If the dependent variables are uncorrelated with each other, it may be that a series of univariate ANOVA tests would be acceptable. Where the dependents are correlated (most of the time), MANOVA is superior. This is because ANOVA only tests differences in means, whereas MANOVA is sensitive not only to mean differences but also to the direction and size of correlations among the dependents. Put another way, MANOVA will test groups (ex., a treatment and a control group) to differ if they differ in correlation among the dependents even though their means are the same on the dependents, whereas ANOVA will fail to reject the null hypotheses of no group differences.