Manga vs anime/live action

[Frankie]

I just thought about this when I was thinking about my manga for the recommendations thread. I'd like to hear your thoughts on it (could even be a better suited question for a podcast discussion rather than here - happy to wait for responses if you want to do that).

Anyway, I've realised that a lot of the manga I start reading comes from me watching an anime or live action version and being interested to check out the source. And so what I've watched will influence me when reading the manga, and could change the entire experience. One example I have is Bokura ga Ita (We Were There). I first watched the two movies of this because Ikuta Toma was the main guy and he's one of my favourite actors - I didn't even find out it was based on a manga until later on. Toma is an amazing actor and I really felt the dramatic moments on those movies (oh, the tears). The manga...has less feelings for me. But also, more. Which doesn't seem to make sense, but basically, if I'd read the manga without the live action I probably would've thought it was cute, but wouldn't overly be into it. But because I can read it and relive the moments from the movies, it has added more than what is there. And I assume that will continue for the entire series (I've still got quite a few volumes to get through).

Isshuukan Friends is another one that I absolutely fell in love with the anime but am finding the manga quite lacking in comparison. Of course, there's always the flipside of a great manga producing a terrible anime. And live-action being so completely different, is always a potential disaster (I completely love the High School Debut manga but haven't even been able to finish the movie yet).

So what are your thoughts on reading the manga first, or watching something first, or anything relating to all this crossing over?

Hope this makes sense - unlike you guys, writing is not my thing

[Franky]

This is quite an interesting topic that I think, even if discussed here, we'll still bring up on the next podcast.

Sometimes this type of thing can be pretty detrimental to your experience. I know for sure it has for me in the past. The thing is; even though it can put a real dampen on the second medium you experience the story through, sometimes it can actually make it so much better. Example: I watched the first episode of "Terra Formars" and hated it. Not only did I think the censorship was unnecessary but I also felt it was rushed which was just a hunch I had until I read the second volume of the Manga and realised that they had squeezed an entire VOLUME of Manga into a twenty two minute episode. That's insane! Now though, the Manga is right up there on my list of favorites because, in comparison to the Anime, it's so much damn better. It's more in depth, there's more to discover, the characters are actually fleshed out and, let's be honest, the illustrations look so much better. This is exactly the same for "World Trigger". Hated the Anime, loved the Manga but without seeing the Anime I wouldn't have been able to see just how much better the source material is.

Though I have been contemplating not watching Assassination Classroom lately because we're supposed to be getting review copies in from Madman and seeing as I have to review them I thought maybe it would lessen my experience especially since the Anime is so good. I'm still pretty torn but I do think that it can't hurt TOO much so long as I'm willing to see the same things I've already seen.

When I first started watching Anime, I smashed through "Naruto" really quick or, at least, I got up to date really quick and wanted more so I started reading the Manga from the very first volume and still loved it just as much if not even more. I did the same with "Bleach".

I think maybe, at the end of the day, as long as what you're experiencing is good than you'll enjoy it no matter how many different ways you read or watch it. I read all of the "Fullmetal Alchemist" Manga and watched both the Animes. Loved it the whole way through.