Summary
If you are reading this site, chances are youread mangaand watch anime. What was once a niche product has now become a multi-billion dollar industry, and America has been fully embracing the gravy train for years. What does it take to create a manga though?
What are some of the challenges creators may face? Lucky for you, there is an anime series that follows (more or less) what it’s like to work in the manga industry (and believe it or not, it may be one of the best shows you haven’t seen).
Who Are Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata?
Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata are a renowned manga-creator duo. Tsugumi Ohba is the writer, known for creating complex, psychological stories, while Takeshi Obata is the artist, praised for his detailed and expressive artwork. They are best known for their collaboration on the popular seriesDeath Note, a psychological thriller about a notebook that can kill people by writing their names down,andPlatinum End, a story about a contest to decide who will replace God as the supreme being of the universe. Both series had anime adaptations.
Their Other Hits
Aside from these two series, the Ohba also worked on a short series calledSkip! Yamada-kunwith manga artist Robico. Tsugmi Ohba is also known for providing artwork for Hikaru no Go, a hit Shonen Jump series about a boy who strives to become a professional Go player with the help of an ancient ghost. This series was created before Death Note was created. Though these are all debatably great series, they also worked on another series that would revolve around an unusual subject (and would likewisebecome an unusual hit).
What isBAKUMAN。?
BAKUMAN。is the story of two high school students, Moritaka Mashiro, an aspiring artist, and Akito Takagi, a talented writer, who team up to become successful manga creators. The series offers a behind-the-scenes look at the competitive world of manga publishing, as the duo works tirelessly to create a hit series. Along the way, they face numerous challenges, from tight deadlines to creative struggles, while pursuing their dreams and navigating relationships. Known for being partially autobiographical of both men, the series was unusual because few thought that a manga series about creating manga could be a big hit. Course, if anyone could make the subject into a hit franchise, thecreators ofDeath Notecould.
The History ofBAKUMAN。in America
Despite the success ofBAKUMAN。in Japan, its release in America has faced some roadblocks. While the manga would receive a full release courtesy of Viz Media (and the whole series can be read with a subscription to theShonen Jump appin America), the anime would not be so lucky. While the first two seasons of the show were licensed by Media Blasters (with a dub cast announced as well), as the first DVD was released with seven episodes, plans for the followup DVD (as well as a BluRay containing episodes from both discs) were canceled due to low sales. Viz Media would eventually license the anime. However, they have not continued the series on DVD or BluRay as of the writing of this article.
Why The Series is Worth Seeing
Aside from the fact thatthe creators ofDeath Notemade it,BAKUMAN。is worth seeking out by fans of good storytelling because it shines a light (in a fun way) on how difficult it actually is to make manga your living. There are long hours, cranky editors, story ideas that go nowhere, working conditions that involve a lot of cramped spaces and no free time to pursue personal hobbies. In many ways, this is the most honest portrayal of an industry that eats up artists and craps out manga. While some of the elements are stylized for comedic effect, the two creators air a lot of their grievances about the industry in this show (including a hint that they may have wanted to endDeath Notedifferently than how the series ended).
Despite the fact that the manga industry comes off as an unforgiving machine, the series is still exciting in how it portrays the process of creating manga (complete with super-powered rivals and everything), and viewers get sucked into the journeys of the protagonists, and root to see them succeed despite all the obstacles that are in their way. And despite the shaky release history in America, the popularity ofDeath NoteandHikaru no Gohas prompted more people to seek the series out. While DVD releases are scarce, the series CAN be streamed on Hulu and Disney+ (with a bundle option)! And yes: all three seasons are available. Which means fans who want another shounen journey to follow (as well as a little insight to the dark side of their favorite hobby) have one heck of a gem they are about to discover.
