BAKUMAN

(2015) Moritaka Mashiro (Takeru Satoh) is a junior high student kind of just floating through life with little ambition beyond constantly drawing in his sketchbook. When he leaves said book behind in class one day, it's found by fellow student Akito Takagi (Ryunosuke Kamiki), a writer who seeks an artist for a new series of manga he wants to put together. Mashiro refuses (his uncle was a world-famous mangaka, and the toll of the work killed him), that is until Takagi encourages the directionless young man to speak to the classmate he's in love with ... who, in turn, reveals her plans to one day be a voiceover artist, giving Mashiro the strength to reveal his (really Takagi's) plans to be a manga artist, to impress her. The two vow to meet again - even marry - when Mashiro's manga comes to TV and he can hire her to voice the lead character. In other words, when both have reached their dreams. Mashiro and Takagi begin immediately, seeking national serialization with the #1 producers of manga, Shonen Jump ... and what Bakuman showcases perfectly is the incredible talent, dedication, time and extremely hard work it is for young artists and writers to keep up the pace of producing a top-rated manga week after week, day after day, for years at a time - all for little to no pay unless fame strikes, and going without sleep to make a deadline, sometimes for days at a time. My own knowledge of manga is pretty limited, but I have a complete and total appreciation, after seeing this film, of what these artists and writers go through; the utter discipline and commitment so necessary when it all may be for nothing. We're treated to both progress and pain with Mashiro and Takagi, in their bid to make it big, rooting for them all the way in this comedy-drama from Japan that gives you a behind-the-scenes peek at how some of the most popular reading material in the world comes to life - and the intense, and lack of food and rest, it takes to get it there. Oh, and the manga-style animated sequences are brilliant. (not rated)  7.5/10 stars