Music is a big part of anime so there are plenty of series that have it as their subject matter. A lot of music anime are adapted from manga, and putting sound to what were originally static images literally brings the music to life and puts it center stage.
With so many different genres of music existing today, there are anime that cover all kinds of genres and styles, whether it be rock, jazz, classical, or something else. Many of these anime speak of the power of music to connect and heal people or simply how playing music can bring so much joy.
10 K-On! Is A Fun Show About Girls In A Music Club
K-On! is definitely on the cutesy side. It’s a nice, light watch about a colorful group of girls who are part of a music club at their school. The main character is the clumsy, airheaded Yui, who plays the guitar.
The show follows her progression as a guitarist and the camaraderie between her and the other members of the club. The music is catchy and, like the show itself, doesn’t take itself too seriously. The story isn’t the deepest, but it’s fun and lighthearted and makes for an enjoyable watch.
9 Your Lie In April Shows How Music Can Connect People
Your Lie in April focuses on Kosai Arima, who is rendered unable to hear the sound of his own piano playing after suffering a personal tragedy. When he meets Kaori Miyazono, an award-winning 14-year-old violinist, his world goes from monochrome to being filled with color.
While Kosei is strict with his playing, Kaori is unrestricted and open. Your Lie in April is a touching anime about how music can connect people, and while it does have some heavy themes, there’s a lot of light in it too.
8 Carole & Tuesday Is A Futuristic Music Anime
Carole & Tuesday was created and directed by the legendary Shinichiro Watanabe, who also directed Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo. This particular offering is quite a bit different from its predecessors, with less of a focus on action and more on the relationship of the main characters.
The show centers on the titular protagonists as they try to combat the AI-saturated music industry with their heartfelt music. At times dramatic, whacky, funny, and sweet, Carole & Tuesday is a refreshing take on music anime featuring a wide variety of songs that everyone can enjoy.
7 Nodame Cantabile Is About A Pair Of Classical Musicians
This 23-episode series, adapted from the manga written by Tomoko Ninomiya, is based on classical music. Featuring quirky, intriguing characters, the story focuses on talented musicians Chiaki and Nodame.
They’re polar opposites when it comes to personality and playing style, with Chiaki being a more uptight and by-the-book player while Nodame is more chaotic and free-spirited. It’s fascinating and satisfying to watch the chemistry of the pair as their relationship develops, with beautiful music and animation to support it.
6 Given Is A Down-To-Earth Romance About The Members Of A Band
Given has been highly praised by fans and critics alike for its emotion and realistic story, which focuses on the relationship between Ritsuka Uenoyama and Mafuyu Sato. The story is slow-paced and contemplative, and that makes it all the more down-to-earth.
Being a music-based anime, the show features some great rock music, and the opening theme song is a real gem. The series has been adapted into a film, stage play, and live-action drama.
5 Love Live! School Idol Project Is A Musical Story Of Hope
The premise of Love Live! School Idol Project follows Honoka Kosaka, the main protagonist, who attempts to save her school from shutting down by forming an idol group.
It’s a story of hope, hard work, perseverance, and school pride, with plenty of funny and heartwarming moments in between. The art is outstanding, the characters are nicely designed, and the music is fun and full of energy, with opening and ending theme songs that are difficult to skip.
4 Sound! Euphonium Has An Authentic Focus On Music
The story of Sound! Euphonium follows the Kitauji High School Band as it attempts to get back to competing in national tournaments. The main character is Kumiko Oumae, but as the show is about a school band, there is naturally a large cast of characters, each with their own distinctive personality.
That goes for the instruments as well, which are depicted beautifully and have great sound design. What’s more, the characters are animated using the correct fingerings, something that’s often overlooked in other anime.
3 Kids On The Slope Puts The Spotlight On Jazz
Jazz may not be the most popular music genre, but that doesn’t mean it can’t make for a great slice-of-life anime. Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe and with music by Yoko Kanno, Kids on the Slope presents a touching, realistic depiction of what it’s like to grow up and play music in 1960s Japan.
The animation is serene, the characters have depth and are relatable, and the story is heartwarming and speaks of the unifying power of music—in this case, jazz.
2 Nana Is A Tale Of Two Relatable Musicians
There’s really no other anime like Nana. The characters don’t feel over-the-top and unrealistic; instead, they feel like real people with real lives, and their development is believable and layered. It’s essentially a story about friendship and romance between two contrasting personalities, but it’s so much more than just that.
Nana features plenty of music with some great punk and alternative rock songs. It was adapted into two live-action movies and three video games for the PS2, PSP, and Nintendo DS.
1 Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad Is About A Rock Band
The main character of Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad is Koyuki Tanaka, who starts out learning the guitar after saving a rather strange-looking dog called Beck. Koyuki forms a band with the dog’s owner, Ray Minami, and the series follows the ups and downs of the band and Koyuki’s progression as a guitarist and singer.
The story is original and engaging and the show is filled with catchy rocks songs. Beck is a must-watch for fans of rock music, but anyone who appreciates music should enjoy it.
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