History SpiritualAdaptation / AnimeAndManga

* ''Anime/AngelsEgg'' is basically what if the 1978 version of ''WesternAnimation/WatershipDown'' was made by Creator/AndreiTarkovsky.
* ''Manga/TheFiveStarStories'' is essentially a comic prequel, sequel, and interquel to ''Anime/HeavyMetalLGaim''. It could also be seen as an (absolutely gorgeous) adaptation of ''Literature/{{Dune}}''.
* ''Anime/SummerWars'' is getting a reputation for being the best ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'' film ever. Having the same director and basic plot as one of the most popular actual ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'' films probably helps on that front.
* ''Anime/TheBigO'' is considered to trump ''WesternAnimation/BatmanGothamKnight'' at being an anime adaptation of the Caped Crusader.
* ''Anime/SpiritedAway'' is quite possibly the best Japanese anime adaptation of ''Literature/AliceInWonderland''.
* ''Franchise/DragonBall'' was clearly inspired by the Chinese literary classic ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest'' for some of its characters and stories right down to Goku's name which is a Japanese translation of Sun Wukong, the main protagonist of the novel.
* ''Anime/OsomatsuSan'' can be seen as the anime equivalent to the many Creator/HannaBarbera based Creator/AdultSwim originals such as ''WesternAnimation/Sealab2021'' or ''WesternAnimation/HarveyBirdmanAttorneyAtLaw'', being edgier, parodic, adult oriented reboots of 60s kids shows.
* ''Anime/{{Flag}}'' seems to be ''VideoGame/BeyondGoodAndEvil'' set in Afghanistan, with the United Nations Task Force standing in for the American military. The InUniverseCamera bits recall ''84 Charlie Mopic''.
* ''Anime/VoicesOfADistantStar'' is perhaps the best and most tear-inducing adaptation of ''Literature/TheForeverWar'' and ''Literature/EndersGame'' made by a single man.
* ''Anime/{{Gunbuster}}'' is ALSO like an adaptation of ''Literature/TheForeverWar'' and ''Literature/EndersGame''.
* ''Anime/CodeGeass'' could easily pass as an adaptation of Frank Herbert's ''Literature/{{Dune}}'' saga...with robots and spinning kicks!
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Histeria}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/HorribleHistories'' may be long gone, but really they live as a series called ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers''.
** Though one couldn't help but wonder whether the overblown NationalStereotypes in ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'' might have been foreshadowing. Then again, considering just how absurd and insane said stereotypes were presented (such as Neo-Mexico's "Tequila Gundam", among others), that anime makes even ''[[Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers Hetalia]]'' at its most over the top look subtle.
* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory'' is basically an anime adaptation of ''Film/TopGun,'' if it took place in the future and involved Gundams. Even the openings are reminiscent of ''Danger Zone'' and late '80s-early '90s power ballads.
** However, a better one came out later on in the form of ''Anime/MacrossPlus''.
** The OVA however also makes for a nice take on ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'', as the GP-02 is pretty much a ''Metal Gear Gundam.''
* ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' could be described as an anime adaptation of ''Film/MadMax1'', only with martial arts.
* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'':
** ''Lagann'' is pretty much an adaptation of ''Manga/GetterRobo'''s later arcs with a bit more silliness.
** It's likely the closest thing to an ''Literature/EmpireFromTheAshes'' anime.
* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn'' is practically ''Literature/TheDaVinciCode'' [[RecycledInSpace in the Universal Century]], with the Vist Foundation, Unicorn Gundam and Laplace's Box standing in for the Priory of Sion, codex and Holy Grail respectively.
** And as of the last episode, it can also pass for a Gundam version of ''Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey'' given that Laplace's Box resembles a monolith[[spoiler: and that Banagher and Full Frontal's Newtype vision begins very similarly to the infamous stargate sequence.]]
* ''Manga/KillMeBaby'' might perfectly be a licensed parody of ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha''. The sheer premise of "stoic girl with blonde hair in twin tails and black ribbons who works as an enforcer has a cheerful, brown-haired, more mundane female friend who saw the darkness of her work and thus attempts to bring the best out of her" should rings all the bells.
* ''Anime/GirlsUndPanzer'' became a subversion of this trope. Many viewers considered it to be [[TheAnimeOfTheGame the anime version]] of ''VideoGame/WorldOfTanks''. Apparently the people in charge of both series thought so too, because they began a cross-promotional campaign in Japan when ''World Of Tanks'' was set to be released there.
* ''Anime/AnoHanaTheFlowerWeSawThatDay'' would be one of Creator/KeyVisualArts' best works in years, except that they didn't actually make it.
* ''Manga/CellsAtWork'', being about anthropomorphized blood cells, viruses, and the general inner working of the human body, is frequently described as an anime version of ''Film/OsmosisJones''.
* ''Anime/SailorMoon'' can be the closest thing to a shojo anime adaptation of ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'' due to their heathy balance of comedy, drama and adventure and both featuring a teenage KidHero in a larger-then-life adventure, except the TimeTravel and CoolCar elements are [[RecycledInSpace replaced with]] the MagicalGirlWarrior aspect. As a matter of fact, one viewer who noticed the comparisons made an [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdH5-HzHUC0 AMV inspired by it]].
