Girls Band Cry

It’s no exaggeration to say the Spring 2024 anime season changed my life. Girls Band Cry was a big part of that. One of the best band anime I’ve ever seen, full of life lessons and encouraging me to continue pursuing my dreams, no matter how difficult the road is. For me, this is what people thought Bocchi the Rock was. A simple yet poignant story about a group of girls struggling with personal issues stepping outside of their comfort zones and coming together to form a band and chase their dreams, even as the world doubts them. And in the process learning more about ... themselves than ever before and growing into better people. That’s selling it a bit short though. GBC is also a really ambitious multimedia project that uses groundbreaking 3D animation and brought together a group of talented newcomer seiyuu to form a band in real life who make amazing music too. This was truly the experience of a lifetime and it’s absolutely criminal that more people didn’t get to watch it due to licensing issues.

I was very hesitant to watch GBC because of my aversion to 3D animation, but after being convinced by some friends I watched the first few episodes about halfway into the season and was blown away by the quality of both the story and anime. Nina, Momoka and the other girls just gave off such a sense of authenticity and it felt like I was watching real girls transition into the next phase of their lives. The angst, the drama, the insecurities, doubts, they just hit in a way that few shows in the medium can. I think that’s due in no small part to the amazing 3D animation used in this.
Normally I’d separate the technical aspects of an anime into a separate category, but in the case of GBC, I’m keeping them together because of how the animation style allows for a more expressive style of storytelling. The 3D animation in GBC looks amazing thanks in large part to the frame rate. If you’ve seen other 3D anime I.e Beastars or Bocchan, you’ll notice that while the 3D art may look cool, there’s a stiffness to the characters that reminds you it’s 3D or takes you out of the immersion. That’s usually due to the framerate being capped too low. What the production staff did GBC realised is that by making the frame-rate higher, it creates a smoother animation that feels almost lifelike. So when characters have disagreements, or breakdown in tears, which happens a lot in GBC, we as the audience are able to feel that with a weight that you can’t normally feel in anime. It basically mixes that cute girl anime aesthetic with the body language of real life actors and it does have a big impact on the story. It’s already a very grounded story that a lot of people will be able to empathise with, but when you combine that with the visuals and the raw emotion the seiyuu are able to bring.. that’s when you get something special.

If it seems like there’s similarities in my descriptions of GBC and Yorukura, also from this season, it’s because well.. they’re pretty damn similar and address a lot of the same themes. The main difference being GBC is a rock band and Yorukura is about the girls forming a multimedia collective. Same concept applies, Yuri undertones with girls from drastically different walks of life meeting by chance and realising how much they have in common, forming a band, MC having a crush on the older member whose work motivated them in the past, etc. When listing everything out, it’s actually wild how similar both were, but that’s not an issue. They’re both great and I’d respect any order with the two of them. I think GBC has better music since A: I’m a massive J-rock stan and B: the girls who became the seiyuu for the characters were actually brought in to form a band first, and an anime second. But I liked Yorukura’s story better. I’m just glad we got blessed with both of these in the same season!

From a technical perspective as I’ve said GBC looks amazing. The uncapped framerates are a big reason, but the use of shadow and lighting also makes the show look better than most seasonal 3D anime. You can tell the entire project was planned meticulously and even backgrounds and minor details were designed with the 3D in mind. This makes for a much better looking show than normal. The musical performances especially were just mind blowing. The level of fluidity and emotion that the studio were able to pull off.. I have no words, especially the last few eps. I touched on it earlier but the seiyuu as well are a big part of this. Them being new to voice acting means there’s a level of rawness and sincerity in their voices that you don’t get with career seiyuu. It makes angsty characters like Nina and Momoka even better and you can’t help but get emotional during a lot of their scenes.

Overall GBC was one of the best anime of the season, and while I’m taking Yorukura over it as AOTS, I’m totally fine with someone doing the opposite. The story was full of emotional twists and turns, the drama was well done, there were the Yuri undertone, the music, performances.. it had it all. Most importantly though, it reminded me that it’s not about how many times you fail when chasing your dreams, only about how many times you get up and keep rocking.

Girls Band Cry gets a very easy 10, out of 10.

If you're wondering if GaruKura is worth the watch, it is! If you're asking yourself if you should watch this or the other Idol anime airing right now, the answer is watch both!

