Spy x Family Season 2 Anime/Manga Comparison

 

    Welcome back to Beyond The Anime for my first in-depth anime/manga comparison of the new year - Spy x Family season 2! This series quickly became one of my favorite anime after its fantastic first season, and the sequel was just as fun and exciting. 

    Season 2 covers chapter 39 through chapter 59 of the manga (volumes 7-9). This content was a near exact adaptation, plus a few nice additions, which was great to see but also brought up a minor concern with the structure of the manga when translated into anime form. 

Yor (the assassin with near superhuman abilities) and Franky (WISE informant) being overwhelmed by a pack of stray cats

    The manga alternates between serious, action-packed arcs and comedic slice-of-life chapters. This format works really well to have the more lighthearted adventures of Anya at school or Yor and Franky tracking down a missing cat as relaxing shorter stories after an arc where the Forgers narrowly avoided danger, especially when read without long breaks in between. I enjoy these comedy chapters just as much as the action-packed ones, but there were critiques about this storytelling structure when the season was airing, as some viewers who preferred the serious plot felt that it took too long to get started this time. 

    While the fantastic cruise arc makes up half of season 2, it began four episodes in - a month for a show that's airing weekly, in comparison to both parts of season 1, which started with their serious arcs before leading into the comedy. In my season 1 anime/manga comparison, my prediction was that season 2 would maintain this structure and shift some of the comedy chapters to after the cruise arc, but it ended up mostly following the same order as the manga. It's hard to say which approach would have been best, but it seems this critique was more common among anime-only viewers, and the current structure was well-received by manga fans. 

Yor standing with perfect balance during her rowboat ride with Loid

    The season begins with a previously unadapted extra chapter from the end of volume 3 - Loid and Yor's unfortunately timed date, during which she spent most of her effort trying not to let him know that she had suffered a gunshot to the butt the previous night, and he tried not to let his nerves spiral out of control wondering why she looked so angry. (It was the excruciating pain.)  

    Loid and Yor's date originally took place earlier in the manga, before they adopted Bond. A nice little addition to the anime acknowledged his presence when Anya assigned him, along with "agents" Penguin and Chimera, to guard the house while she and Franky shadowed her parents. 

    There were a few anime-only additions to this episode. One of the quick scenes during Loid and Yor's date shows the two of them at a clothing store, and he recommends an outfit for her to try on. In the manga, it's a pair of pants and a stylish top, but in the anime, it's a pantsuit - the same one Yor is wearing later on the first day of the cruise! I also loved the way the anime expanded the other date attempts that were only given a single panel in the manga, like the animals at the zoo looking afraid of the pained scowl on Yor's face. 

The ride is a panda in the manga, but a polar bear in the anime versions shown on Hulu and Crunchyroll.

    The only other unadapted material from the early manga were the one-page shorts at the end of volume 2, which showed Anya enjoying a panda ride at the department store and going on her first visit to the pool. In the anime, these cute scenes were illustrated in a style with a crayon-like effect that complemented their childish whimsy really well. There was only one that didn't make it into the anime from the end of the first volume - Anya's attempt to get a certain mystery toy prize included with bags of candy, and lamenting that her mind reading powers couldn't help her find the one she wanted. 

    There was also one extra chapter adapted early - a short Bondman skit in episode 3, animated with an old fashioned cartoon art style, which is actually from volume 10. Although originally shown past the point of the chapters adapted for season 2, the nature of its brief "cartoon within a cartoon" comedic story made it a good standalone short to help fill the remaining minutes of the episode.

Yor ready to fight with newfound resolve

    The cruise arc is one of the longest yet in the manga, and its anime adaptation was perfect. Yor takes the center focus as she guards the survivors of a mafia family fleeing from a violent takeover and fights off dozens of assassins competing for their bounty. There's plenty of amazing action sequences in this arc, like the stunning one-against-many battle under the fireworks, but the heart of this arc is the exploration of Yor's doubts - if she really needs to continue her assassin work, why she started in the first place, and finally, her renewed dedication to make the world safe for her family however she can. 

    This is where an exact adaptation of the manga is a strength, because this is one of the most well loved parts of the story, and the anime portrays both the action and character development with great care. The presence of a musical score elevated several scenes, such as the trumpet fanfare performed by the band pictured in the manga when the Princess Lorelai  cruise ship first comes into view, and the circus tunes in the background during Yor's battle against Sickle-and-Chain Barnaby when she started playing up the theatrical moves for the crowd to go along with Anya's cover story. The insert songs during her battle under the fireworks and the Forger family fun montage when they reached the island (as well as the one featured in Damian's camping trip in episode 2) were beautiful, keeping up the series' track record for excellent music. 

Loid trying to look like a fun dad by wearing a bunch of souvenirs. The sound effects of the squeaking octopus shoes were hilarious.

