The 13 Anime About Making Anime/Manga To Learn New Things

The figure of the mangaka or animator is undoubtedly interesting and gives us a way to find out how the series we love so much are created.

And what if we told you that out there you can find many anime that talks about this profession, in many different ways?

Between some of them using it as the main theme to propel the plot forward, others as parodies of this figure, and others even as a criticism, there is room for many different stories.

So let’s find out what are the best anime about making anime and manga that you can watch, according to our personal opinion and experience.

13. Girlish Number

Girlish Number is a chilly slice-of-life/comedic anime released in 2016 with only 12 episodes, great if you are looking for something simple and easy to watch.

The story stars Chitose Karasuma, a college student and anime voice actor.

Along with her, you’ll see other voice actors and workers in the animation industry throughout the episodes, with some interesting glimpses into the making of anime.

Girlish Number is a great anime for those seeking a straightforward portrayal of the anime industry, without excessive pretension

Also, its animations are good, the characters are funny, and the soundtrack is decent.

12. Animation Runner Kuromi

Animation Runner Kuromi is a small OVA series, consisting of two separate series of 1 episode each. Both episodes run for approximately 35 to 40 minutes and were released in the early 2000s.

Mikiko Oguro is a girl who is finally about to realize her dream: to work in an anime animation studio.

Arriving on her first day of work, however, the girl will have a strange welcome when the director ends up rushed to the hospital.

But just before he’s hospitalized, the latter assigns Mikiko to take his place as the new director. But between listless workers who don’t show up for work, and looming deadlines, will she make it all come together?

Animation Runner Kuromi is an interesting end entertaining viewing with some good animations, typical of the early 2000s.

It may not be 100% accurate from an anime-making standpoint being primarily comic, but we still recommend it big time.

11. Seiyu’s Life!

Sore ga Seiyuu! is a 2015 anime released in 13 episodes, based on a yonkoma manga.

The story centers on Futaba Ichinose, Ichigo Moesaki, and Rin Kohana, 3 budding voice actors taking their first steps into the world of anime dubbing.

There is not much to say, Sore ga Seiyuu! is a great anime if you are looking for something entertaining and focused on comedy with some focus on anime making, as it was for Girlish Number.

There are plenty of demented comedy gags that will break you up laughing, with the three MC girls characterized in quirky and funny ways.

10. Genshiken

Genshinken is a slice-of-life comedy anime released in 2004 in 12 episodes, based on the manga of the same name.

The events center on the members of a modern visual arts school club, who study anime and manga creation among their activities.

Their special feature is that they’re all great otaku and nerds, creating a unique and relatable cast.

Genshinken is a funny anime, perfect if you are looking for along with the focus of anime making a fun and close-knit cast of characters.

There will also be little romance between them, making it even more endearing.

9. Comic Party

Comic Party was released in 2001 in 13 comic and slice-of-life episodes.

Kazuki Sendo is an ordinary guy who one day was invited by his friend Taishi to a manga convention, the Comic Party. There he’ll meet some mangaka from whom he will be inspired, and decide he wants to draw manga as well.

That’s the beginning of his journey in the study and the discovery of this work, amid comic gags and inspiration-seeking.

We are talking about a simple anime with funny and interesting glimpses into the figure of the mangaka, almost like a parody of them.

The animations have aged slightly badly, but this is not overly problematic in an anime based on comedy.

8. Remake our Life!

Released in 2021 in 12 episodes, Remake Our Life! is a slice-of-life anime with comic, romance, and supernatural elements.

Kyouya Hashiba is a 28-year-old developer who, as a result of the bankruptcy of the development house he works for, finds himself stranded.

Depressed, however, he will find himself 10 years in the past, with an opportunity to set things right.

Here he will meet a talented team of girls, with whom he will begin the project of creating some anime, while some romantic entanglements will soon surface.

Remake Our Life! is a good anime, with some psychological themes related to second chances in life combined with interesting comic scenes performed by a good cast.

Highly recommended if you are looking for a combination of these genres.

7. Wotakoi

Wotakoi is an excellent romance anime released in 2018 with only 11 episodes, which we consider without much doubt the best romance anime with Otaku MCs.

