This is discussion archived from a time before the current discussion method was installed.
livettora: I removed the A Song of Ice and Fire example because it doesn't really belong on this page. As the explanation states, anime episodes need to air every week, while Live Action usually airs a season each year. Given that there are already four books out and the pilot for the show hasn't even been shot yet, Ice and Fire fans have nothing to worry about. Except for the inevitable Adaptation Decay, probably. Besides, this page is supposed to be for examples of when Overtook the Manga has (or inevitably will) happened, not fan speculation over an adaptation of a long running series that hasn't even been filmed yet.
Morganite: It's interesting to contrast this with what was done with the Seven of Seven anime. According to comments in the manga, they consciously decided to do things differently in the anime. The most plot-significant change is probably that only one Nana goes to school in the anime, but there's also major differences in character appearances, personalities, background... (Oh, and there's the part where the anime Nanas can fly...)
I don't know if any other series have ever done this on purpose.
Andyzero: Mai-HiME and Mai-Otome have anime and manga that went different directions on purpose. Characterization and plot. Heck, Mashiro is a girl in the Mai-Otome anime, and a crossdressing guy in the manga.
Don Quigleone: I'm not sure if Neon Genesis Evangelion counts, weren't the mangaka and Gainax collaborating, and the manga starting earlier in order to build up anticipation?
Dr Dedman: The Mangaka is/was the primary character designer for the anime. Which is why we are STILL waiting for the last 4-5 chapters (he only does the manga when he has free time). The first 3 books are very faithful to the anime. Book 4 (which took a while to come out) is the point of diversion. Mostly though it's streamlining the story, and filling in some useful scenes that might have happened "off camera" in the anime. The characters are written very similarily, Shinji checks in as a little more "aggressive" in his passive-aggression and Asuka spells out a few things that were only hinted at. Other than that, he smooths down the plot even more (which may well presage how the next three movies go).
Charred Knight: Deleted it, the manga was based on the unreleased anime, and was done by the character designer. It usually takes a couple years for a manga to build up enough audience, and material to make an anime.