The animation is extremely good even if you dislike CGI, the characters are realistic enough that it's easy to relate to them, the music is great, there really isn't any reason for not watching this show.

There's an on-going issue right now with the subtitles being of a pretty low quality but once someone picks this anime up for translation please try to give it a watch and don't let it go under the ... radar, you wont regret it!

For the contrast with another review here: This girls are toxic and utterly insane. I absolutely love them. A masterpiece of a dysfunctional group dynamic that drives the show making you crave for the next episode. The fights and bounding are the spirit of it.

For the animation, I got to say that is one of the best I have ever seen. The studio was able to make the CGI not a negative, but a positive for it, and I couldn't enjoy it more in any other way.

And the music, it rocks. The hype makes me spin in my chair.

Girls Band Cry is one of the most grippingly realistic anime I've seen in a long time, and I don't mean that visually. What I mean is that this anime can and will make you feel things. It's quite similar to BanG Dream MyGo in its style of drama, with a dash of Love Live's presentation (many of the staff worked on Sunshine) and a heap of Bocchi the Rock's charm and relatability, all without outright ripping off any of them. Each character is extremely relatable, and the writer pulls off a cool trick by making them quite flawed people emotionally-speaking, but ... not doing so in a way that's infuriating. The main character in particular, Nina, is one who I think a lot of people would find annoying on first glance, but I honestly find her incredibly endearing, and this is coming from someone who is very much her opposite in personality. The anime also does a masterful job of playing all the characters off each other - they all have wonderful chemistry, and if shipping is your thing you'll undoubtedly have a field day here. The plot itself, while perhaps a bit cliché as it's the tried and tested story of forming a band, is well-crafted and enhances everything around it very well. It manages to take a cast of flawed characters and create an optimistic story about communication and growth.

The vast majority of potential viewers who took one look at the 3DCG visuals and immediately left didn't do so without good reason. The stigma against these visuals is quite well-earned and is accurate in most cases. Ironically enough for a style that is often considered more realistic in, say, video game contexts, 3DCG models often look embarrassingly unconvincing and frankly just bad in the vast, vast majority of anime that use them.

Thankfully, Girls Band Cry looks nothing short of fantastic. The characters are all wonderfully expressive in ways a viewer would expect from 2D animation. For example, facial expressions are ordinarily quite stilted in 3d shows in a way that just doesn't feel right. Whereas in Girls Band Cry, each face is created to perfectly fit whatever the character is experiencing, the end result being an anime that delivers on an extremely memorable experience, oftentimes with character's expressions rapidly shifting through them in a wonderfully convincing way in some shots. Now imagine the care shown to the faces being given to the visuals as a whole, and you can begin to understand why I say that the visuals are genuinely one of the best parts of Girls Band Cry. Yes, they are actually *that* good.

Visuals are only part of the presentation, of course, particularly for a music anime. Thankfully, the music is all great, too. This is the kind of music that, while it initially seems good but unremarkable, you'll want to listen to more and more each time you hear the song. It's very, very good, and it's dominated my playlists these past 2 weeks.

You may have noticed that you don't recognize any of the voice actors. That's by design. When production started way back in 2021, Toei scouted five musicians, one for each band member. These musicians are the ones actually performing the music, and none of them have ever voice acted professionally before this. Despite this, the voice acting itself is quite well done, and if you've already seen the show you probably haven't even noticed this if you weren't already aware. It's honestly an impressive bit of directing, and I think it adds a bit of charm and homeliness to the show. Particularly impressive is Nina's VA, who is just 16 at the time of airing, quite similar to her own character's age.

Girls Band Cry is overall one of the most unique yet still good experiences I've had in anime, even just 4 episodes in. Honestly, all the dismissals I've seen of it as a ripoff of something else are closer to compliments than I think these same detractors think - this show really is on par with the excellent shows it's being compared to! It's a shame many won't give it a chance due to the lack of localization, unless or until it blows up like I think (hope) it will. In the meantime, you'll need to get a bit creative to see this one in most parts of the world until localization reaches you, but it's definitely well worth it.

Girls Band Cry is about staying true to yourself, not letting others get you down or hold you back, and the sense of freedom that comes from expressing yourself. It's far from the first anime to have these themes, but it sets itself apart from other similar shows with a display of raw, visceral emotion and passion, a unique cast of characters, and a very grounded approach. Girls Band Cry is about a group of flawed individuals stumbling into a band, and isn't afraid to show the reality of how messy and difficult human interactions can be.

