Naoki Urasawa's Manben neo Season 1

Join us as we visit the workspace of manga artist Minase Ai, well-known for tales of youthful romance such as Hachimitsu ni Hatsukoi. On our visit we see her working on Seishun Heavy Rotation, which requires her to draw two preliminary drafts before the final version is ready. Her meticulous attention to detail and the technique used to produce a sparkling effect draw admiration. Along with the focus on the artist's skill, we delve into the thoughts and emotions that infuse this heartwarming love story.

Tezuka Osamu, often called "the god of manga," was responsible for many of the twentieth century's biggest hits. His accomplishments include titles such as Black Jack, Astro Boy, and the work that many people consider to be his masterpiece, Phoenix. Rare documents and interviews with assistants reveal some of the secrets to his success. Tezuka stayed at his drawing board until his death in 1989. Join a star of the contemporary manga scene, Urasawa Naoki, as he explores the artistry of one of the medium's major figures.

This time, Watanabe Wataru joins us with Yowamushi Pedal, the first sports manga featured on our show. How does Watanabe use black ink to create an exhilarating sense of speed? What techniques help bring races to life on the page? And why do Watanabe and Urasawa love g-pens so much? Find out all this and more in another exciting look into the secrets of a modern manga sensation.

Known as the animator behind "Mobile Suit Gundam," Yasuhiko Yoshikazu takes on his final serialized manga, "Inui and Tatsumi." At over 70, he moves his brush across the page, effortlessly creating exciting action from different perspectives. Watch as he builds complex scenes from unexpected starting points and learn how "Space Battleship Yamato" brought back his passion for manga.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at how a manga is created with Sakamoto Shin-ichi, a master of realistic imagery and digital creation, and find out how much technology has advanced as the creator works on his newest serialized manga about Dracula. How does Sakamoto fuse analog and digital creation? Why does it take half a day to finish one panel? And what did he gain from turning the novel "Kokou no hito" into a manga? Learn all that and more in this episode of Urasawa Naoki's "Manben."

This time, we go behind the scenes of manga creation with sci-fi master Hoshino Yukinobu. Marvel at the power of the pen as Hoshino works on incredible ocean scenery for his epic, Kaitei.

Urasawa visits Nao Iwamoto, author of The Tengu's Daughter and The Seven Knights of the Marronnier Kingdom.

Urasawa visits legendary manga author Tetsuya Chiba, most famous for his series Tomorrow's Joe.