[review] Bakuman: behind the scenes behind the manga!

Last month, we invited you to discover our opinion on the Live movie of Kiki's Delivery Service. This month, we continue our momentum by offering you a new review on the live adaptation of the Bakuman mangaka duo!

Bakuman

Original title: Bakuman. – バクマン。

Country: Japan

Release date: 03 October 2015

Director: Hitoshi One

Writers: Tsugumi Ohba (manga), Takeshi Obata (manga)

Genre: school – comedy

The main characters of Bakuman:

Takeru Satoh (Bitter Blood)

Moritaka Mashiro is a high school student who spends his time drawing manga. He is in love with Miho his childhood friend. When Takagi offers him to become a mangaka he hesitates but finally accepts.

Ryunosuke Kamiki (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable)

Akito Takagi is a good student at school. Seeing Mashiro's drawings he thought that with his stories they could associate. A friendship was born between the two comrades.

Nana Komatsu (Sakamichi no Apollon)

Miho Azuki, childhood friend of Mashiro with whom she is also in love. She wants to become a seiyu (anime voice actress). Following a promise, she agreed to dub the main character of the mangaka when they have a manga adapted into anime.

Synopsis

Mashiro Moritaka is a high school student in first grade, he does not yet know what to do with his life. But, one day his classmate Takagi Akito discovers his sketches of drawing and offers him to become a mangaka with him in charge of the scenario. He then makes a promise to his childhood friend Azuki Miho, who she wants to become a seiyu. Moritaka, then forms a duo with Takagi and the two teenagers challenge themselves to be published in the prestigious magazine Shonen Jump. The road to success promises to be full of pitfalls!

The world of manga and publishing

Before getting to the heart of the matter, it is important to know where this live adaptation comes from. For those who still do not know or have cut themselves off from the world, Bakuman is the second collaboration of the very famous mangaka duo Obata Takeshi and Ohba Tsugumi. Their first work together was Death Note and their last in progress was Platinum End. The story allows us to follow the journey strewn with pitfalls of two teenagers passionate about manga and to discover the workings of it. In today's Japan and with a lot of information in particular, on the cult magazine Shonen Jump known for finding future talents (One Piece for example). A source that always seems to be up to date in view of the many media exploiting this subject!

Rivals but, united

Although the manga world is a fairly closed field, with its gruelling work schedules and an often precarious life (for those who do not break through); it remains one of the most sought-after jobs in Japan! And even if life is difficult and the path to success very limited it is not impossible. Takagi and Mashiro represent here this youth ready to do anything to achieve his goal, not skimping on his efforts and pushing his limits ever further.

In addition, faced with their courage and motivations, other young talents will be presented: Fukuda Shinta, Nakai Takuro. The genius Niizuma Eiji, however, failed to find favor with my eyes being soft light years away from the original character. In addition, it lacks some important protagonists such as Miyoshi Kaya, Aoki Yuriko, Iwase Aiko or the presence of the heroes' family environment which is non-existent.

For an audience that does not know the original

A film that overall, makes you have a good time in the world of publishing and manga. However, those who have read the manga or seen the anime will be disappointed by the shortcuts that the often too brutal scenario takes. The finale is sloppy given that the objective of the two young men is not quite respected. It clearly does not invite a sequel! There is also the impression that feelings are clearly not being exploited. Indeed, just look at the number of times Mashiro and Azuki meet… Clearly, the Live film is mainly aimed at an audience that does not know the work or wants to know more about the world of manga. We were not really convinced since we are fans of the manga!

Bakuman is a live film about the world of manga aimed at an audience that does not know manga and would like to discover it! For others, it's up to you to make your own opinion.

https://youtu.be/AjuyrRTqfkE