Bakuman Season 1
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: PG
Running Time: 250 Mins
Audio: English & Japanese DD 2.0
Release Date: 27/6/2013
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Moritaka is a diligent high school student, but he wonders what to do with his life, and has to admit he has no idea what he wants to be when he leaves school, whether he wants to go to college or university, or maybe get a decent job. Though he is a decent student, he would rather play computer games or spend time on the computer with his friends, but knows he will have to decide what he wants to be sooner or later as his parents might think he has become a drop out. He does have a conscience as far as his parents are concerned though, and he doesn't want them to think he is keeping anything from them, he doesn't want to worry them.

He thinks he will end up  a normal student who gets a normal desk job, while others in his class will do better than him. Moritaka also has a crush on a girl at his school, but he doesn't have the guts to talk to her or even ask her out. He is much too shy for that. He lets the jocks try as he has a rather jaded view of dating girls, and thinks that love never leads to more than suffering.

When Moritaka has left his math notebook at school by mistake, he has to return to an empty classroom, or at least it would be if fellow classmate Tagaki wasn't sat there on a desk at the back, holding his math book in his face. He says he saw Moritaka draw something in this notebook, and wants to ask him a question, as he's so good at drawing, why doesn't he team up with him to become a manga artist? If he does, he will give him his notebook back and they will be a writer and artist team, if not - well, he'll just give him his notebook back and nothing more will be said. Moritaka thinks Tagaki has a point and it's a good proposition, but not one he has even considered before as his uncle was once a manga artist.

Moritaka thinks this is the last he will see of Tagaki, but if he thinks that then he doesn't know him so well as he's back to tell him he's going to Azuki's house to tell her he wants to be a manga writer - it sounds like a great thing to do, as he wants Moritaka to hang out with him too, but when he knows he wants to go see the girl of his dreams from school, he feels he would just embarrass himself in front of her. Not being one to give up on  his dreams or the dreams of others, Tagaki convinces him to go with him and tell her what they are both planning as there is a reason for it - she wants to be a voice actress. Instead of going along with the plan, Moritaka in true goofy style blurts out that he wants to marry her, but Azuki says she will on one condition, if they make their manga a success - until then he will have to be content to talk to her via emails, and nothing more.

If you think you recognize the anime style and even the look of the characters, you won't be alone. This story
was written and illustrated by the same ones who wrote Death Note. Tagaki looks a bit like Light Yagami, while his classmate Moritaka resembles someone else we are also familiar with. As Moritaka considers being a manga artist, he wonders if he will ever make it as his uncle had committed suicide from not being able to make a go of being one, and thinks if he tries he might become a failure and disappointment to his family. Tagaki on the other hand doesn't have his view and thinks they will make a great team.

This is a likable anime where the characters are fun and the story is enjoyable enough to thrill.


Bonus Material: Opening; Superheroes Legend, Opening, Saint Visual Girls High School OP-ED, Ending, Opening 2 and Ending 2.

Verdict: Bakuman is a completely different anime to Death Note, and has many laughs and touching moments that make it a recommended watch.