Kaguya-sama: Love Is War has been one of the most beloved anime and manga romantic comedies in the past few years. Ever since the manga by Aka Ayasaka first came out, it has known a steady fan base, and the anime adaptation by studio A-1 Pictures was equally well-received, with the third season scheduled to be released soon. So, is the manga the same as the anime? How do they differ?
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War Manga Vs Anime: More Content in the Manga
The most obvious difference between the anime and manga of Kaguya-sama is that, of course, the source material is far richer. It isn't only that the manga keeps expanding, now telling a more serious story with higher stakes. Even the parts that did get adapted were inevitably streamlined, and chapters had to be cut off.
The manga offers a fuller experience and takes the time to properly introduce secondary characters as well. Some of them have their very own arcs, and their stories run as subplots, parallel to the main couple. They often get their own chapters, offering an interesting contrast to Kaguya and Miyuki.
As the manga is now well ahead, it is also currently your only source if you want to see Kaguya and Miyuki as a couple, and the challenges they face from thereon. The anime is highly successful, so we expect that it'll get there, but it may take another season or two.
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War Manga Vs Anime: Humor in the Manga
Both the manga and the anime of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War are pretty funny. Fans of both, however, have noted that the anime subtitles aren't always to the point, while the manga does the original humor justice. One such example might be the French Party Arc, where students from a fraternized school visit Shuchi'in Academy and chaos ensues.
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War Manga Vs Anime: Tweaks in Chronology
The manga more or less tells a linear story. There are several chapters that are just funny, without significantly affecting the plot, but there's also a plot in there, and the stakes become higher and higher later on.
The anime mostly keeps events from the manga but many one-off stories are told in a different order. This doesn't make it any harder to understand, but some fans might enjoy the opportunity to see how the mangaka originally intended the story to be told.
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War Manga Vs Anime: Adult Content Toned Down In the Anime
This one is hardly surprising; print media almost always get to be a bit bolder, and Kaguya-sama is no exception. This is a story about high-schoolers, so sex and relationships are often in their mind, and the manga has a lot more innuendos and suggestive scenes, with some characters already having their first experiences.
The anime leaves some of the more mature jokes out, focusing on more light-hearted comedy instead.
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Overall, the anime of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War is a faithful adaptation that doesn't change the core of the series. It's more than a little behind, compared to manga, but we only expect it to get better in Season 3 and beyond. Those wishing for a fuller experience, a more mature read, and more focus on side characters, are strongly advised to read the manga, to see where it all started.
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