10 Best Anime Based On Art
Descriptions
The beautiful thing about anime is that there is so much variety, so many different series that explore all kinds of subjects. These anime delve into the world of art in various ways, whether that's getting inside the mind of an artist or taking a more relaxed approach to the subject.
A lot of anime series based on art focus on the difficulties of producing work, which is something writers and artists of anime and manga know all too much about. Perhaps that's why these anime feature characters that create something despite whatever struggles they encounter, and can therefore be inspirational not only to aspiring artists but to anyone.
10 Bakuman Is All About The Trials & Tribulations Of Creating Manga
Bakuman does a great job of showing what is involved in creating manga. It was created by writer Tsugumi Ohba and artist Takeshi Obata, the duo that was responsible for Death Note, so it goes without saying that they have plenty of experience in the manga industry.
It follows manga artist Moritaka Masahiro and writer Akito Takagi, who team up to create a manga. The series highlights the perils of making manga, such as competing with other artists, experiencing rejection, and in particular, overworking. A live-action film adaptation was released in 2015.
9 Sketchbook: Full Color's Has A Relaxing Take On The World Of Art
This 13-episode series adapted from the manga written by Totan Kobako is about the shy and childish Sora Kajiwara and the art club at her high school. The art club members are truly passionate about art and go on excursions during which they sketch to their heart's content, which helps Sora gradually open up.
Full of personality and charm, the series has a relaxing and humorous take on the world of art. It also features plenty of cats who can speak to each other.
8 Honey & Clover Blends The Complex Worlds Of Art & Love
The slice of life anime Honey and Clover is about art, growing up, entering the world of work, and trying to find love. The protagonist, Yuta Takemoto, lives with the eccentric Shinobu Morita and Takumi Mayama, and all are students at an art college in Tokyo.
When one of Japan's most talented artists, Hagumi Hanamoto, enters the art school, Yuta falls in love with her, but so does Morita. The series explores the complexities of love amidst the pressurized and demanding world of art college.
7 Barakamon Is A Colorful Anime About Calligraphy
Being critiqued is part of an artist's life. Some take criticism better than others, however, and Barakamon's protagonist, Seishi Handa, is not one of those people.
When the curator of an exhibition criticizes Seishu's calligraphy, likening it to a textbook, Seishu punches him. As a result of this, he is sent by his father to an island in the middle of nowhere where he tries to find inspiration while living amongst a host of quirky characters.
6 This Art Club Has A Problem! Is Light-Hearted & Fun In Tone
The title does a good job of summing up what this anime is about: an art club that has problems. A light-hearted slice of life series with plenty of comedy relief. The series focuses on Usami Mizuki, who is passionate about art, while the other members of the art club are prone to goofing off.
The club is full of colorful characters, one of which, Uchimaki Subaru, is gripped by a desire to draw the perfect 2D wife, and the club president is always sleeping through activities.
5 Miss Hokusai Focuses On A Talented Daughter In Her Father's Shadow
The anime film Miss Hokusai came out in 2015, almost 30 years after the end of the original print run of the manga it was adapted from, written by Hinako Sugiura. The film is about O-Ei, the daughter of the famous ukiyo-e painter, Katsushika Hokusai.
O-Ei, a talented ukiyo-e artist in her own right, works in her father's shadow, who is already famous during the time in which the film is set, even contributing to his father's work without being credited.
4 Arte Is About A Young Woman Trying To Make It As An Artist During The Renaissance
The simply-titled Arte is set in 16th-century Florence, Italy, and therefore is all about the art of the Renaissance period. The series' events are seen through the eyes of the titular character, Arte, who dreams of being an artist and creating beautiful paintings.
When Arte's father dies, her mother urges her to marry so that their family will not fall to ruin. But Arte's passion sees her try to make it as an artist at a time when female creatives were not taken seriously.
3 Kakushigoto Is About A Manga Artist With A Secret
This anime's clever title explains the basic premise behind it. The word 'kaku' in Japanese means 'write,' while 'shigoto' means 'job,' and 'kakushigoto' also means 'secret.' Kakushi Gotou creates manga that are not appropriate for his daughter to look at, so he swears never to let her see it.
This leads to a lot of comedic situations wherein Kakushi tries his best to ensure his shameful secret isn't discovered by his daughter. A humorous slice-of-life anime with some darker elements thrown in, Kakushigoto is a well-crafted series that combines family relationships with the art of creating manga.
2 Blue Period Takes The Viewer Inside The Mind Of An Artist
Netflix's Blue Period centers on the struggles of delinquent protagonist Yaguchi Yatora as he attempts to enter art school. There's plenty of art on display throughout as Yatora experiments with different styles and tries to find a way of painting that reflects who he is.
The series delves into the technical aspects of making art as well as the difficulties of producing good work, and the thoughts and emotions that an artist can experience in the process. Highly recommended for anyone with even a faint interest in art.
1 Le Portrait de Petite Cossette Poses Questions About The Very Nature Of Art
Visually stunning with a dark tone, Le Portrait de Petite Cossette is a gothic fantasy OVA from 2004, written by Mayori Sekijima. Eiri Kurahashi, an art student, discovers a beautiful girl inside a Venetian glass his uncle brought back from France.
This causes a change in Eiri, who cannot help but think about the mysterious girl living her life inside this little glass, and can't stop drawing her in his sketchbook. A disturbing but fascinating anime that questions the nature of beauty and art itself.
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