Best tv shows like Bakuman
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Moritaka Mashiro, a junior high school student, content to live out a relatively normal life as any other does, is persuaded by his classmate, Akito Takagi, to become an aspiring mangaka when the latter realizes his natural talent as an artist. However, Moritaka is reluctant to pursue his dream as his uncle, once a mangaka with his own serializations, died from overwork trying to regain his lost status. With Akito's help, Takagi gets another classmate and his school crush, Azuki Miho, who is an aspiring voice actress, to voice in the anime adaptation of their future manga once it is completed. However, Mashiro also proposes to Azuki, who surprisingly accepts only on the condition she will marry him when both of them have achieved their dreams. With a goal set before him, Mashiro begins a long and struggling path to become a famous mangaka. Source: AnimeNewsNetwork.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, exciting, manga, captivating, light, uplifting, semi serious, inspirational, shounen
Best tv shows and movies like Bakuman (2010):
Similar in 84%
Hi Score Girl (2018)
Plot Summary:
The year is 1991 and 6th grader Yaguchi Haruo only has video games to live for. He's not popular in school and he's neither handsome, funny, nice nor even friendly. The only thing he has going for him is that he is good at video games. One day at the local arcade, he plays Oono Akira, a fellow classmate but who's popular, smart, pretty and a rich girl that absolutely destroys him at Street Fighter II. Not only does he lose to her 30 times in a row, he can’t beat her at any game. Haruo can’t seem to shake Akira off as she follows him from arcade to arcade everyday after school and beats him every time. As weird as it sounds, the odd couple begins a strange bond and friendship.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 25 min
Plot tags: anime, light, humorous, captivating, sincere, touching, feel good, mecha, seinen
Similar in 81%
Nodame Cantabile (2007)
Plot Summary:
Shinichi Chiaki is a first class musician whose dream is to play among the elites in Europe. Coming from a distinguished family, he is an infamous perfectionist; not only is he highly critical of himself, but of others as well. The only thing stopping Chiaki from leaving for Europe is his fear of flying. As a result, he's grounded in Japan. During his 4th year at Japan's top music university, Chiaki happens to meet Noda Megumi—or as she refers to herself, Nodame. On the surface, she seems to be an unkempt girl with no direction in life. However, when Chiaki hears Nodame play the piano for the first time, he is in awe at the kind of music she plays. To Chiaki's dismay, Nodame moves into the apartment next to his and finds out that she is head-over-heels in love with him.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 25 min
Plot tags: anime, feel good, captivating, light, sincere, humorous, relaxing, romantic comedy, shoujo, manga
Similar in 86%
Great Teacher Onizuka (1999)
Plot Summary:
About Eikichi Onizuka, a 22-year-old ex-gangster member and a virgin. He has one ambition that no one ever expected from him. His solely life purpose is to become the greatest high school teacher ever.
