Nana is a very popular Josei Anime. The Josei demography is targeted towards a mature audience. Or adult women to be more specific. And Nana is extremely popular within this demographic. Most fans of romance anime have heard of this series but never tried it. And it is highly critically acclaimed. One of the main reasons for these praises is how real it feels. So this show revolves around 2 young adults. And it shows us issues that 20-year-old people go through. As one of the core themes of the series is loneliness. So we see characters do various things because they are scared of losing someone.
The plot of this series is about a friendship between two women. Both of their names are Nana. And they move to Tokyo to pursue their dreams. While one of them dreams to pursue romance, the other one has bigger dreams. Through Nana O’s story, we tackle various serious topics. And these include infidelity and early pregnancy. Through Nana K’s story, we see the struggle behind becoming successful. As Nana K wants to become a professional musician, she faces countless challenges. Both of these women have polar opposite personalities. But their friendship continues to be the central theme. These are our 10 picks for anime similar to Nana.
1. Carole & Tuesday
Like Nana, this series’ central theme revolves around music as well. But the story is set in a futuristic setting. And the main characters are younger in this show. Both Carole and Tuesday cross paths in a fictional city. This city is called Alba City. So Tuesday is a privileged girl, who ran away from her house. While Carole is an orphan who is not so privileged. And both of them form a band together. So they form a singer-songwriter duo. And in this series as well, the theme of melancholy is central.
2. Paradise Kiss
ParaKiss is another Josei anime on this list. And Madhouse studio has created this as well. Ai Yazawa is the author of both Nana and this. And we see the in-depth working of the entertainment industry here as well. So here the focus is mainly on the fashion industry. And Yukari Hayasaka is the protagonist of the show. So she is approached by two people to become a model. But Yukari is not interested in such kind of a job. And the story gradually unfolds from here.
3. Peach Girl
Unlike the previous recommendations, this is a high-school romance. And Miwa Ueda is the author of this series. So Momo Adachi is the protagonist in this series. And she is a member of the swim team in her school. But she gets bullied in her school. And her friend Sae is largely responsible for spreading rumors about her. So the story develops into a messy love triangle gradually. While the characters are still in high school, they go through some realistic traumas. And this factor of the series makes it relatable to fans.
4. Beck
Beck is a must-watch for all music fans. And Madhouse studio has worked on this as well. And this anime came around the same time when Nana did. So in this, we see a group of teenagers form a band. And they all have the individual insecurities that they must deal with. This series has various aspects of romance as well. But it is mainly a coming-of-age story. Yukio Tanaka is the main character of the show. And he earlier led a very boring life. But his life circumstances change for the better. As he gradually gets more involved in creating a band.
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5. Skip Beat!
So this is another anime that shows how showbiz works. While the story starts in a high school setting, the rest of the story continues in adulthood. Kyoko Mogami, a 16-year-old student is a protagonist. And she is in love with Shotaro Fuwa. So both of them move to Tokyo to help Shotaro’s career. And Kyoko blindly trusts him, she works odd jobs for him. As she barely spends anything on herself, Shotaro starts taking her for granted. And then she is betrayed by him. So she decides on becoming a bigger star than him to extraact her revenge.
6. Honey and Clover
This is one of the best slice-of-life animes made. And all of the characters have great sync between them. As they all feel very realistic. The story revolves around 5 art students. So these students are currently in college. And we get to see how they deal with various friendships and relationships. While watching the series we get to learn the value of acceptance. And how youth makes us feel like everything is going to remain permanent. So this is a story about 5 people and their journey of self-discovery.
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7. Belle
This is the third highest-grossing Japanese film in 2021. And this is another musical recommendation on the list. Mamoru Hosoda is the director of this film. And he has made a notable mark in the industry. He has also won an Academy Award for his previous work i.e. Mirai. So Belle has also received high critical acclaim. As it received a 14-minute long standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival. In the story, we see the nuances of various human relationships. And we also see some fantasy and futuristic elements. So this is another coming-of-age story for young adults.
8. Your Lie In April
Whenever we talk about musical anime, this series is a must-watch. Piano prodigy; Arima Kousei is the main character of this show. And he has a mental breakdown after his mother passes away. But his interest in music gets reignited when he meets Kaori Miyazono. So Kaori is dating Kousei’s best friend. And things become a bit complicated when he starts developing feelings for her. The main theme for this series is melancholy. And it gradually develops into a bitter-sweet romance.
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9. Kids on the Slope
The Japanese name for this series is Sakamichi no Apollon. While Nana focuses on the Punk and Rock genres, this series dwells in jazz. Kaoru Nishimi is a classical pianist in this. And he has lost all hope of fitting in. But events take a better turn for him later. As he meets Sentarou Kawabuchi, he gets engulfed in jazz. And he gradually learns more about jazz. So he discovers how music can bring both him and the people around him immense joy. And this is a heartwarming story about one’s individuality in music and friendship.
10. Nodame Cantabile
This is a beautiful love story between two classical artists. Shinichi Chiaki is a violinist. And he is a very strict perfectionist as well. While Megumi Noda or Nodame is a carefree woman. But she has a great talent for creating music as well. So a beautiful romance unfolds as the two end up becoming neighbors. And Nodame falls head over heels for Shinichi. We see the story progress beautifully. And both of the characters mature in their personal journeys.
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