Girls Band Cry (2024) is more than just a music anime—it’s an emotionally charged, character-driven narrative wrapped in a modern, CG-animated package. With themes of personal struggle, underdog ambition, and unexpected narrative turns, it resonates deeply with fans seeking stories that balance realism with raw passion.
The series explores the lives of young women forming a rock band amidst personal trauma, societal expectations, and internal conflicts. Its blend of coming-of-age storytelling, striking visuals, and emotional growth is reminiscent of certain overlooked anime gems. Below are 15 underrated series that share similar DNA—whether through their character arcs, thematic focus, or unconventional narrative styles.
1. Wake Up, Girls! (2014)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: A struggling idol group from Sendai tries to break into the music industry while managing personal growth and commercial pressure.
Similarities: Like Girls Band Cry, this series focuses on women chasing a dream in an emotionally gritty, realistic setting. It also tackles industry exploitation and mental fatigue.
MAL Rating: 7.00
Episodes: 12 + films
Studio: Ordet x Tatsunoko Production
Notable Staff: Directed by Yutaka Yamamoto (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)
Awards: Animation Kobe Special Award (2013)
2. Zombieland Saga (2018)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Plot: A group of resurrected girls are forced to become idols to save Saga Prefecture, blending absurd comedy with unexpected emotional depth.
Similarities: Subverts the idol/music genre while focusing on personal redemption, just like Girls Band Cry’s tonal surprises.
MAL Rating: 7.53
Episodes: 12
Studio: MAPPA
Notable Staff: Shuuhei Yamada (Music), MAPPA’s rising directors
Awards: Tokyo Anime Award Festival Nominee (2019)
3. Colorful (2010)
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
Plot: A soul is given a second chance at life by inhabiting a teenage boy who died by suicide, slowly uncovering the reasons behind it.
Similarities: Tackles youth depression and redemption arcs in a mature, poignant narrative style, echoing the emotional core of Girls Band Cry.
MAL Rating: 8.38
Episodes: Movie
Studio: Sunrise
Notable Staff: Directed by Keiichi Hara (Miss Hokusai)
Awards: Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year (2011)
4. Flip Flappers (2016)
Streaming: HIDIVE
Plot: Two girls explore bizarre alternate dimensions as they navigate identity and emotional discovery.
Similarities: Emphasizes inner transformation through surreal storytelling, much like the visual symbolism and internal conflicts in Girls Band Cry.
MAL Rating: 7.71
Episodes: 13
Studio: Studio 3Hz
Notable Staff: Character design by Takashi Kojima (Mob Psycho 100)
Awards: None major, but cult classic in anime communities
5. Nana (2006)
Streaming: HIDIVE
Plot: Two women named Nana, each chasing a different dream, cross paths and build a deep, emotionally fraught friendship.
Similarities: Shares the music theme, raw emotional storytelling, and grounded female-led narrative arcs.
MAL Rating: 8.46
Episodes: 47
Studio: Madhouse
Notable Staff: Directed by Morio Asaka (Cardcaptor Sakura)
Awards: Oricon top-selling anime DVD series (2006)
6. RE-MAIN (2021)
Streaming: Funimation
Plot: A water polo prodigy with amnesia must rebuild his life and skills from scratch.
Similarities: Centers around rediscovery and comeback, similar to the emotional reawakening found in Girls Band Cry.
MAL Rating: 6.84
Episodes: 12
Studio: MAPPA
Notable Staff: Directed by Masafumi Nishida (Tiger & Bunny)
Awards: None
7. Princess Tutu (2002)
Streaming: HIDIVE
Plot: A duck transforms into a ballerina to return lost pieces of a prince’s heart, blurring fairytale and reality.
Similarities: Strong female protagonist, artistic performance as narrative medium, and themes of identity and fate.
MAL Rating: 8.15
Episodes: 26
Studio: Hal Film Maker
Notable Staff: Creator Ikuko Itoh (Sailor Moon)
Awards: Cult status among critics for storytelling
8. Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight (2018)
Streaming: HIDIVE, Prime Video
Plot: Young women at a performing arts school compete in surreal duels to claim the lead role in a mysterious theatrical production.
