Bakuman.
Summary: As a child, Moritaka Mashiro dreamt of becoming a mangaka, just like his childhood hero and uncle, Tarou Kawaguchi, creator of a popular gag manga. But when tragedy strikes, he gives up on his dream and spends his middle school days studying, aiming to become a salaryman instead.
One day, his classmate Akito Takagi, the school's top student and aspiring writer, notices the detailed drawings in Moritaka's notebook. Seeing the vast potential of his artistic talent, Akito approaches Moritaka, proposing that they become mangaka together. After much convincing, Moritaka realizes that if he is able to create a popular manga series, he may be able to get the girl he has a crush on, Miho Azuki, to take part in the anime adaptation as a voice actor. Thus the pair begins creating manga under the pen name Muto Ashirogi, hoping to become the greatest mangaka in Japan, the likes of which no one has ever seen.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Description
As a child, Moritaka Mashiro dreamt of becoming a mangaka, just like his childhood hero and uncle, Tarou Kawaguchi, creator of a popular gag manga. But when tragedy strikes, he gives up on his dream and spends his middle school days studying, aiming to become a salaryman instead.
One day, his classmate Akito Takagi, the school's top student and aspiring writer, notices the detailed drawings in Moritaka's notebook. Seeing the vast potential of his artistic talent, Akito approaches Moritaka, proposing that they become mangaka together. After much convincing, Moritaka realizes that if he is able to create a popular manga series, he may be able to get the girl he has a crush on, Miho Azuki, to take part in the anime adaptation as a voice actor. Thus the pair begins creating manga under the pen name Muto Ashirogi, hoping to become the greatest mangaka in Japan, the likes of which no one has ever seen.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Available At
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Bakuman. Trailers
Bakuman. Pictures
Bakuman. Review
Bakuman. — As a child, Moritaka Mashiro dreamt of becoming a mangaka, just like his childhood hero and uncle, Tarou Kawaguchi, creator of a popular gag manga. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.
Thematically, It sits firmly within Comedy, Drama, Romance conventions as a TV work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 8.17). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.
Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.
On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.
The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.
Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.
No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.
In sum, Bakuman. offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Comedy, Drama, Romance, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.
Characters & Voice Actors
Mashiro, Moritaka
Main
Sinterniklaas, Michael
English
Mashiro, Moritaka
Main
Abe, Atsushi
Japanese
Mashiro, Moritaka
Main
Solis, Adrien
French
Mashiro, Moritaka
Main
Mann, Marcel
German
Mashiro, Moritaka
Main
Zwetkow, Doreaux
German
Takagi, Akito
Main
Hino, Satoshi
Japanese
Takagi, Akito
Main
Collins, Kevin T.
English
Takagi, Akito
Main
Laisné, Grégory
French
Takagi, Akito
Main
Wipprecht, Jeffrey
German
Aida, Souichi
Supporting
Kazama, Yuuto
Japanese
Aida, Souichi
Supporting
Rayow, Scott
English
Aida, Souichi
Supporting
Méyère, Bruno
French
Aida, Souichi
Supporting
Suesterhenn, Marc
German
Amane, Misayo
Supporting
Suzaki, Aya
Japanese
Aoki, Yuriko
Supporting
Kawasumi, Ayako
Japanese
Aoki, Yuriko
Supporting
Donnadieu, Ingrid
French
Aoki, Yuriko
Supporting
Hesse, Kirstin
German
Azuki, Miyuki
Supporting
Inoue, Kikuko
Japanese
Azuki, Miyuki
Supporting
Taylor, Veronica
English
Azuki, Miyuki
Supporting
Jakobeit, Giuliana
German
Staff
Matsukura, Yuuji
Producer
Akitaya, Noriaki
Director, Episode Director, Storyboard
Kasai, Kenichi
Director, Storyboard
Watanabe, Jun
Sound Director
Fukumoto, Kiyoshi
Episode Director
Hashimoto, Hiroyuki
Episode Director, Storyboard, Key Animation
Kidokoro, Seimei
Episode Director
Maruyama, Yuuta
Episode Director, Storyboard
Satou, Hikaru
Episode Director
Sokuza, Makoto
Episode Director
Takahashi, Kenji
Episode Director
Yoshimura, Fumihiro
Episode Director, Storyboard
Ayana, Yuniko
Script
Kamio, Ryuu
Script
Kamishiro, Tsutomu
Script
Minakami, Seishi
Script
Yoshida, Reiko
Script, Series Composition
Satou, Masako
Storyboard
Takada, Kouichi
Storyboard
Yamaguchi, Yuuji
Storyboard