The character drama is incredibly raw, the band butt ... heads, argue, fight, scream, cry, make up, and go on. Girls Band Cry isn't afraid to show characters be rough and insensitive, it never tries to portray the characters as perfect, right, or anything other than human. The MC in particular is masterfully written - she's a shy, insecure teenager out on her own, and she gets no pity from the show. She's an angry, wounded animal, she lashes out at others, she lashes out at herself, she lashes out at the world, and is often doing so unfairly, to the detriment of both her and everyone around her. Through her, the themes of the show take on a different color.

It's about staying true to yourself, and not letting others get you down or hold you back, but not due to some lofty dreams or high ambitions but as a pure, unbridled show of spite to everyone who's wronged you. It's about the sense of freedom that comes from expressing yourself, and the incredible catharsis that comes from understanding yourself and flaunting your flaws to the world. It's about flipping off the world and saying "I'm right, you're wrong, and you can't hurt me anymore".

The anime is mostly CGI, with 2D for backgrounds and background characters. The animation is incredibly expressive at times, especially during the performances, but often also during normal character interactions. The worst of it still ends up looking pretty great, though it's not always very exciting. The VAs for the main cast are all rookies in both voice acting and music, they were put together in a band specifically for this anime. You can definitely feel they're rookies at times, but it feeds into the setting very well.

At the time of writing this, the anime is not licensed in the West, something that feels genuinely criminal for the insane quality of the show. Do yourself a favor and find a way to watch it, and make sure you don't stumble on a machine translated sub.

When I first caught wind of the Girls Band Cry project in the early months of 2023, it was around the same time the well-deserved love for fellow band anime Bocchi The Rock was going strong, so I've been looking forward to the release of this anime for a while. Now, I'll admit some of my excitement for Girls Band Cry dwindled when I discovered it would be CGI as opposed to 2D animation, and even putting that aside, I didn't really have any high expectations that this anime would blow me away in regards to its plot or the story it wanted to tell.

I ... couldn't be happier to be dead wrong on both fronts.

The CGI used for this anime is really top-notch, and I honestly can't imagine Girls Band Cry being Girls Band Cry anymore without its use. From the body language to the character expressions, the team at Toei Animation brought each of the members of Togenashi Togeari to life, so to any of those hesitant to pick this anime up for those reasons, I implore you to give it a chance. It may not be Houseki no Kuni Studio Orange levels of perfection, but it doesn't have to be.

As for the narrative, I should know better than to question the writing of legendary screenwriter Jukki Hanada, because he truly delivered on a emotional, inspiring story with rich, complex characters for an anime that didn't need either. The main crux of band/music anime is the music, duh, and Togenashi Togeari's discography has that requirement checked off with ease. That leaves the rest of the anime runtime to the plot, character interactions, and an overarching story/message that it wishes to tell the audience. I won't spoil any plot points or go into detail about each character, especially the protagonist Nina, but please take my word that Girls Band Cry has so far presented the most realistic depiction of youth, both its highest peaks and its deepest valleys, that I have seen an anime tackle in years. For those still on the fence on this anime or initially dropped it because of the horrendous subs that came out for the first few episodes, I strongly recommend you watch Girls Band Cry with the appropriate subtitles (either NakayubiSubs or SobsPlease). Every word of dialogue spoken between the characters and information revealed across the show ALL comes together, so do yourself a favor and watch this show right.

Even with three episodes still remaining as of the writing of this review, Girls Band Cry has already solidified a place in my heart as one of the best pieces of media I've had the opportunity to experience in real time. Please give it a chance if you haven't, or another chance if you felt it didn't speak to you initially. You have nothing to lose.

From the moment I started watching this anime, I was completely mesmerized by the animation. It scratches a special place in my brain that I didn't even know existed. The art style is absolutely breathtaking, and while I can totally see how some people who enjoy anime may not like this type of animation, I absolutely love it. There's something incredibly immersive about it that makes me feel like I'm being teleported to another world every time I watch an episode.

I'm extremely excited about the story, which is a feeling I haven't had in a while with an anime. It's oddly giving me Nana vibes, ... reminiscent of the emotional depth and character-driven storytelling that Nana delivered so beautifully. The characters are complex, and the plot has a captivating blend of drama and intrigue that keeps me on the edge. Recommend!!

