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I got into a debate with a
**[friend](https://anime.stackexchange.com/users/85/hashirama-senju)** about
whether or not it's possible for an anime to come out before its manga.

He claimed that there were several instances where the anime actually preceded
the manga. Is this the case?

P.S.: I know that there are several anime _without_ a manga. I also know that
there are manga created from games. That's not what I'm asking. I'm asking
whether or not there is a series where the **anime** came before the
**manga**.


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anime-production manga-production
Has an anime ever come out before the manga was published?


Yes, there are exceptions to the "rule" that an anime must be inspired by a
manga. There are indeed some anime that do not have a manga corresponding, and
other such things.

But **yes** , there are also anime series which inspired one or more manga.

The following list are some of the (arbitrarily selected as recognizable)
names from a more complete list featured on the [TVTropes article "Anime
First"](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AnimeFirst):

  * [_Code Geass_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_Geass)
  * [_Cowboy Bebop_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowboy_Bebop)
  * [_Digimon Xros Wars_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digimon_Fusion#Xros_Wars_.282010-2011.29)
  * [_Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nausica%C3%A4_of_the_Valley_of_the_Wind_%28film%29) (as the article says, a weird example; the manga was created _for the purpose of guiding the anime film_ )
  * [_Wolf's Rain_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf%27s_Rain)


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Yes it is possible. And it is actually quite common. A couple of recent
examples would be:

  * [Sora no Woto (Sound of the Sky)](http://myanimelist.net/anime/6802/So_Ra_No_Wo_To)
  * [Puella Magi Madoka Magica](http://myanimelist.net/anime/9756/Mahou_Shoujo_Madoka%E2%98%85Magica)

Note that in both examples here, there is some overlap between the release
dates of the Anime and the Manga. But the key point is that the Anime was
started first.

Often times an Anime would be done as an original work. Then if the Anime
turns out to be extremely popular, then the producers will go ahead and do a
Manga as well. (To milk the cash cow.)


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Two more examples of series where the anime came before the manga that I am
familiar with are _[Vandread](http://myanimelist.net/anime/180/Vandread)_ and
_[Sakura Taisen](http://myanimelist.net/anime/561/Sakura_Taisen)_ (a.k.a.
_Sakura Wars_ ); though to be fair, that latter series was a video game
franchise first, before being adapted to anime, and then adapted to manga.


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It seems that I may be of little help to you, but there is a manga currently
ongoing and the anime is ahead of both the spin off and the ongoing series.
The manga/anime is called _Mushibugyo_ , and the second series is _Joujuu
Senjin!! Mushibugyo_.


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There is no particular rule that anime ought to be adaptions of existing
manga. Many anime are original, written by the director and screenwriters.
Some of the most popular of these **receive manga adaptions after** the anime
has started airing. Some of these receive **both a shounen manga and a shoujo
manga** , which are illustrated by differing mangaka and either run in
different magazines concurrently or run at different times. Some examples of
these titles which have both a shounen adaption and a shoujo adaption are:

  * _Neon Genesis Evangelion_
  * _Code Geass_
  * _Shin Kidousenki Gundam W_
  * _Tenkuu no Escaflowne_
  * _Mahoutsukai Tai!_

Anime that later get adapted into manga is **not uncommon in shoujo** , as
shoujo manga magazines an not financially-viable and make less money than
shounen magazines, so they are keen to cash in on a title that already has a
fanbase (thereby collecting those prior fans who will then begin to buy their
magazine and/or graphic novels who otherwise would not have). Some examples
include:

  * _Cowboy Bebop_ and _Cowboy Bebop Shooting Star_ published in ASUKA
  * _Pretty Cure_ (many varieties) published in Nakayoshi
  * _Ojamajo Doremi_ published in Nakayoshi
  * _Akihabara Dennou-gumi_ published in Nakayoshi
  * _Super Doll★Licca-chan_ published in Nakayoshi
  * _Mahou no Stage Fancy Lala_ published in Ribon
  * _Aikatsu!_ published in Ciao and Pucchigumi
  * _Pocket Monster PiPiPi Adventure_ and _Pocket Monster Chamo Chamo Pretty_ published in Ciao
  * _Tottoko Hamtarou_ published in Ciao
  * _Majokko Tickle_ published in Ciao
  * _Cutie Honey Flash_ published in Ciao
  * _Corrector Yui_ published in Ciao
  * _Jewelpet_ published in Ciao
  * _Fushigiboshi no Futagohime_ published in Ciao


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