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In the case of many anime where the manga came first, things that are included
in the anime but not the manga (such as filler arcs) seem to be not considered
totally canon to the series, indicating that manga is generally what is
considered to set canon. One example of this is the Quincy arc in Bleach. For
series where the anime came first, such as Code Geass, is the anime then
considered to set canon?


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2013-09-18T16:35:52.027
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anime-production manga-production
If the anime came first, what is considered "canon"?


What is considered canon is generally decided by the author(s) or license
holder. I think you need to get a better idea of the definition of canon.

> the original work from which the fan fiction author borrows

or

> a descriptor of specific incidents, relationships, or story arcs that take
> place within the overall canon

  * [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_\(fiction\)) ([Original revision](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Canon_\(fiction\)&oldid=573082785#cite_note-4) where definitions came from)

So, to directly answer your question, if there was _only_ a manga and anime,
and the manga came first, then the manga is canon. I say only, because many
manga and anime are based off of light novels or visual novels. In that case,
the light novel or visual novel would be canon.

If the anime came first, then it will probably be whatever the license holder
decides is canon. This is an assumption, because I think anime writers give up
the rights to their work.


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When a series is presented in several media, most of the versions will usually
be said to be "based on" some other version, and whichever version is not
"based on" anything of the others is canon. Under normal circumstances, that
one is the one that came first.

But this is only a general guideline. Sometimes things get strange. Consider
_Revolutionary Girl Utena_ , which has no fewer than four presentations: the
manga, the TV series, the movie, and the manga of the movie. The movie-manga
is based on the movie, of course, but the other three are considered separate
canons. Sort of. Like I said, Utena is strange.


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Canon is whatever the rights holder (people who own the IP) says it is. Canon
is always changing. Just look at the American comic industry, DC and Marvel
are always retconning and reinventing the canon.


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