IMDB Rating: 8.5
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, humorous, manga, sitcom, shounen, realistic, semi serious, slapstick
Similar in 89%
Barakamon (2014)
Plot Summary:
After punching a famous curator in the face for criticizing his work as "textbook and lifeless," Handa Seishuu is sent to Gotō Island to calm his nerves and find new inspiration for his calligraphy. Growing up in the city all his life, though, Handa must adapt to country life while meeting an assortment of quirky people during his tenure.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, light, humorous, inspirational, sweet, captivating, relaxing, touching, iyashikei
Similar in 79%
Bamboo Blade (2007)
Plot Summary:
A school kendo club is in need of talent and participation when the petite and talented Tamaki is drafted. With her understated sense of justice and ample strength, Tamaki becomes an inspiration for her team-mates, school and even the deadbeat instructor.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 313
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: anime, feel good, humorous, inspirational, entertaining, captivating, exciting, semi serious
Similar in 87%
Akasaka (2008)
Plot Summary:
Junichi Nagase was a real delinquent in middle school, one nasty enough that he earned the nickame "Geno Killer," and it's by this less than flattering epithet that Yuuhi Katagiri first comes to know him when he rescues her from two thugs one evening. Needless to say, both are stunned when not only does Yuuhi find herself transferred into the same high school class as "the Killer," but that shock grows into outright stupefaction when Yuuhi shows up at Junichi's house with the mind-blowing announcement that she's supposed to move in with him! It seems that they're engaged, and since this is the first that Junichi and his younger sister Minato have first heard of the arranged marriage set up by their parents, it's an idea that's going to take a little getting used to. Get ready for ties that bind and gag as bad boy and good girl collide cohabitationally while the entire school gets to watch!.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 167
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: anime, light, feel good, captivating, humorous, entertaining, sexy, offbeat, serious, realistic
Similar in 76%
Tenjho Tenge (2004)
Plot Summary:
Tenjho Tenge, also written as Tenjo Tenge, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Oh! great. The story primarily focuses on the members of the Juken Club and their opposition, the Executive Council, which is the ruling student body of a high school that educates its students in the art of combat. As the story unfolds, both groups become increasingly involved with an ongoing battle that has been left unresolved for four hundred years. Tenjho Tenge was serialized in the magazine Ultra Jump from 1998 to 2010, and collected into 22 volumes by Shūeisha. It was adapted into a twenty-four episode anime series and aired on TV Asahi between April 1, 2004 to September 16, 2004. A two-episode original video animation was also made and aired on March 16, 2005. Both versions of the series have been licensed for release in the English language by two different companies. The manga was licensed and released by CMX beginning in 2005, which came under criticism by fans for editing its sexual content. When CMX closed down in 2010, after releasing 18 volumes, Viz Media picked up the rights and completed their own release of the series in 2013. The anime was licensed and released by Geneon Entertainment, also beginning in 2005, however, it is now licensed by Discotek Media.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Animation, Action, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 23 min
Plot tags: anime, humorous, semi serious, shounen, captivating, entertaining, disturbing, ecchi
Similar in 89%
Kaze no Stigma (2007)
Plot Summary:
Four years ago, Kazuma Kannagi was defeated by his cousin Ayano Kannagi for the right to be the successor of Enraiha, a sword passed down in the Kannagi family. His defeat, along with his lack of talent for En-Jutsu, the fire arts, the Kannagis' specialty, resulted in his banishment from the family. Now, Kazuma returns as Kazuma Yagami, a skilled master of Fū-Jutsu, the wind arts.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Animation, Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, exciting, stylized, humorous, semi serious, manga, seinen
Similar in 88%
Okami-san and Her Seven Companions (2010)
Plot Summary:
Ryōko Ōkami is a spunky high school girl who is a member of a "fixer" club called the Otogi High School Bank. She fixes the school's problems with her partner Ringo Akai ("Akazukin-chan").
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 494
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, humorous, seinen, feel good, semi serious, captivating, light, manga, fairy tale, parody
Similar in 86%
Haganai: I Don't Have Many Friends (2011)
Plot Summary:
