There are generally 2 types of anime. Anime made directly into a series. This type is made for the sake of promotion. The other starts from a very popular manga series.
A manga series start with a simple idea that is drawn on paper. There are generally 2 types as well. Shonen, which is actiony and attracts male readers, and shojo, which is about fantasy and romance and targets girls readers.
A manga truly begins in a Zasshi, or phonebooks as Japanese call it. These magazines are thick, and feature around 10 other stories. Theyr'e in black and white, printed on cheap paper,and are often thrown away after being read.
If it becomes popular, the artist can reprint it in a tanboukan, which means seperate volume, which contains several chapters without other stories or ads.
Finally, if it is majorly popular, a producer may aproach the artist for a tv deal. And that's how a an anime is born from manga. Need to know what are the types of anime too?