Anime like Bakuman
A story about two guys making manga with the goal of having their work serialised, Bakuman is a fan favourite series that gives insights into the manga industry. If you’re long-time fans of the medium and are intrigued to dive deeper into the industry, check out this list of anime that are just like Bakuman to get a glimpse of manga- and anime-making.
1. Shirobako
Image credit: @shirobako_anime via Twitter
It’s not every day that you have the same dream as your high school friends and end up in the same field as a working adult. Shirobako follows Aoi, a novice production assistant for an animation company, where her friend Ema also works as an animator.
3D computer graphics designer Misa, writer Midori, and voice actress Shizuka – Aoi’s friends who were part of the animation club – are also in the industry striving to make a mark in their respective fields.
Image credit: @shirobako_anime via Twitter
If you’ve ever wanted a breakdown of what it takes to produce an anime series, Shirobako paints a comprehensive picture of the process. From storyboard directing to creation of key frames, or even the common industry practice of outsourcing work, every aspect of anime-making is depicted in a realistic manner.
Image adapted from: P.A. Works
There’s no sugar coating – it’s a tough industry to be in, and Shirobako serves as a reminder that the field is not all fun and games, despite what it appears to be. Shirobako is an educational series about the subject matter that all anime fans should watch in order to gain a deeper appreciation for the medium.
Length: 24 episodes, 2 OVAs, 1 movie
Available on: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime
2. Kakushigoto: My Dad’s Secret Ambition
Image credit: Ajia-do Animation Works
Single father Kakushi has only one fear in life – having his daughter, Hime, find out about his job as a manga artist, where he draws NSFW manga for a living. In order to avoid disappointing Hime, he pretends to be an average salaryman and tries to raise her to the best of his ability.
Image adapted from: Ajia-do Animation Works
Though Kakushigoto is a humorous anime that focuses mainly on the shenanigans of Kakushi as he attempts to conceal his real job, the series highlights the importance of collaboration in manga-making.
Image adapted from: Ajia-do Animation Works
Kakushigoto is a beginner’s introduction to publishing a manga, as it portrays realistic processes of getting a manga made, from having assistants to help with artwork, such as sketching the background, to getting an editor to ensure that deadlines are met. On top of that, it’s also a heartwarming story about a father-daughter relationship.
Length: 12 episodes, 1 movie
Available on: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Funimation
3. Monthly Girls’ Nozaki Kun
Image credit: IMDb
After gathering all her courage, Sakura finally makes the move to confess her feelings to her crush, Nozaki. But instead of having her feelings reciprocated or getting flat out rejected, Sakura receives an autograph from Nozaki, much to her confusion.
Image adapted from: Doga Kobo
As it turns out, Nozaki is a popular shōjo manga artist working under the pseudonym of Yumeno Sakiko, and he has misconstrued Sakura’s confession. Despite authoring a romance manga, the stoic Nozaki is clueless when it comes to romance and often has to enlist Sakura’s help to ideate romantic scenes for his stories.
Image adapted from: Doga Kobo
While it is a parody series that lightly pokes fun at classic tropes found in the shōjo genre, Monthly Girls’ Nozaki Kun is a fascinating look into the length manga artists will go to for their craft.
Length: 12 episodes, 6 OVAs
Available on: Netflix, Crunchyroll
4. Seiyuu’s Life!
Image credit: IMDb
Showing a glimpse behind voice acting, Seiyuu’s Life is a series that follows three friends who are rookie voice actors starting out in the industry. It covers the range of work that voice actors do, from narration work to hosting a radio show, and occasionally, singing.
Image adapted from: Gonzo
Although being a voice actor appears to be a glitzy and glamorous job, make no mistake, the industry is a harsh one. Voice acting is hard work and it’s not uncommon to see novice voice actors having to support themselves with a part-time job.
Image adapted from: Gonzo
The voice actresses – Takahashi Rie, Nagaku Yuki, and Kouno Marika – were casted because they were newbies in the seiyuu industry in real life at the time the anime was produced, mirroring the journey of the main characters and adding to the realism of the series.
Length: 13 episodes, 1 OVA
Available on: Funimation, Crunchyroll
5. Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken
Image credit: Amazon
If you’ve enjoyed Shirobako but found its detailed and technical approach to showing an animation production cycle a tad intense, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken may be a good change of pace. The series is an homage to the medium, but instead of going into the nitty-gritty of animating a manga, it places more focus on the interactions between three passionate high schoolers who make anime in their school’s film club.
