History Main / AdaptationFirst

** ''VisualNovel/{{Doukyusei}}'': Creator/ADVFilms licensed the first OVA and released it in 1998 as ''End of Summer''. The DatingSim itself didn't get an official localization until 2022.

* ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' is a bit of a subversion. The original manga was released in America first by Creator/VizMedia in 1989, [[ScrewedByTheNetwork but it only lasted the first two volumes]]. Viz resumed publication after the cult success of Creator/StreamlinePictures' dub of the film, but it only lasted three more volumes before Gutsoon brought the rights to the series. They only published nine volumes before they went out of business. Viz has since re-licensed the title, and is currently publishing it in a hardcover format, but not before the TV series was (eventually) picked up by Creator/DiscotekMedia and made easily viewable on video-streaming sites like Crunchyroll… albeit in sub-only format, since Creator/MangaEntertainment only dubbed the first 36 episodes.

* So far, the only officially licensed English appearance of the fantasy mecha series ''Anime/MashinHeroWataru'' was a {{Macekre}}d translation of a licensed video game for the UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 which was retitled ''VideoGame/KeithCourageInAlphaZones''.

* So far, the only officially licensed English appearance of the fantasy mecha series ''Machine Hero Wataru'' was a {{Macekre}}d translation of a licensed video game for the UsefulNotes/TurboGrafx16 which was retitled ''VideoGame/KeithCourageInAlphaZones''.

* The first official release Japanese audiences saw of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' is Creator/{{Gameloft}}'s LicensedGame. The TV series-–the first 52 episodes of it at any rate-–were aired on Japanese television in 2013.

* 1978's ''Lady Oscar'' by Creator/JacquesDemy is a film adaptation of ''Manga/TheRoseOfVersailles''. It was released in France before either the manga or the anime were available there.

* ''Film/{{Ringu}}'' was a video-only release in the US that came out six months after the American remake ''Film/TheRing'' was released theatrically.
* ''VideoGame/RocoKingdom 2: Wish of the Holy Dragon'' got a South Korean localization without the country ever getting a translated version of the game it's based on.
* ''Film/ThreeHundredRiseOfAnEmpire'' is loosely based on Creator/FrankMiller's sequel to the ''Film/ThreeHundred'' graphic novel, ''Xerxes''. However, either because of ScheduleSlip or simply because the two projects began simultaneously and the comic hit some bumps due to Miller's advanced age, ''Rise Of an Empire'' released four years before ''Xerxes'' began publication.

* While Creator/{{Sanrio}}'s 1978 film adaptation of ''Anime/RingingBell'' was given an English dub and released in America alongside gaining an official Spanish dub for Spanish speaking countries. The original book by Creator/TakashiYanase (''Chirin no Suzu'') never gained an [[NoExportForYou official English translation outside of Japan]].

* Similarly, the light novels of ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'' were licensed a few years after the North American release of the anime. Its spin-off manga, ''Manga/ACertainScientificRailgun'', did get a North American release before its own anime adaption, but still before the license of the ''Index'' novels.

** ''Franchise/{{Nasuverse}}'': While the anime adaptations of their works (most notably ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' and its spin-offs) have been consistently localized for the most part, fans of their original works, particularly the visual novels, had to rely on {{fantranslation}}s for the better part of a decade before Aniplex would finally break the pattern by announcing an official release for ''VisualNovel/WitchOnTheHolyNight'' in 2022.
** ''Franchise/FireEmblem'': The two-episode {{OVA}} of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight'' was exported to Western shores before {{Marth debuted in|SmashBros}} ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosMelee'', and also before a game in the ''Fire Emblem'' series starring Marth, ''Shadow Dragon'', was be released in the west.

* The original light novels of ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'', ''Literature/{{Slayers}}'', and ''Literature/ShakuganNoShana'' were not translated into English until after their anime adaptations first aired, and the complete novel series has yet to be released for the latter two. Only five of the twelve FMP novels were originally published in America (With 4 and 5, a two part story, being sold as a combined volume). Thankfully, the entire series was eventually (re-)released years later under a new publisher. Only eight of the fifteen Slayers novels have been published in English, and it took an online petition to get Volumes 7 and 8 published. Only two of the 22 Shana novels have been published in America.

* The ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'' anime got a global release long before the books it was based on… Except in Spain, where it was ''manga'' first, then the novels two months later. The anime is still unavailable.

* All three animated ''Music/ConfessionExecutiveCommittee'' adaptations (the first two movies and the television miniseries) were shown internationally via streaming, with only a few countries receiving a handful of the light novels they're based on. The series also started out as a collection of songs, but while most of them are available on Music/HoneyWorks' channels, those compilations never made it out to international audiences before the adaptations did.

