Kakukaku Shikajika (2025) Fantasia Review: The emotional odyssey of a manga artist

Back in 2009, Vol. 1 of Princess Jellyfish was the first manga I ever read by the acclaimed Japanese manga artist, Akiko Higashimura. I had read other mangas, but this story stuck with me. Ten years later, in 2019, I read the English version of Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist’s Journey, a story inspired by events in her own life. That was the first time I realized the amount of sheer hard work, tireless patience, recurring rejections, and undeniable persistence that is required to gain the inevitable dream of becoming a manga artist.

Fast-forward to 2024, the live-action film adaptation for Blank Canvas: My So-Called Artist’s Journey was announced, produced by Warner Bros. Japan. Directed by Kazuaki Seki, with the screenplay written by Higashimura and Date-san, and music composed by Yuki Munakata, the film officially made its North American premiere at Fantasia in 2025.

So, you can perhaps imagine my emotions watching this film, based on a series I read, unfold on screen. In the book, Akiko Hayashi harbors big dreams—dreams that are as ambitious as they are oddly specific. She envisions making a splash with a successful manga debut while still in school, seeing her favorite actor star in its adaptation, and, eventually, marrying him. The catch? She’s nowhere near having the talent or drive to bring these dreams to life. But when a friend introduces her to an unconventional, gritty art class led by the no-nonsense Kenzou Hidaka—known simply as “Sensei”—Akiko signs up, expecting a quick fix to her artistic struggles. To her surprise, she quickly learns that this class is anything but easy, and the lessons she gets are not what she had in mind.

In the cinematic version, Burn the House Down actress Mei Nagano, stars as Akiko Hayashi. Similar to the manga it’s based on, Hayashi-san is determined to be a manga artist but is self-assured, as well as assured by everyone around her that she’s the best out there and definitely has a bright future. But things change when she ends up enrolling in a backstreet art class with the stern, eccentric Kenzo Hidaka, played by Yo Oizumi. Hidaka-sensei, dressed less like an art instructor and more like a PE teacher—always in sportswear, brandishing a bamboo sword, and shouting “Kake! (Draw!)”—completely takes Akiko by surprise. Slowly, Hayashi-san is forced to confront her shortcomings and begins to learn everything she can to achieve her dreams. Will she succeed?

The film delves into the compelling dynamic between teacher and student. Despite his tough exterior and stubborn nature, Hidaka is surprisingly tender-hearted. In one memorable moment, when Akiko pretends to have a stomach ache just to skip class, he insists on carrying her out himself, refusing to let her walk to the bus stop alone. His kindness shines through in unexpected ways, revealing a side of him that’s both protective and caring. Naturally, she never mentioned it again, as she soon realized just how truly remarkable, he was—not just as a teacher, but as a person—and thereby felt guilty after deceiving him.

A truly dedicated teacher sees no obstacle too big to overcome when it comes to supporting their student’s growth and well-being. And that’s how Hidaka-sensei worked. As time progressed, the movie shows some scenes portraying the alterations occurring over time in the relationship—as he almost becomes like a father figure to Hayashi-san, rather than just a mentor. From picking oranges to cooking food to drinking beer, his guidance was not just restricted to oil painting.

Mei Nagano provides a convincing portrayal of a young, overly-ambitious, wannabe manga artist. Needless to say, Yo Oizumi skillfully balances the abrasive and endearing facets of his complex, often quirky character—a man who feels like he’s stepped out of another time, with a humor that’s as unpredictable as it is charming.

It’s not just a straightforward teacher-student relationship between Hidaka and Akiko; it’s a poignant journey of friendship, a relentless pursuit of true art, and a courageous chase after their passions, all while navigating life’s inevitable bumps along the way.

If you ever wondered what it takes to become a manga artist, this film is for you.