Overall, this anime has quickly become one of my favorites this season. I can't wait to see how the story unfolds and where the characters' journeys will take them. If you're looking for something with a unique visual flair and a gripping narrative, I highly recommend giving this one a try!

Backed into a corner, the ropes cold against his back and every muscle burning, a boxer has no choice but to fight. He's down, but certainly not out. One of the underdogs of 2024's anime season, 'Girls Band Cry' is a story about a similar battle that hits every emotional weak point throughout its duration. It's a battle to prove your worth, and Nina Iseri has surprised us all by not admitting defeat, even in the fourth quarter.

'Girls Band Cry' is a show coming out of left field. Off the first episode alone, you're blown off your feet, instantly hooked on Nina's character and invested ... in her relationship to Momoka. It's a wonderful starting point that highlights all of this show's strong points: Beautiful 3D animation that's enhanced by the visuals accompanying it, strong character focused writing, and the spirit of rock. Each and every subsequent episode pushes these to their limits and beyond, highlighting feelings of truth to yourself and strength with others along with new, interesting plotlines to follow. It's almost hard to find the words to describe how almost nobody saw the popularity of this show coming. There are so many risks being taken here that have all paid off with larger returns than anything else this season. What started off with a response of 'What's that?' has now become 'I love that show', 'It's beautiful', and 'It saved me'. That's the mark of something special. This is absolutely the fault of 'Girls Band Cry' and its mass appeal. A story about a girl moving to a new city and starting college is something that almost everyone can see themselves reflected in. Many friends of mine, even those who I'd never expect to watch something like this, have told me that it's a new favorite, and it's clear as to why. Seeing the fans grow with this show was almost an experience in and of itself, each week seeing more acquaintances become invested in the wonderful world created by Kazuo Sakai and Jukki Hanada. It's safe to say they've outdone themselves here (Hanada-sama especially), as expected. We get such a new focus here on a cast and story that evolves what's become the norm for so long, tearing down many cliches of the genre it's apart of while elevating others to new heights. Momoka's struggles especially echo the typical anime band girl and yet manage to be so real and human which makes her character so delicious to dig your teeth into.

For as much praise as this show could be showered in for all of time, there are some faults of the story worth mentioning. Some of these will likely be fixed in a subsequent season, but rating this show on its own is a must. The first, most glaring issue is the lack of a dedicated episode to flesh out Rupa. While a more pretentious me would say 'Rupa's character benefits from having most of her story shrouded in mystery', even the show's writers have come out and said they wish they could have done more with her. She's got a lot of moments scattered throughout the show that are amazing, but nothing that you can point to and say 'this was her moment' as the other characters do. Much of the show's writing depends on what you get out of Nina as a character, and for those who struggle to stomach her completely this might put them off. How you'd manage to hate Nina is beyond me, but.. people always manage to surprise. Finally, (mild spoiler warning) there's a few scenes that have describe suicidal ideation which are quite heavy in their emotional scale, so for viewers sensitive to this it's worth making you aware.

Nina Iseri and Momoka Kawaragi's bond is something truly special. It's the northern lights above a moonlit sky, the sun setting at dusk; something you only get to observe once. Our main characters are bound by the fates of their lives, many strings pulling them each in different directions, yet always ending up in the same spot. I can't recommend this show enough. Watch it with your friends, watch it alone, watch with everyone you know. You'll understand that these thirteen episodes go by faster than you could ever imagine, and by the end, you'll understand that 'Girls Band Cry' is a show that will move you like no other, throwing in all the anger, joy, and sadness of life. Perfect for anyone, it will teach you to never back down, to fight for what's right, and most importantly, it'll teach you to take all the obstacles in your life and flip 'em off. It's perfection.

I say that the reason some people shy away from this anime after the first episode is exactly the reason I watch the show. This show is filled with passion, emotions and all of the other youthful stuff, that makes it extremely cringe when I see either myself or some of my friends (or even family) in these characters. Once I understand the fact that it's cringe because it's literally me looking at my past self, boy did the show become good.
I can't say for sure if I love the show because it resonated with me, or because the show is just that good ... at conveying emotions to its viewers.
I really want do make a full analysis like those I often see on this site, but alas I do not have the time to think that deep. I can only say that I love this show for all the emotions it is shouting out into the world, just like a rock band, so naive and true and relatable.

