Bakuman. 3rd Season

it has a focus on the process of achieving a goal, explores the challenges and rewards of pursuing a dream and how hard work and dedication can pay off in the end. 

Both shows central around manga and friendship. The main character in Gekkan is a shoujo manga artist and his group of friends help him out. The romance is also very light much like Bakuman.  

Hard work always produces the good result, not always best, but good. This sentence reflects the core from both anime. Chihaya (Chihayafuru) and Mashiro (Bakuman) continue with their hobby in order to become number one in the field that they do. But the obstacle keep coming and what they can do is face it and keep moving forward. Surrounded with romance and other problem, both MC always do their best to achieve their dreams. And finally the climax is come. It is bad or it is good? Just watch both series and look at the first sentece I wrote, you will know what is hard work. read more 

The same concept of creating. Bakuman is for manga and Shirobako is for anime. Both are good anime to watch. 

I think these shows are similar because they are both about passion and pursuing dreams. They both follow a realistic slice of life style with relationships and friendships evolving over time. Although the topics are very different, they are similar in the way they instantly hook you regardless of your prior preferences and by the end, you'll end up with a new appreciation of the topic, which in my opinion is the mark of a great anime.  

These are two completely different series that share, however, a somewhat similar way to deal with friendship and human relationships. I personally think that even though the plots have nothing in common and Durarara's story contains mystery and avant-garde elements, while Bakuman focus on two young men's dream of becoming professional mangaka. In Bakuman 3 the set is a bit different already. Nevertheless, I would challenge fans of both Durarara and the Bakuman universe to get to know both series (and also the amazing manga of Bakuman).