Music is a form of art that has the extraordinary power to convey emotions, tell stories, and bring people together. It’s very rejoicing that in the world of anime, this art form is celebrated through the melodious and harmonious series that delve into the lives and aspirations of musicians and their journeys.

Whether it’s the classical sounds of “Your Lie in April”, the jazz of “Kids on the Slope”, or the journey to stardom in “Beck”, these anime have created a symphony of sound and emotion that continues to resonate with fans around the world. In this article, we will take a look at some of the best music anime. So, without further ado, let’s get started.

10. Carole & Tuesday

One of the musically enriched anime by Studio Bones and Shinichiro Watanabe, Carole & Tuesday is a character-driven story that puts emphasis on how dreams can be turned into reality. The series takes place on Mars which has now been transformed into a thriving metropolis rich with life.

Carole and Tuesday, the central figures, are born under different circumstances but with the dream of becoming a musician. After a chance meeting brings them together, the girls decide to leave their old lives behind and compete against the futuristic AI singers of the world to convey their feelings to everyone through music.

9. Kids On The Slope

Kids on the Slope is yet another music anime by Shinichiro Watanabe that follows three friends as they create unforgettable memories of the 1960s in the age of jazz music, friendship, and melody. The story begins with Kaoru Nishimi, an honor student as he moves to a new high school in a remote town.

In a new environment, he meets a rather abrasive delinquent Sentarou, and the gentle Ritsuko. While mistakenly getting to a bad start, they soon pull Kaoru out of his stiff and joyless world into theirs of jazz and jollity. Fans of old-school music and love trials will for sure enjoy this memorable series.

8. Nodame Cantabile

Nodame Cantabile is a breath of fresh air in the high school romance anime genre because of its more mature yet whimsical take on love, life, and the beauty of classical music. The series follows the lives of Noda Megumi and her love interest Chiaki Shinichi attending Japan’s top music university.

Throughout their studies, they encounter any number of trials and tribulations as their undying passion for art grows evermore. With the help of each other, this musical pair must learn to overcome their shortcomings, while also discovering true romance and what it is they want out of life.

7. Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad

In a medium where music anime is scarce and dominated by Japanese Pop, Beck opens a window of fresh air through its coming-of-age underground rock scene. The story is about Tanaka Yukio, a disconnected 14-year-old junior high student who has trouble connecting to his life and the people around him.

However, after a chance meeting with the outspoken rocker Ryusuke and his peculiar dog, Tanaka chronicles his progression into a guitarist in an indie rock band which is on the verge of breaking out. Beck is an inspiring tale of following one’s dreams which resonates with many young aspiring musicians.

6. Sound! Euphonium

KyoAni’s highly decorated music anime, Sound! Euphonium depicts the artistic brilliance of the studio in bringing realism to the anime landscape. Featuring a group of cute girls, the series follows Kumiko Oumae, who just wants to start over fresh in her new school.

However, her dreams of keeping a low profile are dashed when she’s dragged into the shenanigans of the high school band club. Together with her new bandmates, Kumiko aims to truly accomplish what they before just claimed as a pipe dream – make the nationals of the Kansai Band Competition.

5. Bocchi The Rock!

Musical hit Bocchi the Rock! is a heartfelt and inspiring story about friendship, music, and overcoming social anxiety. The anime features Hitori “Bocchi” Goto, a socially anxious high school girl yearning to make friends and perform live with a band as a guitarist.

On a fateful day, Bocchi meets the outgoing drummer Nijika Ijichi, who is in search of a new guitarist. She invites her to join her band where she meets other girls and together they put their hearts into improving as musicians while making the most of their fleeting high school days.

4. Given

Given is an underdog title that has been slept on for its subject matter instead of appreciated for its prowess. The series strikes the rare balance of being openly gay while following two young musicians, Mafuyu Satou and Ritsuka Uenoyama, who become friends after a fated encounter.

The pair eventually end up playing in the same band, and their feelings blossom as they rekindle their passion for music. Given offers the perfect combination with just the right amount of both yaoi and slice-of-life elements, making it sublime for the audience to anticipate.

3. K-On!

K-On! is amongst the first music anime by Kyoto Animation to become a sensation in the industry. The story sees the journey of Yui Hirasawa, a young and carefree high school girl who accidentally signs up to join the light music club of the all-girls private Sakuragaoka High School.

Joined by bassist Mio, drummer Ritsu, and keyboardist Tsumugi, Yui strives hard to become a guitarist, all in the hopes of someday becoming a successful band. The series follows them through high school and into college as they continue to hone their musical talents.

2. Your Lie In April

Your Lie in April is a critically acclaimed romance anime on Netflix about loss, love, and music. The series tells the story of a young piano prodigy named Kōsei Arima who falls into a state of depression after his mother’s demise and he never takes the stage thereafter.

His monochrome life turns upside down the day he encounters the eccentric violinist Kaori Miyazono, who thrusts Arima back into the spotlight as her accompanist. With music as a medium, the anime manages to give an insightful check on the grieving process and its effect on an individual’s mental fortitude.

1. Nana

Serving as a groundbreaking affair, Nana is possibly one of the most complicated yet well-received romantic fantasies that incorporate music into its josei-centered drama. The story follows the pivotal journeys of two incredibly different girls, Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu, bound by the same name and circumstance.

While Nana Komatsu is joining her boyfriend, who has gone to Tokyo for art school, Nana Osaki is hoping to make it as a punk musician. Fate brings these two together as roommates and the narrative unfolds to reveal the many struggles they encounter together on their journey.

Which one of the following music anime is your favorite? Feel free to comment down your thoughts and make sure to recommend some other anime like the ones listed above, also don’t forget to share this article with your fellow otaku friends.

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