If there’s one thing that anime really has over Western media, it’s the focus on skills. Japanese culture has a strong focus on mastery, and this, of course, bleeds over into anime and manga as well – where else could you write a story about competitive card-grabbing and have it come out so damned good?
There are stories centering around music and musicians in Western culture, as well, but anime, both in its medium of animation and its cultural background, is uniquely suited to bring the mastery of music to life. Without further ado, here are the five best music anime, and where you’ll find them on streaming.
Love Live! Sunshine!!
This, the second entry in the popular Love Live! franchise (just to be clear, you don’t have to watch the franchise’s series in release order, and some might find it a better viewing experience to watch Sunshine!! first), stars Chika Takami, a high school junior without much of a purpose in life – until she catches a video of the first series’ protagonists performing. Her heartstrings tugged by their metaphorical radiance, Chika sets out to become a school idol (think a bigger-budget version of glee club).
But neither she nor her best friend You have any experience singing, dancing, or songwriting; the school administration is against them; and their tiny seaside town is definitely not the place for budding pop stars. Thankfully, the new transfer student Riko is a wonderful musician – if only Chika could convince her to join…
Love Live! Sunshine!! is streaming now on Crunchyroll, Funimation, Tubi, Apple TV, Google Play, and YouTube.
Hibike! Euphonium
From the same director as Sunshine!! above comes this beautiful, atmospheric tale of a group of girls focused on making their concert band the best it can be – or at least most of them are.
Our protagonist, Kumiko Oumae, is a longtime euphonium player leading a listless, directionless life. After entering high school, she intends to quit, yet finds herself being sucked back into the club as her friendship – and subtextual romantic relationship – with the brooding and serious Reina Kousaka. As the two girls grow closer, they also must work to send their failing concert band to the national competition – and Kumiko must find her own ambition and desire to play. With its gorgeous animation and characters that feel lifelike, this show is bound to sink in.
Hibike! Euphonium is streaming now on Crunchyroll and Amazon Prime.
Carole & Tuesday
This show is quite unlike any music anime that’s come before it, and probably any will come after it. Set in the far future, on a colonized-by-humans Mars, our protagonist Carole is stuck between dead-end jobs while trying to play her keyboard on the side. (Some things never change.) But one day, while she’s out signing and playing keyboard on a dusty Martian bridge, runaway rich girl Tuesday happens to overhear – and join in with her own guitar and voice.
The two girls form an instant friendship and set out to make music together – but in the future, most music is AI-generated (yes, this is one of those shows that ages like a fine Chardonnay). Can two human women, with nothing but a guitar, keyboard, and their voices, really compete with the robot-dominated pop culture landscape of Mars? If Carole and Tuesday have anything to say about it, yes, they can.
Carole & Tuesday is streaming now on Netflix.
Your Lie in April
Middle schooler Kousei Arima is a fearsome piano prodigy – but that’s come at a cost. His abusive mother, who pressed him into piano the way you might press garlic, has died, and upon her death, Kousei renounces piano, though that does nothing to cure his depression.
As the new school year rolls around, though, he meets the free-spirited violinist Kaori Miyazono who drags him back into music by sheer force of her will. Romance ensues between the two prodigies, but their time together is shorter than it seems.
Your Lie in April is streaming now on Hulu and Funimation.
Given
High school student Ritsuka Uenoyama is in a nameless band without a singer, but his band’s luck changes when he stumbles upon the shy Mafuyu Sato and offers to fix his broker guitar. Rutsuka quickly learns the other boy has an absolutely amazing voice, and invites him to join their band. As the four boys learn and grow as musicians, so do Ritsuka and Mafuyu’s feelings for each other. This melancholic and beautiful anime paints a touching picture of young love and growing as a musician, which earns it our #1 spot on this list.
Given is streaming now on Crunchyroll.
