Line #99 CoversAlwaysLie/AnimeAndManga


1	* ''Literature/TheEccentricFamily's'' [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/50889l_2676.jpg cover]] makes you think that the girl next to Yasaburo is the female lead but she is actually one of Yasaburo's forms and Benten--the purple-haired one, barely visible behind the pot-bellied tanuki statue--is the actual female lead.
2	* The far-out extreme would be the cover of ''Warriors of the Wind'', the original dub of the classic {{anime}} film ''Manga/NausicaaOfTheValleyOfTheWind'' done in the mid-'80s. The artist just [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRyTThcVTJl1kjH_voAZsidmLVPzZKEyMEv9p2wt9W15-717xm9&usqp=CAU made things up and added characters and elements]] that weren't in the movie at all[[note]]There were no flying horses, guns, robots, swords made of light, or shadow-men, the monsters in the movie the one on the cover vaguely resembled were not ever ridden, and of those five characters only the one tucked in the top-right corner looks anything like a character in the actual movie (Nausicaa, who even then wasn't blonde).[[/note]], presumably in an attempt to sell the film as TheMockbuster of multiple '80s blockbuster franchises like ''Franchise/StarWars'', ''Film/{{Clash of the Titans\|1981}}'', ''Film/{{Dune\|1984}}'', and ''Film/{{Jaws}}''. The dub itself [[DubInducedPlotlineChange wasn't an accurate representation]] of Creator/HayaoMiyazaki's work either, but it wasn't ''that'' different.
3	* Overlaps with NeverTrustATitle but the cover of ''Anime/PrincessMononoke'' proudly displays the titular wolf-raised ActionGirl San along with her adoptive wolf mother suggesting she will be heroine of the story. Anyone who’s seen the movie though will tell you "Princess Mononoke" ironically isn't even the main focus of the story nor is she the protagonist, who's actually Ashitaka. [[https://img.discogs.com/LnzKUZ4PNTfObqhtZbuvnxl8Vo4=/fit-in/600x605/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-1434336-1219413510.jpeg.jpg Other]] [[https://dvdcover.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/2017-08-10_598cdace769a4_DVD-PrincessMononoke-950x633.jpg covers]] are more accurate.
4	* The artwork from the initial draft of ''Anime/MyNeighborTotoro'' where there was only one girl as the protagonist [[EarlyDraftTieIn is still widely used in promotional material]]. Including on the cover for the North American [[https://i.stack.imgur.com/thTGW.jpg Blu-ray]] from its post-2017 distributor, G-Kids. The Creator/{{Disney}} version also used it when they had the rights.
5	* On the very last Creator/DiC English dub DVD of ''Anime/SailorMoon R'', "Love Conquers All", Sailor Chibi Moon is pictured alongside Neo-Queen Serenity. However, Chibiusa doesn't actually show up as a Sailor Senshi until halfway through the next season. Apart from being spoileriffic, entirely different companies did those seasons. [=DiC=] did Classic and R, while S and [=SuperS=] were done by Cloverway (Sailor Stars wasn't dubbed until Creator/VizMedia gained the rights).
6	** Almost ALL of the Sailor Moon bootleg covers feature pictures from the wrong season.
7	** When [[Creator/{{Disney}} Buena Vista]] Home Video released Sailor Moon on VHS, some of the covers feature scenes from the other season. For example, "Evil Eyes" had Wiseman on the front cover, even though he never existed until the 'R' season.
8	* The poster shown for ''Literature/LoveChunibyoAndOtherDelusions'' makes the series look like a standard action fantasy anime, with main protagonist [[DeadpanSnarker Yuuta]] looking an awful lot like the BigBad. The show itself is actually a grounded SliceOfLife story, intertwined with some (imaginary) [[FantasySequence fantasy sequences]]. Seriously, It has to be [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/chuunibyou_demo_koi_ga_shitai_2104.jpg seen]] to be believed.
9	* ''Manga/DelinquentInDrag'': The ADV Films release's VHS cover made Creator/GoNagai's high school comedy look like an action film.
10	* The cover of [[http://img.affenheimtheater.de/black_lagoon_sb_cover1_1.jpg the fourth DVD]] ''Manga/BlackLagoon'' [=DVDs=] depicts [[CreepyTwins Hansel and Gretel]] as a pair of cheerful smiling gothic lolis. Anyone who's actually ''seen'' the episodes concerning them will know they are probably the most horrific examples of fearsomeness that exist in any anime that doesn't involve the supernatural. And probably some that ''do''.
11	* Possibly the example with the biggest chance of emotional scarring: ''Manga/ShadowStar''. The back cover of the first English volume describes it as "A rare mix of breathtaking fantasy and gripping action/adventure, filled with imagination, excitement, and delight." Paired with the way everything on the cover depicts the main character happily flying around against a pink background, and you've got a good cover to [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids attract little girls looking for a magical girl series]]. Except for the fact that ''Shadow Star'' is actually {{seinen}}, and ''extremely disturbing'' seinen at that. Whoops. (That aforementioned blurb also proves that Dark Horse ''really'' hadn't done their research when they first got hold of the manga...) The opening of the anime [[BaitAndSwitchCredits is even worse]]; not only does it have a super-cute art style and [[SoundtrackDissonance a very upbeat theme song]], but it references some shocking events from later in the series and treats them like a ''joke''. Also, one of the DVD covers features one of the side characters, [[LonelyRichKid Hiroko]], smiling like a typical CheerfulChild. Let's just say she's not quite like that in canon.
