15 [Similar Anime] Like Bakuman.

These anime are different but similar.

Shirobako, otherwise known as "Anime - The Anime" and Bakuman, "Manga - The Anime".
Both animes are excellent and give great insight into how both anime and manga respectively are produced. Both stories also follow a group of friends from a young age into adulthood as they chase their dreams. Bakuman also has a romance subplot however, which is worked in beautifully.

Setting a goal and following that journey to achieve it. Bakuman and Uchuu Kyoudai builds on the foundation of this idea and transform it into a story. In their perspective stories, the main characters have a dream to become something they always wanted to be. Throughout the course of the story, they face challenges and discover just what it takes to fulfill that dream. There is a decent amount of comedy, drama, and realism in both series. The main character relationship have strong dynamics that are often explored throughout both series. Recommended for anyone seeking a realistic show about character development and story emphasis with great writing.

Both series feature a heavy emphasis on Mangaka (Manga Authors) and the aspects and processes required in the Manga industry. Both are very enjoyable for those who are curious about the process, or even wanting to create a Manga of their own (though, neither teach you how to do so, but shed light on how it works)

Both are based on original works by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata.

Both series involves the main protagonists who wishes to follow their dreams of becoming a professional manga artist and making a name for themselves. At the same time, they discover more about the world with their friends and more about themselves.

Now you may be thinking what similarities do a card game anime and an anime about making manga have in common?

Both are directed by Ken'ichi Kasai and animated by JCStaff. Each show is centered around two characters and their pursuit of an artform (in Nodame it is playing classical music, in Bakuman it is writing manga.)

here was barely any manga-theme related recommendations.

They are about creating manga. While in Bakuman the main protagonists are teen mangakas in a shounen magazine, in Sekaiichi they're 20-year-old editors of a shoujo one.
Both show the pression of having to guide a mangaka/accepting the opinion of editors, the stress that it comes with both jobs and having to meet a short deadline.
In Bakuman romance is underlying so as to center in the the manga they create and the rivalry between the mangakas while in Sekaiichi is more focused in the romantic relationships between the characters.

Both series deals with a group of friends who live their everyday lives as normally as possibly while making the most of it. The activities they do are related to otaku and are realistic.

Bakuman is one of my favorite series, and as I started watching Baby Steps, I got very similar vibes from it as I did from Bakuman. One of the major similarities is the minor romance with the characters following their dreams. The largest similarity in my opinion is the "One step forward Two steps Back" approach to both series. Whenever the characters seem to have a run of luck, it is followed by more bad luck. This is what makes these series so amazing to watch. If you like Bakuman, I HIGHLY recommend Baby Steps.

I was quite surprise to see that these two anime weren't the top recommendations of each other, as they're practically the same thing but with a different focus (boxing/manga).

Bakuman, this is very first and only anime that came to my mind after completing watching Saenai~. Both have "slightly" different genres associated with, however each is about creating one particular thing(of many) that connects otaku's or casual people. Each of us in order to achieve dream(s) needs a lot of improvement. So do MCs in these series. Saenai~ & Bakuman reflect that part of industry that is unknown to - I dare to say - all of us(ok most) who watches / reads any form of animation. Whilst Saenai~ seems less realistic and shows one of the most important things creator(s) face(s) during their work in funny with less drama and serious elements, then Bakuman gives you a closer/deeper look into this. Stories that come along with main plot(this "thing" development) in both animes, don't slow down the pace.

Both anime have the same vibe and theme.
Rivalry, friendship, struggling, love, disbands.
Like Ryuuske for Koyuki, Takagi is the one, who pushed Mashiro to become mangaka.
No one knows them from beggining(Underground gigs and oneshots), but soon they both skyrocketed to the top of popularity (Greatful Sound and serialization on WSJ respectively).
In both anime they've reached their goal.

Both stories are about two high school students working together in unconventional industries to pursue their dreams. Initially the pairs receive opportunities into their industries pretty quickly, but the main bulk of each of the stories are about the characters working their way up to the top. Dreams can seem impossible, but both Runway and Bakuman. show that you should never give up on them.