The anime industry is thriving in the 21st century, with Japanese manga, anime, light novels, and video games achieving significant success worldwide. While there are many reasons to experience manga and anime, over time, many fans decide they prefer manga over anime or vice versa.
The Japanese entertainment industry is flourishing in the 21st century, with manga, anime, light novels, and Japanese video games all enjoying considerable success globally. There are numerous reasons to delve into manga and anime, but after a while, many fans come to the conclusion that they prefer manga over anime or vice versa.
When it comes to anime and manga, there's no definitive answer to which is better as it depends on each individual's taste and preferences. In this article, let's explore why many fans prefer manga over anime!
To grasp the essence of the plot, manga is the best choice
If someone believes that reading manga is better than watching anime, the reason is that reading the story will help you understand the plot and the spirit of the author most clearly. For example, while some anime series may cover the entire story of the original manga by skimming through, numerous anime are limited to only 12 or 24 episodes, which is not enough to tell the entire story in the manga. That's why many people prefer manga over anime if they are truly interested in the plot rather than the visuals.
Manga focuses on character visuals
Many modern anime series showcase excellent animation techniques, such as Attack on Titan and Vinland Saga. However, there are also anime adaptations that lose the essence of the original manga, for example, the latest season of The Seven Deadly Sins, a production for which the studio had to issue an apology due to poorly designed and rushed character visuals.
However, for renowned mangaka in Japan, such occurrences seem unlikely. Notable examples include One Piece and One Punch Man by Murata - an artist renowned for his meticulous attention to detail in every scene. This fosters a sense of respect for manga enthusiasts.
Reading manga is faster than watching anime
In general, people read much faster than they watch, meaning an anime episode or TV show will convey content slower than any comic, novel, or manga. A sentence can be read in two seconds, whereas in anime, it can sometimes be stretched across an entire episode. This is something viewers have experienced in One Piece, where the manga progresses much faster than watching the entire anime, as the studio elongates the plot.
Reading manga due to lack of anime adaptation
A specific downside to becoming an anime fan is the fact that many manga series never get adapted into anime. So, if you're just waiting to watch anime, you'll never get to enjoy it. Conversely, manga fans can enjoy many more series than anime-only fans, and it's rare for anime to not have a source manga or light novel.
Manga features amazing art that anime can't fully convey
In reality, some manga series have relatively simple art styles, making them easily adaptable into visually stunning anime. However, the opposite is more common, leading many readers to choose manga. Some artistic moments in manga are simply impossible to convey through anime alone.
Because manga panels don't move, it's very easy to create incredibly detailed artwork, and this is especially true for Kentaro Miura's Berserk manga. There are moments in this manga that many people can't forget.
Collecting manga is very enjoyable for some fans
Not everyone has the budget or space at home to collect dozens or hundreds of comic volumes, but it's a fantastic hobby for those with the means. Some find joy in collecting comics, considering it an irreplaceable spiritual asset.
Collectors can derive great pleasure from their collections and take pride in presenting their neatly arranged comic volumes to friends. It's an experience that anime adaptations can't replicate.
Anime series may release new installments very slowly
Even if an anime series doesn't stop at just one 12-episode season, manga fans still have an advantage over anime-only viewers. In many cases, such as Attack on Titan and One Punch Man, the next season of the anime may take two or more years to premiere. It's a frustrating wait for many viewers.
Above are 7 reasons why many prefer reading manga over watching anime? How do you feel about this? Feel free to share your thoughts!