staying true to source material and creating an experience that mirrors the graphic novels to perfection.
The flaw of course was Jessica Alba, who is a hypocritical buffoon. But that is another topic for debate.
I agree with Non-Existingone when it comes to the English dubbed animes I'd rather read the manga. I get mad some times watching the English animes there too cut up and the VO is horrid.
I'm just going to say here and now that the difference between watching Saikano and reading it is incredible. The show simply is terrible compared to the experiance of reading it and creating the story more or less in your head.
BB is right.
Manga vs. Anime is like books vs. movies. There's no clear winner.