The film follows the life of Yoshihiro Tatsumi, starting from his early years as a comics artist in Japan after the post-war occupation. It highlights his encounters with his inspiration Osamu Tezuka and his impact on the growth of the gekiga genre, which caters primarily to a mature audience. In addition to Tatsumi's personal experiences, the film also features adaptations of his renowned short stories such as "Beloved Monkey," "Hell," "Good-Bye," "Occupied," and "Just a Man."