Similarities: Surrealism meets real-world ambition, tackling creative competition and personal growth under pressure.
MAL Rating: 7.57
Episodes: 12
Studio: Kinema Citrus
Notable Staff: Tomohiro Furukawa (Flip Flappers)
Awards: Best Musical Anime (Anime Trending Awards)
9. A Place Further Than the Universe (2018)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: Four girls set out on an expedition to Antarctica to chase dreams and escape their personal limitations.
Similarities: Underdog determination, emotional depth, and female friendships driving the story.
MAL Rating: 8.55
Episodes: 13
Studio: Madhouse
Notable Staff: Directed by Atsuko Ishizuka (No Game No Life)
Awards: Best Anime of 2018 (Crunchyroll Awards)
10. Kaiba (2008)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, RetroCrush
Plot: In a world where memories can be transferred, a boy wakes up without his past and uncovers disturbing truths about society.
Similarities: Shares themes of identity, memory, and emotional authenticity through experimental visuals.
MAL Rating: 8.15
Episodes: 12
Studio: Madhouse
Notable Staff: Masaaki Yuasa (Devilman Crybaby)
Awards: Excellence Prize, Japan Media Arts Festival (2008)
11. Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad (2004)
Streaming: Funimation
Plot: A teenager joins a rock band and navigates the highs and lows of the music industry.
Similarities: Music-centered story of struggle, friendship, and fighting for recognition in a tough industry.
MAL Rating: 8.27
Episodes: 26
Studio: Madhouse
Notable Staff: Osamu Kobayashi (Paradise Kiss)
Awards: Ranked in top anime music series of the 2000s
12. Sarazanmai (2019)
Streaming: Crunchyroll
Plot: Three boys are turned into kappas and must extract the secrets of others to return to normal.
Similarities: Surreal storytelling with emotional baggage at the center, just like Girls Band Cry’s metaphorical framing.
MAL Rating: 7.49
Episodes: 11
Studio: MAPPA x Lapin Track
Notable Staff: Kunihiko Ikuhara (Revolutionary Girl Utena)
Awards: None major, but praised for LGBTQ+ storytelling
13. Hoshiai no Sora (2019)
Streaming: Funimation
Plot: A newly formed boys’ soft tennis club faces internal and external struggles during a summer tournament.
Similarities: Emotional realism, youth conflict, and beautifully animated introspection.
MAL Rating: 7.56
Episodes: 12
Studio: Eight Bit
Notable Staff: Kazuki Akane (Escaflowne)
Awards: Shortlisted for Tokyo Anime Awards
14. Nodame Cantabile (2007)
Streaming: Crunchyroll, Prime Video
Plot: A perfectionist pianist meets a free-spirited girl with raw talent, changing both their lives through classical music.
Similarities: Music as a vehicle for emotional development, character chemistry, and personal growth.
MAL Rating: 8.30
Episodes: 23
Studio: J.C.Staff
Notable Staff: Director Kenichi Kasai (Honey and Clover)
Awards: Television Drama Academy Awards (live-action)
15. Wonder Egg Priority (2021)
Streaming: Funimation
Plot: A girl enters surreal dreamscapes to save souls, unraveling dark truths about herself and others.
Similarities: Emotional trauma, surreal visuals, and adolescent introspection echo Girls Band Cry‘s psychological depth.
MAL Rating: 7.52
Episodes: 12 + Special
Studio: CloverWorks
Notable Staff: Shin Wakabayashi (The Relative Worlds)
Awards: New Face Award, Japan Media Arts Festival
Why These Anime Work for Girls Band Cry Fans
What connects all these series isn’t just surface-level themes like music or adolescence—they all carry a heavy emotional weight, showcase characters with complex arcs, and offer a fresh or subversive take on familiar genres. If you were drawn to Girls Band Cry because of its mix of modern visual storytelling, emotional depth, and female-centered narratives, these lesser-known anime will strike a similar chord—often in unexpected, powerful ways.