12	* ''Anime/BerserkTheGoldenAgeArc'' does this with the first two movies. ''[[https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYzA0ZGYxYzAtMmJlOC00OTFkLThhNmItYTdlMTdkNDY2NzQ4L2ltYWdlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTAyODkwOQ@@._V1_.jpg Egg of the King]]'' depicts a fun TeamShot where everyone (especially Guts) looks cheery, anyone who's familiar with [[Manga/{{Berserk}} this series]] will know the this '''not''' [[CrapSackWorld indicative]] of the [[DarkFantasy story]] at all, another [[https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AWJyu4HEJQc/T-54XjecpGI/AAAAAAAAFUs/C_9ZuGUCkxY/s1600/berserk.jpg cover]] also shows Skull Knight in large despite him actually making no appearance in the story at that point. ''[[https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71FZeKTlHCL._SL1292_.jpg Battle for Doldrey]]'' has the Behelit opening it's eyes and crying blood while the Eclipse is happening in the background along with Skull Knight, none of which happens until the third movie.
13	* ''Manga/FrankenFran'' is a horror comedy manga that tends to have every chapter feature some level of grotesque body horror. So naturally, the author uses suggestive {{hentai}}-like imagery featuring the female cast for the covers of each volume. Played with, as these [[http://i.imgur.com/tjXCFq6.jpg provocative tankoubon covers]] are usually followed immediately by alternate interior artwork that's [[http://i.imgur.com/vVpwLiy.jpg actually accurate to the manga's contents]].
14	* ''Manga/ElfenLied'' is chock full of gore, dismemberment, nudity and psychological horror, and yet the cover to the manga usually looks something like [[http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1030/882226864_d13ec4f4c4.jpg this.]]
15	** The ADV releases had 'blood-stained' covers which were more straight-forward.
16	* The cover of ''Anime/ThisUglyYetBeautifulWorld'''s manga has lots of fanservicey, {{yuri\|Genre}} undertoned pictures... all of which never come close to happening in the book itself.
17	* The covers of ''Manga/{{Amanchu}}'' show the girls in [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/amanchu!_volume_1.jpg sexy]] [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/amanchu!_volume_2.jpg swimwear]]--which never happens in-series. Well, at least the scuba gear still makes sense.
18	* ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'':
19	** The box sets and covers feature characters wearing skimpy clothing they don't wear in the series (and an odd emphasis on implied {{twincest}}, which, while refuted by canon on both sides, is often used for {{fanservice}} in promo pictures) for the first season. The second season's box art is still full of cuteness, often with Rika and Satoko. This, too, is only an accurate representation of about 40% of the series's content. The other 60% is murder.
20	** The [=OVAs=] are even worse; they're full of the girls wearing very little clothing. Even Hanyuu and Rika, two girls who appear to be about nine years old.
21	** The English DVD covers are in negative, giving them a creepy look, despite the fact that the art is happy and cute. It's a thematic reflection of what happens when you don't trust your TrueCompanions. You can, however, turn it inside out to get the normal look, and the Japanese boxset covers are posters you find inside the box.
22	** The manga, at least, averts the trope - the covers are the characters in their normal attire, surrounded by blood splatters.
23	* The American manga ''Manga/ReturnToLabyrinth''. The [[http://artseblis.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/return-to-labyrinth-cover.jpeg cover]] of the first volume, a lovely illustration by Kouyu Shurei, suggests "pretty boy romance"; the story is an adventure full of ToiletHumor in [[http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/multimoog/labyrinth/2.gif a completely different "amercanime" art style]] by one Chris [[MeaningfulName Lie]].
24	* The first boxset of ''Anime/PrincessTutu'' in America drew a lot of fire for choosing to put [[BrokenBird Rue]] on the cover in a skimpy outfit instead of the main MagicalGirl herself. Creator/ADVFilms likely got a lot of complaints, because later editions switched to a cover with Tutu as the focus.
25	* ''Anime/NeoRanga'''s cover depicts the trio of sisters who compose the main characters wielding huge wicked looking swords and wearing nothing but body paint. In reality the series is more of a giant robot-style deal, and while the characters do don the body paint at one point during the series (albeit with clothes), the giant swords are completely absent.
26	* The covers of ''Manga/FruitsBasket'', due to the system used to decide who's on the cover (more or less appearance order at least at the start), the character on the cover often doesn't appear much or even at all inside the book. The final two books feature Tohru's father and mother, both of whom are deceased. This is lampshaded in several cases, when filler pictures of the characters complain about how little they are in the story.