    As great as the action and serious story was, I think my favorite episode of the season was the conclusion to the cruise arc when the Forger family was allowed to spend the day together having fun and doing normal vacation things - walking through town, swimming and surfing, building sand castles, bike riding, visiting a farm, exploring a cave and even zip lining. I've always loved the balance between the exciting action and funny slice-of-life scenes, and seeing the three of them able to relax after such a stressful trip in which they all did their part to protect each other and fulfill their solo but connected missions makes those peaceful moments even more impactful. As Yor expressed, these are the days they wish could last forever.

    Most of these scenes are the same as the manga, but there was a single addition just before the cruise ship arrived at the island. While both versions have the story show Loid warn Anya not to fall from the top bunk if she chooses to sleep there, the anime has an extra scene the morning of their arrival where Anya rolls out of the bunk bed and Loid expertly catches her on the way down. Another change was Anya's mispronunciation of Princess Lorelai  - originally written as "Laura Bly" in the manga, turned into an amusing Oshi no Ko reference in the anime when she called it "Lalalai", the name of their theater company.

Loid, Yor and Anya swimming in the ocean. This full page manga illustration is wonderfully detailed. 

    The remaining two episodes, like the first four, feature short standalone stories. Episode 11 ends with an anime-only scene of Fiona training in the wilderness and completing Loid's backlog of missions while he's on vacation, and his return to work with gifts for his coworkers. 

    The season finale, an adorable episode where Bond uses his precognitive ability to rescue a small dog from a fire and catch the arsonist, also has some new scenes in the anime. Anya was making origami stars when the episode begins, and when Loid and Bond come back home from their very eventful walk, she gives them each a "stella" for their hard work. This scene echoes the themes of Spy x Family's early episodes - how the work of spies often goes unnoticed and they are rarely thanked for their work, but it feels good to be appreciated. 

Season 3 predictions

    This section contains spoilers for the manga past the point where the anime ends.  

Loid as a child on the cover of volume 10

    If the next season follows the same structure as the previous ones, then the manga will likely be adapted in order for the most part. However, the first chapter after the point where season 2 ends shows a mission involving Frankie and Fiona and hardly features the Forgers at all, so my best guess would be that this part will be moved to midseason to accompany the other standalone chapters. 

    The following chapter, set at Eden Academy, is a good starting point for season 3 and ends on a note that will directly lead into Loid remembering his past. This story from the first half of volume 10 is one of my favorite parts of Spy x Family, portraying Loid's journey from an innocent child heartbroken by war, to a young soldier and then a spy. Assuming the third season is the same length as the second, it will also likely cover Yor's meeting with Damian's mother, the bus hijacking, and the immediate aftermath. This would leave the story in a good place to pick up with the next big arc in season 4. 

    

    I hope you enjoyed this anime/manga comparison of Spy x Family's second season. Stay tuned for more comparisons featuring anime from last year - Tearmoon Empire, My Clueless First Friend, The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses, Shangri-La Frontier, and The Apothecary Diaries. My Favorite Anime of 2023 post is also coming soon! 

Between chapters 56 and 57, this small manga-only picture shows Zeb, Olka and baby Gram made it safely to their destination.  

*All images from the Spy x Family manga on Kindle and anime clips from Crumchyroll's Youtube channel, screenshots taken by me. Banner made by me in Canva.

Winter 2024 Manga-to-Anime Adaptation Preview

 

    Welcome back to Beyond The Anime! For my first post of the new year, I'm starting a new seasonal feature - a manga preview for series receiving anime adaptations. This preview for the winter season focuses on two manga and one manwha, and includes comparisons to their premiere episodes - A Sign of Affection, Hokkaido Gals Are Adorable, and Solo Leveling.

A Sign of Affection

   This story begins when Yuki, who has been deaf since birth and communicates using sign language, meets Itsuomi, a fellow student at her college with an interest in traveling, on a train. He helped her out when a tourist was trying to ask questions, and he's intrigued by her unique way of viewing the world, while she's drawn to the way he bridged the gap between them without hesitation. 

    The manga beautifully portrays the varied ways these characters communicate, with different text styles to represent each one. Messages are shown typed or handwritten, spoken words are colored gray when Yuki is reading lips and bolded during parts of the conversation she doesn't catch (usually because she's not facing the person speaking), and the occasional sideways letters mean she's having trouble understanding. The sign language flows well and is very easy to follow, even though the author notes that only part of the phrases are depicted in the panels. I enjoy stories that explore a language barrier, so it was really nice seeing everyone's interactions illustrated with such care.

    So far, I've read volumes 1&2 of the manga, and if the anime continues at its current pace, that content will likely cover two thirds of the season. As Yuki and Itsuomi's relationship moves forward, later chapters bring up deeper topics like Itsuomi's dreams for the future, and Yuki's self-consciousness about vocalizing. 

