Top Classical Music Anime Recommendations

Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso

Also known as Your lie in April.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

Piano prodigy Arima Kousei dominated the competition and all child musicians knew his name. But after his mother, who was also his instructor, passed away, he had a mental breakdown while performing at a recital. This resulted in him no longer being able to hear the sound of his piano playing. Two years later, Kousei hasn’t touched the piano and views the world without any flair or color. He was content at living out his life with his good friends Tsubaki and Watari until, one day, a girl changed everything. Miyazono Kaori is a pretty, free spirited violinist whose playing style reflects her personality. Kaori helps Kousei return to the music world and show that it should be free and mold breaking unlike the structured and rigid style Kousei was used to.

Tags: Tragedy , Classical Music , Primarily Teen Cast , Disability , Coming of Age , Rehabilitation , Male Protagonist , Love Triangle , Female Protagonist , Shounen , Heterosexual , Philosophy , School , Tsundere , Unrequited Love , Slapstick , Tomboy , CGI , Ancient China

takt op.Destiny

Also known as takt op.Destiny.

Studio: MADHOUSE , MAPPA
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Fantasy , Music

Music is the light that illuminates people's hearts-- and that "light" was suddenly taken from the world. The world changed the night the black "Kuroya Meteorite" fell. Grotesque monsters known as D2 emerged from the meteorite and began to overrun the land and people. As the D2 were drawn to melodies people played, eventually "music" itself became taboo.

However, those who opposed the monsters appeared. They the "Musicart," girls who draw power from music. They possess the great operas and musical scores of humanity history and use them to defeat the D2.



Tags: Henshin , Urban Fantasy , Male Protagonist , Classical Music , Foreign , Post-Apocalyptic , Tragedy , Female Protagonist , Amnesia , Kuudere , Ensemble Cast , Dystopian , Disability , Adoption , Dinosaurs

Hibike! Euphonium

Also known as Sound! Euphonium.

Studio: Kyoto Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Slice of Life

Spring in the first year of high school. Kumiko, a member of the brass band in junior high school, visits the high school brass band club with classmates Hazuki and Sapphire. There, she comes across Reina, her former classmate from junior high. Hazuki and Sapphire decide to join the club, but Kumiko can’t make up her mind. She recollects her experience with Reina at a competition in junior high school.



Tags: Band , School Club , Female Protagonist , Coming of Age , Classical Music , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Primarily Female Cast , Ensemble Cast , Yuri , Unrequited Love , LGBTQ+ Themes , Love Triangle

Hibike! Euphonium 2

Also known as Sound! Euphonium 2.

Studio: Kyoto Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Slice of Life

With another tournament fast approaching, Kumiko's band is doubling down on practice and discipline, leaving little time for sleep or other recreational activities. The redoubled practice schedule brings Kumiko and Reina closer together, but elsewhere in the band, it seems like drama threatens to tear the group's unity apart. The ghost of the prior year's mass band exodus still haunts many of Kumiko's classmates, and with former band member Nozomi Kasaki now asking to return, it seems like the grudges of the past will soon be impossible to ignore.



Note: The first episode aired with a runtime of ~48 minutes as opposed to the standard 24 minute long episode.

Tags: Band , Coming of Age , School Club , Female Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , School , Primarily Female Cast , Classical Music , Ensemble Cast , Unrequited Love , Family Life , Yuri , LGBTQ+ Themes , Kuudere , Age Gap

Liz to Aoi Tori

Also known as Liz and the Blue Bird.

Studio: Kyoto Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Slice of Life

Students and best friends Mizore Yoroizuka and Nozomi Kasaki prepare to play a complex musical duet, Liz and the Blue Bird, for oboe and flute. Though they play beautifully together and have been friends since childhood, Mizore and Nozomi find that with graduation looming and the duet proving difficult, their friendship begins to buckle under the pressure. Interspersed with their story is the fantasy tale of Liz, drawn like a storybook, contrasting with the crisp realism of the school.



Tags: Coming of Age , Female Protagonist , Band , Primarily Female Cast , Fairy Tale , Classical Music , Unrequited Love , Yuri , Primarily Teen Cast , School Club , School , LGBTQ+ Themes

Honzuki no Gekokujou: Shisho ni Naru Tame ni wa Shudan wo Erandeiraremasen 2nd Season

Also known as Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 2.

Studio: Ajiado
Status: Finished
Genres: Fantasy , Slice of Life

Anime adaptation of Part 2 (Volume 1 & 2) of Honzuki no Gekokujou.

When Myne learns that the temple is in need of mana for their relics, she sees it as her chance to be cured of her life-threatening mana disorder. After seeing their bountiful library, she throws herself headfirst into the temple's grasp and begs to join their order. In exchange for her service and her unusually bountiful supply of mana, Myne is given the blue robes of a noble-born apprentice shrine maiden, despite being a commoner. To Myne, all this talk of mana and nobility is trivial, as she now has access to an unlimited supply of books!
As Myne transitions into the next phase of her life in this new world, she soon learns that achieving her dream has come at a heavy cost. Noble society is severe, unforgiving, and fueled by politics and neglect. She must now deal with the class conflict between the noble-born blue robes and the common-born grey robes, the High Bishop's attempts to oust her, and constant behavioral issues from her new retainers. With the help of her family, friends, and the enigmatic High Priest whose loyalties and motives remain unknown, Myne seeks to overcome these obstacles and continue on the path to becoming her ideal self—the ultimate librarian!