27	* [[http://cdn3a.dvdempire.org/products/78/1613578h.jpg The front cover]] of the North American DVD release for ''Anime/{{Simoun}}'' featured Neveril and Aeru sort of...hugging? Dancing? Playing patty-cake? Whatever they are doing they are close together and naked, but somehow their embrace has no sexual overtones at all, so the whole thing just looks weird. Also, there is not a single Simoun visible on the front cover, back cover, or spine. The series is '''named''' ''Simoun'' and the machines are nowhere to be found. Without already knowing the background to the series there is no way to determine even what genre the show is, first guess would probably go to MagicalGirl or an {{Ecchi}} series.
28	* The VHS release of the Beauty and the Beast episode of ''Anime/GrimmsFairyTaleClassics'' made Maria look like she's in her mid twenties rather than in her teens like in the animation, and the Beast looks like a black cat man instead of the black goblin like creature he is in the animation.
29	* Many covers and promotional artworks of ''Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaVivid'' feature Einhard together with Fate, even though they ''rarely'' interact with each other. It's mostly symbolic, since Einhard is basically Vivio's version of Fate.
30	** Many special editions feature characters that don't have much prominence in the story or random fanservice scenes or something completely different that don't happen there at all.
31	* The Animate cover for Vol. 1 of ''Manga/MagicalRecordLyricalNanohaForce'' [[http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/9260/68833fbe.jpg looked like this]]. One wonders how many unwitting readers bought it expecting a love-comedy, only to be treated with scenes from this DarkerAndEdgier installment of the ''Nanoha'' franchise?
32	** Each volume of the ''true colored'' edition features a character who doesn't have much prominence, except Lily and possibly Hayate.
33	* ''Franchise/DragonBall'':
34	** This trope could be applied to the ''Anime/DragonBallGT'' season sets. The first set, containing the first '''34''' episodes, features Super Saiyan 4 Goku on the cover, Super Saiyan 4 being a form Goku first achieves in '''episode 35'''. And the second set features Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta, a '''''[[OneSceneWonder One-Episode Wonder]]''''' from late in the series.
35	** When the Saban-dubbed episodes of ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' were released on DVD by Pioneer, there were three covers for the Namek arc that shown concept art of the characters ''past'' the Saban run. The concept art in question? Vegeta in the outfit he wore during the Freeza fight, Goku preparing the Spirit Bomb to use against Freeza and Goku as a Super Saiyan with the last one being on two of the three covers. Kid Goku is on the last cover, but he's not shown in any flashbacks in the episodes on that set.
36	** A common trend in the [[Manga/DragonBall original series]] covers is to show Goku and his friends taking [[DragonRider a ride on Shenron]] as seen on the first [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcT7UFNb1tvf6-QquIcRI5qnSrS7kXH0LdODxA&usqp=CAU volume cover]] of the manga, the first [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTTKYY85DIsKjhWLYuj1p_U6AwP6iuMOUhxHw&usqp=CAU DVD box set cover]] and even on the [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcSKhdTa5DvkpD-Q-hsL09QqLCaIbGPZwFGmQA&usqp=CAU cover]] of ''Anime/DragonBallThePathToPower''. At ''no point'' in the manga or anime do any of the heroes ride Shenron, save for Goku at the very end of ''Anime/DragonBallGT'' which is no longer considered canon. Also Shenron looks a friendly dragon in a lot of those covers in contrast to the red-eyed menacing dragon that actually appears in the show.
37	** Some of the early Kanzenban covers such as [[https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71gzTrPFvSL.jpg volume 1]] and [[https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/716pE9D-tBL.jpg volume 8]] depict Goku in detailed gi that he noticeably doesn’t wear in the story.
38	** Some of the covers on the Manga like the one for [[https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81vvyYX1e5L._SL1500_.jpg volume 2]], [[https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81M3IoDMDxL._SL1500_.jpg volume 10]] and particularly [[https://i0.wp.com/cm.blazefast.co/7e/86/7e861934993df2bd1f0b3ca17ec33981.jpg?ssl=1 volume 70]] depicts Bulma holding some firearms, which came with the implication that she'll [[TakeALevelInBadass take a Level in Badass]] and become an ActionGirl. In the actual show however, there wasn't one time that she did pick one up to use against the villains like Pilaf, or the Red Ribbon Army. And it was Goku that did the fighting against them.
39	** [[NonSerialMovie The movies]] are guilty of this on occasion.
40	*** The American ''[[Anime/DragonBallMysticalAdventure Mystical Adventure]]'' VHS cover shows Goku with his monkey tail, despite him not having it in that movie since Puar cut it off in [[Anime/DragonBallSleepingPrincessInDevilsCastle the previous movie]] to end his rampage as a Great Ape.
41	*** ''[[Anime/DragonBallZTheTreeOfMight The Tree of Might]]''[='s=] poster shows Goku holding the Power Pole, which he never uses in the movie.
42	*** ''[[Anime/DragonBallZLordSlug Lord Slug]]'' shows Commander Zeeun on the cover along suggesting he will be part of titular villain's QuirkyMinibossSquad. In the actual movie, [[AdvertisedExtra he's killed 11 minutes in]].
43	*** ''[[Anime/DragonBallZTheReturnOfCooler The Return of Cooler]]'' might fool you into thinking Goku and Vegeta will have to fight a [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTbsO4ywhrvxkTedB4eh3_UoHIqdQUU7pOazQ&usqp=CAU 60 foot Meta-Cooler as well as an army of smaller ones]]. In the movie all the Meta-Coolers are normal-sized.
