Manga covers an incredibly wide range of genres and topics. While heroic or romantic stories tend to be popular, you can also find manga that feature a mangaka among the characters. Just in case you didn’t know, a mangaka is the artist of a manga.
This means that a mangaka wrote a manga with a character similar to themselves! While the mangaka character isn’t always a self-insert, it’s interesting to see their interpretation. Here, we are going to take a look at some of the best manga out there that feature a mangaka. We’ve included manga from several genres here, so you are bound to find one that resonates with you.
8Bakuman
Perhaps one of the best examples of a manga about mangakas is Bakuman. This manga features a pair of aspiring mangakas who want to bepublished in Shonen Jump. Of course, Mashiro and Takagi are still learning the ropes, so they don’t find instant success.
Overall, Bakuman is a fun read that gives us a look into the manga industry. Sure, it’s a work of fiction, but it provides the inside scoop on the industry in an entertaining manner. If you have ever wanted to make a manga, it’s also worth reading.
7Princess Jellyfish
Princess Jellyfish is about a group of otaku who live in an apartment building together. Although the main character is a jellyfish otaku, you’ll eventually become acquainted with a mangaka who lives in the building.
This is probably my favorite manga of all time. It’s incredibly fast-paced and witty, and the anime is just as great. I also highly recommend other works from Akiko Higashimura, such as Tokyo Tarareba Girls.
This mangaka is a bit mysterious figure that remains hidden for most of the story, but the group of otaku occasionally help them get their manga ready for publication. The manga in question? Yaoi, of course.
6Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun is similar to Bakuman, but this time, our mangaka main character creates shojo manga. The titular Nozaki may look like a cool and collected high schooler, but he is actually the mangaka for a popular shojo manga that the female lead happens to love.
Together, the pair work to make manga, with Sakura serving as Nozaki-kun’s assistant. While there are some traces of romance in Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun, it’s primarily a comedy, so be prepared to laugh.
5The Pet Girl Of Sakurasou
The Pet Girl Of Sakurasouoriginally began as a light novel series, but eventually, it gained its own manga and anime adaptation. This story follows Sorata Kanda, who recently moved into a dormitory for troublemakers at an art school.
Here, he meets Mashiro Shiina, who is attending school to learn how to draw manga. Mashiro is a bit, well… weird. As such, Sorata essentially ‘adopts’ her and helps her complete very simple tasks. This doesn’t lean too far into the manga industry, but it’s still a great read (and watch!).
4Dagashi Kashi
Looking to read something that is surprisingly educational about Japanese candy? If so, then Dagashi Kashi is the perfect manga for you. Dagashi Kashi takes place in the countryside at a family-run candy shop. Kokonotsu Shikada (yes, his name is coconuts) doesn’t want to run the shop though; he wants to become a mangaka.
As with some previous entries on our list, Dagashi Kashi doesn’t provide too much of an inside into the manga industry. A bit of interesting trivia is that the anime voice actor for Kokonotsu is Atsushi Abe, who also voiced a main character from Bakuman.
3Comic Girls
Who could resist a manga called Comic Girls? This is a comedy manga that follows Kaoruko Moeta, a mangaka that recently placed rather low on a popularity poll. Because of this Kaoruko eventually moves into a dorm where other mangakas live.
All the girls in this manga have a different focus, but they come together to form a support group for each other. Interestingly, it’s been noted that Comic Girls is a bit autobiographical, based on the mangaka’s (Kaori Hanzawa) own experiences as a female manga artist.
2Little Nerd Dragon
Little Nerd Dragon is one of the more unique options on our list. Dragons are huge, powerful, and sometimes scary; who knew that some aspire to be manga artists? Little Nerd Dragon follows Bahamuko, who wants to make a manga so popular that it will inspire other dragons to invade the world.
Overall, Little Nerd Dragon is cute and funny, which is the perfect combination. If you are a fan of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid, then Little Nerd Dragon is right up your alley as well.
1I’ll Give It My All…Tomorrow
Last but not least, we have I’ll Give It My All…Tomorrow. Rather than starting young, the main character of this show (Shizou Oguro) quits his office job at 40-years-old in order to become a manga artist.
As expected, this is a great manga to readif you are an adultwho may be on the brink of a crisis. I’ll Give It My All…Tomorrow shows that it’s never too late to do what you love, even if there is some risk involved. This manga is quite the hidden gem, but worth reading, especially with just 36 chapters.
