Here’s a write-up for Bakuman 3 , the third and final season of the manga-based anime adaptation (covering the concluding arcs of Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata’s original manga). Overview Bakuman 3 (2012) is the concluding season of the anime adaptation of Tsugumi Ohba (story) and Takeshi Obata (art)—the legendary duo behind Death Note . Picking up immediately after season 2, this 25-episode finale follows high school–turned–professional manga creators Moritaka “Saiko” Mashiro and Akito “Shujin” Takagi as they inch closer to their ultimate goal: getting their series Reversi to beat the all-time mega-hit Detective Trap (a fictional stand-in for Death Note itself) and fulfill the promise of marrying their childhood loves—Miho Azuki for Mashiro, and Kaya Miyoshi for Takagi. Plot Summary Season 3 opens with Mashiro and Takagi riding high on their successful gag manga Tanto , but their real passion project is Reversi —a dark, psychological thriller that mirrors Detective Trap in tone and ambition. When their editor, Akira Hattori, finally greenlights Reversi , the duo faces the brutal reality of the weekly serialization system: rankings, reader polls, and the constant threat of cancellation.

The season’s core conflict is the rivalry with —a prodigy genius who declared he would crush any series that stands in his way. Eiji’s new manga, Zombie Gun , battles Reversi week after week, pushing both teams to their physical and creative limits.

The season also carries extra weight for fans of Ohba and Obata’s real careers. Reversi is clearly Death Note with the serial numbers filed off, and Eiji’s Zombie Gun echoes One Piece ’s dominance. Watching Mashiro and Takagi struggle to outdo Detective Trap feels like watching two authors grapple with their own legacy. Essential viewing for anyone interested in manga, creative collaboration, or shonen anime that rewards long-term emotional investment. While the first two seasons build the machinery of ambition, season 3 pulls the trigger on every promise made since episode 1. It’s tense, tear-jerking, and ultimately triumphant—without ever pretending that success comes easily. “A dream that ends happily isn’t a dream—it’s just a story. So keep drawing.” — Moritaka Mashiro, Bakuman 3 , Episode 24 Rating: 9/10 Recommended if you like: Shirobako , Blue Period , Death Note (for the cat-and-mouse structure), The Flowers of Evil (for psychological intensity in mundane settings).