The Bakuman manga series features a cast of characters created by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. The writer of the series, Ohba, developed the basic character traits while Obata, the artist, created the visual character designs. The story follows talented artist Moritaka Mashiro and aspiring writer Akito Takagi, two ninth grade boys who team up to become manga artists, with Mashiro as the illustrator and Takagi as the writer. The majority of the other characters are also involved in the manga industry as artists, editors, or assistants.