Kodaka Hasegawa has just transferred to St. Chronica's Academy and he's having a hard time making friends. With his naturally blond hair and fierce looking eyes, people constantly mistake him for a delinquent. One day, he runs into his bad-tempered loner of a classmate, Yozora, while she's talking to her imaginary friend, Tomo. Since neither of them have any friends, they decide to form a club and start recruiting some. Little by little, lonely classmates join their club to learn how to build friendships through cooking together, playing games, and other group activities. But, with so many misfits, will the club members really be able to get along?.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 25 min
Plot tags: anime, touching, realistic, stylized, humorous, semi serious, manga, offbeat, ecchi
Similar in 79%
A Place Further Than the Universe (2018)
Plot Summary:
Scenery that we have never seen. Sounds that we have never heard. Scent that we have never smelled. Food that we have never tasted. And the surge of emotion that we have never experienced. This is the expedition of recollecting the pieces torn apart and sensation left alone. When we reach that place, what will we think? Howling, 40 degree angle. Raging, 50 degree angle. Shouting, 60 degree angle. A wilderness beyond the heavy sea. The furthest south, far from civilization. At the top of the Earth. We will find lights through the girls' eyes to live tomorrow.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 23 min
Plot tags: anime, light, sincere, humorous, captivating, entertaining
Similar in 76%
Minami-ke (2007)
Plot Summary:
There are three of the Minami sisters: Haruka, Kana and Chiaki, who have an average life. The girls only have each other to depend on and help each other get through everything from love confessions to cooking.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 315
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, light, entertaining, semi serious
Similar in 76%
The Quintessential Quintuplets (2019)
Plot Summary:
Fuutarou Uesugi is a poor, antisocial ace student who one day meets the rich transfer student Itsuki Nakano. They argue but when Uesugi realizes he is to be her tutor, he tries to get on better terms. While trying to do so he meets four other girls.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, romantic, sweet, captivating, tsundere, entertaining, uplifting, shounen, hentai
Similar in 83%
Lovely Complex (2007)
Plot Summary:
Risa and Otani are always being laughed at as the comedy duo. Risa, a girl, is taller than the average girl, and Otani, a boy, is shorter than the average boy. However, Risa have a feeling for Otani that make him shock.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: shoujo, anime, sincere, captivating, sweet, humorous, light, romantic comedy
Similar in 90%
Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend (2015)
Plot Summary:
Tomoya Aki is an otaku who has a dream. His dream is to create the best visual novel game ever. The main heroine for this game and the inspiration for this dream is a background character named Megumi Kato who somehow stumbles into main character-esque traits in his eyes. To complete the game in time he has to call upon the aid of his anime loving professional friends who aren't so keen on the choice of his main heroine.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, ecchi, light, inspirational, romantic, humorous, manga, tsundere
Similar in 88%
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun (2014)
Plot Summary:
High school student Chiyo Sakura has a crush on schoolmate Umetarō Nozaki, but when she confesses her love to him, he mistakes her for a fan and gives her an autograph. When she says that she always wants to be with him, he invites her to his house and has her help on some drawings. Chiyo discovers that Nozaki is actually a renowned shōjo manga artist named Sakiko Yumeno. She then agrees to be his assistant in order to get closer to him. As they work on his manga Let's Fall in Love (恋しよっ), they encounter other schoolmates who assist them or serve as inspirations for characters in the stories.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 23 min
Plot tags: anime, manga, captivating, touching, shoujo, sincere, light, adult anime, romantic comedy, feel good
Similar in 79%
Mischievous Kiss (2008)
Plot Summary:
When her newly-built home is razed to the ground by an earthquake, low-achieving, clumsy, and troublesome third-year high school student Kotoko Aihara is forced to share a roof with the school's—and possibly Japan's—smartest student, Naoki Irie. Kotoko is not actually a complete stranger to Irie-kun; unfortunately, a single love letter that she tried to give him in the past has already sealed her fate as far as he is concerned. Throw in some quirky friends and a meddlesome mother, and Kotoko might not even have a snowball's chance in hell of winning the older Irie boy's heart. Yet Kotoko remains optimistic that, because she now lives in his house, her unattainable crush on the genius since the beginning of high school has never been more within reach.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: shoujo, anime, emotional, atmospheric, humorous, captivating