Image adapted from: Science SARU
As the director, Asakusa is responsible for the storyboard and setting, and she often actively creates fictional worlds and pulls the rest in for a ride. Realist Kanamori keeps everyone on track as the producer and ensures that the timeline is kept to, and Mizusaki is an animator who brings the characters in their manga to life.
Image adapted from: Science SARU
The series showcases what’s so great about animation as the three friends breathe life into their work – there are no artistic limits to the world you can create and you’re really only bound by your imagination. Ultimately, the show is about a trio dedicated to their craft and the creative process of anime-making.
Length: 12 episodes
Available on: Netflix, Crunchyroll
6. The Pet Girl Of Sakurasou
Image credit: Sakurasou Official Website
After being kicked out of his dormitory for taking in and keeping stray cats, Sorata moves into Sakura Dormitory, a dorm that is managed by his university, Suimei University of the Arts.
Image adapted from: J.C.Staff
There, he meets foreign exchange student Mashiro, who also happens to be a world-renowned painter and has transferred to Sorata’s university to become a manga artist. Despite her artistic talent, Mashiro lacks common sense and is completely inept at taking care of herself.
Image adapted from: J.C.Staff
Forced to assume the role of Mashiro’s custodian, Sorata begins his life in the dorm, and is surrounded by other equally eccentric students.
If you love a good story about the bonds between friends and romantic partners that gives you a glimpse into the highly dramatised life of a manga artist, give The Pet Girl Of Sakurasou a watch.
Length: 24 episodes
Available on: Netflix, Crunchyroll
7. Comic Girls
Image credit: Sony Pictures
Having your manga ranked the bottom in a popularity poll does a number on you, but Kaoruko is determined to turn the tide. To improve her work, she moves into a dormitory for manga artists, as per her editor’s recommendation.
Image adapted from: Nexus
In the dorm, she lives with other manga artists who have their own style and speciality, as well as struggles. This includes a shōjo manga artist who is terrible at drawing male characters, an erotic manga artist who had dreams of drawing children’s comics, and a tomboyish shōnen mangaka who behaves as though she’s in a shōnen manga setting.
Image adapted from: Nexus
Though Kaoruko is not as talented as her roommates, that doesn’t stop her from trying hard to improve her manga and overcoming her failures.
Length: 12 episodes
Available on: Crunchyroll
8. Girlish Number
Image credit: Hulu
Believing that she’s destined for greatness, Chitose is disheartened and bitter when she is unable to secure a breakthrough role after a year of working as a voice actress. So, when a chance to play the leading role as an idol voice actress for an anime adaptation comes knocking on her door one day, Chitose is more than eager to jump at it.
Image adapted from: Diomedéa
A satirical look at the occupation of a voice actor and the animation industry, Girlish Number is noted for its deprecating humour and cynicism. The industry is not all sunshine and rainbows, and the series does a good job of removing our rose-tinted glasses.
Length: 12 episodes
Available on: Crunchyroll
9. Mangirl!
Image credit: Earth Star Entertainment
Mangirl! is a slice of life comedy series that follows a group of girls who is aiming to create the largest manga magazine in Japan. As they have absolutely no editorial experience, the group encounters problems along the way, but that doesn’t stop them from working hard.
Image adapted from: Doga Kobo
Adapted from a four-panel manga, each episode of Mangirl! is relatively short, with a runtime of three minutes. The short episodes don’t leave much room for plot or character development, but it’s the perfect low-commitment series if you’re just looking for something to breeze through.
Length: 13 episodes, 1 OVA
Available on: Crunchyroll
Anime series like Bakuman to watch
Besides showing the fun side that goes on in the industries, these anime series that are like Bakuman don’t shy away from shedding light on the harsh realities of producing anime and manga. The next time you flip through a manga or binge watch a series overnight, you’d be able to feel a deeper sense of appreciation for the art form.
Looking for more to add onto your to-watch list? Check out these romance anime that are airing in 2023, the best anime movies of all times, and the best Kyoto Animation anime series to watch.
Cover image adapted from: eiga.com, Amazon, @shirobako_anime