    I have mixed feelings about the story introducing love rivals for each of them, because their interactions at this point are mainly used to create misunderstandings between the leads, but these situations seem to be resolved quickly aside from some lingering feelings of insecurity. However, the sweet and heartwarming moments far outweigh any minor drama, and there are so many scenes I'm excited to see animated. 

    Episode 1 covers the events of chapter 1, from Yuki and Itsuomi's first meeting to exchanging contact info. The anime did a good job adapting the manga's art style. Scenes like Yuki and Itsuomi walking home beneath the falling snow were beautiful, and their facial expressions are a perfect match for the manga so their emotions come across really well, which is important for a story that often portrays its characters' feelings without words. This first episode also added a few brief scenes to foreshadow characters who appear later on in the manga, like Yuki's childhood friend Oushi and the hairdresser Itsuomi knows from high school. 

    I really enjoyed the first two volumes of the manga, and I have high hopes for this adaptation. Aside from sequels, it's my most anticipated of the season. Definitely recommended. 

Hokkaido Gals Are Adorable!

    I've seen quite a few anime series based around the premise of a character moving from the big city to the country and enjoying its small town charms, but this is the first one I've watched that makes the winter backdrop the main cause for appeal (and also sudden culture shock). Tsubasa arrives in Hokkaido unaware that he would find a largely empty snowy landscape with buses that only come once every few hours, and a girl standing outside in her high school uniform with bare legs while he's bundled up from head to toe and still freezing. 

    The first person he meets in Hokkaido is the super friendly gal, Minami Fuyuki, who instantly captures his attention. Their initial bond forms out of an interest in a way of life that's different from their own - Minami is curious about Tokyo, and Tsubasa is constantly surprised and mesmerized by her forward personality in equal measure. I found both to be likeable main characters, the comedy is pretty funny, and later chapters hint that the story will have a nice message about gaining a new appreciation for one's hometown. The snow festival chapter (coming in the next episode or two) shows that off really well. 

    The first episode of the anime covers chapters 0-2 of the manga, from his initial encounter with Minami to his first day at school, and his visit to her house. It's a very faithful adaptation so far, almost exactly like the manga - sometimes to a fault. The sneezing scene was awkward in the original, and it's still just as awkward here, but the anime did at least tone down some of the exaggerated fanservice angles that appear throughout the story, which I appreciate.  

    The snow scenes are beautiful in both versions of the story. Although Tsubasa's hairstyle looks slightly different in the anime compared to his original design, Minami's character art made the transition really well and is a perfect match to the color portraits of her in the manga. The only things missing in this premiere that I would have liked to see were the brief snowball fight during lunchbreak and the little snowman made by Minami that she's shown taking a selfie with in chapter 1 - also displayed on the series cover image on Manga Plus. 

    This one turned out to be better than expected. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a fun romcom and doesn't mind a bit of fanservice. 

Solo Leveling

    A twist on the traditional dungeon raid and isekai formulas, this present day/near future real world setting features the premise that gates to another world have spontaneously opened, and hunters who awakened to special abilities enter these dangerous areas to slay monsters for profit. Hunters are ranked depending on their ability, and main character Jinwoo is the lowest rank, considered by most to be the weakest hunter of them all, but he continues to take part in dungeon raids despite frequent injury to pay for his mother's medical bills, which makes him a sympathetic lead. The opening chapters of the manwha begin with a raid which takes a turn for the worse when the party decides to advance into the uncharted territory of a double dungeon.

    I was surprised by how many additions were made in the anime version. While the main storyline of the dungeon raid is the same, the anime offers more worldbuilding in the beginning and introduces new characters who will probably be relevant later on. The opening scene with a group of S-rank hunters dressed in full raid gear taking down a horde of giant ant monsters with fire and lightning blasts, or a similarly high ranked hunter stopping a purse snatcher in town, really shows the contrast between the strongest combatants and those at Jinwoo's level. Likewise, the background information about the Hunters Association's plan to use the essence stones and mana crystals obtained from slaying monsters as a clean energy source was interesting. 

    However, this structure also has its flaws. The premiere episode felt fragmented, switching from one location and group of unknown characters to another, in a way that the manwha's early chapters did not because it focused solely on Jinwoo's party. Even so, I enjoyed the anime premiere more than the beginning of the manwha thanks to these additions. One scene ending with a video narrated by the Hunter Association's chairman who encouraged hunters to not let their guard down and "be afraid" was a perfect lead-in to Jinwoo's party entering the double dungeon precisely because they didn't take the dangers seriously enough. 

