Ask John: How Common Are Original Anime Productions?

Question:
I know series like Samurai Champloo and even Neon Genesis Evangelion were straight to anime series with a manga printed later, but is this a new trend only applying to a handful of titles over the past couple years, or is this something that’s a norm for the anime/manga industry?

Answer:
Completely original anime productions aren’t as common as those based on other media for a practical reason. Anime based on an earlier work- a manga, novel, or game- have a defined structure and narrative which producers and animators can see in advance and work from. And, more importantly, anime based on earlier works have an existing market. Totally original anime works get released into a market that’s totally unfamiliar with them. Anime adaptations of earlier works have guaranteed customers.

Most anime are adaptations of manga. Anime adapted from Japanese novels aren’t quite as common as those based on manga, but they are still relatively frequent. Just a few examples of anime based on novels include Yukikaze, Full Metal Panic, Kino’s Journey, Irresponsible Captain Tylor, Yamamoto Yohko, Twelve Kingdoms, Boogiepop Phantom, Vampire Hunter D, Dirty Pair, Crusher Joe, The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi, the Crest of the Stars series, Shinigami no Ballad, and Shakugan no Shana. Games are also a common resource for anime, with titles like Fatal Fury, Street Fighter, Fate/stay night, To Heart, and Final Fantasy.

I honestly don’t know what the earliest original anime productions were. If I’m not mistaken, the 1969 anime series Marine Boy, for example, was an original anime story. And I doubt that it was the first anime not based on an earlier work. 1972’s Science Ninja Team Gatchaman is another early example of a popular franchise that was created specifically for anime and not based on an earlier work. A few other examples of original anime productions include Gundam, Macross, Onegai Teacher, Ergo Proxy, Gunbuster, Bubblegum Crisis, and Tenchi Muyo.