** The "Death Busters" arc can be considered a magical girl reimagining of ''Film/TheAdventuresOfBuckarooBanzaiAcrossTheEighthDimension'' which also involves a plot of a mostly one-gender group of heroes (the Sailor Guardians being this to the Hong Kong Cavaliers) up against an evil alien force led by TheQuisling MadScientist (the Death Busters and Professor Tomoe being this to the Red Lectroids and Dr. Emilio Lizardo / Lord John Whorfin). Also, both ''Back to the Future'' and ''The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension'' were produced by Neil Canton so it comes full circle.
* ''Anime/{{Simoun}}'' can be described as a YuriGenre reimagining of ''Literature/ACanticleForLeibowitz''.
* ''Anime/LastExile'' and its sequel make for a pretty good crossover between ''Literature/{{Dune}}'' and ''VideoGame/SidMeiersAlphaCentauri.''
* Both ''Roleplay/RecordOfLodossWar'' and ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'' are often called anime adaptations of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''. The former is how the game is intended to be played. The latter is how it usually turns out. It helps both series were based on respective author's ''D&D'' game.
* ''Anime/FutureWar198X'' is the closest thing to a Literature/TheThirdWorldWar movie adaptation.
* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' is the best ''Film/FleshAndBlood1985'' manga/comic ever made.
* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'':
** It is probably the closest there will ever be to an anime adaptation of ''Literature/SailorNothing'', though the creators had probably never heard of it.
** What with its overt religious symbolism, time slowing GunFu / GunKata battle, and escape from a false reality, ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaTheMovieRebellion'' is the best anime adaptation of ''Film/TheMatrix'' since ''Anime/TheAnimatrix''.
* The anime adaptation of ''VideoGame/{{Gungrave}}'' is sometimes referred to as "Film/TheGodfather as done by [[Manga/{{Trigun}} Yasuhiro Nightow]]"
* Some people like to call the anime adaptation of ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'' "The best anime series Creator/QuentinTarantino ever wrote."
* ''LightNovel/ReZero'' is the closest thing to a novel & anime adaptation of ''VideoGame/DarkSouls''.
* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'': WordOfGod acknowledges ''VisualNovel/MuvLuvAlternative'' as a core influence and inspiration, and it shows.
* ''Manga/HighschoolOfTheDead'' has almost all the elements found in George Romero's Film/LivingDeadSeries.
* ''Manga/SchoolLive'' is frequently described as a ''ComicBook/TheWalkingDead'' manga with {{moe}} high school girls.
* ''Anime/SpaceDandy'' is sometimes viewed as a an amazing adaptation/sequel to ''Film/{{Spaceballs}}'', due to having a similar style of snarky, [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall self-]] [[PaintingTheMedium aware]] humor. There is an animated ''Spaceballs'' series, but it's widely viewed as a disgraceful and cheap rehash of the original film, while ''Space Dandy'' is praised for doing what that show should've done, making its own unique voice from the similar base of "epic SpaceOpera parody".
* Do you ever want to see an anime adaptation of the ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' series? You can either watch ''Anime/CasshernSins'' or ''Anime/YattermanNight''. (The former could actually be seen as bringing it full circle, as ''Mega Man'' itself bears a number of similarities to ''Casshern''.)
** Comparisons between Casshern and Dio could also easily be brought up with Capcom's [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry Dante and Vergil]].
* Almost every part of ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' can be considered a manga/animé adaptation of something else:
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventurePhantomBlood Phantom Blood]]'', with its themes of lineage, its setting of Victorian era London, and the main threat being a vampire with zombie minions, may be the closest thing to a ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' manga/animé yet (along with CV's [[WesternAnimation/{{Castlevania}} western-produced Netflix adaptation]]).
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureBattleTendency Battle Tendency]]'' is likened to ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', owing to its pre-World War II setting, Nazis [[spoiler:initially]] as an opposing force, an ancient mystery surrounding an artifact and Aztec vampires, and globe-trotting adventure plot. Joseph even looks like Indy himself come ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Stardust Crusaders]]''.
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Stardust Crusaders]]'' is essentially a modern-day (well, [[TheEighties then-modern day]]) retelling of ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'', what with the heroes setting out to kill a vampire to free a lady from a curse his existence inflicts her with. [[WhatCouldHaveBeen In fact]], had [[ExecutiveMeddling had executives not gotten in the way]], the connections would have been more overt.
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureSteelBallRun Steel Ball Run]]'' has been likened by some to be an adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/WackyRaces'', only set in Victorian times and with horses and [[GuardianEntity Stands]] as opposed to racecars and gadgets.
* Some people would argue that the plot of ''Manga/YonaOfTheDawn'' is dead on the kind of plots ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' games have.
* ''Manga/MadeInAbyss'', as a survival-oriented story about an [[DeathWorld insanely dangerous]] cave system complete with a {{Bottomless Pit|s}}, [[EldritchAbomination Lovecraftian monstrosities]], and [[FantasticFlora weird plant life]], could be seen as an [[DarkerAndEdgier especially brutal]] manga adaptation of ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}''. It's also been described as "''VideoGame/EtrianOdyssey'' The Anime".
