DGM anime fan: should I read the manga?

[tamariskw.livejournal.com]

So I came into this fandom really late... like when the anime was on episode 90+ and after the anime ended I just kind of left it at that. Then a week ago I decided to read the manga but I only started reading from where the anime left off (midway through vol 16). And now I'm wondering, should go back and read the manga from the beginning?

I mean, am I missing anything important that isn't shown in the anime? D:

Comments

[kowaiki.livejournal.com]

From the top of my head, there are some differences between the manga and the anime that is worthy to take note of:

More important changes:
Mana's death - In the manga, it is never explained how Mana died. He just died one day. I was surprised at the anime's decision to make Mana's death as being ran over by a carriage. This point has the potential to become a key in the future, so if there's a season 3 anime and it contradicts the manga, I wonder how they're going to pull it off.

Minor changes:
Lulubell - In the manga, she doesn't appear until the Noah's Ark arc. But her earlier appearance in the anime shouldn't affect the overall plotline much.

Introduction to Lenalee's innocence - Doesn't get introduced until the Komurin incidence in the manga.

There are a few more slight changes, I doubt I've named them all. Generally they're quite minor.

It is up to you if you want to read it from the beginning. I would recommend you to do so if you have time (the drawing is beautiful though may be less consistent than the anime). Is it necessary? Probably not.

[athuria.livejournal.com]

I would suggest reading it form the beginning if only because I prefer the manga and feel it tells the story better than the filler laden anime. I don't think it's really necessary, though. Everything important should have also been in the anime.

[zackichan.livejournal.com]

some parts of the manga did look exactly like ion the anime, so some parts are a but boring if you already know them but others are - like explained above me - totally different.. it's worth reading it ^^

I read manga and watch the anime to understand everything (because english and japanese aren't my native languages it's sometimes hard to follow the story when it's getting complicated)

[stylishpine.livejournal.com]

I'm really late to this fandom, more so than you. I'm only currently on episode 60 and chapter 60. When I decided to take on this series, I thought I'd give myself a project of watching and reading a single episode and chapter at the same time so I could compare how the line up or didn't line up. If you're interested, I've posted my summaries of episodes and chapters 1 through 51 (first season) on my fandom journal. http://tsuruyamawatako.livejournal.com/127743.html

[tamariskw.livejournal.com]

I don't think I'll read the manga from the start because that would take... a long time x_x; Your manga/anime comparisons are helpful though. Thanks! ^_^

[stylishpine.livejournal.com]

No problem! I'm glad it was of use to someone. ^_^

[sincere]

The only inconsistency that really bothers me between anime and manga is that in the anime, Allen tells his life story to like three different people. (Lenalee, a boat full of people, etc). In the manga, Allen has never told anyone about Mana, hence Link's comment in recent chapters that it's the first time Allen's ever mentioned Mana directly. Previously, he'd only indirectly alluded to him (to Crowley).

The manga's great, though. And you may see some things you missed/that were skipped in the anime if you read it.

[quatrina.livejournal.com]

You should always go back and read manga from the beginning. Actually, I believe you should read manga before watching the anime in the first place because anime always finds some way to screw things up, but I'm kind of an elitist like that. :[

[grayhour.livejournal.com]

This.

[quatrina.livejournal.com]

Actually I have entire rants on manga vs. anime, but I made myself hold back...not that it matters because nothing I say changes the fact that people are too lazy to read (despite the fact that most can't speak Japanese and have to do so anyway) and anime has colors and movement and noises and is obviously better than manga in every way no matter how fucked up it may be. :B Buuut my bitchiness is showing through again and I'm going to go back and hide in my corner of the internets before I piss people off even more.

[askani.livejournal.com]

I like watching the anime first so then I'm not spoiled and thinking so much, hey, they skipped that, etc.

I like reading the manga afterward to fill in the gaps left from the anime. :)

[tamariskw.livejournal.com]

Thanks for everyone's comments but I think I probably won't go back to the beginning of the manga since I don't think I could spend that much time on it, particularly because the differences don't seem that big.

[apapazukamori.livejournal.com]

One bonus you get from the manga as opposed to the anime: you get to see the characters grow up.

The actual length of time the series takes up is never really specified. Hoshino never gives dates or holidays or even specific seasons (we know when they are in the Thief G arc, they're in Paris and it's cold, for example). But because Hoshino's art style has changed since the series began, the designs have, as well, and the characters look more mature, now. Allen isn't a little kid anymore. Psychologically, he probably never really was, but physically, he actually looks older in the current chapters. In the anime, the design is more or less consistent (though I have to say I'm glad they went with Hoshino's later style; the beginning designs look so goofy in comparison), so there isn't that nice bit of progression.

So that is something, as well. :D

[orcapotter.livejournal.com]

I usually say the same thing if I get into an anime--that I won't start at the beginning of the manga. But I think, even if it takes you a while, it's a good investment. The manga is canon, and the anime only an adaptation, so more often than not you're going to miss something by just watching the anime if you really want to know the story. The anime is probably 50% filler, but when it *is* following the manga storyline, it's fairly accurate. There are just nuances with the characters you miss that the manga possesses. I found that Krowley's character in the manga is pretty different from the anime.

Honestly, if you read the published volumes, it shouldn't take you long to catch up to where you are now. It's not a necessity like others have said, but personally as a fan I know I like to go back to the beginning.

[mellmell.livejournal.com]

I have to agree that you should start from the beginning of the manga (But I say this mostly because I'm a big 'anti-dgmanime' person. ;; I feel the anime just killed Lavi, and it *really* irks me when people think anime!Lavi is canon. Actually, a lot of the characters are different in the anime than they are in the manga. Kanda actually has a heart in the beginning of the manga. But it's completely missed in the anime, and he comes off as more uncaring than he really is).

I've only seen a few of the first episodes, but they changed A LOT from what I've seen.
Maybe if you re-read the beginning at least, because it's just so different. Then when you feel like the anime and the manga are becoming more of the same (it probably happens sometime when they're heading to Edo), then you just stop and continue where the anime left off. I don't think you'd should miss much, then, because then the anime follows the manga a lot more closely.

Hmm, also, I have to think. If you started off where the anime ended, that means you missed the Zombie Ark? Although that Ark was more filler than anything. It's still really cute~ ( >3> );;;

Well, whatever you decide is your choice. I'd recommend reading the manga from the beginning simply because of the character differences. But that's really the only reason I have. Other than that, you aren't really missing anything, I don't think.

[rinoa-lalmirch.livejournal.com]

Manga has great atmosphere... You can read it just for this )