These examples demonstrate that sometimes the ink and paper of the manga world can shine even brighter than the animated screen. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the top-notch mangas that are widely considered superior to their anime adaptations. So without further ado, let’s get started.

10. Blue Period

Blue Period is a coming-of-age seinen manga that follows the artistic journey of Yatora Yaguchi, who aspires to enter the prestigious Tokyo University of the Arts while learning the patience and discipline needed to create art. The manga has been very in-depth and has left many fans excited for its anime debut.

But the anime doesn’t have the same impact as its source material. The larger aspects of the series—art creation and characterization—are downplayed in the anime, eventually removing a level of depth to an incredibly important part of Yatora’s journey as an artist.

9. One Punch Man

One Punch-Man is the story of a bald superhero named Saitama, who has a knack for defeating his enemies with a single punch. Out of boredom, he joins a hero association and accompanies his first apprentice, Genos, who helps his master find a worthy candidate to test his overwhelming strength.

The perfect balance between serious action and heart-warming comedy is something that One-Punch Man delivers in both its anime and manga form. However, the manga’s storyline goes beyond the anime’s material, and on top of that, Yusuke Murata’s stunning art makes for a more complete experience.

8. Elfen Lied

Elfen Lied is quite famous for its original manga, which offers much more source material than the 2000s anime. The manga's gory art surpasses that of the anime and tells the full story of a lost Diclonius girl and her futile attempt to find happiness in a world ruled by humanity.

Based on the interaction between humans and mutant species, the manga sees inhumane scientific experimentation and a torrent of bloodshed as Lucy escapes her captors! Elfen Lied Candidly is a manga that could haunt the unprepared for many moons to come.

7. Junji Ito Collection

Junji Ito is considered a prolific manga artist for his unconventional horror stories, depicting disturbing and chilling themes. Ito's work is known for its extreme attention to detail, which is why he has developed a large cult following among fans of the genre.

However, the horror anime anthology developed by Studio Deen fails to live up to expectations. The anime's horror elements are off, and the animation also feels stilted and flat. The anime never reaches the level of visceral horror that the manga achieves, which is the goal of Ito's work.

6. Flowers of Evil

Flowers of Evil follows high school student Takao Kasuga who is forced to sign a “contract” by fellow student Sawa Nakamura after he is caught stealing his crush Nanako Saeki’s gym clothes. Blackmailed by Sawa, Takao is now forced to participate in her disturbing fantasies in order to hide his actions from everyone.

With stunning art and a darkly human and insidiously engaging story, Flowers of Evil makes up for a mature and compelling manga, unlike its anime counterpart, which ruins the viewer's experience by using a controversial animation style that is very disturbing to look at.

5. Samurai Deeper Kyo

Samurai Deeper Kyo is one of the best samurai manga of its generation, and fans of the series really enjoyed the dynamic between two powerful swordsmen featured in the story. Since the producers adapted the series before the manga was finished, the anime failed to do it justice.

Due to the lack of source material to work from, Studio Deen hampered the anime. Even though the anime only has 26 episodes to begin with, the series has a surprising amount of pointless filler that makes very little sense. The art also doesn't compare to the original manga.

4. Dead Man in Wonderland

There aren't many series that offer a unique premise like Deadman Wonderland, where ruthless criminals are locked in a prison to compete in life-threatening games for the enjoyment of their viewers. While the manga really capitalizes on its intriguing plot, the anime falls short.

Instead of focusing on the horrific setting of Deadman Prison, the anime fades into nothingness and indulges in showing mostly action sequences, which is not in line with the original manga. In contrast to the manga, the anime feels like an incomplete show without any extra effort.

3. The Promised Neverland

Anti-shonen is basically synonymous with the world of The Promised Neverland. While the first season of the anime does justice to the manga, the highly anticipated second season misses the mark by a wide margin, ruining the entire story in a matter of episodes.

Even though CloverWorks' animes are good, they rushed this one by skipping over the main story arcs of the manga. One should stick with The Promised Neverland manga, as it is full of emotional moments, plot twists, and rich character exploration that make up for the intense plot that awaits readers.

2. Tokyo Ghoul

Tokyo Ghoul creates one of anime’s top-tier seinen protagonists, Ken Kaneki, who is subjected to an experiment that changes his life forever, turning him into a half-ghoul! While the premise sounds dark and gritty, the anime adaptation of Tokyo Ghoul is easily among the worst of all time.

The anime rearranged and cut some of the story material, completely changing the tone of the series and making it awkward to watch. The manga is far superior and authentic to the anime, and Sui Ishida's genius in narrating the story is a significant reason for choosing the manga version.

1. Berserk

Berserk, by Kentaro Miura, is known for being one of the darkest and most desperate stories ever told. Featuring some of the best panels in manga and an impeccable art style, the story takes fans through Guts' life, diving deep into his mind as he searches for the sufferings of the real world.

Unfortunately, the essence of Berserk seems to be missing from both the 1997 and 2016 anime adaptations. While the former limits the scope, its sequel counterpart utilizes a clunky 3D animation style that falls short of most standards. As such, it’s always recommended to opt for the unforgettable classic Berserk manga.

Which of the following manga is much better than its anime adaptation? Feel free to comment your opinion and recommend any other manga like the ones listed above. Also, don’t forget to share this article with your otaku friends.