44	*** Most covers of ''[[Anime/DragonBallZBojackUnbound Bojack Unbound]]'' show Goku with his HolyHalo alongside the Z-Fighters (even charging up a Kamehameha) implying he'll be joining the fray from beyond the grave. In truth he only helps out once in the film to save his son Gohan from Bojack and otherwise just spectates the battle from the afterlife.
45	*** The [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D-6PJomXUAUdzDL.jpg:large poster]] of ''[[Anime/DragonBallZFusionReborn Fusion Reborn]]'' shows Cooler, Nappa, Raditz, and Lord Slug among the villains who break out of Hell, but none of them appear in the movie.
46	* Would you think ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' would be about fighting ghost with samurai swords with a cover like [[http://www.swapstartmybiz.com/bleach-season-1-cover1.jpg this?]]
47	** An even better example is the cover of Volume 34, which has [[http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/ww56/RiseOPumkinator/nelliel.jpg Adult Nel on the cover]]. If you were a newcomer to Bleach you could be forgiven for thinking that adult Nel would play a significant role in this volume. In actuality, she has a total of '''7''' pages worth of screentime (that's counting a double-page spread as 2 Pages) and everything from her transformation into her adult form to her backstory was in Volume '''33'''.
48	* In a combination of this and WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids, the most sexually explicit {{yaoi\|Genre}} manga are often mistaken for tamer series due to the heavy use of pastel-tones and flowers.
49	* The manga prequel to ''VideoGame/HellgateLondon'' has a cover that looks like a nice ''Dragon Ball''-esque adventure, with the main characters and their family arranged in a happy little formation. The actual content is far from what this implies-most of the family is brutally slaughtered near the end, and that's not even getting into what comes before that.
50	* A Chinese ''Anime/{{Naruto}}'' DVD cover featured Kakashi in his Anbu uniform, yet he never wore that uniform in any of the episodes on the disc
51	* The US cover art for ''Manga/InitialD Third Stage'' shows a car that appears for all of 5 minutes of the movie, and the race against said car, despite being on Battle Stage, isn't much of one.
52	* At last one edition of the first book of ''Manga/BarefootGen'' suffers from it. The story is ''far'' less happy than its [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/barefootgencoverslie.jpg cover]]. What a happy looking series... about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
53	** ''Might'' be true for a Japanese audience. However, given pretty much the only thing Hiroshima is known for to people ''outside'' Japan, anyone who can't guess what "A cartoon story of Hiroshima" is going to wind up being about fails history forever.
54	* The ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' "Official Casebook" manga collections have back cover blurbs that make it sound like the stories involved in the books will all involve mystery solving and legal action in the vein of the games. Though there are a few mysteries involved most of the stories are just SliceOfLife pieces about the characters outside of court.
55	* Many volumes of ''Manga/RaveMaster'' have highly nonsensical/comical cover art which has '''absolutely nothing''' to do with the volume's story. One of the weirdest ones involved Haru and friends snowboarding.
56	* The cover of the first volume of the North American release of ''Literature/{{Sukisho}}'' have the title characters holding each other, surrounded by multitudes of bright pink flowers. Seems perfectly innocent, right? Or at least it does until you know [[YaoiGenre what it's]] [[MindRape about]].
57	* ''Manga/OnePiece'' Volume 59 has [[https://d30a6s96kk7rhm.cloudfront.net/original/readings/978/142/153/9781421539591.jpg Ace looking ready to kick some ass]], even though [[spoiler: he's mortally injured at the ''start'' of the volume and dead at the end of the first chapter.]]
58	** It could simply be as a tribute to the character, since [[spoiler:this is the last time he appears]].
59	** The [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/onepiece/images/0/0e/Volume_1.png/revision/latest?cb=20130115020528 first volume]] has Nami on the cover, sitting in a boat with Luffy and Zoro. She only appears near the end, and joins the crew in the second volume.
60	** Volumes 6 and 11 depict the Straw Hats in [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/onepiece/images/f/fb/Volume_6.png/revision/latest?cb=20130115021821 stylish]] [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/onepiece/images/1/1b/Volume_11.png/revision/latest?cb=20130115021822 clothing]] and Volume 12 has them [[https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91NWwtEJGTL.jpg surronded by gold and treasure]]. At that point in the story they wore normal clothing and didn't have heaps of riches. Most volumes depict events or characters that actually appear in the story and save the [[RuleOfCool fun imginary stuff]] for the Cover Spreads.
61	** The covers for the [[Anime/BaronOmatsuriAndTheSecretIsland 6th movie]] all show the Straw Hats goofing off implying some whacky hijinks are in store given Luffy is smiling broadly. The actual movie, however, has by far some ''darkest'' NightmareFuel-inducing moments in the franchise and Luffy in particular [[DarkestHour goes through hell]].
62	** Similar to the Ace example the Japanese cover of the 4th voume of the Skypeia arc depicts [[https://i.imgur.com/a55bBb3.png Sanji looking badass in the center]] along Enel and Nami impying he'll be fighting the ArcVillain. When actually at that point Sanji only has a HeroicSacrifice which makes him fall unconscious and doesn't fight Enel himself.