* The original light novels of ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'', ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'', and ''LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana'' were not translated into English until after their anime adaptations were published, and the complete novel series has yet to be released for the latter two. Only five of the twelve FMP novels were originally published in America (With 4 and 5, a two part story, being sold as a combined volume). Thankfully, the entire series was eventually (re-)released years later under a new publisher. Only eight of the fifteen Slayers novels have been published in English, and it took an online petition to get Volumes 7 and 8 published. Only two of the 22 Shana novels have been published in America.

* The original ''LightNovel/WhenSupernaturalBattlesBecameCommonplace'' light novels [[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-11-20/j-novel-club-licenses-10-new-light-novel-titles/.179699 were licensed in North America nine years after the series began]]; however, the anime adaptation was simulcast by Website/{{Crunchyroll}} the season it aired and was eventually given a proper release in the West in 2016, around five years prior to the licensing of the light novels.

* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' would be another famous example; the franchise began with the novel ''Digital Devil Story'', which was adapted into the original ''Megami Tensei'' games for NES.

* The feature-film version of Creator/HayaoMiyazaki's ''Manga/NausicaaOfTheValleyOfTheWind'' was released in English-speaking territories (as ''[[CutAndPasteTranslation Warriors of the Wind]]'') years before the manga.

** ''Franchise/{{Nasuverse}}'': While the anime adaptations of their works (most notably ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' and its spin-offs) have been consistently localized for the most part, fans of their original works, particularly the visual novels, had to rely on fan translations for the better part of a decade before Aniplex would finally break the pattern by announcing an official release for ''VisualNovel/WitchOnTheHolyNight'' in 2022.

** ''Franchise/Nasuverse'': While the anime adaptations of their works have been consistently localized for the most part, fans of their original works, particularly the visual novels, had to rely on fan translations for the better part of a decade before Aniplex would finally break the pattern by announcing an official release for ''VisualNovel/WitchOnTheHolyNight'' in 2022.

** ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight''

** ''VisualNovel/SteinsGate''
** ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}''

** However, considering that ''Warriors of the Wind'' is a {{Macekre}} of such infamy that Creator/StudioGhibli requested it be ''purged from the collective consciousness of humanity'' (and fans gladly oblige)… the original ''Nausicaä'' manga was in fact published in its entirety several years before Disney released the true movie in North America.

* For a period, the only Manga/{{Unico}} related work to gain an American and international release was the two animated films (''Anime/TheFantasticAdventuresOfUnico'' from, and ''Anime/UnicoInTheIslandOfMagic'' from 1983). The original manga by Creator/OsamuTezuka which ran from 1976-1979 [[LateExportForYou didn't receive an official translation until decades later.]] Not to mention the first animated appearance of the title character (''Anime/UnicoBlackCloudAndWhiteFeather'' from 1979) remains exclusive to Japan alongside the 2000 animated short ''Anime/SavingOurFragileEarthUnicoSpecialChapter Saving Our Fragile Earth: Unico Special Chapter]]'' starring the character. The only country that was able to receive all animated works starring Unico (including the 1979 pilot and 2000 animated short) was Mexico and Spain where both gained official Spanish dubs.

* For a period, the only Manga/{{Unico}} related work to gain an American and international release was the two animated films (''Anime/TheFantasticAdventuresOfUnico'' (1981) and ''Anime/UnicoInTheIslandOfMagic'' (1983)). The original manga by Creator/OsamuTezuka which ran from 1976-1979 [[LateExportForYou didn't receive an official translation until decades later.]] Not to mention the first animated appearance of the title character (''Unico Black Cloud and White Thunder'' from 1979) remains exclusive to Japan alongside the 2000 animated short ''Saving Our Fragile Earth: Unico Special Chapter'' starring the character. The only country that was able to receive all animated works starring Unico (including the 1979 pilot and 2000 animated short) was Mexico and Spain where both gained official Spanish dubs.

* ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' is a bit of a subversion. The original manga was released in America first by Creator/VizMedia in 1989, [[ScrewedByTheNetwork but it only lasted the first two volumes]]. Viz resumed publication after the cult success of Creator/StreamlinePictures' dub of the film, but it only lasted three more volumes before Gutsoon brought the rights to the series. They only published nine volumes before they went out of business. While the remainder of the manga still remains officially untranslated, the TV series was (eventually) picked up by Creator/DiscotekMedia and is easily viewable on video-streaming sites like Crunchyroll… albeit in sub-only format, since Creator/MangaEntertainment only dubbed the first 36 episodes.

* ''VideoGame/SpyHunter: Nowhere to Run'' was supposed to be a tie-in for the [[DevelopmentHell cancelled movie]].

* The video game ''VideoGame/RetroGameChallenge'' came out in English-speaking countries a good while before the TV series ''Series/RetroGameMaster'' ever got an official translation - though the show was advertised in the game's instruction manual, so it was clearly being planned when the game came out.

* The first official release Japanese audiences saw of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' is Creator/{{Gameloft}}'s LicensedGame. The TV series – the first 52 episodes of it at any rate – were aired on Japanese television in 2013.