Did Everything Depicted in Bakuman Happen in Real Life for the Manga’s Creators?

Bakuman is not just a story; it is a lived experience of its creators, Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, brought to life. The manga series, renowned for its detailed depiction of the manga industry, mirrors the real-life experiences of its creators while incorporating dramatizations for narrative effect.

Pitching and Serialization

The intricate processes of pitching manga ideas to editors and the meticulous journey of serialization are accurately portrayed in Bakuman. These elements resonate deeply with Ohba and Obata's own experiences, as they navigated the challenging terrain of the manga industry.

When Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata were creating their own manga, they faced similar trials. They submitted their ideas to editors and waited for those ideas to be selected for serialization. This process of pitching and waiting, and then seeing their work serialized, is faithfully echoed in the pages of Bakuman.

Editor Relationships

The Bakuman manga does an admirable job of depicting the complex dynamics between manga artists and their editors. The relationships depicted range from supportive collaborations to challenging creative clashes. These relationships are not mere fabrications; they are rooted in the reality of the manga industry, where editors play a crucial role in shaping the success of a manga.

During the creation of Bakuman, Ohba and Obata had to manage the often tumultuous relationship with their editors. They navigated these complexities to ensure their manga met the high standards expected by readers and publishers.

Competition and Awards

The competitive nature of the manga industry and the pursuit of prestigious awards like the Shogakukan Manga Award are also accurately represented in Bakuman. The authors and artists in the manga face stiff competition and strive to stand out. This mirrors the real experiences of Ohba and Obata, who had to navigate the same challenges while hoping their manga would receive the recognition it deserved.

Reality vs. Fiction

While the creators' real-life experiences inform the narrative of Bakuman, the series is ultimately a fictionalized account aimed at enhancing the storytelling. The dramatic aspects included in the manga may have been embellished or condensed to capture and sustain the reader's attention. Nevertheless, the processes and struggles depicted in Bakuman are grounded in the creators' actual experiences and the broader realities of the manga industry.

Artist Obata’s Perspective

In an interview, artist Takeshi Obata mentioned that he never interfered in the story-writing process, unlike the duo in the manga. They mostly conversed on the phone and rarely met. Certain incidents, such as the negative feedback received for Death Note Reversi, which pressured Obata to develop Black Clover, did indeed happen in real life. However, most of the other creative and personal interactions in the manga are a combination of real-life experiences and imaginative storytelling.

Moreover, the collaboration between the artist and the author in Bakuman was orchestrated by Jump magazine, similar to the real-life process that brought Ohba and Obata together. In the manga, Mashiro and Shuujin meet through the intervention of a manga publisher, whereas in reality, they were discovered by publishers independently.