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Now That We Draw (Japanese: 描くなるうえは, Hepburn: Kakunaru Ue wa) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kyu Takahata and illustrated by Yuwji Kaba. It has been serialized in Hakusensha‘s seinen manga magazine Young Animal since February 2023, with its chapters collected in seven tankōbon volumes as of April 2026. An anime television series adaptation produced by Roll2 has been announced.

Plot

Yuuki Uehara, a high school student and an aspiring manga artist, has created a manuscript of a romantic comedy starring its protagonist, Kiyone Shiraishi. When it is rejected by an editor for being unrealistic, Uehara is devastated. He soon encounters a popular classmate of his named Niina Miyamoto, who is also an aspiring manga artist. Revealing she received the same feedback from her editor, Miyamoto proposes that she and Uehara enter a fake relationship due to their inexperience. As such, they agree to act like a real couple so they will have enough material for their respective manga.

Characters

Yuuki Uehara (上原 勇紀, Uehara Yūki)
Voiced by: Ayumu Murase[2]
A high school student who dreams of becoming a manga artist.
Niina Miyamoto (宮本 仁衣奈, Miyamoto Niina)
Voiced by: Sayumi Suzushiro[2]
A gyaru and Uehara’s classmate who is also involved in making manga.

Media

Manga

Written by Kyu Takahata and illustrated by Yuwji Kaba, Now That We Draw started in Hakusensha‘s seinen manga magazine Young Animal on February 24, 2023.[3] Hakusensha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes, with the first one released on August 29, 2023.[1] As of April 28, 2026, seven volumes have been released.[4]

The series is licensed in English by Seven Seas Entertainment and the first volume is set to be released in February 2025.[5]

Volumes

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1August 29, 2023[6]978-4-592-16656-6February 4, 2025[7]979-8-89160-867-2
  1. “I Can’t Draw Based on Fiction” (フィクションなんかじゃ描けない, Fikushon Nanka ja Egakenai)
  2. “I’ve Always Wanted to Talk About This” (ずっとこんな話がしたかった, Zutto Konna wa ga Shitakatta)
  3. “The School at Night” (夜の学校, Yoru no Gakkō)
  4. “Didn’t Count”[a]
  5. “A Cheer for You” (エール, Ēru)
  6. “A Stormy Night” (嵐の一夜, Arashi no Ichiya)
2December 27, 2023[8]978-4-592-16657-3June 10, 2025[9]979-8-89160-980-8
  1. “Most in My Life” (人生で一番, Jinsei de Ichiban)
  2. “Can’t Look” (直視できない, Chokushi Dekinai)
  3. “I Don’t Want to Make Her a Liar” (ウソにしたくない, Uso ni Shitakunai)
  4. “Assistants” (アシスタント, Ashisutanto)
  5. “What Makes You Special” (特別なわけ, Tokubetsuna Wake)
  6. “The Blues” (青い痛み, Aoi Itami)
  7. “I…” (僕は, Boku wa)
3June 28, 2024[10]978-4-592-16658-0October 21, 2025[11]979-8-89373-707-3
  1. “Practically Telling Her I Like Her” (好きって言ってるようなもの, Suki tte Itteru Yōna Mono)
  2. “Surprise Attack” (不意打ち, Fuiuchi)
  3. “That Annoying Sound” (うるさい音, Urusai Oto)
  4. “After the Festival” (祭りのあと, Matsuri no Ato)
  5. “My Type” (あたしのタイプ, Atashi no Taipu)
  6. “Penpen-kun” (ペンペンくん)
  7. “In Their Own World” (ふたりの世界, Futari no Sekai)
4October 29, 2024[12]978-4-592-16659-7February 24, 2026[13]979-8-89561-183-8
  1. “Serene” (凪, Nagi)
  2. “He’s So…” (こんなに, Konnani)
  3. “Newcomer Awards Ceremony” (新人賞授賞式, Shinjinshō Jushōshiki)
  4. “Girls’ Day Out” (ガールズデート, Gāruzu Dēto)
  5. “Spineless Coward” (意気地なし, Ikuji Nashi)
  6. “Like When We First Met” (出会った頃のように, Deatta Koro no Yō ni)
  7. “Girl Talk” (ガールズトーク, Gāruzutōku)
5April 28, 2025[14]978-4-592-16660-3July 28, 2026[15]979-8-89765-170-2
  1. Imi Wakannai (イミわかんない)
  2. Ichiban Doki Doki Shita Koto (一番ドキドキしたこと)
  3. Chō Tanoshimi (ちょー楽しみ)
  4. Futarinara (二人なら)
  5. “All Night”
  6. “Message”
  7. Kauntodaun (カウントダウン)
6November 28, 2025[16]978-4-592-16694-8December 22, 2026[17]979-8-89863-220-5
  1. Gyaru Nanoni (ギャルなのに)
  2. Tomodachi (友達)
  3. Uchi Demo (うちでも)
  4. Chiisana Koi (小さな恋)
  5. “Debut”
  6. Purezento (プレゼント)
  7. Dotchi? (どっち?)
7April 28, 2026[4]978-4-592-16697-9——
  1. Saikyō JK (最強JK)
  2. “Run Run”
  3. Oyakusoku (お約束)
  4. “Newcomer”
  5. Tanoshii? (楽しい?)
  6. Sansen! Bukatsu Taikō Rirē (参戦! 部活対抗リレー)
  7. Inparusu (インパルス)

