Recently, a discussion resurfaced about the livestream from November 2021, in which Tokyo Ghoul creator Sui Ishida shared his opinion on anime adaptations of Tokyo Ghoul's work. me.
I assume most of you are familiar with the fact that the Tokyo Ghoul anime, especially Tokyo Ghoul √A, has been widely criticized for having significant differences from the manga. People love it for introducing them to the series or hate it for “exploiting” a great source material.
During the broadcast, Ishida's comments were, frankly, quite surprising, but they also demonstrated a certain level of maturity and self-awareness that is hard to argue with. He basically said during his livestream that he didn't mind the anime's differences and was simply grateful the adaptation introduced his work to more people. .
“Well, I'm glad people know this name. I'm so lucky that it turned into something great. I'm grateful that people even know its title.”
He even said: “It's better to have a bad anime than a good one, so that some people will want to read the original story.” It's a statement I'm still mulling over, and while I understand his point, it's hard to ignore that the quality of the adaptation may have been as damaging to the series' long-term reputation as how.
In some contexts, Ishida wasn't heavily involved in the anime's production, which isn't surprising given how many anime adaptations were handled.
Studio Pierrot, known for its controversial production decisions (Naruto fillers, Black Clover's early pacing), deviated significantly in Tokyo Ghoul √A by creating an original story instead. follow the manga.
Tokyo ghoul Root A (Image: Rotten Tomatoes)
Fans speculated this was done to end the anime series quickly, but the result was a mess—important character arcs, like Kaneki's psychological transformation, were flipped underdeveloped.
What makes Ishida's perspective so compelling is that it contrasts with the often toxic discourse of the fan community surrounding the series. It is worth noting that during the publication of the manga (2011-2018), Ishida faced enormous stress and health problems due to his workload.
Also Read: Tokyo Ghoul Manga Fails, Author Revealed
His laid-back attitude toward anime may stem from an appreciation for his work reaching a wider audience—something many creators do not experience. He even called fan disappointment a “luxury” during his livestream, emphasizing his gratitude for perfectionism.
That said, the anime's impact on the series cannot be ignored. The opening song, “Unravel” by TK from Ling Tosite Sigure, has become a cultural phenomenon, widely recognized even by non-fans.
It helped Tokyo Ghoul stay popular, despite the adaptation's flaws. Additionally, Ishida's comment about bad adaptations turning fans off to manga is true—many fans discovered the original story through the anime and were pleasantly surprised to find the manga complex and confusing. much more emotional.
As someone who came to Tokyo Ghoul through the anime and then moved on to the manga, I can see both sides of this. Anime gets me interested in the world and characters, but reading manga is a completely different experience—one that feels much deeper and emotionally engaging.
If the anime had been better, perhaps it would have brought even more people to the manga or at least given the story the respect it deserved.
There's also an ongoing debate about a remake of Tokyo Ghoul, which is often compared to Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Fans hope a studio like MAPPA or ufotable will take over and deliver a faithful adaptation that matches the manga's gritty aesthetic.
Given how Demon Slayer and Attack on Titan boosted their manga sales with excellent adaptations, it's not unreasonable to imagine what Tokyo Ghoul could achieve with similar treatment.
What do you think? Is Ishida's acceptance admirable, or should the creators put in more effort to better adapt their work? And do you think Tokyo Ghoul would have achieved the same level of popularity if there had been a more faithful adaptation, or would it have been controversial from the start? Let me know your level of interest.
Source: Tumblr
