Bakuman

Student Moritaka Mashiro is whiling away his school days without much thought for the future when he is approached by the top student in his class, Akito Takagi. Takagi's request? "Team up with me and create manga!"

In order to marry Miho Azuki, the girl of his dreams, Mashiro decides to become a manga artist. But first he has to convince his family to let him try despite his manga-artist uncle Nobuhiro's death from overwork and exhaustion just three years prior.

Mashiro takes Takagi to uncle Nobu's old manga studio and shows the budding writer some of his uncle's storyboards. In an odd corner they also find a box of uncle Nobu's love letters, but are in for a shock when they figure out just who the woman on the other end was.

Mashiro becomes obsessed with mastering the use of the G-pen to draw, to the point of blowing off studying for exams. Takagi is worried, but also begins his own research project to aid him in creating manga stories.

Mashiro and Takagi decide to finish up their first manga over summer vacation and bring it to an editor. Meanwhile, Takagi tries to explain to Miyoshi why he was asking her about Azuki, but only ends up making things more awkward.

Their first submission ready, the boys bring it to a publisher and meet one of the editors, Akira Hattori. His feedback has the boys wavering between ecstasy and misery.

Class is a joy for Mashiro now that he sits next to Azuki, but one day he asks a question that makes her cry. Through her tears, though, Azuki gives Mashiro her text address, leaving Moritaka completely confused. Later, Mr. Hattori calls to give the boys the results for "The Two Earths."

Aiming to win the Tezuka Award, Mashiro and Takagi begin work on a new manga called "The One-Hundred Millionth." But when one of their classmates finds out about the boys' project and begins critiquing Mashiro's art, there's trouble afoot!

Though Takagi has been suspended, he's being positive and using the time to focus on his storyboards. Mashiro, on the other hand, is doubting himself. When Mashiro drops by his partner's house to check in, he finds a...delicate situation.

Mashiro and Takagi go to discuss "One-Hundred Millionth" with Mr. Hattori and get advice on their next project. After a false start or two, they pitch their next idea.

While working on their submission for NEXT! magazine, Mashiro and Takagi must make it through high school entrance exams. In the meantime, a gift from Azuki arrives for Mashiro.

The boys feel the need to redouble their efforts, not just because of their growing rivalry with Eiji Niizuma, but to repay Hattori for his belief in them. As their graduation from middle school draws near, Mashiro finds out that Azuki will be moving away.

After working harder than ever to complete their final draft, Mashiro sends his first text to Azuki. Later, Miyoshi helps the boys choose a pen name, and NEXT! goes on sale containing their first published work.

In order to beat Eiji Niizuma, Mashiro and Takagi begin storyboarding a mainstream battle manga. Eiji is causing no end of trouble for his editor and is brought into the editorial department, giving the boys a chance to see their rival's talent firsthand.

While the boys work on their mainstream battle manga, Azuki hears about a casting call for a new TV show, though she worries about the requirement for being a strong singer.

Azuki passes her audition for Saint Visual Girls' High School, while the boys' newly completed "Angel Days" doesn't make the cut for Gold Future Cup. Meanwhile, Miyoshi decides on a dream to chase after herself!

Mashiro takes a job working as an assistant at Eiji's studio and meets some other manga artists. With CROW falling in the surveys, the group discusses how chapter five might be fixed before the deadline.

Mashiro gets an idea from watching Eiji and quits his job as Eiji's assistant. Meanwhile, Takagi has been helping Miyoshi with her cellphone novels, but is still struggling to come up with a storyboard.

When Takagi isn't able to keep his promise to create a storyboard before the end of summer break, Mashiro faces a big decision. Hattori, seeing what's happening, comes up with a plan to make things right.

Mashiro and Takagi learn who their rivals are going to be in the Gold Future Cup. Though the competition is going to be fierce, the boys are excited at the thought of going up against such talented individuals.