Is the Dragon Ball Super Manga Better than the Anime?

Oct 31, 2024

Is the Dragon Ball Super Manga Better Than the Anime?

The anime and manga versions of Dragon Ball Super tell the same story, but the fights, character growth, and pace are different. The manga has a plot that moves faster and has more details.

The anime, on the other hand, has dramatic animation, voice acting, and music. This article talks about whether the manga or the anime is better, which will help fans choose which version they like best.

Is There a Difference Between Dragon Ball Super Manga and Anime?

Photo Credit: Crunchyroll

Yes, the manga and anime versions of Dragon Ball Super are very different from each other. The main plot of both stories is the same, but the way they are told, how fast they move, and the details they include are very different.

Fans have different ideas about how to understand big storylines like “Goku Black,” “Future Trunks,” and even changes like “Super Saiyan Blue.”

Storytelling and Canon Variations

The manga and anime versions of Dragon Ball Super have different ways of telling stories, but they both cover the same plot points. There isn’t as much filler in the manga version, which is called the DBS manga. Instead, it focuses on key battles and character development.

Key Differences:

The manga moves faster and has fewer filler scenes, so the story stays tight and on track.
In Dragon Ball Super, on the other hand, there is more filler content that is used to make the story longer and add drama, especially during the Tournament of Power.
The DBS anime also puts more emphasis on how the characters interact with each other than the manga does, adding more dialogue that makes the relationships stronger.

Notable Manga Elements:

The manga is mostly about strategy and building up your power. Going back to the Goku Black arc, Goku learns how to better control Super Saiyan Blue by switching between Super Saiyan God and Blue to make better use of his energy.
This plan isn’t used in the anime version; instead, the focus is on dramatic visuals and emotional tension.

Key Differences in Events and Arcs

The DBS manga and anime show major plots like the Goku Black arc and the Future Trunks arc in different ways. Different versions of the story focus on different events, which changes how fans understand the story.

Goku Black Arc:

The Goku Black arc in the manga takes a more direct approach, with fewer side stories. Manga Goku, for example, focuses on strategic fighting and comes up with faster ways to counter Goku Black’s moves.
The anime version of the story has longer battles, emotional flashbacks, and more dramatic voice acting, which makes scenes longer but more intense to look at.

Future Trunks Arc:

The DBS manga shows Future Trunks in a more strategic light. He learns to fight smarter, especially when he fights Zamasu with Goku and Vegeta.
Future Trunks’ heroic moments are shown more clearly in the Dragon Ball Super anime. For example, “Super Saiyan Rage” is introduced during his final battle with Zamasu, which is not present in the manga.

Is Manga Goku Better than Anime Goku?

Photo Credit: Crunchyroll

Manga Goku and Anime Goku in Dragon Ball Super are not only visually different, but also in how Goku grows as a character. Manga Goku is usually shown to be more strategic, while anime Goku loves feeling things and making big changes.

Power Scaling and Abilities

More attention is paid to accurate power scaling in the DBS manga. Goku’s growth as a fighter is shown through detailed training plans and upgrades to his powers that make sense.

In the Manga Version:

When fighting, Goku knows how to use Super Saiyan God well and only switches to Super Saiyan Blue when he needs to save energy.
Manga Goku uses better moves and techniques to beat opponents in battles like the Zamasu arc.
Ultra Instinct is also a technique that Goku learns through a lot of hard martial arts training that focuses on mental discipline.

In the Anime Version:

The DBS anime makes Goku’s changes more exciting. For example, Goku’s use of Super Saiyan Blue with Kaio-Ken is only seen in the anime. It makes the fights look more intense, but it doesn’t follow the manga’s logical progression.
As part of the anime, the Broly movie shows Goku using Super Saiyan Blue in a more powerful way, which adds to the character’s lively look.

Character Development

The way Goku is portrayed is also different in the two versions. There is a big difference between Manga and Anime Goku. Anime Goku is more emotional and acts without thinking.

In the Manga:

Goku’s fights are often more planned, which shows that he has a strategic side that comes from being a martial artist.
In the Future Trunks arc, for example, Manga Goku works with Future Trunks and Vegeta to use Senzu Beans to heal Goku. This shows how important teamwork is.

In the anime:

Anime Goku relies a lot on power boosts and intense fight scenes, which makes him seem more impulsive and quick to react.
The voice acting in the anime gives Goku’s emotional scenes more depth, making them more powerful than in the manga, especially when he unleashes Kamehameha out of anger at Zamasu.

