The debate about whether the anime or manga is better is one that’ll never end. Arguments can be made for both sides, but there are some cases where the manga is just better. It could be because the anime changed up a few or a lot of things because the manga has elements the anime can’t fit in.
Most of these romance animes have done a great job bringing the manga to the TV screen. Then, there are a few who did an okay or less than average job for various reasons. Had the anime followed the manga perfectly, these shows could’ve been a lot better.
10 Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku Could've Been Longer
It’s not that the anime did a bad job of bringing this manga to life, but it just skipped over some things that would’ve made it even better. The manga does a better job at expanding on the characters and their quirks and hobbies as otaku, like Hanako’s love for cosplay. It even goes a little deeper into Hirotaka and Narumi’s relationship and gives more depth to it which the anime couldn’t fit in.
Plus, the manga expands more on Naoya and Ko’s relationship, which really didn’t get a chance to be explored in the anime. It goes a little more into Hanako and Kabakura’s relationship too and shows them getting married. If viewers of Wotakoi love the anime, the manga is better and the little details in it make it feel more complete.
9 Hitorijime: My Hero Only Offered A Little Bit To The LBGTQ+ Genre
The anime adaptation only scratched the surface of the manga’s story. It showed the beginning of Masahiro and Kousuke’s relationship but didn’t get a chance to fully explore it. The manga explores their relationship in great detail and shows Masahiro’s growth since he’s still a high school student. Plus, the anime added a minor character named Yabase who is implied to have feelings for Masahiro, but it was never fully explored if he did or not.
The manga is also ongoing so there’s a lot that the anime adaptation is missing. The anime is great to introduce potential fans to the series, but the manga is the best version of it.
8 A Silent Voice Missed A Pretty Important Part Of The Manga
There’s no denying that A Silent Voiceis an amazing movie and tackles some heavy topics, but the manga just outshines it by a little. The movie did a great job getting the main parts of the story on screen, but there were some details that were missing. The manga explores the characters’ past and shows what they were like at home. It gave fans more time to get to know them better and love them even more.
Granted, not every little thing from the manga can be fitted into a movie and the movie itself managed to be a hit despite this. However, key things like seeing Shoya’s inner thoughts, which were a big part of the manga, were cut out and these added layers were missed by manga fans.
7 Citrus Didn't Expand The GL/Yuri Genre Much
Citrus did help in making the GL/yuri genre a little more mainstream, which the anime world is lacking especially when it's compared to the BL/yaoi genre. However, the anime amplified the intensity of some of the scenes that really didn’t need it. The intensity added to them made some of the scenes that were a little intimate in the manga become somewhat problematic in the anime adaptation.
The anime is a little bit more fanservice-y compared to the manga and the parts that didn’t make it would’ve made the anime better and give it more emotional depth. It’s an okay anime, but the manga just outshines it by miles.
6 My Little Monster Is Missing So Much From The Manga
The anime adaptation of My Little Monster wasn't bad, but it doesn’t feel complete because it didn’t finish the manga’s story. The anime ended before the halfway mark of the overall story so it’s a little awkward and might leave fans confused. If fans want the whole story, the My Little Monster manga is the only way to finish it.
The anime itself only got up to volume 4 in the manga and there are 13 volumes overall. Needless to say, a lot has happened in the manga and there doesn’t seem to be any plans for a season two for the anime so fans shouldn’t hold their breaths.
5 Maid-Sama! Could've Shown How A Relationship Lasts
The Maid-Sama! anime finished near the halfway point of the manga series, and like My Little Monster, there doesn’t seem to be any plans for a second season on the horizon. At the end of the anime, fans finally see Usui and Misaki officially become a couple and kiss, but the series ends before seeing their relationship blossom even more. This is usually typical in most romance anime, but it’s frustrating to not see the actual relationship come to life.
The manga continues after they get together and shows their ups and downs as a couple. Despite their differences, Usui and Misaki managed to stay together for ten years then get married and have kids.
4 Vampire Knight Has Just Not Aged Well In Overall Quality
Poor Vampire Knight had everything going for it when it was released back in the late 2000s thanks to the success of the popular teen novel and the movie adaptation of Twilight. Vampires were extremely popular at this time and this show would have easily been very successful. Sadly, the anime adaptation has received poor reviews for a variety of reasons. From poor animation to dialogue not making sense, the anime just couldn’t successfully bring the magic of the manga to life.
Fans of the series have long said that the manga is far superior in every aspect, and the anime doesn’t do it justice. Plus, the artwork is just so amazing that it’s easy to see why fans weren’t happy with the animation. If there’s one good thing that did come from the anime: the opening and ending songs were great.
3 Devils’ Line Rushed The Plot Of The Manga
This anime did a decent job bringing the manga to life, but it did cut out quite a few things, made some changes, and rushed the overall story. With 13 volumes, this manga series isn’t that large and would’ve benefited more had the anime been a little longer. The anime only has 13 episodes and this just wasn’t enough because the cuts and changes made the anime a little awkward.
For anyone curious about Devils’ Line, the anime is not half bad, but the manga and the pacing of the story are a lot better. Rushing a storyline is never a good thing and sadly this anime fell into that curse.
2 My Love Story!! Almost Completed The Manga's Full Story
The anime adaptation actually got pretty close to completing the manga’s overall story, but just fell a little short. It’s one of the best romance anime out there and did an excellent job bringing most of the manga to life. The anime did leave off on a very good note, but the manga is just a little bit better overall.
It added a few more ups and downs to Takeo and Rinko’s relationship, making it a little realistic with their struggles. Though the anime is great, the manga is just a little better and worth the read.
1 Inuyasha Amped Up The Comedy And Drama A Little Too Much
Inuyasha is a pretty iconic show, but if fans haven’t read the manga yet, they’re missing out. The manga’s comedy wasn't as over-the-top as the anime portrayed. The manga was actually a little more serious compared to the show. Comedy is good and helps break up the tension, but the anime made the show a little too silly at times.
With that and the complicated relationships between Inuyasha and Kagome, and Miroku and Sango, the show feels a little overdramatic. The manga’s tone is a little more serious and makes the drama a lot more tolerable.