    There were a few minor changes to the dungeon raid side of the story. In the manwha, party leader Song was very insistent in rallying the crowd to move on ahead to the next dungeon, while the anime shows Kim and Park making the suggestion and Song being more level headed in his assessment of the risks and rewards before putting the matter to a vote. The anime also showed Jinwoo fighting the goblin he won an essence stone from (instead of starting from the scene where Joohee is healing him afterwards), which was a nice bonus. 

    This premise feels a lot like a modern day dungeon crawler RPG mixed with Attack on Titan. If that sounds interesting to you, then check it out. I wasn't too enthused after reading the manwha, but enjoyed the anime premiere more than I expected.

    I hope you enjoyed the first of my seasonal manga-to-anime adaptation previews! Check out my Favorite Manga of 2023, and stay tuned for more manga/light novel comparisons featuring anime from 2023 and early 2024 - Spy x Family season 2, My Clueless First Friend, The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses, Tearmoon Empire, Shangri-La Frontier, and Apothecary Diaries. My Favorite Anime of 2023 post is also coming soon!

The winter festival in chapter 3 of Hokkaido Gals has some familiar anime characters as snow sculptures - Pikachu and Doraemon!

*All screenshots taken by me from A Sign of Affection, Hokkaido Gals Are Adorable, and Solo Leveling from the official manga/manwha releases on Libby, Manga Plus, and Tapas, and anime clips from Crunchyroll's Youtube channel. Banner image made by me in Canva. 

Oshi no Ko Anime/Manga Comparison Part 2

 

    Welcome back to Beyond The Anime for another anime/manga comparison, the second half of the hit Spring 2023 show Oshi no Ko! My first comparison covered episodes 1-5 of the anime series, which adapted manga volumes 1&2. This review will discuss volumes 3&4 and the rest of season 1. Spoilers ahead! 
    Each arc in this series so far has explored a new part of the entertainment industry - first a successful idol group, then a struggling TV miniseries, and now a reality dating show and a beginner idol group. The alternating perspectives of Aqua and Ruby really plays up their different approaches to show business. Aqua is a firm believer in using lies to protect himself, while Ruby strives to be open and honest at the start of her career.

 Ruby's shocked response to Aqua's TV persona in the manga is slightly different from its anime counterpart - she says her "brother is a dark type with an introvert aura", almost like she's comparing Aqua to a Pokémon.

    The dating show arc introduces a great group of new characters, including Akane and Mem-cho who are now series regulars. While the story itself is largely the same in both manga and anime form, there are subtle differences between the two, starting with something as simple as the name - in the manga, the dating show is called "Love For Real" (short for "We're about to fall in love for real"), and the anime version's title is "Love Now". 

     Aqua is playing the "nice guy" role (and secretly finds it exhausting) just as he would for an acting job, with his only goal being to cruise through this show and get the director to reveal some new tidbits of info about Ai, but some struggled with the dating show format more than others. The teenage cast members chat about the show towards the beginning of the arc, and Mem-cho offers some advice. "What they want from us now is something more extreme." Akane wrote this down in her notepad, and is later shown reflecting on it when her manager was yelled at because she wasn't making a strong enough impression. This sentiment seemed to add to Akane's feeling that she would have to push herself outside her comfort zone to stand out. 

    It's interesting that the anime version adds an extra line: "People these days want to see something more extreme. Well, your options depend on how much of a risk you can handle." This foreshadows the incident that follows very well, when Akane accidentally hurts Yuki while trying to take on more than she could handle - playing the "villain" role as suggested by the crew.

Aqua rescuing Akane, full page image from manga

    While the majority of the emotional scenes unfold the same way in the manga as they did in the anime, a few parts hit even harder. There were even more hurtful messages towards Akane shown in the manga. I won't repeat them here, but there was an added focus on the comments criticizing her mother (which was one of the things that seemed to trigger Akane's guilt the most) and those saying that they wanted Akane to "disappear". The anime saved the harshest comment for last, but in the manga, there were other similar remarks to break her spirit. 

    In the scene where Aqua saves Akane on the bridge, the main differences are in the way this scene is framed between the anime and manga. The chilling picture of Akane in a warm atmosphere, when she seems relieved before abruptly switching to show the reality of the situation, that she's standing in the rain with a depressed look on her face, was only in the anime. The manga also includes an extra shot of Aqua pulling Akane from the ledge at an angle that shows Akane's legs were fully over the other side as she was in the process of falling, which really heightened the sense of urgency. 

    In the anime, right before finding out that Aqua was taken to the police station following the rescue, Kana says everyone has a few flaws and something about them that can give rise to criticism. Her line in the manga, while expressing the same sentiment, does so with a dose of sarcasm that seems very fitting for Kana: "You know what they say - those who have no vices have seven, those who do have fourty-eight. Everyone has a flaw or two. We've all got something that could make us targets." The heartwarming solution, a video made by all of Akane's friends within the Love Now cast, was the same in both versions, but actually getting to hear the soundtrack by teen musician Kengo along with Mem-cho's pictures was a nice touch.