Narumi Momose is a young girl who is arriving late to her first day of work when she makes a promise to herself: no one must find out that she’s an incredible otaku.

But these promises go up in smoke when she meets at her workplace, Hirotaka Nifuji, an old friend of hers who knows her passions, and is a great nerd himself.

The two will become increasingly more intimate, promising to respect their passions and to help each other farm on Monster Hunter.

Wotakoi is based, as you may have already noticed, on nerd and otaku themes more than anime and manga making.

Although during the story the two will have a date at Comiket, a comic and manga fair, where there will be small glimpses into the topic.

6. Pet girl of Sakurasou

Pet Girl of Sakurasou is an incredibly underrated romance anime released in 2012 in 24 excellent episodes.

Sorata Kanda is a boy who lives in the infamous Sakurasou dorm, home to many strange and avoidable personalities.

This is precisely why the arrival of Mashiro Shiina, a beautiful aspiring mangaka, who is as talented as she’s clumsy, will make Sorata decide that he must protect her at all costs.

Pet Girl of Sakurasou is an excellent anime, at the same time incredibly funny, with absurd gags, and other excellent romance moments.

The relatable and unique cast of characters is also great, with beautifully written otaku and nerdy characters accompanied by equally excellent animation.

5. Monthly girls’ Nozaki-kun

Monthly Girls Nozaki Kun is an excellent romance anime with a great focus on the figure of the mangaka.

Sakura is secretly in love with her classmate Nozaki, and one day she finally decides to come forward and confess her love.

What she doesn’t know is that the boy is a famous mangaka, and she mistakes the girl’s confession for a letter from a fan. He will then decide to hire her as his assistant, resulting in many comical and absurd situations.

Monthly Girls Nozaki Kun is precisely what it sounds like from the plot: a chill romantic anime with comic gags interspersed with tender romantic moments that will melt your heart.

We recommend it highly if you are looking for a good romcom the way we like it.

4. Kakushigoto

Kakushigoto is a 2020 anime released in 12 episodes, which along with the theme of making anime and manga also narrates an interesting father/daughter relationship.

Kakushi Gotou is a young mangaka who has become famous for his sexual and irreverent manga.

The man, however, has decided to hide this secret of his from his young daughter Hime, to avoid embarrassment for her.

But between fans asking him for an autograph and boisterous colleagues, this task will not be easy.

Kakushigoto is an anime that deserves more success than it has received.

Its story is simple but entertaining, with excellent and modern animations, and the figure of the mangaka is portrayed in a realistic and believable way, with even glimpses of how this profession can affect private life.

3. Shirobako

Aoi Miyamori, Ema Yasuhara, Midori Imai, Misa Todo, and Shizuka Sakaki are five girls with dreams of working in the japanese animation.

The story begins when these promise each other a future in this field before saying goodbye.

Years pass, and each has taken a different path. We follow their lives as fate brings them together again.

These are the premises of Shirobako, an anime released in 2014 with 24 excellent episodes, released as an original story.

This is a great slice-of-life anime, delivering a realistic portrait of what working in Japanese animation means, with its merits and flaws. The 5 girls, moreover, are very fleshed-out characters.

2. Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!

Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! is another excellent anime released in 2020 that is incredibly underrated considering its extremely high quality.

Midori, Tsubame, and Sayaka are 3 girls with dreams of working in Japanese animation.

During the series, we will see their wonderful works animated, which will take them on imaginary adventures with only their imagination as a limit.

This is truly an excellent anime, which we highly recommend.

The animations are awesome, and the adventures the girls will dream up with their creations are stunning and inspiring.

1. Bakuman

Bakuman is the quintessential anime centered on the figure of the mangaka and everything around it, including merits and flaws.

It was released in 2010 in 25 episodes, based on a manga created by the same authors of Death Note.

Mashiro Moritaka is a normal 14-year-old boy who dreams of living a normal life, with a huge talent for drawing that he uses to draw in his notebook when bored.

One day, however, this notebook will be found by Akito Takagi, who noticing Mashiro’s great talents will propose to him a deal: create a manga together.

Bakuman is an excellent series, which in its almost parodic story of the figure of the mangaka manages to be entertaining, and at times even a social critique of this idolized work.

Not to mention that the characters are well-written and endearing, and the comical moments are super funny.