16 Anime Like Nana: Emotional Journeys of Love, Music and Friendship

It’s only fitting to start with Paradise Kiss, which shares the same creator as Nana, Ai Yazawa. Much like Nana, this series dives into the trials of self-discovery, ambition, and love, all wrapped in a fashion-focused setting.

The story follows Yukari, a high school girl swept into the glamorous yet challenging world of fashion by a group of unconventional designers. The romance is intense and bittersweet, with a maturity that mirrors Nana’s.

Plus, Ai Yazawa’s signature art style and knack for creating complex, layered characters are on full display. If you loved Nana, this is an essential watch.

Paradise Kiss info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Fall 2005
• Studios: Madhouse
• Genres: Drama, Romance
• Themes: School, Visual Arts
• Score: 7.87 (MAL), 7.7 (IMDb)

Beck is for anyone who’s ever air-guitared in their bedroom while dreaming of a stage. This anime follows Koyuki, a teenager who discovers his love for music after meeting a talented guitarist named Ryusuke.

The anime nails the grind of chasing musical fame, sweaty rehearsals, tiny gigs, and the thrill of creating something real.

Like Nana, it’s not afraid to show the ugly side of ambition and the world, but it’s also packed with moments that’ll make you want to crank up the volume.

It shares Nana’s focus on music as a driving force for connection and personal growth, making it a must-watch for anyone who wants to dive deeper into the world of aspiring artists.

Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 26
• Released: Fall 2004
• Studios: Madhouse
• Genres: Drama
• Themes: Music
• Score: 8.29 (MAL), 8.2 (IMDb)

Imagine Nana… but on Mars. Carole & Tuesday is a love letter to music’s power to connect people across worlds.

Set on a futuristic, colonized Mars, the anime follows Carole, a street musician, and Tuesday, a runaway rich kid, as they team up to create music that defies the odds.

The anime’s soulful soundtrack and focus on creative collaboration echo Nana’s themes, but it’s also a hopeful reminder that art can thrive even in the darkest times.

Beyond its stunning visuals and incredible soundtrack, the series shines in its portrayal of relationships, struggles against societal norms, and the power of creative expression.

While it’s less gritty than Nana, the emotional highs and lows will feel right at home for fans seeking a heartfelt, music-centered story.

Carole & Tuesday info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 24
• Released: Spring 2019
• Studios: Bones
• Genres: Drama, Sci-Fi
• Themes: Music
• Score: 7.85 (MAL), 7.8 (IMDb)

Watch Carole & Tuesday trailer:

If you were drawn to Nana’s exploration of friendships and the challenges of growing up, Kids on the Slope offers a beautiful blend of similar themes.

Set in the 1960s, the anime follows Kaoru, a shy piano prodigy, and Sentaro, a rebellious drummer, as they bond over music and messy adolescence.

Like Nana, it’s about how friendships shape us and how growing up often means letting go. Also, the jazz-infused soundtrack complements the emotional storytelling, creating a vibe that’s as heartfelt as Nana’s.

Kids on the Slope info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Sakamichi no Apollon
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Spring 2012
• Studios: Tezuka Productions, MAPPA
• Genres: Drama, Romance
• Themes: Historical, Love Polygon, Music, School
• Score: 8.29 (MAL), 8.2 (IMDb)

Watch Kids on the Slope trailer:

Nodame Cantabile is a must-watch for fans of Nana who were drawn to the passion and transformative power of music.

This anime revolves around two music students: Chiaki, a perfectionist aiming to become a conductor, and Nodame, a free-spirited piano prodigy.

Their dynamic is both hilarious and heartwarming, with plenty of romantic tension and personal growth along the way.

While it’s lighter than Nana, the focus on artistic passion, rivalry, and “found family” vibes among musicians hits similar notes.

Nodame Cantabile info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 23
• Released: Winter 2007
• Studios: J.C.Staff
• Genres: Comedy, Romance
• Themes: Adult Cast, Music
• Score: 8.25 (MAL), 8.1 (IMDb)

A terminally ill girl belts her heart out to become a professional singer? Yep, this one’s a tearjerker.

Searching for the Full Moon follows Mitsuki, who risks her fragile health to chase her late mother’s dream and maybe reunite with her childhood crush.