Nobuyuki comforts Yuki after the incident

    A short extra chapter at the end of volume 3, which was not adapted in the anime, shows Yuki blames herself (at least partially) for what happened with Akane. She mentions trying to "light a fire" under her, likely as an attempt to help Akane stand out when she was struggling, and Nobuyuki reassures her that it's not her fault. Yuki's actions can come off as a bit ambiguous at times, especially with the reveal that she was fully aware the camera was rolling when she forgave Akane for slapping her. Even though I feel her genuine care and concern for Akane came across well enough in the anime, this scene goes a long way towards showing without a doubt how she truly feels. It also gives some nice behind the scenes relationship build up for YukiYuki as a real couple supporting each other during a difficult time. 

The new B-Komachi, left to right: Mem-cho, Ruby & Kana

    The following arc about Ruby reviving her mother's idol group is much more lighthearted than the one that precedes it, while still keeping the focus on a group dynamic of young stars supporting each other. Ruby's approach is completely different from her brother's, as she says right away that she doesn't want their first video together to be based on a lie (in other words, a staged event), and happily welcomes Mem-cho into the new B-Komachi along with Kana because she believes that anyone should have the chance to be an idol. 

    One of the highlights in the anime adaptation of Japan Idol Fest, much like the premiere episode focused on Ai, is actually getting to hear B-Komachi's songs and see their dance choreography on stage. It really adds to the hype of watching the characters in concert.

Mem-cho's reaction when Aqua invites her to join the new B-Komachi

        Just as I noted in my review of the first half, the artwork of the manga is adapted beautifully in the anime down to the smallest details. In scenes like the one pictured above, the vibrant colors of the anime enhance the backgrounds - lighting up the city at night, and the stage during their performance. The anime takes full advantage of this during Ruby and Kana's heart to heart talk before the show, moving the scene from an average backstage room to a hallway with large windows displaying a brilliant sunset.

    The only visual choice that seemed a bit off in the anime was Aqua's black star eye when he was bickering with Kana (as usual). In the manga version of this scene, he was simply shown with the "dark type" aura Ruby described hanging over them as a visual representation of his frustration. The black star seems purposeful, tied to his thoughts of revenge against his father, so it looked out of place in this context, but that was the only misstep. 

Kana in her music video, "Full Moon"

    A cool addition in the anime is Pieyon's boot dance, which Ruby and Kana participate in for their special reveal on his YouTube channel, being shown in step-by-step detail with a very catchy soundtrack. It plays like a real exercise video, and I've even seen an hour-long version on YouTube for anyone who wants to try the Pieyon challenge. Likewise, Kana's music video for "Full Moon" was also played in full - visuals, lyrics, and all. Aqua's glowstick dance was hilariously awesome as well, and I enjoyed seeing all three of the girls react to it (instead of solely focusing on Kana in the manga). It was clear that a lot of care went into these scenes for the adaptation, making good use of the anime medium. 

   This is a very faithful adaptation, so most of the changes are minor - like Aqua and Akane's ice cream date taking place in a café in the manga and an outside venue in the anime, or an extra scene in the manga where several aspiring idols ask Mem-cho for her autograph backstage. However, there was one chapter from volume 4 that didn't make it into the anime. 

Mana, an idol watching Ruby perform at Japan Idol Fest

     After the new B-Komachi's first concert was a success, another idol who was performing that day was shown watching Ruby shine on stage, and that led her to realize she could never be that same kind of star. It was an interesting look at the way an idol can become disillusioned if their dream doesn't exactly match up to the reality, but it also didn't feel like much was lost by leaving it out. 

Ruby shines on stage at Japan Idol Fest

    When I first watched the anime, I was surprised by how quickly the Idol Fest storyline wrapped up to tease the next arc, the stage play Tokyo Blade, but it was the same way in the manga as well. There were even a few anime-only additions offering hints at what's to come, like showing Melt practicing his lines in his first appearance since the Sweet Today arc from volume 2, and Ruby visiting her mother's grave as she and Aqua are being watched by a crow. That final shot gives the ending a more ominous vibe than the manga, which concludes with Tokyo Blade's director playing up the rivalry between Akane and Kana that's about to happen on stage. 

These two are competing for more than just Aqua. Season 2 hype!

    This completes my Oshi no Ko anime/manga comparison until season 2! At the time of this posting, the collected manga volumes of Oshi no Ko have caught up with the anime but will not yet move past it until volume 5 releases in February. However, anyone who wants to read ahead can find the full series up to the latest chapters on Manga Plus. The manga is definitely worth a read, even for fans who have already seen the anime.  

    For more spring anime comparisons and reviews, check out my Favorites of Spring 2023 where Oshi no Ko won big, my Insomniacs After School anime/manga comparison and Otaku Elf history facts. Stay tuned for my Favorite Manga of 2023 and Favorite Anime of 2023 rankings, coming soon! 

