I don't remember the manga beginning that well anymore, so I was feeling only a minor sense of difference. Although my whole perception of the story is coloured by a certain detail that already was given a taste of in this first episode. In short I wasn't among the people most eagerly waiting for the anime adaptation anyway.

But it's always good to know 2/3 of the world population are redundant. Would do wonders to the overpopulation if nothing else...