With the help of two shinigami, she transforms into a healthy 16-year-old to pursue her music career.

It’s got Nana’s mix of music and melancholy, but with a supernatural twist (thanks to some shinigami buddies). Bring tissues for the finale, you’ll need them.

Searching for the Full Moon info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Full Moon wo Sagashite
• Episodes: 52
• Released: Spring 2002
• Studios: Studio Deen
• Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Supernatural
• Themes: Music, Showbiz
• Score: 7.93 (MAL), 7.7 (IMDb)

If you were hooked on Nana’s messy, emotionally charged relationships, Peach Girl offers a similarly dramatic rollercoaster. The anime follows Momo, a high school girl caught in a web of misunderstandings, jealousy, and romantic rivalries.

What makes Peach Girl compelling is its unfiltered exploration of the emotional turmoil that comes with love and betrayal.

While it’s more melodramatic, it shares Nana’s knack for showing how love can be equal parts exhilarating and exhausting. Perfect for fans of “I hate you, but I love you” chaos.

Peach Girl info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 25
• Released: Winter 2005
• Studios: Studio Comet
• Genres: Drama, Romance
• Themes: Love Polygon, School
• Score: 6.92 (MAL), 6.8 (IMDb)

A broken guitar, a grieving musician, and a love story told through song… Given is BL anime, but its emotional core transcends genres.

The anime follows Mafuyu, a shy and grieving high school student, and Ritsuka, a guitarist who helps him find his voice.

As the two grow closer, their bond blossoms into something deeper. Given’s focus on music as a form of self-expression and its emotionally rich character relationships make it a standout recommendation for Nana fans.

It’s a quieter, more introspective take on music and love, but its emotional depth is just as moving.

Given info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 11
• Released: Summer 2019
• Studios: Lerche
• Genres: Boys Love, Drama
• Themes: Music, School
• Score: 8.30 (MAL), 8.2 (IMDb)

Watch Given trailer:

Honey & Clover might not revolve around music, but its exploration of love, artistic ambition, and the struggles of finding one’s place in the world make it a natural recommendation for Nana fans.

The series follows a group of college art students as they navigate unrequited love, creative blocks, and the transition to adulthood. The characters are flawed and endearing, and their emotional journeys feel incredibly authentic.

Much like Nana, it doesn’t sugarcoat life’s challenges, instead offering a beautifully bittersweet perspective on growing up and chasing your dreams.

Honey & Clover info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Hachimitsu to Clover
• Episodes: 24
• Released: Spring 2005
• Studios: J.C.Staff
• Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance
• Themes: Adult Cast, Love Polygon, Visual Arts
• Score: 7.98 (MAL), 7.8 (IMDb)

If you loved Nana Osaki’s fierce determination and her struggles in the entertainment industry, you’ll find a kindred spirit in Kyoko Mogami, the protagonist of Skip Beat!.

After being betrayed by her childhood crush, Kyoko reinvents herself as an actress, driven by a mix of revenge and self-discovery. The series blends humor, drama, and ambition in a way that feels refreshingly unique.

Like Nana, it’s a story about resilience, finding your identity, and chasing your dreams, making it an empowering and highly entertaining watch.

Skip Beat! info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 25
• Released: Fall 2008
• Studios: HAL Film Maker
• Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance
• Themes: Love Polygon, Showbiz
• Score: 8.07 (MAL), 7.8 (IMDb)

While IDOLiSH7 might seem like a lighter, more polished take on the music industry, it’s packed with the emotional depth and personal conflicts that Nana fans will appreciate. It has more depth than some K-drama plot twist.

The story centers on a group of rookie idols striving to make their mark, facing challenges that test their friendships and resolve.

Behind the glitz and glamour of fame lies a narrative about perseverance and personal struggles, much like Nana’s exploration of ambition and the cost of chasing one’s dreams.

The focus on relationships, both professional and personal, adds an emotional punch that fans of Nana will find familiar.

IDOLiSH7 info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Ainana
• Episodes: 17
• Released: Winter 2018
• Studios: TROYCA
• Genres: Drama
• Themes: Idols (Male), Music
• Score: 7.69 (MAL), 7.0 (IMDb)

If Nana is a bruised heart, Scum’s Wish is a full-on emotional black eye. This anime dives into love’s darkest corners, following teens who use each other as substitutes for unrequited crushes.

