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Whether it’s experimental films like Fancy or recent musicals like Netflix’s Long live, music and animation worked perfectly hand in hand. Being able to create iconic scenes and moments from the lyrics and beats of the music has made it one of the most beloved animated titles.
And yet, there are many Japanese anime films and TV shows that have explored many musical genres and managed to create some of the best anime in the industry. From a death metal singer with a hidden secret to two college students in love with their musical talents, these are the best examples of anime about music.
ten Detroit Metal City
Based on the manga of the same name, Detroit Metal City was released on Crunchyroll in 2008. Although it was only made up of twelve episodes, it gained a global fanbase and even saw a live-action movie.
The series follows the lead singer of a death metal band, Soichi Negishi, who secretly dreams of a musical career in pop music. But with mounting bills and needed cash, he has no choice but to become his alter ego Johannes Krauser II for the band’s adoring fans.
9 Left The Cellist
Released in 1982, Left the cellist saw a lone cellist rehearsing for an orchestra on the outskirts of town. During his practices, he is visited by various animals that help him become a better musician.
The sixty-three minute film was produced by Oh! production, who would go on to make several more films and OVAs, including their adaptations of the evil man manga series. But the studio would also back films by acclaimed Japanese animation directors like Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, who would eventually go on to create and establish Studio Ghibli.
8 Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad
Originally a Monthly Shonen Magazine series that ran for almost ten years, beck was made into a twenty-six episode anime series in 2004. Although it had a short run, the series received positive reviews upon its initial release and remained a popular anime title.
Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad centers on bored high school student Yukio Tanaka and his newfound passion for Western rock music after picking up a guitar. The series would eventually see him mature and take his music across America to spread his passion in the country that inspired him to become a musician in the first place. Although not as talked about today as when they were first released, the episodes around their road trip offer the same quality as some of the most underrated road trip movies.
seven Nodame Cantabile
The manga series Nodame Cantabile is one of the best-selling in the world, with a circulation of more than thirty-seven million copies. So it’s no surprise that it was finally adapted into an anime series in 2007.
The series’ protagonist, Shinichi Chiaki, is a talented musician who wants to perform his music in Europe, but he has a great fear of flying. But when he meets Megumi Noda at university, he discovers her talents as a pianist and thanks to their love of music, they both begin to bond.
6 Children on the slope
In Children on the slopeShy and introverted, Kaoru Nishimi enters his first year of high school and is ready to expect another lonely year. But after meeting the carefree Sentarou Kawabuchi and discovering his passion for jazz, Kaoru falls in love with music and finds a place to show off his talents behind the piano.
This beloved anime series saw the reunion of a few acclaimed creators. Composer Yoko Kanno and director Shinichirō Watanabe previously worked together on the hit Cowboy Bebop, considered a one-season must-have anime and once again collaborated on this musical series.
5 granny
granny follows two very different women who share the same name after meeting in Tokyo and forming an unlikely friendship. Nana Osaki wants to become a professional singer and Nana Komatsu tries to strengthen her relationship with her boyfriend.
Produced by Madhouse, their name in the Japanese animation industry is certainly familiar. In addition to adapting Sakura card sensor and Trigun before turning to grannythey went on to produce other hit manga into worldwide hit anime like Death threat, Hunter X Hunterand One-punch man.
4 Given
Released almost three years ago, Given focuses on the relationship between Haruki Nakayama and Mafuyu Satou after a chance meeting at school and the discovery of each other’s passion and talent for music. The eleven-episode series opens up to the other members of Mafuyu’s band and the growing chemistry between them.
A sequel film was released in 2020 and continued the story from when the finale left off. Even though it screened in around 30 theaters in Japan, it reached #9 in its opening weekend at the box office before making it to Crunchyroll.
3 K-On!
Even though this anime series was released in 2009 and only had two seasons, it remained one of the best anime about music and friendship to date. The Light Music Club at an all-girls high school receives a new member named Yui Hirasawa and convinces her to join after playing their music to her.
K-On! grew in popularity, with a film following their trip to England to celebrate their graduation and one of the best films set in modern London. It was followed by an album featuring the show’s music and some rhythm video games for PlayStation consoles. It all culminated in a franchise that sold $192 million in merchandise alone.
2 Carol & Tuesday
Among Netflix’s lineup of original anime series and movies, there’s nothing quite like it. Carol & Tuesday. Set in the near future where humans live on Mars, Tuesday meets Carole in Alba City, and with nothing more than their keyboard and acoustic guitar, they decide to form a duo and try to compete with turned AI musicians and singers. popular.
Despite the initially odd concept, the series has been praised for its music and impeccable animation quality which has made it one of the best anime on Netflix. With studio Bones behind, the two-part series was in good hands as they are known for their work on the global phenomenon. my hero academia.
1 Your lie in April
It’s also not considered one of the best anime on music, but one of the best anime series overall. Based on Naoshi Arakawa’s Weekly Shonen Magazine manga series, it was adapted into an anime by A-1 Pictures in 2014.
Two years after the death of his mother, Kousei Arima loses his passion for playing the piano and what music made him feel. But after a chance encounter while seeing a violinist named Kaori Miyazono perform in the park, her music strikes a chord in his heart and he rediscovers his love for music.
