The best anime girl groups, ranked

Summary

• K-On! is a shining example of a girl band anime with adorable characters and J-pop/J-rock songs.

• Girls Band Cry offers depth and real-life combat, balancing captivating 3D animation with decent music.

• Carole & Tuesday stands out for its emotionally engaging narrative and Western music influences.

It is important to note that anime centered around idol groups will not be included. This removes titles like The Zombieland saga from being added. This also eliminates anime that feature girls who form bands but aren't the main focus of the anime.

Girl Band anime can provide a great life setting. both Jellyfish cannot swim at night and The first D4DJ Mix they weren't chosen, but they serve as great examples of a middle ground between a girl group anime and an idol anime.

7

Show By Rock!!

A magical girl band full of cute pictures

• Studio: The bones
• Release: July 4, 2016
• Number of Episodes: 12
• Streaming services: Crunchyroll

Show By Rock!! It is a mixture of many different ideas. It may not appeal to viewers looking for something similar Bocchi Rock! and K-On!but it provides plenty of lighthearted, adorable fun – and gives fans of Japanese rock music a new anime to enjoy. The story centers on a female protagonist who finds herself transported to another world with her body altered to now have cat-like features.

Show By Rock!! it can feel very much like a mix between a light comedy and a magical girl anime tasked with fighting against evil forces. There are a lot of transitions between different animation styles, from a more traditional 2D style to a 3D style that resembles little chibi figures.

6

Carole & Tuesday

Captivating emotional influences of Western music

A lot of anime that revolves around an all-female cast tends to lean toward a high school setting and be somewhat light-hearted. Carole & Tuesday completely breaks away from that mindset to deliver an emotionally charged journey through an exceptionally well-crafted world setting. This series is set in the same universe as both Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo.

The band consists of only 2 central characters who want to write music in a world where the scene is completely dominated by AI compositions. The music in the show takes a lot of inspiration from the songs of western culture and its music will resonate with a lot of creative minded people. It is worth noting that the show can be very emotional at times, and many viewers will be moved to tears.

5

Bang Dream!

A Multimedia Juggernaut to be invested in

• Studios: Xebec, Issen
• Release: January 21, 2017
• Number of Episodes: 13
• Streaming services: Crunchyroll

This is a multimedia franchise with tons of games, anime series, and more. There are many different bands with different sounds. This allows viewers to experience many different types of music, despite there being a general pop focus. This anime has a much greater focus on music compared to others on this list, which are usually more character and story driven.

This is because many of the bands are based on real-life bands in Japan. It's still possible to get into this mixed franchise starting with the first season of the anime Bang Dream!though some viewers might find this expanded universe a bit overwhelming. With so much to offer, it's easy to see why some viewers would rank it among the best music anime out there.

4

Sound! Euphonium

High School Music Band Drama and Wrestling

The world of slice-of-life anime is dominated by high school settings, and for good reason. Many viewers are either in high school or have already been through it. This makes it a very relatable time in people's lives, full of exploration and discovery. Most of the entries in this list all use this setting, including Sound! Euphoniumalso known as Hibike!

However, the cast of this anime is in the school band rather than a rock/pop one. The main protagonist is hesitant to give it his all to make it to nationals and instead just wants to have fun. The pacing is well done and many viewers will find themselves engaged in seeing what results develop.

3

K-On!

A shining example for all girl band anime to learn from

K-On! is everything the readers of this list are looking for in a girl band anime, and may be one of the most popular anime bands out there, with plenty of J-pop and J-rock songs sung by an adorable girl band. The girls in this band have a passion for music and have clear goals they want to achieve by perfecting their musical skills. While the show initially focuses on only 4 main characters, a new troupe member is added later on.

Its biggest appeal is that the show doesn't take itself too seriously and is full of characters who just goof around a lot of the time. The pacing in each of these episodes is well paced and they all combine to make K-On! a very easy anime to watch and rewatch.

2

Girls Band Cry

A real look at how hard finding balance can be

Girls Band Cry excels at giving its characters depth and making everything seem like it matters – even when it doesn't. Many viewers might think that the show only uses cheap 3D animation if they watch a few seconds of certain scenes, but it comes across dramatically in many visually arresting and engaging scenes.

The music is very good and can stand on its own without needing to be tied to the franchise. The characters go through some of the real obstacles in the industry, such as juggling the real-life balance of school, band practice, a day job, and finding the energy to create music.

1

Bocchi Rock!

A fun and frenetic anime with a girl band aesthetic

Bocchi the Rock could swap the music for any other activity and still land perfectly. Its central character is highly relatable to many viewers for her social awkwardness, yet deeply passionate about the things that bring her joy. The cast of characters are all very likeable and unique in their own way.

However, they also shine through their chemistry with each other. The show takes multiple comedic approaches from situation comedy, verbal statements and stylized slapstick in the form of visualized inner monologues.