Similar in 84%
Horimiya (2021)
Plot Summary:
A secret life is the one thing they have in common. At school, Hori is a prim and perfect social butterfly, but the truth is she’s a brash homebody. Meanwhile, under a gloomy facade, Miyamura hides a gentle heart, along with piercings and tattoos. In a chance meeting, they both reveal a side they’ve never shown. Could this blossom into something new?.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 14000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, captivating, entertaining, light, romantic comedy, shounen
Similar in 90%
Uta no Prince-sama (2011)
Plot Summary:
With dreams of becoming a composer and someday writing a song for her favorite idol, Haruka enters the Saotome Academy, a prestigious performing arts school. If successful there, she’ll be able to join the Shining Agency after graduation. However, it won’t be so easy when Haruka is already surrounded by potential idols and composers. On top of that, her homeroom teacher is a current idol, the headmaster was a record-breaking singer, and the academy itself is a chaotic place where anything can happen. Which prince of song will be paired up with Haruka?! Uta no Prince Sama is an exciting, coming-of-age romantic comedy that will be like sweet music to your eyes and ears!.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 375
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: shoujo, anime, humorous, captivating, feel good, light, sincere, manga, touching, realistic
Similar in 77%
Place to Place (2012)
Plot Summary:
Tsumiki Miniwa, a small girl who packs a punch, is in love with her best friend, tall and easygoing Io Otonashi. The only problem is that she can't bring herself to come out and say it. And, despite the fact that he can otherwise read her like a book, Io doesn't seem to be able to pick up the obvious clues—even with all of their friends teasing that there's no one better suited for each other. Acchi Kocchi follows Tsumiki and her circle of friends as they go through their day-to-day lives. Between Mayoi the electronics nerd, Sakaki the good-natured prankster, and the nosebleed-prone Hime, Tsumiki's friends will never let her live down her crush. But only time will tell if Tsumiki will gain the courage to finally say how she truly feels.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 318
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 25 min
Plot tags: anime, touching, realistic, tsundere, iyashikei, semi serious, slapstick, humorous, cute, super sentai
Similar in 82%
Your Lie in April (2014)
Plot Summary:
Kousei Arima was a genius pianist until his mother's sudden death took away his ability to play. Each day was dull for Kousei. But, then he meets a violinist named Kaori Miyazono who has an eccentric playing style. Can the heartfelt sounds of the girl's violin lead the boy to play the piano again?.
IMDB Rating: 8.6
IMDB Votes: 36000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Music, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 23 min
Plot tags: anime, touching, stylized, semi serious, uplifting, adult animation, manga, smart, shounen, tear jerker
Similar in 83%
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU (2013)
Plot Summary:
Hachiman Hikigaya is an antisocial high school student with no friends or girlfriend and as a result has a distorted view on life. When he sees his classmates talking excitedly about their adolescent lives, he mutters, "They're a bunch of liars." When he is asked about his future dreams, he responds, "Not working." A teacher gets Hachiman to join the volunteer "service club," which happens to have the school's prettiest girl - Yukino Yukinoshita.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, touching, realistic, humorous, melancholic, uplifting, inspirational, romantic, ironic, depressing
Similar in 89%
Linebarrels of Iron (2008)
Plot Summary:
Linebarrels of Iron is a Japanese manga series created by Eiichi Shimizu and Tomohiro Shimoguchi. The series was first serialized in Akita Shoten's monthly shōnen manga magazine, Champion Red, in 2005. It has since been compiled into eleven tankōbon, as of November 20, 2008. The story centers around Kouichi Hayase, a fourteen-year-old boy living a mediocre life, until an accident turns him into the pilot of a gigantic robot called "Linebarrel" and leads him to encounter a mysterious girl. An anime adaptation of the manga series was announced in the February issue of Animage magazine. The anime is directed by Masamitsu Hidaka and animated by Gonzo. Though the world premiere of the first episode took place at Southern California's 2008 Anime Expo, the series premiered in Japan on the television network TBS on October 3, 2008. The anime broadcast a total of twenty-four episodes, the last of which aired on March 20, 2009. To commemorate the series' anime adaptation, Shimizu and Shimoguchi decided to create a one shot manga, recreating the entire first episode of the anime, in which the plot differs in many aspects compared to the beginning of the manga.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 146
