<p>Yes it is possible. And it is actually quite common. A couple of recent examples would be:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://myanimelist.net/anime/6802/So_Ra_No_Wo_To">Sora no Woto (Sound of the Sky)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://myanimelist.net/anime/9756/Mahou_Shoujo_Madoka%E2%98%85Magica">Puella Magi Madoka Magica</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Note that in both examples here, there is some overlap between the release dates of the Anime and the Manga. But the key point is that the Anime was started first.</p>

<p>Often times an Anime would be done as an original work. Then if the Anime turns out to be extremely popular, then the producers will go ahead and do a Manga as well. (To milk the cash cow.)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-04T22:35:31.953Z
2013-02-04T22:35:31.953Z
Mysticial
<p>Two more examples of series where the anime came before the manga that I am familiar with are <em><a href="http://myanimelist.net/anime/180/Vandread">Vandread</a></em> and <em><a href="http://myanimelist.net/anime/561/Sakura_Taisen">Sakura Taisen</a></em> (a.k.a. <em>Sakura Wars</em>); though to be fair, that latter series was a video game franchise first, before being adapted to anime, and then adapted to manga.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-08T16:36:32.353Z
2013-02-08T16:36:32.353Z
Juan Joder
<p>It seems that I may be of little help to you, but there is a manga currently ongoing 
and the anime is ahead of both the spin off and the ongoing series. The manga/anime is called 
<em>Mushibugyo</em>, and the second series is <em>Joujuu Senjin!! Mushibugyo</em>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-19T19:30:00.923Z
2013-06-20T01:02:55.560Z
2013-06-20T01:02:55.560Z
Mr.Tsubaki
<p>There is no particular rule that anime ought to be adaptions of existing manga. Many anime are original, written by the director and screenwriters. Some of the most popular of these <strong>receive manga adaptions after</strong> the anime has started airing. Some of these receive <strong>both a shounen manga and a shoujo manga</strong>, which are illustrated by differing mangaka and either run in different magazines concurrently or run at different times. Some examples of these titles which have both a shounen adaption and a shoujo adaption are:</p>

<ul>
<li><em>Neon Genesis Evangelion</em></li>
<li><em>Code Geass</em></li>
<li><em>Shin Kidousenki Gundam W</em></li>
<li><em>Tenkuu no Escaflowne</em></li>
<li><em>Mahoutsukai Tai!</em></li>
</ul>

<p>Anime that later get adapted into manga is <strong>not uncommon in shoujo</strong>, as shoujo manga magazines an not financially-viable and make less money than shounen magazines, so they are keen to cash in on a title that already has a fanbase (thereby collecting those prior fans who will then begin to buy their magazine and/or graphic novels who otherwise would not have). Some examples include:</p>

<ul>
<li><em>Cowboy Bebop</em> and <em>Cowboy Bebop Shooting Star</em> published in ASUKA</li>
<li><em>Pretty Cure</em> (many varieties) published in Nakayoshi</li>
<li><em>Ojamajo Doremi</em> published in Nakayoshi</li>
<li><em>Akihabara Dennou-gumi</em> published in Nakayoshi</li>
<li><em>Super Doll★Licca-chan</em> published in Nakayoshi</li>
<li><em>Mahou no Stage Fancy Lala</em> published in Ribon</li>
<li><em>Aikatsu!</em> published in Ciao and Pucchigumi</li>
<li><em>Pocket Monster PiPiPi Adventure</em> and <em>Pocket Monster Chamo Chamo Pretty</em> published in Ciao</li>
<li><em>Tottoko Hamtarou</em> published in Ciao</li>
<li><em>Majokko Tickle</em> published in Ciao</li>
<li><em>Cutie Honey Flash</em> published in Ciao</li>
<li><em>Corrector Yui</em> published in Ciao</li>
<li><em>Jewelpet</em> published in Ciao</li>
<li><em>Fushigiboshi no Futagohime</em> published in Ciao</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-04T06:44:10.903Z
2015-06-04T06:50:15.877Z
2015-06-04T06:50:15.877Z
seijitsu
<p>Yes, there are exceptions to the "rule" that an anime must be inspired by a manga. There are indeed some anime that do not have a manga corresponding, and other such things.</p>

<p>But <strong>yes</strong>, there are also anime series which inspired one or more manga.</p>

<p>The following list are some of the (arbitrarily selected as recognizable) names from a more complete list featured on the <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AnimeFirst">TVTropes article "Anime First"</a>:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_Geass"><em>Code Geass</em></a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowboy_Bebop"><em>Cowboy Bebop</em></a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digimon_Fusion#Xros_Wars_.282010-2011.29"><em>Digimon Xros Wars</em></a></li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nausica%C3%A4_of_the_Valley_of_the_Wind_%28film%29"><em>Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind</em></a> (as the article says, a weird example; the manga was created <em>for the purpose of guiding the anime film</em>)</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf%27s_Rain"><em>Wolf's Rain</em></a></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-05T00:07:08.277Z
There's also some great shows based on video games (Gungrave) or novels (Baccano), rather than mangas.
BlueRaja - Danny Pflughoeft
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-07T14:32:25.667Z
The one that I like is Initial D.  First the anime came out, then the manga, then the manga surpassed the anime, then the anime started following the manga...
Peter
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-11T09:39:15.667Z
Evangelion, Suisei no Gargantia
n611x007
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-30T02:58:29.460Z
also Nagi no Asukara
オレンジ
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-04T22:35:24.760Z
2013-02-04T22:35:24.760Z
Cattua
<p>I got into a debate with a <strong><a href="https://anime.stackexchange.com/users/85/hashirama-senju">friend</a></strong> about whether or not it's possible for an anime to come out before its manga.</p>

<p>He claimed that there were several instances where the anime actually preceded the manga. Is this the case? </p>

<p>P.S.: I know that there are several anime <em>without</em> a manga. I also know that there are manga created from games. That's not what I'm asking. I'm asking whether or not there is a series where the <strong>anime</strong> came before the <strong>manga</strong>.</p>

<anime-production><manga-production>
Has an anime ever come out before the manga was published?
# Has an anime ever come out before the manga was published?
Posted by: username_0 on 2013-02-04
I got into a debate with a **[friend](https://anime.stackexchange.com/users/85/hashirama-senju)** about whether or not it's possible for an anime to come out before its manga.