* Hideaki Anno has admitted in interviews that ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' was basically his go at making his own ''Manga/{{Devilman}}'' anime.
-->'''Anno:''' I think I didn’t do it consciously… But after that, people made me notice: Oh, this is ''Devilman.''
* ''LightNovel/WorldEndWhatDoYouDoAtTheEndOfTheWorldAreYouBusyWillYouSaveUs'' has often been compared to the ''VideoGame/{{Nier}}'' series in terms of overall themes and plot. Both take place in post-apocalyptic fantasy worlds where humanity has [[spoiler: devolved into the monsters that now threaten the nonhuman remnants of civilization]]. Similarly, the reveal about the origins of the [[spoiler: Beasts and Shades]] causes a major existential crisis in the main character of each series. Furthermore, the final antagonist of both series is a [[spoiler: Beast/Shade version of the protagonist]].
* ''Anime/{{Symphogear}}'' is basically an anime adaptation of ''VideoGame/WildArms'' in all but name, right down to sharing the same production and writing staff, and is considered to be even better then all the post [=PS2=] Wild Arms related media that has been released since then.
* ''Manga/WanderingSon'' is similar to the 1990s film ''Film/MaVieEnRose''. They're both about the struggles of feminine brown-haired children who [[UsefulNotes/{{Transgender}} identify as female despite being male-assigned-at-birth]]. Later on, they befriend characters who [[AmbiguousGenderIdentity may be trans boys]].
* ''Manga/OnePiece'' is in many ways The Manga[=/=]Anime of ''VideoGame/MonkeyIsland'': Both are wacky pirate adventures full of [[ItRunsOnNonsensoleum insane explanations]] and [[ViolationOfCommonSense insane solutions to problems]]: ''One Piece'' has a swordsman who can talk when he has a sword in his mouth and a chef who can survive his leg being on fire because of their hearts (said chef can also perform ''plastic surgery'' by kicking people), while ''Monkey Island'' has you deliberately mixing medicine to put yourself in a coma, firing yourself out of a cannon ''three times'', and triggering a volcanic eruption and ''point-blank range.''
* ''Anime/MahoGirlsPrecure'' is an anime adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/PrincessGwenevereAndTheJewelRiders'', as both are MagicalGirl series with a PowerTrio that has pink, purple and green theme colors, takes place in a fantasy world and has the heroines use the power of jewels to defeat the forces of evil.
* The anime adaptation of ''Nightmare Campus'' is [[InNameOnly less of an adaptation]] of the manga it's based off of, and more of an adaptation of ''Manga/{{Devilman}}'', with elements of ''Manga/{{Susanoo}}'' thrown in.
* ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV'' is an AnimatedAdaptation of both ''Series/{{Sliders}}'' as a show that deals heavily with TheMultiverse and ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' in that said multiverse is a love-letter to a particular franchise (the Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon for ''Kingdom Hearts'' and Franchise/YuGiOh for ''ARC-V''.)
* ''Anime/GundamBuildDiversReRise'' is, for some [[UsefulNotes/FurryFandom veteran furry fans outside Japan]], the closest thing to an animated adaptation, let alone [[{{Anime}} a Japanese-made one]], from ''ComicBook/AlbedoErmaFelnaEDF'' (with some elements from ''ComicBook/{{Katmandu}}'' thrown into it, culture-wise), at least in its basic premise: [[spoiler:An AI created by humans controlling a world populated with anthropomorphic animals involved in a planet-wide war. The main difference here is the fact in ''Albedo'', the whole war is much bigger, as involve many solar systems, and its respective AI, the Net, is much more benevolent than the one from this show]]. This especially funny because the creator of ''Albedo'', Creator/SteveGallacci, took some inspiration from many Japanese media for the comic, ''Gundam'' included, and he also expressed his interest to adapt ''Albedo'' into animation, especially to an {{Anime}} format, rather than WesternAnimation.
* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'':
** Many fans of the Disney film ''Film/SkyHigh2005'' have embraced ''My Hero Academia'' as an unofficial Japanese remake. Both deal with a world where superhumans are commonplace, with the main character starting off as a BadassNormal who eventually gains superpowers, and taking place in a SuperheroSchool that has the world's equivalent to ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' as an alumnus.
** It's a softer and brighter manga adaption of the ''Literature/WildCards'' series. Both take place in worlds where the vast majority of the human population possess a superpower with the majority of them worthless ([[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway Deuces]]), some of them turning people into [[BodyHorror physical mutants]] (Jokers), a selected few into [[SuperPowerLottery winners with an actually useful power]] who can become "heroes" ([[HeartIsAnAwesomePower Aces]]) ''and'' a small percentage of the population without a power altogether ([[{{Muggles}} Nats/Quirkless]]). The only difference between them is the absence of "Black Queens" (aka the mortality rate) in ''My Hero Academia''.
* If you're looking for a ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' manga/anime, you could do a lot worse than ''Manga/BlackLagoon''.
* ''Manga/SixThousandTheDeepSeaOfMadness'' is considered one to ''Film/EventHorizon''. In both stories, a crew is trapped in a deeply isolated space (in the first, a deep sea facility 6000 meters underwater; in the latter, an abandoned, missing spaceship), and have to deal with strange, eldritch horrors haunting them. Both are noticeable for similar tones of horror, which leans dark, but still somewhat over-the-top.
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* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' is the best ''Film/FleshAndBlood'' manga/comic ever made.

