Didn't notice this thread. I not only watched Claymore I posted a dual-audio torrent in the anime torrent section (not my rip). I don't know if that torrent is still any good though, but I want towatch the series again myself . Great action and I rather liked the story. Loved all the characters too. The anime was based on only the first 11 volumes (according to the wiki).
Anime can only parody most light novels and manga though, so it is tough to compare them. It is true that many anime is derived from a source such as manga, light novel or visual novel but I have found that the reverse is also true. Nonetheless, anime uses visual techniques differently, adds audio , and is limited more by time constraints. It is a completely different artform so even if the story stays true to its' inspiration as much as possible (which it should) it can never replace the original. There will, indeed, always be needless comparisons but I think each should be judged on their own merits or lack of. I do find this hard myself at times when, for example, a movie massacres the story it is supposably derived from. One expects (and rightly so) a medium to do honor to its' original source material. Yet how much it succeeds or fails does not stop an anime or movie from being unique in its' own right and it should have the chance to be judged soley on that endeavor.