Tags: Isekai , Reincarnation , Class Struggle , Female Protagonist , Work , Medieval , Economics , Magic , Found Family , Historical , Age Regression , Religion , Writing , Orphan , Chibi , Josei , Pregnancy , Classical Music , Time Skip

Nodame Cantabile

Studio: J.C.STAFF
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

Shinichi Chiaki is a first class musician whose dream is to play among the elites in Europe. Coming from a distinguished family, he is an infamous perfectionist; not only is he highly critical of himself, but of others as well. The only thing stopping Chiaki from leaving for Europe is his fear of flying. As a result, he's grounded in Japan.

During his 4th year at Japan's top music university, Chiaki happens to meet Noda Megumi; or as she refers to herself, Nodame. On the surface, she seems to be an unkempt girl with no direction in life. However, when Chiaki hears Nodame play the piano for the first time, he is in awe at the kind of music she plays. To Chiaki's dismay, Nodame moves into the apartment next to his and finds out that she is head over heels in love with him.

Nodame Cantabile tells the story of Chiaki and Nodame, as they not only learn to deal with each other, but learn lessons from one another as they strive for the top of the musical world.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Tags: Primarily Adult Cast , Josei , Classical Music , College , Male Protagonist , Heterosexual , Female Protagonist , Band , Slapstick , CGI , Tsundere

Piano no Mori (TV)

Also known as Forest of Piano.

Studio: Gaina
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music

A tranquil tale about two boys from very different upbringings. On one hand you have Kai, born as the son of a prostitute, who's been playing the abandoned piano in the forest near his home ever since he was young. And on the other you have Shuuhei, practically breast-fed by the piano as the son of a family of prestigious pianists. Yet it is their common bond with the piano that eventually intertwines their paths in life.



Tags: Coming of Age , Philosophy , Time Skip , Outdoor Activities , Teacher , Classical Music , Male Protagonist , Educational , Foreign , Urban , Bar , Primarily Male Cast , Seinen , Bullying , CGI , Crossdressing

Hibike! Euphonium: Chikai no Finale

Also known as Sound! Euphonium: The Movie - Our Promise: A Brand New Day.

Studio: Kyoto Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Slice of Life

The next piece begins! Kumiko is now in her second year at Kitauji High School, and with a new year comes new problems. As if making it to Nationals wasn't hard enough, Kumiko is tasked with mentoring the concert band's troublesome first years – each with their own distinct personality and problems to solve. With Kumiko busy juggling both the concert band and her new role as senpai, how does her relationship with Shuuichi fit into the picture?



Tags: Coming of Age , Band , School Club , Female Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Ensemble Cast , Heterosexual , Classical Music

Hibike! Euphonium 3

Also known as Sound! Euphonium 3.

Studio: Kyoto Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Slice of Life

The third season of Hibike! Euphonium.

Kumiko's third year finally begins! With the concert band at Kitauji High School over 90 members, Kumiko is now the president and does her best with her final high school club activities to try to win her long-desired gold at nationals.



Tags: Female Protagonist , Band , School Club , Coming of Age , Classical Music , Primarily Female Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Heterosexual , School , Yuri , Time Skip , Bisexual , LGBTQ+ Themes

Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso: MOMENTS

Also known as Your lie in April: Moments.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Music , Slice of Life

OVA bundled with the 11th Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso manga volume.

The OVA focuses on Kousei, Emi and Takeshi when they were younger, showing their troubles during their competitions and the beginning of their rivalry.



Tags: Primarily Child Cast , Musical Theater , Classical Music , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist

ef: a tale of melodies.

Also known as ef ~ A Tale of Melodies.

Studio: Shaft
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Psychological , Romance , Supernatural

In a story set years in the past, Himura Yuu is a studious and diligent young man intent solely on maintaining his top academic position at Otowa Academy. One day, he meets a mysterious girl named Amamiya Yuuko, who, to his surprise, recognizes him. Memories of a distant childhood, memories rather left forgotten...meeting Yuuko again will force Yuu to confront the regrets and sorrows of their collective pasts and presents.

In the present, Kuze Shuuichi may seem like a womanizer, but upon closer inspection, is a man who would rather be left alone. Hayama Mizuki, however, is not the type of girl who would let him be, especially after hearing the beautiful sounds of his violin performance. As Mizuki attempts to become closer to him, Kuze attempts to push her away—the tale of their budding relationship is darkened with undertones of an imminent tragedy.