63	* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'':
64	** The poster and VHS cover for ''Anime/PokemonTheFirstMovie'' has several Pokemon in the background that aren't even in the movie at all. The same thing happened with the VHS cover of ''Anime/Pokemon2000'' showing a Kabuto and Caterpie on the front, two Pokemon of which don't appear in the movie itself.
65	** Some of the VHS covers for the series itself are misleading as well:
66	*** The cover of "The Mistery of Mount Moon" makes it look like Pikachu learns Metronome from a Clefairy that Ash catches. Nothing like that happens in the episode.
67	*** The front and back covers of "Psychic Surprise" both show stills from the episode, "The Tower of Terror", which is not included on the VHS at all.
68	*** Pikachu is shown wearing boxing gloves on the cover of "Fighting Tournament". While there is a scene in the episode where he wears them, he doesn't actually participate in the tournament.
69	*** The cover of "The Great Race" shows Pikachu running in the race when in the episode itself, he actually rides Squirtle.
70	*** The cover of "Jigglypuff Pop" shows Pikachu and Charmander singing together with Jigglypuff when in actuality, Jigglypuff is the only Pokemon that sings.
71	** The [[https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSoLCcbjhff0ta_dNmop8-e_xG9I6J4iEWZSw&usqp=CAU 2006 Australian DVD cover]] for ''Anime/PokemonLucarioAndTheMysteryOfMew'' shows both titular Pokemon running with Ash and Pikachu (the later two in their festival costumes) and its description makes no mention of the Golems.
72	* ''Manga/{{Oyaji}}'' is this an insane degree, one simply will not get the true meaning of this series by just glancing at the volume covers, what it seems like a hardcore old man fighting his way through life is actually a [[spoiler:dramatic and heartwarming tale of a man who wanted to be the loving father he never had to his children, and caring husband his mother didn't have, before he passes away]].
73	* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'': Oh great, yet another series featuring cute magical girls fighting monster of th...[[MindScrew WhatIsThisIDontEven]]... More specifically, the artwork implies that [[spoiler:Madoka becomes a [[MagicalGirl Puella Magi]] from the beginning when it doesn't actually happen until ''the end.'']]
74	** The SpinOff manga ''Manga/PuellaMagiOrikoMagica'' has a variation. Almost everyone assumed that the green haired girl on the cover of the first volume was the eponymous Oriko. Then the official preview images were released, revealing that ''[[IAmNotShazam she wasn't Oriko.]]''
75	** The [[http://wiki.puella-magi.net/File:Disc_2.jpg cutesy cover of Volume 2]] ([[AmericanKirbyIsHardcore not used for the U.S. release]]) does this sneakily. It is, in fact, an accurate portrayal of the literally candy-filled setting and upbeat mood of a scene in that volume... except, ten seconds later, [[MoodWhiplash things get ugly.]] Specifically, [[spoiler:the girl on the left is gruesomely decapitated]]. Though it almost doesn't matter, since this scene is approaching ItWasHisSled territory in the anime fandom.
76	** Not helped by all by its merchandise even post-TheReveal playing up the {{Moe}} factor.
77	* The DVD covers for Creator/ADVFilms' release of ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'' make the series look like a {{fanservice}} anime when it's nothing of the sort, showing the girls in [[https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91QumZ2kk4L._SL1500_.jpg a very unflattering light]]: exposed stomachs, embarrassed expressions, and skirts that are dangerously close to being [[PantyShot blown upwards by the wind]]. Granted, they're frames from the opening animation... very ''strategically'' chosen frames. The [[https://cdn.archonia.com/images/1-53544807-1-1-original1/azumanga-daioh-complete-collection-dvd-box-set.jpg Sentai Filmworks]] re-release uses artwork that's more faithful to the series' tone.
78	* The cover of the anime ''Manga/JyuOhSei'' shows the main character, Thor, in an outfit he never wears, complete with [[RuleOfCool war paint, a headband and sword]].
79	* ''Manga/WanderingSon'' covers show the two UsefulNotes/{{Transgender}} characters 'cross-dressing', when in the series they rarely dress up like that (especially the protagonist). The coloring of the characters is often incorrect, retcons and ArtEvolution aside. The back of the first volume shows Maho with ''blond hair'' while the inner artwork at the beginning of the manga shows her her normal brown.
80	* In the ''Literature/WarriorCats'' manga ''Escape From The Forest'', [[BigBad Tigerstar]] gets the cover all to himself, implying that [[AdvertisedExtra he will be important in it]], however he only appears once to ask the protagonist a question. After she answers it, he is not seen again.
81	* ''Manga/MiracleGirls'' covers almost always have the characters with incorrect haircolors. The mangaka lampshades this in her omakes, saying that it's due to the printing process and her original images had the correct colors.
82	* The cover of the ''Anime/BurstAngel'' OVA makes it look like a sequel to the TV series. It's actually a PREQUEL, set between a flashback episode and the rest of the series.
83	* A handful of early DVD covers for the Hungarian release of ''Anime/TransformersArmada'' show off characters that either haven't been introduced yet in the episodes that are on the disc, or use colorations that the characters only take on way-way later.