It’s raw, uncomfortable, and so addictive, like watching a car crash in slow motion. While tonally darker than Nana, it shares that same fearlessness in exploring how messy love can get.

Scum’s Wish info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Kuzu no Honkai
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Winter 2017
• Studios: Lerche
• Genres: Drama, Romance
• Themes: Love Polygon, School
• Score: 7.10 (MAL), 6.7 (IMDb)

College isn’t just about all-nighters and ramen. Golden Time proves it’s also a playground for identity crises and messy romance.

The story follows Banri Tada, a college freshman dealing with the aftermath of memory loss, as he builds a new life and falls into a complicated romance with the fiery girl Koko Kaga.

Golden Time tackles themes of self-discovery, emotional baggage, and the struggles of navigating love when you’re still figuring out who you are.

It shares Nana’s focus on mature, imperfect characters, offering a heartfelt look at relationships and personal growth.

And the soundtrack? Perfect for staring out rainy windows while questioning your life choices.

Golden Time info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 24
• Released: Fall 2013
• Studios: J.C.Staff
• Genres: Drama, Romance
• Themes: Adult Cast, Love Polygon
• Score: 7.74 (MAL), 7.5 (IMDb)

For fans of Nana’s themes of love, longing, and music as a coping mechanism, Anonymous Noise strikes a chord.

The story centers on Nino, a girl with a powerful voice, who reconnects with her childhood friends through music after years of separation.

The anime explores unrequited love, jealousy, and how music becomes an outlet for emotions that words can’t express.

While its love triangle and dramatic twists can feel melodramatic, its focus on passion and self-expression mirrors Nana’s emotional intensity.

Anonymous Noise info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Fukumenkei Noise
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Spring 2017
• Studios: Brain’s Base
• Genres: Drama, Romance
• Themes: Love Polygon, Music, School
• Score: 6.95 (MAL), 6.2 (IMDb)

While K-On! leans more lighthearted compared to Nana’s gritty realism, it still captures the joy and camaraderie of making music with friends. K-On! is a cute girl doing cute things-anime.

The series follows a group of high school girls who join their school’s light music club and learn to play instruments together. It’s sweet, wholesome, and full of heartwarming moments that celebrate friendship and creativity.

It’s a perfect palette cleanser for Nana fans looking for something more wholesome, while still celebrating the joy and camaraderie that music can bring.

K-On! info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 13
• Released: Spring 2009
• Studios: Kyoto Animation
• Genres: Comedy
• Themes: CGDCT, Music, School
• Score: 7.86 (MAL), 7.8 (IMDb)

If you’re looking for an anime that will tug at your heartstrings as much as Nana did, Your Lie in April delivers in spades.

Your Lie in April is an absolute masterpiece that combines breathtaking animation, a gripping story, and an unforgettable soundtrack.

This anime follows Kosei Arima, a former child prodigy pianist who rediscovers his love for music after meeting the spirited violinist Kaori Miyazono.

It’s packed with emotional highs and lows, beautifully animated musical performances, and an unforgettable story about love, loss, and the transformative power of music.

Like Nana, it’s an emotional gut-punch that stays with you long after the credits roll. Be sure to have tissues handy, it’s that powerful.

Your Lie in April info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso
• Episodes: 22
• Released: Fall 2014
• Studios: A-1 Pictures
• Genres: Drama, Romance
• Themes: Love Polygon, Music, School
• Score: 8.64 (MAL), 8.5 (IMDb)

Conclusion

Nana is one of those rare anime that leaves an indelible mark on its viewers. Its raw, emotional storytelling, complex characters, and deep exploration of love, friendship, and ambition make it a standout experience.

While no anime can truly replace Nana, the shows we’ve covered in this post come close in their own unique ways, whether through music-driven narratives like Carole & Tuesday and Given, or mature explorations of relationships like Golden Time and Paradise Kiss.

Now it’s your turn. What anime filled the Nana-shaped hole in your heart? Share your favorites, because with a show as special as Nana, there’s always more to talk about. Happy watching!