Oshi no Ko is currently streaming on HiDive, and Amazon Prime's HiDive channel. The manga is available in print and ebook, and on MangaPlus. 

*Images from the Oshi no Ko anime and manga, screenshots taken by me. Banner made by me in Canva.

Insomniacs After School Anime/Manga Comparison

    Welcome back to Beyond The Anime! Insomniacs After School, a touching romance between two teens who struggle to sleep at night, was one of the highlights of the spring anime season for me. The manga has the same charm, and I was glad to see that the adaptation was faithful to its source. 

Isaki Magari (left) & Ganta Nakami (right)

   Ganta and Isaki's first days together are as adorable as ever in the manga. The more realistic designs of the characters are both unique and very fitting, and the level of detail presented in the close up views are beautiful. They have very expressive faces, which portrays their emotions well in scenes where dialogue is often absent, but there are also times when the still shots can make these expressions look a bit too exaggerated - something that wasn't really an issue in the anime when the characters were in motion. However, those instances are rare and the majority of the first two volumes have excellent character art like the picture above. 

    This is the early stage of the story, in which Ganta and Isaki are still getting to know each other and discovering an interest in nighttime photography. After forming the astronomy club in haste to secure a secluded place to rest in school, it becomes a hobby that brings them closer together and leads them to explore new sights. 

A view of the starry sky over a small bridge in the manga, and...

The same view of the sky and bridge in the anime

   The scenery is beautifully drawn and impressively intricate. Often, these atmospheric scenes take the center stage as Ganta and Isaki walk through the night, enjoying each other's company without needing to speak. This story is best read slowly, taking the time to admire the background art and imagine the quiet sound effects of the environment like the falling rain. Otherwise, these chapters will feel like they're over much too soon. The presence of so many panels focused on setting the scene with art but no text can make this story a fast read. The anime paces itself like a peaceful stroll, with slow movements and relaxing music, which added a lot to the experience for me. 

    The presentation in the anime is slightly different, but both versions are excellent. The manga is more detailed, and the page format offers a larger view of the scenery around Ganta and Isaki, particularly with full page images that the anime has to pan up to capture in their entirety, but the colors of the anime also add a lot to these pictures. While both approaches offer a unique aesthetic, I have a preference for the vibrant shades of blue, pink and purple used to depict the starry skies in the anime, especially during the beach scene when the stars were reflected in the low tide, making the sky and ground seem to become one image. 

The starry sky reflected in the water gives the appearance that Ganta and Isaki are walking on air

   Volumes 1 & 2 of the manga cover episodes 1-5 out of the 13-episode first anime season, from Ganta and Isaki's encounter in the formerly abandoned astronomy club room to their school beach trip. Their growing friendship, which is slowly blossoming into something more, has developed in a very natural and realistic way. You can see the two becoming more comfortable around each other as they open up about a part of their lives that they've kept secret from everyone else, and now they're so comforted by each other's presence that simply being side by side will help them fall asleep. 

This scene with Isaki and her aunt only appears in the manga

  There were few changes between the manga and the anime aside from presentation, making this a very faithful adaptation so far. The only major scene from these early volumes of the manga that was not shown in season 1 of the anime was the one pictured above between Isaki and her aunt. 

    Isaki stops by her aunt's house for a visit, and while the conversation starts off casual, it soon becomes clear there was a sad event in her aunt's past. Before Isaki leaves, she pays her respects at a small memorial set up in the entryway of her aunt's home, and while only part of the picture is visible, it's implied to be a young child. Isaki's aunt hugs her and thanks her for remembering, telling her that "he would probably be as big as you are now." Later in the anime, it was revealed that Isaki has been dealing with a heart condition from a very young age, and it seems likely that her aunt also had a son who suffered from the same condition. Given the placement of this scene in the manga, it gives a slightly ominous and somber vibe to Isaki's earlier statement that she was sick as a child before revealing the full details.

Ganta and Isaki fall asleep next to each other on the beach during their school summer trip

        Insomniacs After School is a wonderful story about two teens who were able to find peace with each other, and perhaps even a purpose that brings meaning to their sleepless hours. I definitely recommend the manga to fans of the anime and wholesome romance stories in general. For more from the spring anime season, check out my anime/manga comparison for Oshi no Ko and my Otaku Elf history series, and stay tuned for my next anime/light novel comparison of the winter season fantasy romcom Endo and Kobayashi Live: The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte!

