La Biblioteca de Amestris

I believe that the animation studio did an amazing job with this anime serie. You may think that it's easy for an anime when you can use colors and music, but I disagree. Why do we have some awful adaptations if it's so easy? Dr. Stone is the proof of that. I found that the anime made a thoughtful management of the original material, which requires to know exactly when it was better to leave a scene untouched, when to improve a scene, or when to add a completely new shot (Part 1, Part 2).

First, I found some careful additions in the second episode of the anime. I must say that there were not many, but it happened that some of them were some of my favorites scenes.


The manga starts with Senku and Taiju attempting to revive Yuzuriha. This moment is a mix of expectation and humor, especially for Taiju. However, I remember being more engaged when I watched the anime for the first time. The reason is that the anime serie added a new scene in the beginning, just before the page above. 

As you can see, in the anime serie, Taiju is a little afraid of asking Senku to revive Yuzuriha. That scene is very lovely because it allows us to understand the very nature of their relationship. Senku really cares about Taiju, in fact, we'll know later that he also cares about Yuzuriha. So having Senku mocking and testing his friend about reviving Yuzuriha was so lovely, especially when Senku just wanted to aid Taiju is a very tsundere way. Yes, Senku is basically a tsundere maniac mad scientist and it was obvious that he wanted to revive Yuzuriha too, but it was cute to see this conversation. This scene increases the expectation and kept the comedy.

Other important additions were a few images when Senku and Tsukasa realized that they'll become enemies sooner than later. 

Most notably are these short scenes of Senku making the crossbow and Tsukasa sleeping with his eyes open. What I liked of these scenes is that it increases the dramatic tension of the following conversation at the beach. Also, in the anime, the subsequent scene with the crossbow is incredible and now I cannot stop wondering whether that sequence even appears in the manga (because you cannot see Senku building a crossbow in this part of the story). In the alternative, I like to see Senku building a crossbow without Tsuka noticing.

Second, the anime improved a few scenes. Here, don't take me wrong. The manga is incredible. I'll repeat this many times. In fact, I just don't know where to start. For instance, as I mentioned in the prior entry, the mangaka makes an astonishing work in organizing very complex and chaotic moments. The artwork is also incredible. Thus, it is not a surprise that 95% of the anime series adapts the manga frame by frame. Taking that into consideration, I'm going to talk about that missing 5%. 



In the anime, the scene at the beach was more impressive. While I liked more the artwork of the manga in some frames, the dramatic intensity was higher in the anime. You remember this confrontation? It was in the peak. When Senku stops Tsukasa at the end was an incredible shot. It was an exceptional calling when the episode cuts with this frame. However, the manga took a different direction. They continued the scene and destroy the tension before the end.



Indeed, the manga continues the episode to the next scene when we can see Senku's inner thoughts. You may note how he is sweating cold and his only hope is crushed by a really happy Taiju (oh boy, I really love this scene in the next episode). To be fair, these whole sequences are included in the episode 3 of the anime. However, there was something very wise in cutting the scene when Senku stops Tsukasa before he destroys another petrified human. Further, Senku put his hands in Tsukasa, something that he does not do in the manga. I love that, I feel that not even Tsukasa expected that. Senku makes clear to Tsukasa that they are equal in force. 


On the other hand, I must admit that one scene was almost screwed by the anime. To be clear, this was the only part when I was disappointed. Look at the next comparison. 



In these two different scenes, Senku asks both Tsukasa and Taiju what was necessary to rebuild civilization. Here, Taiju gives really dumb answers. In response, we have one of the iconic "Senku faces" of him becoming mad, but what was really remarkable is to watch Tsukasa in the background making a face of "WTF Taiju?" 


I believe that we missed that in the anime. Having Tsukasa to show different emotions when he is engaging and becoming friend with Senku and Taiju is very important. I wish that the animation studio would have preserved the shots with Tsukasa's reactions. Let's be real. It's nice to see that Tsukasa can make "Senku faces" too. It was also hilarious.

There is another scene that I may dislike the change that the anime made. However, this is also a matter of opinion. 


In the anime, just after Tsukasa defeated the lions, the thoughts of Taiju are shown (in response to Senku's suggestions). In those, Tsukasa abuse his powers to take advantage of Yuzuriha. I'm not completely sure what the anime aimed here. It seems to be a comedy shot combined with some tension. In my opinion, it doesn't work very well.



On the contrary, the original scene took a stronger comedy approach. In this one, the whole sequence is shown in a very poor animated way, which is hilarious. I could not stop laughing (btw, you can see the penis of Tsukasa lol). 

In conclusion, I believe that the anime made an incredible work improving some dramatic scenes of the manga. However, there were a few comedy scenes that were almost screwed by the anime. This is just a personal opinion. The manga is fantastic and I'm really enjoying, but it's remarkable that the anime made such an incredible job adapting the original material. I'm looking forward to write the next entry of this comparison. Let me know your opinion about these scenes below.


(Part 1, Part 2).