This comparison of Dragon Ball Super’s manga and anime versions of Goku helps show the good and bad points of each. Fans can enjoy a different experience with each version, whether they like how Manga Goku thinks strategically or how Anime Goku changes dramatically.

Is the Manga Better than the Anime?

Photo Credit: Crunchyroll

Both the manga and the anime versions of Dragon Ball Super have their own strengths, so it’s hard to say which is better. The anime and manga both tell the same story, but they do it in different ways, giving Dragon Ball Super fans a wide range of experiences.

This part talks about the good things about each version and why some fans might like the DBS manga better than the anime.

Pros of the Manga

The DBS manga has a simple way of telling stories, focusing on the main points of each arc and leaving out extraneous details.

Better Pacing:

Fans who want to focus on the main plot will find the manga version more interesting because it tells the story faster. This is clear in the Goku Black arc, where Manga Goku responds quickly to problems, while the anime moves more slowly.
There is more information in each chapter than in a single episode, but there are fewer panels that cover important events.

Consistent Power Scaling:

When it comes to power scaling, the manga is more logical. For example, the changes between Super Saiyan God and Super Saiyan are shown with a clear sense of progress, putting more emphasis on strategy than raw power.
The anime always used Kaio-Ken with Super Saiyan Blue, but the manga focuses on Goku’s mastery of Super Saiyan God, which gives a more accurate picture of Goku’s skills.

Pros of the Anime

Dragon Ball Z fans will enjoy the Dragon Ball Super anime because it has exciting animation, voice acting, and intense fight scenes.

Visual Spectacle:

With its bright colors, smooth animation, and amazing effects, the Dragon Ball anime really gets into the spirit of the show. This is very important during changes like Super Saiyan and Super Saiyan Blue.
Some scenes, like Goku’s fight with Broly, really show how powerful he is, which makes this part of Dragon Ball Super stand out.

Emotional Impact:

When emotions are strong, like when Goku is mad at Zamasu in the Goku Black arc, voice acting gives them more depth. The dramatic parts of the anime come to life with music and voice changes that the manga can’t do.

Ultimately, what makes someone think that the Dragon Ball Super manga is better than the anime is their own personal taste. The manga version has a shorter story, but the anime version is more immersive.

Should I Read the Dragon Ball Super Manga or Wait for the Anime?

Photo Credit: Crunchyroll

A lot of Dragon Ball Super fans don’t know whether they should start with the manga or wait for the anime. Each version has its own benefits, so the choice comes down to whether the fan would rather read or watch.

For Manga Readers

If you like books with a faster pace and more character strategy, the DBS manga is a great choice.

Why Read the Manga?

It gives more in-depth explanations of techniques and changes, like how Manga Goku uses his Super Saiyan God form more strategically than in the anime.
As the manga stays ahead of the anime, it shows new plot twists earlier, like how Goku learned to control Ultra Instinct during the Tournament of Power.

Best Moments in the Manga:

When it comes to the manga, the Future Trunks arc is more focused, with fewer side stories.
Key battles, like Goku’s fight with Goku Black, show how to use tactics instead of long fights.

For Anime Viewers

The Dragon Ball Super anime is better for fans who like to watch animated battles because it is more visually appealing and emotionally engaging.

Why Wait for the Anime?

The anime shows huge battles with powerful transformations, like the Super Saiyan Blue form, and fight scenes that are a sight to behold.
Fans of the original Dragon Ball Z battles will enjoy the DBS anime, which focuses on long, dramatic fights with well-known voice actors.

Best Moments in the Anime:

Fans of the show should watch the Broly movie because it has some of the most intense scenes.
Strong animation adds to the drama of scenes like Goku’s change into Super Saiyan God during the Zamasu arc.

Finally, it’s up to you to decide if you want to read the Dragon Ball Super manga or wait for the anime. The anime has the immersive visual and emotional elements that Dragon Ball fans have come to love, while the manga moves the story along more quickly.

Final Thoughts

Each version of Dragon Ball Super has its own good points. The manga is great for people who like short stories because it moves faster, has deeper strategies, and always increases in power.

The anime, on the other hand, has dramatic visuals, strong voice acting, and famous battles that make for an immersive experience that is just as intense as Dragon Ball Z. In the end, each person has their own opinion on which is better: the manga or the anime.

FAQs