Anime

In November 2025, it was announced that the manga would receive an anime television series adaptation. It will be produced by Roll2 and directed by Shunsuke Ishikawa, with Deko Akao supervising and writing the series scripts and Hiromi Nakagawa designing the characters.[2][18]

Reception

The series has been recommended by manga author Yusuke Nomura [ja], with a comment featured on the obi of the first volume.[1] It was also recommended by Minoru Toyoda [ja] with a comment featured on the obi of the second volume; the volume also includes supporting illustrations by Hajime Isayama, Yura Urushibara [ja], Makoto Ojiro, Nao Emoto [ja], and Keigo Maki [ja].[19][20] The manga was nominated for the tenth Next Manga Award in the print category in 2024.[21] It was also nominated for the 2025 edition in the same category.[22]

Notes

  1. ^ This chapter is titled “no count” in the Japanese version.

References

  1. ^ a b c d 「ブルーロック」ノ村優介が推薦、マンガ家を目指すオタク男子とギャルの物語1巻. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 29, 2023. Archived from the original on August 30, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Chapman, Paul (November 21, 2025). “Now That We Draw TV Anime Announced”. Crunchyroll News. Archived from the original on March 29, 2026. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  3. ^ マンガ家を目指す男女のラブコメ「描くなるうえは」高畑弓＆蒲夕二の新連載. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. February 24, 2023. Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  4. ^ a b 【4月28日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. April 28, 2026. Archived from the original on April 28, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  5. ^ Pineda, Rafael (September 11, 2024). “Seven Seas Licenses Now That We Draw, You Are My Alpha, Choking on Love Manga”. Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  6. ^ 【8月29日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 29, 2023. Archived from the original on August 30, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  7. ^ “Now That We Draw Vol. 1”. Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  8. ^ 【12月27日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 27, 2023. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  9. ^ “Now That We Draw Vol. 2”. Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  10. ^ 【6月28日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. June 28, 2024. Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  11. ^ “Now That We Draw Vol. 3”. Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  12. ^ 【10月29日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. October 29, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  13. ^ “Now That We Draw Vol. 4”. Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  14. ^ 【4月28日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. April 28, 2025. Archived from the original on April 27, 2025. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  15. ^ “Now That We Draw Vol. 5”. Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  16. ^ 【11月28日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 28, 2025. Archived from the original on April 28, 2026. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  17. ^ “Now That We Draw Vol. 6”. Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  18. ^ Loo, Egan (November 21, 2025). “‘Now That We Draw’ Manga Gets TV Anime”. Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 21, 2025. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
  19. ^ 「描くなるうえは」2巻にとよ田みのる登場のルポマンガ 豪華マンガ家の寄稿も. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 27, 2023. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  20. ^ 漫画家による応援企画で寄稿イラスト＆コメント到着！『描くなるうえは』第2巻12月27日(水)本日発売！ (Press release) (in Japanese). Hakusensha. December 27, 2023. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2024 – via PR Times.
  21. ^ 『次にくるマンガ大賞2024』ノミネート100作品決定 『カグラバチ』『ホタルの嫁入り』『ルリドラゴン』など. Oricon News (in Japanese). June 21, 2024. Archived from the original on June 22, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  22. ^ “Next Manga Award 2025 Reveals 100 Nominees: Full List Including War of the Adults”. Japan Anime News. Oricon. June 19, 2025. Archived from the original on March 29, 2026. Retrieved June 24, 2025.