84	* The cover of ''Anime/DivergenceEve'' looks like a generic mecha series with lots of fanservice - when really the breasts of the lead characters are the last thing you end up thinking about whilst watching the show... and its incredibly complicated plot.
85	* ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'':
86	** Where to begin with the ''Anime/DigimonTheMovie'' poster/DVD & VHS art? The posters show the original Season 1 characters as depicted in Season 2 (high-school age), but these characters are mostly shown at their Season 1 ages (and all but Tai, Izzy, Matt and Sora have glorified cameos). Davis, Yolei and Cody are depicted in their Digital World outfits--they never wear them during the movie and never enter the Digital World. Terriermon (who has 3 horns on his forehead rather than only one - basically, is actually a recolored Lopmon) is shown along with what is possibly supposed to be Kokomon's child form, Lopmon--only Lopmon never appears in the movie and is shown inaccurately as a demented, fanged Terriermon. Oh, and the back of the VHS and DVD case features a plot summary about the older kids being kidnapped by a rogue Digimon--a plotline completely cut out of the dubbed movie.
87	** Early promotional material for ''Anime/DigimonTamers'' portrayed Impmon in typical BigBad fashion, as he was at the time planned as the serie's main antagonist. This route was later abandoned.
88	* Purposely done with the Japanese version of ''Manga/SayonaraZetsubouSensei'' as the bookflap blurb describes nonsensical stories that had nothing to do with the actual contents.
89	* The cover art of one American ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya'' DVD release shows [[https://oldies-cdn.freetls.fastly.net/i/boxart/w680/a-z/l/lmtb20845d.jpg?v=3 Haruhi standing alone with her shadow being that of her BunnyGirl outfit, implying that a bunny girl plays a much larger role in the plot than it actually does.]]
90	* One of two different DVD covers used by Creator/CentralParkMedia for the OVA ''Strange Love'' (AKA ''Hen'') depicted two characters kissing, in front of an abstract red/pink background. One of them is the main character (Chizuru), but the black-haired girl is a very minor character with little screentime and is not Chizuru's love interest -- the picture was taken from an ImagineSpot scene that explains that Chizuru isn't attracted to her or any other women, [[IfItsYouItsOkay with one exception]].
91	* The VHS cover art for ''Anime/TheEnchantedJourney'' features Glicko and Nono as giant anthropomorphic chipmunks walking on their hind legs, carrying backpacks, and having human like hands; in the film however neither are anthropomorphic in any way.
92	* Promotional materials of ''Manga/KotouraSan'''s AnimatedAdaptation advertised the series as a RomanticComedy between a {{telepath\|y}}ic girl and his boyfriend that often has perverted {{Imagine Spot}}s of her. This is in fact just a small part of the premise--to put it short, it is an example of CerebusRollercoaster, and [[spoiler:the said girl's childhood was ruined in the {{backstory}} [[BlessedWithSuck due to her powers]], and it remains to be a major {{conflict}} in the plot.]] The couple's relationships, however, is accurate.
93	* The Parkfield Playtime release of ''Codename: Anime/{{Robotech}}'' in the UK. As well as the terrible day-glo cover art which doesn't match the original art style at all and is obviously meant to scream [[AnimationAgeGhetto "we are marketing this for kids"]], but the character on the front doesn't even appear in the feature: it's the adult Dana Sterling from ''The Masters'' segment [[note]]a.k.a. Jeanne Franciax from ''Anime/SuperDimensionCavalrySouthernCross''[[/note]], when the feature covers ''[[Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross The Macross Saga]]'' only and doesn't even get to the point where baby Dana is born! Mercilessly parodied in [[http://www.anime-games.co.uk/VHS/anime/codename-robotech.php this online review.]]
94	** Though it would seem she does appear briefly, in the pose depicted, in the original ''Anime/{{Robotech}}'' intro.
95	* The VHS cover for the "My Favorite Fairy Tales presents The Three Little Pigs" the pigs look like a mixture between the Disney animated versions and the claymation versions featured in the Green Jelly music video. In the actual animation they look nothing like that: they're small with round heads and bodies and big eyes in a stylized anime style, and the wolf on the back of the cover only vaguely resembles how he looks in the video.
96	** The VHS for "Little Red Riding Hood" depicts her looking like a blonde Pippi Longstocking with pigtails and freckles and the wolf looks very ''Creator/ChuckJones'' inspired wearing overalls and a top hat, in the actual animation Red is small with curly blonde hair and big blue eyes while the wolf looks identical to the one from "The Three Little Pigs" and wears only a vest and pants.
97	* The poster for the English language release of the 1977 ''Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato'' (Called Space Cruiser at the time) film has the WaveMotionGun being used as a launch tube for a spaceship. The spaceship isn't even one that Yamato carries but the alien Iscandarian ship that carries the message from Queen Starsha. Also, Analyzer is now a mass produced robot as there are three of him seen in this poster.
98	* From the artwork for the first Blu-ray edition of ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'', you'd think Akane was a skilled martial rhythmic gymnast. However, she only does it for an episode and a half, is shown to be very horrible at it (though she does show some improvement a bit later on), and is incapacitated by a foot injury before she can even compete. [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Plus, her leotard isn't pink.]]
