As the opening night film for the Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne legs of the 2015 Japanese Film Festival, Bakuman’s popularity is obvious even for the uninitiated.
Based on the highly successful Japanese manga serial of the same name, the original comic appeared in the magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from 2008-2012, written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata.
In this stylised, live-action adaptation, Hitoshi Ohne has written a very entertaining, albeit long origins story that begins at the very start of the source material. It follows the antics of two high school students who are determined to follow their dreams by becoming manga artists. Their arch rival is a fellow teenager who has already become highly successful, and their support comes from a collective of oddball wannabes, each who has great talent of their own.
Under the keen eye of Director Hitoshi Ōne, Bakuman mixes high comedy with exciting drama, animation, loveable characters and just a little touch of romance to create a unique and visually impressive story of fighting the odds. Takeru Satoh is absolutely stellar as young artist Moritaka Mashiro, with great comic timing and a delightfully expressive face that generates many of the laughs. Beside him, Ryunosuke Kamiki plays the story writer of the duo, Akito Takagi, who initiates their foray into developing their own manga series. Despite playing the more serious of the two characters, Kamiki still matches Satoh in comic timing and dramatic capabilities.
Like the film, the music by Japanese rock band Sakanaction blows any preconceived ideas of Japanese entertainment out of the water. Far from traditional koto music, only language separates them from popular western bands of today.
The coming week sees 12 modern films premiere in Adelaide for the 19th Japanese Film Festival at the Mercury Cinema. It’s much more than just anime and martial arts so do yourself a favour and get a taste for modern Japan.
Reviewed by Rod Lewis
Twitter: @StrtegicRetweet
Rating out of 10: 8
Bakuman was selected as the opening night film of the Japanese Film Festival, which runs 30 October to 8 November 2015 exclusively at the Mercury Cinema.
All films are spoken in Japanese with English subtitles unless noted otherwise on the Festival website.
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