Should manga be used to explain Anime?

[Yoshimoon]

I recently got a friend of mine into the japanese version Sailor Moon by lending her Sailor Moon S in its entirety. Of course she had many questions about the series, one of them was where were Makoto's parents. I do not recall any instance in the anime where it was stated that Mako's parents died in a plane crash but I told her that in the manga it is stated that they passed away in a plane crash. After her question I realized that there are many things not directly stated that may be implied in the series, but are facts in the manga.

I am well aware that the anime and manga have enough differences to be considered to different continuities since there are differences in story, characterization especially in the Dream and Stars portions of the Manga. I am not here to ask for permission to explain what is not explained in the anime using manga sources and know not to use instances which contradict one another between continuities.

I am just curious what do others do when people asked question that can only be explained in the manga? Or what about vice versa anime explaining manga?

 

[aDam]

If it's not contradicted it's safe to make the assumption but don't think of it as absolute truth. Like if you want to say that Makoto's parents are dead that makes sense because she does live alone and refers to her parents in the past tense. If something is ever said to contradict it though you can't get all picky about trying to make things make sense because what's good in the manga doesn't need to translate.

I guess it's a judgement call too. Like I never really felt that ChibiUsa was 900+ in the anime because they never insinuated anything like that. And I don't think anime Serenity had a big screen TV although one could argue that it's off in the corner somewhere.

Everything's subject to interpretation I guess. And if you try to get hung up on using some sort of perverse logic to find absolute truth in things which have no absolute truths you're just wasting your time. And especially don't get caught up arguing with someone about it. I mean we could have a huge debate on whether Makoto's parents are dead in the anime and we'd just be aruging for nothing and never making up our mind on anything. All the facts have already been presented and all that would be left is bickering.

When I'm discussing with people I usually just tell them like it is "Well in the manga ... so that could explain that but they never specifically say it in the anime."

 

[Diaphanus]

Of course she had many questions about the series, one of them was where were Makoto's parents. I do not recall any instance in the anime where it was stated that Mako's parents died in a plane crash but I told her that in the manga it is stated that they passed away in a plane crash.

Makoto's profile in the first Bishōjo Senshi Sērā Mūn: Nakayoshi Anime Album for the original series simply says this about her household: "Unknown (living alone)."

I am just curious what do others do when people asked question that can only be explained in the manga? Or what about vice versa anime explaining manga?

If a source that is relevant to one particular continuity gives some information, and that information does not contradict what is known about another continuity, one can assume that the information is likely to be true in the latter continuity as well as in the former continuity. However, until one can cite a source that is relevant to the latter, it is probably not a good idea to claim that the information is true for the latter.

 

[UndeadPrincess]

I think it's good to explain the anime with the manga when it's something like Luna and Artemis's origin. I never knew that they were from the same planet as Iron Mouse... I think it's Iron Mouse. I've never seen Sailor Stars, or read, it, so bare with me. But, I do know that Luna and Artemis are from that planet.

 

[Diaphanus]

I think it's good to explain the anime with the manga when it's something like Luna and Artemis's origin. I never knew that they were from the same planet as Iron Mouse... I think it's Iron Mouse. I've never seen Sailor Stars, or read, it, so bare with me. But, I do know that Luna and Artemis are from that planet.

In the manga, Luna and Artemis are from the celestial body called Mau (Mau-sei), which is where Sailor Tin Nyanko and Sailor Mau are also from.