Genere: Animation, Action, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Country: Japan
Duration: 23 min
Plot tags: anime, exciting, humorous, captivating, entertaining, mecha, stylized, semi serious
Similar in 84%
Kimikiss: Pure Rouge (2007)
Plot Summary:
Kouichi Sanada and Kazuki Aihara's childhood friend Mao Mizusawa has returned after living in France for a couple of years. Kouichi is surprised to learn that, since her parents are remaining overseas for the time being, his mother has agreed to let Mao stay with them. The three friends help each other deal with the ups and downs of high school romance.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 132
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration:
Plot tags: touching, humorous, semi serious, captivating, anime, realistic
Similar in 80%
My Little Monster (2012)
Plot Summary:
Mizutani Shizuku finds peace in her studies. Working hard to stay at the top of the class, alone but focused. When she is tasked with delivering class materials to Yoshida Haru, her world starts to rapidly expand. With some new friends and feelings, will she be able to stay focused on her studies?.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, shoujo, feel good, humorous, light, sincere, captivating, romantic comedy, manga
Similar in 86%
Real Girl (2018)
Plot Summary:
Tsutsui Hikari (a.k.a "Tsuttsun") is a high school student who is content with his virtual life of anime and video games. One day, he gets stuck cleaning the pool with Iroha, a real live girl who is stylish, sassy and known to be easy with boys ... and she aggressively approaches him! Tsuttsun, who has few friends and lives in his own world, finds himself smitten by the confident and wild Iroha ... and his whole world is turned upside down!! It's the awkward and pure love story of a boy who experiences relationship for the first time.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 22 min
Plot tags: anime, exciting, captivating, romantic, light, humorous, shoujo, romantic comedy, super sentai, 2d animation
Similar in 80%
The Pet Girl of Sakurasou (2012)
Plot Summary:
Sakura Dormitory is a dorm of the high school affiliated with Suimei University of the Arts (often shortened as Suiko), which hosts the strangest, most trouble-making students. After being kicked out of the normal dorm for keeping a stray cat, Sorata Kanda moves into Sakura Dormitory. As he starts to get used to the life in the dorm, Mashiro Shiina, a world famous artist who cannot even take care of her daily life, moves in. Sorata is forced to become Mashiro's handler. The story is about their daily lives as well as mental growth.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 24 min
Plot tags: anime, touching, entertaining, stylized, humorous, offbeat, realistic, light, ecchi, semi serious
Similar in 83%
Aria the Scarlet Ammo (2011)
Plot Summary:
In response to the worsening crime rate, Japan creates Tokyo Butei High, an elite academy where "Butei" or armed detectives hone their deadly skills in hopes of becoming mercenary-like agents of justice. One particular Butei is Kinji Tooyama, an anti-social and curt sophomore dropout who was once a student of the combat-centric Assault Division. Kinji now lives a life of leisure studying logistics in order to cover up his powerful but embarrassing special ability. However, his peaceful days soon come to an end when he becomes the target of the infamous "Butei Killer," and runs into an emotional hurricane and outspoken prodigy of the highest rank, Aria Holmes Kanzaki, who saves Kinji's life and demands that he become her partner after seeing what he is truly capable of.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 762
Genere: Animation, Action, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Thriller
Country: Japan
Duration: 25 min
Plot tags: anime, exciting, humorous, semi serious, romantic, captivating, manga, shounen, tsundere
Similar in 77%
School Rumble (2004)
Plot Summary:
While there is a decided lack of rumble in School Rumble, there’s more hilarious humdingers than any single dinger can hum… Look that one up! And while there is a truck full of pigs, a giraffe, flying saucers and crazy dream sequences, none of that’s even close to what this show’s about. (Though I would probably watch that show, too!) Here’s what you need to know: Sophomore cutie Tenma is completely crushed on classmate Karasuma past the point of freakin’ out. Tough guy Harima, with his own delinquent style of freak, has a long-standing crush on Tenma… And Karasuma? Can you say clueless? He’s pretty much all about the curry. Mmm… Curry! With enough tangled triangles for an entire semester of geometry, just keep in mind… School Rumble – The absolutely funniest show you’ll ever see that’s not about anything that rumbles… Ever!.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Romance
Country: Japan
Duration: 25 min
Plot tags: anime, inspirational, romantic, uplifting, humorous, shounen