Maison Ikkoku anime or manga?

[killua33]

Most of the people on this board say this series is excellent, and i really want to check it out, but i dont know if i should get the anime or manga. Its just that the boxsets are pretty expensive and im tight on cash right now, so i thought about getting the manga instead. What do you guys think?

[Levon]

Well I don't know which is better because I never fully read the manga but the anime is amazing so why not go with that? Its not like one of those titles where the manga is great but the anime adaptation sucks(Love Hina).

The 80's music is really great to hear and the voices(Sumi Shimamoto as Kyoko) are also great that you won't get in the manga.

[Hisoka]

I haven't read all of the manga, but enough of it to judge that I like the anime much more of the two. I watched the anime first, though the order of read vs watched rarely affects the outcome of which version I like better. There are several big factors.

The voice cast and Godai's to be more specific. Outside of Sakuragi Hanamichi (Slam Dunk) I can't think of another character so perfectly casted for a role. He evolved the already great character into something more and it's a missing void in the manga for me.

The music and what an amazing soundtrack it is. Clear cut one of my favorites and most listened to on the side. The BGM compliments everything that's going on in the show, hits at the right moments and perfect once again. Each and every OP/ED theme are among the best from that time period. Classic stuff.

Of course music and voices are basic pinpoints when discussing differences between anime and manga, but I really think they play a very large role in what made MI one of my favorites.

Well I don't know which is better because I never fully read the manga but the anime is amazing so why not go with that?

He already said he was tight on cash and the manga is indeed the cheaper of the two. The manga is a fine substitute, but I'd probably save up and buy the anime. There are a few on this forum who enjoy the manga more so maybe they can tell you something about it that I can't about it.

[Lunay]

Personally speaking, I prefer the anime over the manga, just slightly. The anime version did a great job of being faithful to the anime, but there are some minor differences such as the chronological order of events, missing/tweeked scenes (for example, we got to see more than a "closed curtains" in the manga) and character (Nozomu Nikaido), and a subtle difference in the way the characters are portrayed (for example, Kyoko is more mysterious in the anime and Godai is slightly more of a 'ronin' in the anime). But like Levon said, you really can't go wrong with either format since it's.. Maison Ikkoku. I recommend checking out both, if you can.

[Magami No ER]

I've opted for both, starting with the manga since it's straight from the original creator. Cheapness might have SOMTHING to do with it as well...^^;

[killua33]

This sounds like a great series. The first 3 sets are pretty cheap on Deepdiscount, so ill probably pick those up after i save up and buy the ippo boxsets. Thanks a lot for all the help guys.

[Danju]

Sounds like you've already decided but I'll throw in my input anyway.
The music and what an amazing soundtrack it is. Clear cut one of my favorites and most listened to on the side. The BGM compliments everything that's going on in the show, hits at the right moments and perfect once again. Each and every OP/ED theme are among the best from that time period. Classic stuff.
The music alone is the reason I would recommend the anime over the manga. I was amazed out how much emotion the BGMs added to some of the scenes. Truly an amazing soundtrack.

Though the anime gets my recommendation, either one will definitely leave you satisfied. If you're tight on cash just go with the manga. It won't disappoint. Then, later on when you can afford it, buy the anime and enjoy it. Maison Ikkoku is so great a series that you'll definitely want both. That's how I feel, anyway. :P

[rhk0327]

both, watched the tv series first. Then I listed to the soundtrack while I read the manga. I would say TV first because of music. However near the end manga is must read since they cut some important stuff out of tv.

[Suiko Eiji]

I read the manga first (well, started about 1998, went on hiatus until about 2005 :lol: ; just finished this year). I loaned them to my girlfriend and she read through them all and we've started working on the TV anime a couple months ago.

As to which I prefer, if you're on a tight budget the manga are fine. I found that I was reading two or three volumes a week, especially from the middle to the end. I just couldn't put it down. The anime, I would say, is worth renting until you can afford it, if that's an option. The animation is splendid, too. A big step up from KITTY since Urusei Yatsura but if you're not familiar with it or the Ranma 1/2 animations, it'll probably look more like your standard 1980s fanfare. Everything else everyone's said about the anime's merits are 100% true from what I've seen - the music is one of the best fitting scores written and the entire voice cast is near spot on. Well, my girlfriend and I tend to disagree a little there; she thought that Ichinose's voice sounded too much like she smoked a pack-and-a-half a day and I think Akemi's voice almost like a *****y spoiled teenager. It's a minor flaw and I got used to it really quick. If I could say there is any draw back it is that I'm not obsessing over the anime like I was the manga.

My girlfriend was able to fly through the manga, too. In fact, I think the manga is more timeless than the TV anime because of certain features it lacks some of the music. She's been a fan of anime/manga for probably four years or so (though she's been constantly exposed to it since she was really young) and she primarily enjoys new shoujo manga. The fact that she was able to breeze through a 20+ year old seinen manga and enjoy every minute of it is a testament to how good it really is. Why mention this? because the TV anime is very much a product of its time. The story is the same, timeless story but the music (which I agree is very awesome) is also very 1980s Japan. If you go into the TV anime first, I recommend keeping in mind that this is 20+ years old and I bet you'll enjoy it nonetheless.

[lunarvesperia]

I am currently reading the manga,which is pretty good,but i think i should try also the tv series,i think that will be more hilarious :P

[amoensia]

I haven't watched the anime version of this one, but if you're really tight on budget, go for the manga. I started to read the manga when I was 10 years, just finished it few years ago. Timeless story so you wouldn't regret it.

[Blue Thunder]

Maison Ikkoku is my favorite manga ever. So of course I much prefer the magna for this title over the anime. Although I did read it when the english graphic novel was first comming, so it lasted a few years time for me. Actually, at first I was picking it up in comic book format... But still, the manga is great. Takahasi at her best.

I also liked the anime. I mean, come on, it's Takahashi. it may be late adivce now, but I'd say start with the manga, then go to the anime.

[rhk0327]

anime first, then manga. The anime follows impressively closely to the manga for the most part, however there the last plot developments must be read in the manga after you finish the anime since it edits some very important things out.