Tags: Heterosexual , Tragedy , Age Gap , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Ghost , Drawing , Primarily Female Cast , School , Classical Music , Ensemble Cast , Bullying , Foreign , Love Triangle , Nudity , Twins , School Club , Snowscape

Eiga Daisuki Pompo-san

Also known as Pompo: The Cinéphile.

Studio: CLAP
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama

The manga depicts the craft of movie-making and revolves around Joelle Davidovich "Pompo" Pomponette, a talented movie producer who looks like a little girl.

Operating out of the movie capital "Nyallywood," Pompo has been shooting one B-grade entertainment flick after another that anyone would enjoy. One day, Pompo's "movie buff" assistant Gene spots a new script written by Pompo, and is moved by its exquisite story. In a fit of passion, he proclaims, "I want to see this as a finished work in theaters as soon as possible!"

However, Pompo tells him, "So you shoot this film." Thus, Gene takes on his first directing gig. Meanwhile, Natalie, an ordinary girl who just arrived in town with movie actress dreams, has been discovered by Pompo.



Tags: Filmmaking , Work , Acting , Educational , Foreign , Primarily Adult Cast , Coming of Age , Female Protagonist , Meta , Male Protagonist , Shoujo , Writing , Classical Music

Bye Bye, Earth

Also known as Bye Bye, Earth.

Studio: LIDENFILMS
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy

Belle Lablac doesn’t really fit in as the only human being in a world full of anthropomorphic animals. No fangs, no fur, no scales, no claws. Lonely and eager to discover where she comes from, Belle journeys to find answers to the questions of her heart. Carrying nothing but her giant sword, the Runding, she faces a world of possibilities and pitfalls in hopes of discovering the truth.



Tags: Female Protagonist , Kemonomimi , Swordplay , War , Philosophy , Magic , Gods , Gore , Classical Music , Memory Manipulation , Conspiracy , Gender Bending , Heterosexual

Ao no Orchestra

Also known as Blue Orchestra.

Studio: Nippon Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music

Prodigy violinist Aono rekindles his passion for violin after meeting Ritsuko Akine, and they enroll in Umimaku High School’s orchestra club.

Tags: Band , Male Protagonist , School Club , Primarily Teen Cast , School , Classical Music , Seinen , Estranged Family , CGI , Bullying

Hibike! Euphonium: Kakedasu Monaka

Also known as Sound! Euphonium: Ready, Set, Monaka.

Studio: Kyoto Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Slice of Life

The 10 members of the concert band club who failed Taki's audition form "Team Monaka" to support the club members participating in the Kyoto Concert Band competition. Even as they support the performers, they continue to hone their playing, and make monaka-shaped good-luck charms to hand out to their club mates before the competition. Although they didn't play in the competition, they still had things they had to do. But on the day of the competition, the members on their way to the concert hall receive a shocking message! This is Team Monaka's hot summer story.



Tags: Band , School , Primarily Female Cast , Female Protagonist , Seinen , Classical Music , School Club , Ensemble Cast

Haruchika: Haruta to Chika wa Seishun Suru

Also known as Haruchika - Haruta & Chika.

Studio: P.A.WORKS
Status: Finished
Genres: Music , Mystery , Romance , Slice of Life

Things look bleak for the school’s Wind Instrument Club until childhood friends Haruta and Chika step in to save the day. When they aren’t practicing to perfect their own playing, they’re working hard to save the club by recruiting new members. After a series of mysteries shock the school, they’ll have to add junior detectives to their already impressive resumes.



Tags: School , Band , Love Triangle , School Club , Musical Theater , Bisexual , Detective , LGBTQ+ Themes , Classical Music

Nodame Cantabile Finale

Studio: J.C.STAFF
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Music , Romance

The series continues the relationship between two aspiring classical musicians, Megumi "Nodame" Noda and Shinichi Chiaki, as students and after graduation.

Tags: Josei , Primarily Adult Cast , Classical Music , Male Protagonist , Band , College , Work , Female Protagonist , Heterosexual , Foreign , Coming of Age

Nodame Cantabile: Paris-hen

Studio: J.C.STAFF
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

Having been given the opportunity to study in Paris, Noda accompanies Chiaki to Europe as he strives to become the accomplished conductor he always dreamt to be.



Tags: Josei , College , Female Protagonist , Classical Music , Foreign , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , Male Protagonist , Band , Slapstick

Tokubetsu-hen Hibike! Euphonium: Ensemble Contest

Studio: Kyoto Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Slice of Life

Along with the summer brass band competition, the ensemble contest, commonly known as "Ancon," is a place where exciting performances are held. The performance of several people in one group has a charm different from that of a competition.

In order to participate in the Kyoto prefectural tournament of Ancon, a representative team is selected in the school's preliminary round. However, with over 50 members, the Kitauji High School brass band is facing a variety of problems! Will Kumiko, the newly appointed head of the club, be able to make it through the preliminary rounds?

The days of struggle begin.



Tags: Female Protagonist , Band , School , School Club , Primarily Female Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Classical Music , Ensemble Cast , Coming of Age