‘Now That We Draw’ Manga Secures TV Anime Adaptation from Studio ROLL2

High school classmates Yuuki Uehara and Niina Miyamoto, both harboring secret ambitions to become professional manga artists, enter a fabricated romantic relationship to fuel their creative breakthroughs. Their scheme, born from mutual frustration with stalled story ideas, spirals into a series of awkward encounters and unintended inspirations. The romantic comedy ‘Now That We Draw’ explores the intersection of personal insecurities and artistic pursuit in the competitive world of Japanese comics.

The manga, written by Kyu Takahata and illustrated by Yuwji Kaba, debuted serialization in Hakusensha’s ‘Young Animal’ magazine in February 2023. Five tankobon volumes have shipped in Japan as of November 2025, with the sixth volume scheduled for release on November 28. Seven Seas Entertainment licenses the English-language edition for North American distribution. The series earned nominations in the print category for the tenth Next Manga Award in 2024 and the 2025 edition.

ROLL2, the animation studio behind the 2024 series ‘Love Is Indivisible by Twins’, produces the adaptation. Shunsuke Ishikawa directs the project, drawing from his experience on titles like ‘The Helpful Fox Senko-san’. Deko Akao handles series composition and scripting, known for contributions to ‘Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible’ and ‘The Lost Village’. Hiromi Nakagawa adapts the character designs for animation, while Infinite oversees production.

Ayumu Murase voices the lead role of Yuuki Uehara, a reclusive student whose manga submissions face repeated rejections from editors. Murase’s prior roles include Megumi Fushiguro in ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ and Kyohei Kadota in ‘Durarara!!’. Sayumi Suzushiro lends her voice to Niina Miyamoto, the outwardly confident gyaru hiding her own artistic doubts. Suzushiro has appeared as Ruri Umino in ‘The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You’ and Hitori Bocchi in ‘Bocchi the Rock!’.

A teaser trailer accompanies the announcement, featuring vibrant animation sequences that capture the duo’s clumsy dates and brainstorming sessions set to an upbeat soundtrack. The promotional visual, illustrated by Kaba, depicts Yuuki and Niina in exaggerated poses amid scattered manga pages and inkwells. No premiere date has been confirmed, though projections point to a 2026 broadcast window on Japanese networks.

To mark the adaptation reveal and the sixth volume launch, ‘Young Animal Web’ initiated a 48-hour free reading campaign for chapters up to volume five. Select chapters require a free account for access. The manga’s obi for the second volume included a recommendation from editor Minoru Toyoda, alongside support illustrations from creators Hajime Isayama, Yura Urushibara, Makoto Ojiro, Nao Emoto, and Keigo Maki.

The adaptation arrives amid a surge in romantic comedy anime projects, following titles like ‘A Couple of Cuckoos’ and ‘My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999’. ROLL2’s involvement signals a focus on character-driven humor and detailed background art reflecting manga production environments. International streaming platforms have yet to announce acquisition details for the series. Fan reactions on social media highlight enthusiasm for the premise, with discussions centering on potential episode structures around key manga milestones in the source material.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!