99	* [[http://pics.dmm.com/mono/movie/n_618drtd08752r/n_618drtd08752rpl.jpg This]] ''Anime/SaintSeiyaOmega'' DVD cover, which seems to portray Dragon Ryuhou, one of the protagonists and a BadassAdorable NiceGuy, as an EvilOverlooker, if the SlasherSmile is anything to go by. The fact that he's not wearing [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver black and red]] should be a pretty clear hint that there's something wrong there.
100	* The DVD/Blu-ray [[http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71g2jm594KL._SL1280_.jpg cover]] of the Maiden Japan edition of ''Patlabor: The New Files'', sharing cover art with an original Japanese release of an episode, is a temporal anomaly, as it portrays Noa Izumi as both an adult and a child. Child!Izumi is holding Alphonse the dog, who died during her time.
101	** MJ's [[http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71q23tppA1L._SL1280_.jpg cover]] to their 4th volume of the Patlabor TV series features Kanuka Clancy, who had left the series by that point and only appears on the set in a dream sequence. Richard Wong, the other character featured on the cover, isn't there either as the Griffin arc had stopped (to be continued in ''The New Files'' OVA) by that point.
102	* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'': The cover of the 9th volume shows Eren and Mikasa facing the [[spoiler:Beast Titan.]] The only character directly facing said Titan in the volume is Mike, while Sasha, Connie, Ymir, Reiner and Bertolt witnesses him from a distance. Eren and Mikasa are nowhere at the scene.
103	* In the Volume 6 cover of ''Manga/FairyTail'', Levy is ''{{s\|arcasmMode}}lightly'' more busty than she should be... Though to be fair, it's also a question of ArtEvolution. The page caption is from the start of the series, where she was actually drawn having breasts, just quite smaller than the ones she got in the caption. Nowadays, she is the series' resident UsefulNotes/{{Pettanko}}, not counting Wendy who is simply too young to have grown breasts.
104	* Possibly owing to the popularity of LittleBitBeastly character designs in Japan compared to anthropomorphic ones, ''Anime/WolfChildren'' 's promotional poster and DVD covers feature the titular kids being held by their mother while both are sporting wolf ears and wolf tails, but otherwise human bodies. This is never the case in the film - they're only ever classic werewolf-esque anthropomorphic wolves or quadrupedal ones.
105	* The covers and other official art for ''Manga/SchoolLive'' depict the girls as doing cute things and looking fashionable. The manga is about a series of girls surviving [[TeenageWasteland on their own]] in a ZombieApocalypse, plus they [[SchoolUniformsAreTheNewBlack rarely change clothes]]. Two of the chapter covers apparently influenced the anime: One features Miki taking a picture of a puppy, which probably explains the [[AnimalsHateHim relationship]] between her and AscendedExtra Taroumaru, while a cover of the girls in swimsuits is likely why the random [[BeachEpisode pool episode]] occurred.
106	* The chapter covers for ''Manga/{{Yuureitou}}'' would make you think Tetsuo is MsFanservice and the series has a lot of fanservice. It's actually a FilmNoir mystery-murder and Tetsuo is a [[UsefulNotes/{{transgender}} trans man]] who would never flaunt or dress as depicted.
107	* The covers to the rerelease of ''Manga/StopHibariKun'' feature new artwork done by Eguichi Hisashi. The problem is that his art style [[ArtEvolution changed]] ''vastly'' over the twenty year gap and thus the character designs don't reflect the inside art.
108	* The front cover of ''Mimi's Ghost Stories'' [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/junjiitomanga/images/7/73/Mimi.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120803163822 gives the impression that's she's the story's villain]], or at the very least supernaturally creepy. She's actually just incredibly unlucky and seems to be followed everywhere by ghosts no matter what she does, to the point of being a borderline CosmicPlaything.
109	* Crossed with AmericanKirbyIsHardcore, the English cover of ''Manga/{{Sankarea}}'' [[http://comicbookrealm.com/cover-scan/8c2f071ca90e28a9d5cf80c2c5bc9a50/xl/kodansha-comics-sankarea-undying-love-soft-cover-1.jpg makes it look like a flat-out horror story]] about a guy dealing with an undead {{Yandere}}. In truth, it's a romantic HorrorComedy and Rea looks that way because Chihiro only ''assumes'' she's there to kill him. Granted, the story's horror elements do become more prominent as the series progresses, but it's still far more comedy than horror at the point where the depicted scene takes place.
110	* [[https://i.imgur.com/asekBNm.jpg The cover]] of ''●REC'' by Mizu Asato wouldn't look out of place among a collection of {{Hentai}}. [[spoiler: [[TearJerker It's actually the story of a man spending time with his daughter before she undergoes an incredibly risky operation]].]]
111	* Although the series has [[NonIndicativeFirstEpisode other]] [[BaitAndSwitchCredits issues]], it's still worth noting that the English DVD box of ''Anime/NowAndThenHereAndThere'' depicts Shu and Lala-Ru piloting a HumongousMecha. Which, of course, they don't come anywhere ''close'' to doing in the show itself.
