When an optically anisotropic material is manufactured, an optically anisotropic liquid crystal layer with good adhesion properties and without irregular alignment is formed on a substrate. The optically anisotropic material having the optically anisotropic liquid crystal layer formed on the substrate can be manufactured by subjecting the surface of the substrate to rubbing treatment, subjecting the rubbing-treated surface to surface treatment with the hydrolysate of an alkoxysilane compound, applying a polymerizable nematic liquid crystal composition to the surface-treated surface, subjecting the applied polymerizable liquid crystal composition to alignment treatment, and subjecting the polymerizable liquid crystal composition to curing treatment while the alignment state thereof is maintained, whereby the optically anisotropic liquid crystal layer is formed.