* ''Manga/{{6000 The Deep Sea Of Madness}}'' is considered one to ''Film/EventHorizon''. In both stories, a crew is trapped in a deeply isolated space (in the first, a deep sea facility 6000 meters underwater; in the latter, an abandoned, missing spaceship), and have to deal with strange, eldritch horrors haunting them. Both are noticeable for similar tones of horror, which leans dark, but still somewhat over-the-top.

* ''Manga/6000TheDeepSeaOfMadness'' is considered one to ''Film/EventHorizon''. In both stories, a crew is trapped in a deeply isolated space (in the first, a deep sea facility 6000 meters underwater; in the latter, an abandoned, missing spaceship), and have to deal with strange, eldritch horrors haunting them. Both are noticeable for similar tones of horror, which leans dark, but still somewhat over-the-top.

* ''Anime/SenkiZesshouSymphogear'' is basically an anime adaptation of ''VideoGame/WildArms'' in all but name, right down to sharing the same production and writing staff, and is considered to be even better then all the post [=PS2=] Wild Arms related media that has been released since then.

* ''Anime/SailorMoon'' can be the closest thing to a shojo anime adaptation of ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'' due to their heathy balance of comedy, drama and adventure and both featuring a teenage KidHero in a larger-then-life adventure, except the TimeTravel and CoolCar elements are [[RecycledInSpace replaced with]] the MagicalGirlWarrior aspect.

* ''Manga/WanderingSon'' is similar to the 1990s film ''Film/MaVieEnRose''. They're both about the struggles of feminine brown-haired children who [[{{Transgender}} identify as female despite being male-assigned-at-birth]]. Later on, they befriend characters who [[AmbiguousGenderIdentity may be trans boys]].

* ''Anime/GundamBuildDiversReRise'' is, for some [[UsefulNotes/FurryFandom veteran furry fans outside Japan]], the closest thing to an animated adaptation, let alone [[{{Anime}} a Japanese-made one]], from ''ComicBook/AlbedoErmaFelnaEDF'' (with some elements from ''ComicBook/{{Katmandu}}'' thrown into it, culture-wise), at least in its basic premise: [[spoiler:An AI created by humans controlling a world populated with anthropomorphic animals involved in a planet-wide war. The main difference here is the fact in ''Albedo'', the whole war is much bigger, as involve many solar systems, and its respective AI, the Net, is much benevolent than the one from this show]]. This especially funny because the creator of ''Albedo'', Creator/SteveGallacci, took some inspiration from many Japanese media for the comic, ''Gundam'' included, and he also expressed his interest to adapt ''Albedo'' into animation, especially to an {{Anime}} format, rather than WesternAnimation.

* ''Anime/VoicesOfADistantStar'' is perhaps the best and most [[TearJerker tear-inducing]] adaptation of ''Literature/TheForeverWar'' and ''Literature/EndersGame'' made by a single man.