When Ranmaru Kurisu left his countryside hometown to attend a university in Tokyo, his awkward and self-loathing nature followed him all the way to the capital. Still as friendless and miserable as ever, it is no surprise that he thinks everything is his fault, even when he finds himself in the middle of a zombie attack—after all, he just ruined a shoot for the film club's latest project. But Ranmaru's apologies are quickly swept aside when he is abducted by the quirky group in charge of the film's practical art: the Art Squad, a small club led by the charismatic Ryuuji Gouda.

Despite constantly struggling with eccentric directors, low budgets, and short deadlines, the Art Squad nevertheless strives for perfection, catering to the backstage needs of all four film clubs at the university. While Ranmaru initially might seem like just a convenient pair of extra hands, his new friends soon realize that he has a lot more to offer, and Ranmaru himself might have finally found a place to let his own talents shine.