I've started noticing it lately but there are some quite subtle differences between the anime and its manga. Don't get me wrong, the Bakuman anime is great and all episodes so far have been handled very well, it has great pacing, the animation team knows how to build momentum, and the quality can't be better.
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| In the manga's art, you can see the 'nasty' looks the main characters have, as the signature style of the creators of Death Note |
But I feel that the anime is more targeted to female? audiences, making too much emphasis on the romantic theme and the comedic moments.
The manga definitely makes more emphasis on the 'wanting to be a mangaka no matter what' story. And of course this was a decision of the studio that I'm not going to criticize much.
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| While the anime softens up a bit, and shows us cute protagonists with a dream |
Bakuman is the story of two high school students who, against all odds of choosing a 'normal, successful' office career, decide to become mangakas at their own risk of failing. Slowly we see how they struggle but also how they will achieve their objectives: to have their first story published in Shonen Jack (lol!) before graduating.
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| Saiko being handed over the keys of his uncle's studio |
Moritaka Mashiro (Saiko) is the typical student who doesn't know what to really do with his life, he's really good at drawing but he's undecided whether he wants to take his uncle's steps. He has had this crush on Miho since he was a little kid, but never dared to confess until he achieved something truly important in his life that would make him worthy of her.
He meets Takito Akagi (Shuujin) because he discovered through his notebook drawings that he left in the classroom that he has a crush on her. In exchange for not telling anyone, Shujin offers him to team up to create manga. Shujin is the number 1 student at his school, and basically has the world laid out before him, because he can choose where to go to prepare for a prestigious college, thus land a first-rate job, etc.
But interestingly enough, Shujin doesn't want that, despite his talents as a writer and the fact that he could become a traditional novelist. He chooses to work with Saiko because he believes in him and the work they can achieve together, thus he's a key piece in Saiko wanting to become a mangaka.
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| Shujin has a creepy, explosive temper when provoked, despite being a nerd |
As you can see, this series has great characters with depth and I find that it's a refreshing break from all the fight-to-death style anime/manga we are used to see. Sometimes a good slice-of-life story is a nice change of pace, even for the creators of Death Note :)
