ぴたテン (Pita-ten)

Finally I've finished both the anime and manga. I'm not sure if manga to anime series conversion is usually like books turned into movies, where generally the book is better than the movie, but I liked the manga MUCH better. The anime was dumbed down quite a bit, leaving out most of the relationship complexities (actually that's what I love most about watching and reading things ^^;; love relationships, and how people get into them) and the entirety of Misha's past. Also, the end was kind of a cop-out...I mean come on, when people disappear in the manga, it's very emotional (due to the relationship complexities) and then they DON'T COME BACK. In the anime the reasons for characters having to go are kind of arbitrary and sudden...and everyone comes back and lives happily ever after in the end anyway. In addition, I felt the anime was much more focused on Misha and Shia, where the manga sticks basically to Kotarou the whole time. (That must be why I always found the manga in the boys' section at Book-Off ^^) Cute girls can sell anything...especially anime.

As far as characters go!
FAVORITE: Koboshi, Sasha, Misha, Nyaa, Ten-chan, Kotarou
My favorites before I read or watched anything were Koboshi and Sasha. Koboshi's role in the anime is basically to squawk at Misha and get pissy, although she has her clever side and she gets her time in the spotlight. But even after her relationship to Kotarou is validated she goes right back to her old self. I like her manga version tons better, especially the way she faces her problems and how things end up for her. I liked Sasha's increased role in the anime and how much more part of the story she seemed to be there, but I still like her either way. ^^ The manga version of Misha shows she has a lot more depth, and despite how annoying she is at first, you really get to like her by the end. and Nyaa! I HATED the cat for the longest time, but the end of the anime really made me change my mind about it. even devil kitties have hearts.

OK: Shia
She doesn't really bring THAT much to the anime at all, although in the manga she's a LOT more important to the story and she's not necessarily the 100% frail, timid girl. She actually does mean shit sometimes. Plus Ten-chan loves her AND ACTUALLY SAYS SO. And when she goes, she goes.

LEAST FAVORITE: Dai-chan, Kaoru
These two basically just scream every time they pop in and are really freaking annoying. They aren't a very pivotal part of the manga either, as far as I remember (I read it over a year ago). I have nothing else to say about them. That's how much attention I paid to them.

So definitely MANGA > ANIME due to the psychological depth, plot, romance and angst of it all. Don't watch it, read it!