* all images are from the Insomniacs After School anime and manga, screenshots taken by me; top banner image made by me in Canva with a screenshot from episode 1 of the anime

 Oshi no Ko Anime/Manga Comparison

Ai Hoshino with her twins, Aqua & Ruby

    Welcome back to Beyond The Anime! This latest entry in my anime/manga comparison series will cover my favorite anime of Spring 2023, Oshi no Ko! Fans have given much well-deserved praise to the anime for its stellar adaptation of the source manga, so much that I had expected the manga to be exactly the same story, just in a different form of media - but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the manga offers a wealth of new content even for fans who have already watched the anime. 

    While the main story is still the same, the presence of short "interviews" with the characters before each chapter of volume 1 add new information that hints at events to come. Each of these segments are only a page long, but the foreshadowing gives an entirely different vibe to the beginning of the series when compared to the anime's movie-length premiere which omits these flash-forward scenes. Because these segments contain spoilers, I will discuss them in a separate section at the end of the review for the sake of keeping the main comparison spoiler-free for fans who have completed the anime but haven't yet started reading the manga. 

Ai smiling at her twins' adorable glowstick routine

Ai smiling during that same scene in the manga

    The artwork and character designs of the manga are beautiful, and the anime portrays them perfectly. Every expression is a perfect match, and the vibrant colors of the anime, smooth animation and excellent voice acting bring the story to life on the screen. I've watched the anime both with the original Japanese voices and subtitles as well as the currently airing English dub, and both options are solid choices, though I did feel that the Japanese version was stronger overall - particularly during key scenes like the end of episode 7. 

    The anime does a fantastic job adapting the story as well. Over the course of the first manga volume, which covers the anime's premiere episode, the only major omissions were the flash forward character interview pages at the beginning of each chapter. It was an interesting choice, focusing solely on the present timeline to maximize the emotional roller coaster effect of the premiere, rather than include the story hints that gave the impression of dark secrets in the future for Ai and her children. 

Ai teaching Ruby to dance

The same scene, with Ai and Ruby's movements reflected in a mirror image

    One of my favorite scenes of the premiere, in which Ai helps Ruby to overcome her fear of falling and dance like she's always wanted to, is a great example of how the same thing can be portrayed beautifully in both the anime and the manga while drawing on the unique strengths of each art form. The manga shows Ruby matching Ai's movements as though her mother's image is reflected in a mirror, a creative visual representation of Ruby's words about Ai's dance routines being forever in her memory, and the anime goes all out with the bright colors and creative art style to give this scene a fantasy feel like the dream come true that it is for Ruby.

    I really enjoyed being able to experience this story in both ways, watching the anime (mostly) free of spoilers first and then reading the manga with all of the teases of things to come. The first volume covers the movie-length premiere and concludes with the same brief scene showing Aqua and Ruby as teenagers, and the presentation was so exact that I couldn't help but imagine the ending theme playing in the background as I read the last pages. 

Aqua plays his role so well

    The second volume, which covers the "Sweet Today" TV drama arc of episodes 2-4, features only a few differences. There weren't any big changes here like leaving out the previous volume's flash forward scenes, but the manga's focus on dialogue during the "Sweet Today" shoot really added to the themes of light and darkness found throughout the story, emphasizing that this metaphor can apply to the series as a whole. Likewise, the scene where Aqua leans into Melt's punch while the cameras were rolling felt more dynamic in the anime with the benefit of movement to portray his actions. It's still the same great story we've already seen in the anime, but I found it just as engaging to read even knowing how the main events play out.

    At the very end of the second volume is a short bonus chapter from Aqua and Ruby's young childhood with Ai, which was a really nice addition to keep their mother present in the story. This bath time scene was shown briefly at the end of the premiere episode as one of many when Ai's life flashed before her eyes, making this moment feel emotional and bittersweet, but here it's more comedic, with Ai starting to see Ruby's otaku tendencies and Aqua trying not to see too much of Ai as she gave them their baths. 

The added visual in the anime was a nice touch

And the director thought Aqua used big words...

    One slight disappointment is that the joke about Kana being able to cry on cue, which uses a play on the words in the Japanese dialogue, was translated differently in the manga and didn't use the original "baking soda" joke like the anime did. The manga uses "cryogenetics" as a phrase that sounds vaguely similar to cry, but I don't think the joke comes across as well, and it doesn't quite sound natural coming from someone Ruby's age. Plus, Ruby's mental image of Kana licking baking soda in the anime is much funnier. I was surprised to see that her visualization of the wordplay was anime-original. (This change may be solely due to the translation, rather than a difference in dialogue from the manga in its original Japanese.)

    The manga also uses a different translation for the nickname given to Aqua by director Taishi Gotanda, who meets Aqua when he's still a very young, extremely well spoken child. In the anime, Taishi first calls him "precocious baby" and later shortens it to "precocious" when Aqua is a teenager, but the manga instead uses the translation "wunderkind". Both of these phrases technically get the same point across, but I prefer the "precocious" nickname. It reflects Aqua's impressive manner of speaking in a way that has positive and negative connotations, as the word precocious has frequently been used by those who would find this sort of wise-beyond-their-years behavior annoying, which pairs well with the director implying Aqua's surprising intelligence gives him a creepy vibe.

