Anime-Manga Differences

The D.Gray-man anime first aired on October 3, 2006 and ran until September 30, 2008 and produced 103 episodes. The anime was produced by TMS Entertainment and directed by Osamu Nabeshima.

The anime adaptation of the manga is fairly faithful to the source material, occasionally rearranging events for pacing reasons. It is divided into two "stages"; the first stage is episodes 1-51 and the second stage consists of episodes 52-103. In America, these stages are further divided into two seasons each. Because of its dedication to its source material, it does not have a definite end, instead ending at around chapter 157 of the manga. There have been no plans to continue the anime.

Episodes
The anime consists of a total of 103 episodes.

Manga to Anime Differences

 * Kanda's regenerative abilities and association with lotus flowers are re-interpreted. Rather than 'hallucinating' lotus flowers, he keeps a lotus flower in an hourglass that slowly loses its petals as he takes damage. There seems to be a connection between the lotus flower and his regenerative abilities, but what remains unclear.

First Stage
Although the anime is fairly loyal to the manga, it does take some creative liberties, particularly in the first stage:


 * Episodes 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 45 are original stories that do not center around the main plot.


 * Jean is introduced differently. In the manga he is simply a boy with an absent father who knows of Akuma and Allen meets him before he joins the Black Order. However, in the anime Allen meets him shortly after joining the Black Order and Jean is the son of Russell. Lenalee is also present during Allen's brief battle with the Millenium Earl and learns how he gained his cursed eye.


 * The search for General Cross is re-organized. Instead of stumbling upon Krory by chance, Lavi and Allen come across him after receiving reports that Cross was seen there. After recruiting Krory, instead of continuing with their search as they did in the manga, they return to HQ. Allen is not officially dispatched to search for Cross until episode 27. He does not join up with Lavi and Krory until episode 40. Allen is also unaware of Timcampy's ability to instinctively know where his creator, Cross, is until General Tiedoll tells him; in the manga Komui knew this and told Allen right away.


 * After tasting Allen's blood, Krory comments that it does not taste human


 * The Akuma are given a reason for attacking Barcelona: they believe that Generall Tiedoll is there. This battle depicts some of the many deaths in the Black Order. Allen and Lenalee, who are nearby, attempt to join the battle but come too late.


 * The fact that Kanda is looking for someone and has a mark on his chest is not introduced in the Aria of the Land and Clear Skies arc, but rather in episodes 33 and 34, a two-episode arc that focuses on him investigating rumors of a witch. It also establishes the importance of lotus flowers to Kanda, although it is re-interpreted.


 * Suman is introduced much earlier and, alongside Lenalee, protects villagers from Akuma in episode 35.


 * Daisya is introduced a little differently, with some hints that he is friendly with Kanda. Episode 37 is dedicated to his backstory.


 * Lulu Bell is introduced much earlier (episode 40) and is given the assignment to eliminate Cross's unit. An important part of this arc is her Akuma servant, Mimi, who is only present in the anime.
 * During the Lulu Bell arc, there is a four-episode sub-arc (47-50) about a newly-discovered exorcist, Mei-Ling. While the Black Order attempts to bring her to a safe place, Lulu Bell attempts to destroy her Innocence.


 * The anime provides an explanation as to how the Black Order knows that there is Innocence in the Rewinding Town.


 * General Kevin Yeegar, who is merely mentioned in the manga, is briefly met by Allen in episode 25, who delivers a package to him.


 * Episode 27 is an original story concerning Allen's past with General Cross and the tragic loss of a friend in India.


 * Episode 36 has Lenalee join Allen on his search for Cross; they also meet up with a group of Finders on their way to Barcelona.

Second Stage

 * There is more emphasis on the attachments Lavi has come to develop.
 * Lavi's relationship with Chomesuke is played up, hinting that he may have developed an attachment to her. This is most obvious when Chomesuke tells Bookman that she will self-destruct when her bloodlust becomes too strong. In the manga Bookman suspects that Allen would be upset by this, but the anime implies that he thinks Lavi would be as well.
 * The relationship between Bookman and Lavi is also emphasized. The suggestion of a familial attachment between the two of them is highlighted when Lavi, after being presumed dead, returns from the Ark. While Bookman only makes a comment that he had been worried in the manga, in the anime Bookman walks away in an attempt to hide his tears of happiness. There is also a hint of strain in their relationship as Bookman becomes worried that Lavi is developing attachments and he asks Lavi if the decisions he is making are as an exorcist or as the heir to Bookman.


 * Two staff members in the Asian Branch vocalize their dissatisfaction with Allen's presence, but after his battle with the level 3, they change their mind and become supportive of him.


 * Chaoji briefly considers attacking Road with a knife while at the dinner table within the Ark, but stops when she sees him.


 * In the anime, trials for heresy are said to have stopped in the Middle Ages. However, in the manga they seem to have continued into present time.


 * In the final episode of the anime, the exchange between Lavi and Bookman is shortened somewhat. In the anime they only discuss the possibility that the Millenium Earl has allowed the Black Order to go on for a century on purpose, whereas in the manga Bookman also tells Lavi that should his Innocence ever begin to show signs of becoming a crystal-type, they would have to leave the Order.


 * In the final episode, Krory wakes up after recovering from his injuries without any incident. There is no mention of the Komuvitan D mini-arc.