112	* A relatively mild example, but the Right Stuf re-release of the ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' CompilationMovie trilogy uses one of Yoshikazu Yasuhiko's ''Manga/MobileSuitGundamTheOrigin'' illustrations for the cover. ''Origin'' Gundam has several minor but notable differences from the original anime version that are prominently visible, such as the hatch of its retractable ShoulderCannon, red eye lenses as opposed to yellow and even the different model number painted on its chest (RX-78-'''0'''2 rather than the original's RX-78-2).
113	* Every ''Manga/CaseClosed'' manga cover features the main protagonist in an outfit you will never see him wear standing in front of a real life photograph of something that is often times unrelated. Example: [[http://s168.photobucket.com/user/JGIRLS_01/media/Conan/cover41-50.jpg.html]]
114	* The covers of the ''Literature/TheIrregularAtMagicHighSchool'' novels are a vivid example of this trope being used to tease the audience. Although the main "couple" Tatsuya and Miyuki Shiba are clearly implied as the future OfficialCouple and they often have IncestSubtext, the author does not put any special focus on romance and Tatsuya cannot think of his sister as a woman. Nevertheless, practically every cover where they appear together portrays them as [[BrotherSisterIncest lovers with gentle hugs, hot looks and overly ambiguous poses that are not appropriate for siblings]]. This occurred at a time when they were not even kissing in the novel.
115	* [[https://danganronpa.fandom.com/wiki/File:Filmconfect_Danganronpa_the_Animation_BluRay_Volume_4_(Standard).jpg The German volume 4 cover]] of ''Anime/DanganronpaTheAnimation'' adds Monomi, a character who wasn't on [[https://danganronpa.fandom.com/wiki/File:Lerche_Danganronpa_the_Animation_Volume_7_(Standard).jpg the original cover]] and is exclusive to the sequel game ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'', which wasn't part of the anime. Monomi did make a ContinuityCameo in TheStinger to tease an anime adaptation of the second game that never came to be.
116	* One DVD Croatian release of ''Anime/ThumbelinaAMagicalStory'' by Bambbino takes it to the extreme; the case and DVD art both clearly depict characters from the aforementioned movie (aside from a miscolored red Noble on the back of the case), with the case also featuring the movie's synopsis and length at 85 minutes, but the actual content on the DVD is a whole different story -- namely, an entirely separate adaptation by Burbank Animation Studios that lasts less than 45 minutes and [[https://www.njuskalo.hr/image-bigger/dvd-filmovi/snjezna-kraljica-palcica-carobnjak-oza-carobni-grasak-dvd-crtani-slika-53070659.jpg has its own DVD case in the Croatian market]] -- where the only thing it has in common with the movie that's being advertised is [[SimilarlyNamedWorks the title]] and [[Literature/{{Thumbelina}} the story they were both adapted from]].
117	* One cover for the DVD of ''Anime/SummerWars'' has Natsuki as the main focus in the centre, whereas anyone who has seen the movie will know Kenji has a more active role as protagonist. Natsuki doesn't have much of a role in the movie until the very end. Kenji and Kazuma, who also plays a large role, are placed behind her with the rest of the Jinnouchi family and aren't marked out at all as being important. Some of the members of the family also have a slightly different design to their actual appearance in the movie.
118	* Posters for the ''Manga/BoardingSchoolJuliet'' anime show only the female characters, implying it's a sort of harem series. In reality, it's a romcom where the ratio of male to female characters is more or less 1:1.
119	* ''Anime/TamagotchiTheMovie'': The English version's DVD cover depicts the characters Kikitchi and Hapihapitchi, who don't actually appear in the film and only debut in the sequel, ''Anime/TamagotchiHappiestStoryInTheUniverse''.
120	* ''Anime/{{Aggretsuko}}'''s [[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8019444/mediaviewer/rm3438780417 third season poster]] is gonna make you think Haida is gonna be the antagonist of the season. [[spoiler:When he’s actually gonna grab a traumatized Retsuko’s hand when she’s venting out on him in the final episode of the season.]]
121	* ''Manga/RentAGirlfriend'': Most official artwork and opening songs will depict Mami Nanami is a pleasant person, someone who looks to be friends with the other girls, and an important character whose presence in the story is as important as Chizuru. In actuality, Mami in the story is probably the closest thing to a BigBad, has a lot of unlikable characteristics, and only shows up sometimes, not being anywhere near as prominent a character as Chizuru is. And even beyond Mami, many of the cover art, opening credits, and ending credits of the show make all the main girls in Kazuya's life look like they're best friends who have sleepovers, confide in each other, and have each other's backs. In the actual series, while there is interaction between the girls and some of them can be friendly with each other at any given time, they're not as close as the credits or artwork portray them as and aren't exactly [=BFFs=] for life. Of the four, only Chizuru and Sumi could be considered friends and they don't even have sleepovers together.
122	* The cover of the first volume of Osamu Tezuka’s ''The Crater'' has an incredibly bizarre looking humanoid being with odd features like a hand for a nose, wheels coming out of his chest, and needles poking out of his arm. While the stories in the book are strange, none of them have this surreal being in them.

Context CoversAlwaysLie / AnimeAndManga