The last 30 years have given us anime adaptations that elevated the original manga. However, the process is more complex than fans might think. Yoriko Tomita, head writer of “My Dress-Up Darling,” described the pressure to create good adaptations.
“I find the scriptwriting process for an anime adaptation of a manga to be very difficult,” Tomita told Crunchyroll. “It is especially difficult to decide how to fit the story of the episode that’s been picked up from the manga into the 20-minute TV animation scale and deciding where the most exciting parts of the story should be in those 20 minutes.”
But for the shows that get it right, the magic is undeniable. These series stay true to the source material, showcase smart production choices from studios and directors who understand the vision, and use powerful performances and music to bring the panels to life.
“Attack on Titan”
“Attack on Titan” is a dark fantasy manga written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama. The series ran from September 2009 through April 2021, quickly becoming one of the most influential works in modern anime and manga history. According to IMDb, the anime adaptation premiered on April 7, 2013, and ended in 2023. Wit Studio handled animation for the first three seasons. However, the final season was produced by MAPPA, whose darker aesthetic and fluid animation style gave the finale an even more dramatic tone. Tetsurō Araki directed “Attack on Titan’s” first three seasons, while Masashi Koizuka and other directors took the reins in later arcs.
“Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood”
The 2009 anime “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood” served as the solid adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa’s original work. Produced by Studio Bones, it aired from April 2009 through July 2010 and spanned 64 episodes, per IMDb. Unlike the 2003 version—which diverged from the manga and created its own ending—Brotherhood stayed faithful to the source material from start to finish. The series is based on “Fullmetal Alchemist,” a steampunk fantasy manga written and illustrated by Arakawa, which ran from July 2001 through June 2010. Arakawa’s story follows the Elric brothers on their journey to restore what they lost through forbidden alchemy.
“Naruto”
Few adaptations have been as popular in the U.S. as “Naruto.” Created by Masashi Kishimoto, the ninja-action manga ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1999 through 2014, spanning 72 volumes. Studio Pierrot brought the story to television in October 2002, producing 220 episodes that aired through February 2007, according to IMDb. The sequel series, “Naruto: Shippuden”, continued the saga from 2007 through 2017. The series spawned numerous films, spin-offs, and an ever-growing “ninja universe.”
“One Piece”
The “One Piece” manga launched in July 1997 and still runs through today, making it one of Japan’s longest-lasting series. Toei Animation brought Oda’s world to TV in 1999. According to IMDb the series has released more than 1,100 episodes and is still going strong. The story follows Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat crew on a globe-spanning quest for the ultimate treasure, the “One Piece”. Mayumi Tanaka voices Luffy, Kazuya Nakai portrays Zoro, Akemi Okamura is Nami, Kappei Yamaguchi is Usopp, Hiroaki Hirata is Sanji, and Ikue Ōtani — known as the voice of Pikachu — voices Chopper. “One Piece” also has a live-action adaptation, which is currently streaming on Netflix.
Which anime adaptation do you think best honored its original manga? Comment below!