I'm so glad this hilariously ham-filled dialogue was the same in both the manga and the anime

Character Interviews

    One of the major differences that sets the manga apart from the anime version of Oshi no Ko is the interview segments which appear at the beginning of each chapter and feature heavy foreshadowing for events beyond even what was covered in season 1 of the anime. This part of the review will discuss the content of those character interviews, and as such contains spoilers for the first season of the anime, volume 1 of the manga, and speculation of future plotlines. 

This full color image from the opening pages of the first manga volume shows a preview of Aqua and Ruby as teenagers being called onto the set by a camera crew, alongside an image of their idol and their previous lives

    For many viewers experiencing this story for the first time through the anime, the plot twist at the end came as a sudden shock that stood in stark contrast to the adorable scenes of family life that followed Ai's twins from their infancy through their first four years. However, the character interviews present only in the manga feature an ominous vibe. These visions of the future subtly imply through the characters' words that Ai isn't with them anymore, foreshadowing her death before the reader reaches that point at the end of volume 1.  

    According to the story, these interviews are being conducted before the release of director Taishi Gotanda's new film, The 15 Year Lie, dedicated to Ai - a film that he tried to release years ago to no avail. Aqua, who has been working with and learning from him over the years, will be acting in the production along with Ruby (who says this film will be her first) and Kana. This is one of the first hints that this story may be taking a dark turn, or perhaps that Ai's secret will be revealed somehow, and it's presented as a lead in to the chapter about Aqua's first acting job when he was around two years old, long before any of these shocking developments happen. Kana's interview also made a reference to getting "shanked" in another instance of ominous foreshadowing. 

Saitou Ichigo, former president of Strawberry Productions and Miyako's runaway husband - a rare post-timeskip sighting

    The manager of Strawberry Productions, which supported Ai's group B Komachi, was never shown again in the anime after the timeskip, though it was mentioned that Ai's death hit him hard and caused him to run away from both his company and his family. In the manga, his interview is shown before the tragic event, and he lashes out in despair when the crew asks him about Ai, saying that his life was over when he lost her. This was one of the most ominous flash forward scenes by far, which would have understandably caused readers to wonder what exactly he meant by that comment - lost her as a client, or lost her life?  

    In her interview, Miyako mentions Aqua and Ruby experiencing both favored treatment and trials in just the right amounts as though by divine guidance. This one isn't quite as much of a spoiler, as having a mix of ups and downs in life is fairly common, but it does match up well with what we've seen so far of the Hoshino twins, and the "divine guidance" might be a reference to the little trick Aqua and Ruby played on her as babies. The interviews also show Aqua and Ruby's kindergarten teacher and one of Ai's fans (now holding a fan with Ruby's picture) who makes an appearance in the first and last episodes of season one, which was a nice callback.

Has Aqua completely let go of his facade? 

    One point of interest is how brutally honest Aqua is during his interview. He's dropped all of the polite pretense he used on the dating show, admitting to the camera that he will never love anyone, and anyone who falls for him will never get anything back. Reading this after watching the Love Now arc, which ends with Aqua keeping up the act of dating Akane in public, was mind-blowing. Aqua previously talked about telling lies and keeping his true self hidden in order to protect himself, and it makes me curious about what could have led to such a change in how much he's willing to reveal to others, even going so far as to say acting is revenge to him. 

    Without knowing how events will play out later in the story, this comment could be taken any number of ways - including the old saying that success is the best revenge. Of course, Aqua's intentions are much darker, but he would be unlikely to reveal that to the public even if he grew tired of playing the role of the charismatic young star. Although his words are no different from the Aqua we know from season 1 of the anime and these early manga volumes, his openness about real feelings he knows might not be well received hints at a major shift in his life. 

Ai with her twins on their first birthday

    The only "interview" which was included in the anime was the scene before the final chapter of volume 1, the video of Ai with her twins, wishing that they would grow up strong and healthy. A banner, balloons and stuffed animals for Aqua and Ruby's first birthday were added in the anime, making this precious scene even more adorable. 

    As a big fan of the anime who easily considers it my favorite of the Spring 2023 season, I loved the manga and absolutely recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the anime. The manga is every bit as great as its adaptation, and the extra content in volume 1 alone, with the intriguing glimpse into the future it provides, is enough to make it worth a read for fans. Stay tuned for my next anime/manga comparison from the Spring 2023 season, Insomniacs After School, and my anime/light novel comparison for Saving 80,000 Gold In Another World For My Retirement coming soon! 

Bonus picture of Ai with Ruby and Aqua during their kindergarten days from volume 2 (between chapters 18 & 19)