He claimed that there were several instances where the anime actually preceded the manga. Is this the case?

P.S.: I know that there are several anime *without* a manga. I also know that there are manga created from games. That's not what I'm asking. I'm asking whether or not there is a series where the **anime** came before the **manga**.
**Tags:** anime-production manga-production
---
## 5 answers
### Answer by username_5 on 2013-02-04. Score: 30 | Accepted answer
Yes, there are exceptions to the "rule" that an anime must be inspired by a manga. There are indeed some anime that do not have a manga corresponding, and other such things.

But **yes**, there are also anime series which inspired one or more manga.

The following list are some of the (arbitrarily selected as recognizable) names from a more complete list featured on the [TVTropes article "Anime First"](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AnimeFirst):

* [*Code Geass*](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_Geass)
* [*Cowboy Bebop*](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowboy_Bebop)
* [*Digimon Xros Wars*](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digimon_Fusion#Xros_Wars_.282010-2011.29)
* [*Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind*](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nausica%C3%A4_of_the_Valley_of_the_Wind_%28film%29) (as the article says, a weird example; the manga was created *for the purpose of guiding the anime film*)
* [*Wolf's Rain*](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf%27s_Rain)
> **Comments:**
> **username_6** (2013-02-05): There's also some great shows based on video games (Gungrave) or novels (Baccano), rather than mangas.  
> **username_7** (2013-02-07): The one that I like is Initial D.  First the anime came out, then the manga, then the manga surpassed the anime, then the anime started following the manga...  
> **username_8** (2013-06-11): Evangelion, Suisei no Gargantia  
> **username_9** (2015-01-30): also Nagi no Asukara  
---
### Answer by username_1 on 2013-02-04. Score: 14
Yes it is possible. And it is actually quite common. A couple of recent examples would be:

* [Sora no Woto (Sound of the Sky)](http://myanimelist.net/anime/6802/So_Ra_No_Wo_To)
* [Puella Magi Madoka Magica](http://myanimelist.net/anime/9756/Mahou_Shoujo_Madoka%E2%98%85Magica)

Note that in both examples here, there is some overlap between the release dates of the Anime and the Manga. But the key point is that the Anime was started first.

Often times an Anime would be done as an original work. Then if the Anime turns out to be extremely popular, then the producers will go ahead and do a Manga as well. (To milk the cash cow.)
---
### Answer by username_2 on 2013-02-08. Score: 6
Two more examples of series where the anime came before the manga that I am familiar with are *[Vandread](http://myanimelist.net/anime/180/Vandread)* and *[Sakura Taisen](http://myanimelist.net/anime/561/Sakura_Taisen)* (a.k.a. *Sakura Wars*); though to be fair, that latter series was a video game franchise first, before being adapted to anime, and then adapted to manga.
---
### Answer by username_3 on 2013-06-19. Score: 4
It seems that I may be of little help to you, but there is a manga currently ongoing
and the anime is ahead of both the spin off and the ongoing series. The manga/anime is called
*Mushibugyo*, and the second series is *Joujuu Senjin!! Mushibugyo*.
---
### Answer by username_4 on 2015-06-04. Score: 2
There is no particular rule that anime ought to be adaptions of existing manga. Many anime are original, written by the director and screenwriters. Some of the most popular of these **receive manga adaptions after** the anime has started airing. Some of these receive **both a shounen manga and a shoujo manga**, which are illustrated by differing mangaka and either run in different magazines concurrently or run at different times. Some examples of these titles which have both a shounen adaption and a shoujo adaption are:

* *Neon Genesis Evangelion*
* *Code Geass*
* *Shin Kidousenki Gundam W*
* *Tenkuu no Escaflowne*
* *Mahoutsukai Tai!*

Anime that later get adapted into manga is **not uncommon in shoujo**, as shoujo manga magazines an not financially-viable and make less money than shounen magazines, so they are keen to cash in on a title that already has a fanbase (thereby collecting those prior fans who will then begin to buy their magazine and/or graphic novels who otherwise would not have). Some examples include:

* *Cowboy Bebop* and *Cowboy Bebop Shooting Star* published in ASUKA
* *Pretty Cure* (many varieties) published in Nakayoshi
* *Ojamajo Doremi* published in Nakayoshi
* *Akihabara Dennou-gumi* published in Nakayoshi
* *Super Doll★Licca-chan* published in Nakayoshi
* *Mahou no Stage Fancy Lala* published in Ribon
* *Aikatsu!* published in Ciao and Pucchigumi
* *Pocket Monster PiPiPi Adventure* and *Pocket Monster Chamo Chamo Pretty* published in Ciao
* *Tottoko Hamtarou* published in Ciao
* *Majokko Tickle* published in Ciao
* *Cutie Honey Flash* published in Ciao
* *Corrector Yui* published in Ciao
* *Jewelpet* published in Ciao
* *Fushigiboshi no Futagohime* published in Ciao
---
