PURPOSE: To obtain efficiently and inexpensively optical anisotropic pitch having a low softening point to prepare carbon products, by adding a specific hydrocarbon fraction(mixture) to residual oil of a catalytic cracking device, subjecting the blend to polycondensation through thermal decomposition.

CONSTITUTION: (A) A residual oil of a catalytic cracking device is blended with (B) about 15W50wt% hydrocarbon fraction(mixture) having ≥0.4 aromatic carbon fraction fa and about 200W400°C boiling point to give a raw material, which is subjected to polycondensation through thermal decomposition, to give the desired optical anisotropic pitch. The raw material has preferably about 200°C initial boiling point, 15W40% running point of about 400°C and 90% running point of about ≤540°C.