Japanese Already Prefer Animes Like Bocchi The Rock!

For the third year in a row, a girl band anime has taken first place in the annual polls of 5channel, one of the largest forums in Japan. In 2024, “Girls Band Cry” was crowned the best anime of the year, following in the footsteps of “Bocchi the Rock!” in 2022 and “BanG Dream! It’s MyGO!!!!!” in 2023. This trend not only highlights the popularity of music-centered stories, but also the growing interest in stories that combine emotion, personal growth, and artistic passion.

“Girls Band Cry” tells the story of Nina Iseri, a 17-year-old girl searching for her purpose in life while facing personal and social challenges. After an unfortunate first day in Tokyo, his life takes a turn when he meets Momoka Kawaragi, one of his favorite guitarists. Together they decide to form a band, recruiting other talented young women: Subaru Awa (drummer), Tomo Ebizuka (keyboardist) and Rupa (bassist). Through their music, the five girls face the difficulties of the industry and their own insecurities, but their passion for music allows them to overcome any obstacle.

The series has been acclaimed for its emotional approach and realistic depiction of the challenges of youth. In particular, episode 8 has received praise from fans, who highlighted the performance of the debut voice actress who plays Nina, noting that her performance could be worthy of a new talent award.

The victory of “Girls Band Cry” in the 5channel polls reinforces a clear trend: animes centered on girl bands have captured the hearts of the public in recent years. Comments on the forums highlight that these anime manage to balance themes of nostalgia, self-improvement, and camaraderie, elements that resonate deeply with viewers.

«They are very good, it can't be helped. There are also several girl band animes this year, so a fourth year in a row is possible».
«They have just the right amount of youthful complexes without falling into excessive drama. If they included boys, they would probably lose their charm».
«It's a shame that the rankings are so controversial, but there's no denying that these girl band animes are exciting and strike a chord.».
«Girl band animes are the best thing that ever happened to us. Every year there is one that surpasses the previous one. It's exciting to see how these stories and characters evolve.».
«I don't know if girl band animes are really that good or if the rest of the animes just aren't up to par. But I admit that 'Girls Band Cry' deserves first place this year».
«Bocchi the Rock! created a fan base that now continues to look for those kinds of emotions in every girl band anime. It seems that the production companies are capitalizing well on that formula».
«Is it a coincidence that they are girl animes? If they changed the characters to boys, would it still be as popular? I think they would miss something special».
«I don't know if I would vote for 'Girls Band Cry' as the best anime of the year, but it is clear that these types of stories have something special. The 5channel ranking is always controversial, but this time I agree with the winner».
«I'm already waiting for the next girl band anime. It's like an annual ritual since Bocchi the Rock came out!».
«I think these animes work because they achieve a balance between emotions and music. It's something we can all relate to our youth.».