"Girls Band Cry" is a phenomenal series that I can't recommend highly enough. From the first episode, I was hooked. It’s one of those rare shows that hits every note perfectly, both in terms of storytelling and music.

Story: 10/10

The plot is engaging and beautifully told. It’s not just about a band trying to make it big; it dives deep into the personal lives and struggles of each member. The way the series balances their individual stories with the overarching journey of the band is masterful. Every episode is a blend of drama, hope, and inspiration that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I ... cried every episode lol.

Animation: 10/10

Even though it's CGI, the animation is stunning. The concert scenes are particularly impressive, capturing the energy and excitement of live performances. Also, the character expressions are so good. They feel so lively.

Sound: 10/10

Given that it's an anime about a band, the music had to be good—and it absolutely delivers. The original songs are catchy and meaningful, adding depth to the story and the characters' journeys. The voice acting is also top-notch (even though it's their first Voice Acting!), with each actor perfectly capturing the emotions and nuances of their character.

Enjoyment: 10/10

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of "Girls Band Cry." It’s a rollercoaster of emotions that made me laugh, cry, and cheer. The perfect mix of drama, music, and heartfelt moments makes it a standout series. It’s a show that stays with you long after the final episode.

In summary, "Girls Band Cry" is a must-watch. Its compelling story, relatable characters, stunning visuals, and incredible music make it a standout anime. If you're looking for a series that will move and inspire you, this is it. Also, if you love BTR, this is for you ;)))))

This anime seems to be in a sweet spot between the big comedy of Bocchi the Rock and the big drama of MyGO!!!, both great shows focused on 'Cute Girls Doing Music Things'. Girls on Girls Band Cry has grounded backgrounds and issues that are realistic, and the chemistry between the three of them we've seen so far is very good. The music, as important as it is for a show like this, delivers great J-rock songs. Series composition is in charge of Jukki Hanada, man behind this role on series like Steins;Gate and A place further than Universe, so it seems that this anime ... is in good hands.

Since this is a music-based anime, the music of Togenashi Togeari (the band that the girls are forming) is powerful J-rock. If you are a fan of the genre, you'll be pleased to know that the band has already released 10 very good songs before the anime starts. The opening (which visuals start with great 2D versions of the cast leading to the 3D versions) and the ending are performed by the band as well. Regarding the voice cast, all the actresses are new, and this is especially noticeable in Subaru's voice, but it makes the character's conversations more realistic and "normal". As a curiosity, the voice actresses are the actual members of the band Togenashi Togeari, who play their instruments live, like some Bang Dream bands do.

The CGI in the show is well executed. Despite some minor details (for example, the texture of Momoka's cat is a bit weird), the show fully embraces the medium and uses it creatively, especially in the two performances shown. The facial expressions of the main cast are very expressive, giving a good amount of movement to the mouth and adding little movements to the characters that seem to move like real people. This may seem a little strange to some people, and the whole CGI aesthetic might alienate some others, but you have to give it a chance. It's not just acceptable CGI; it's actually good CGI and good animation.

One of the big problems of the show is that it is not available legally at the moment in the West, so the subtitles are an issue, and not being licensed on any major platform may cause the show to go under the radar of many people. This has the potential to be one of the best musical shows of the year, and it deserves to be seen.

If you are hesitant because this is a 3D anime… All i have to say is that the animation of expressions in Girls Band Cry is amazing, and it doesn’t look off at all. If you are looking for an anime where the characters actually have expressions and the anime has both comedy and angst, GBC is a must watch.

Second thing I have to say is that the music in GBC is amazing. Togenashi Togeari (band name) also has more songs released from before the anime aired so they actually have plenty of songs released (GBC is a whole project that began a few years ... back).

In conclusion, I came to watch the anime, and stayed for the gremlin faces the characters make every episode… and the music too I guess…jk

I'd recommend giving it a watch if you enjoy Jellyfish Can’t Swim in The Night as well.

This is the first anime I’ve seen that was able to push the medium of animation forward in so long. It’s unbelievable how groundbreaking and innovative it is for not only the girl band sub-genre of anime, but slice of life/drama anime as a whole. Toei animation is a long running legendary studio and boy they showed their experience here.

Probably the biggest thing being the 3D animation and expressive character animation and facial expressions. THIS, I LIVE FOR THIS.IT FUELS MY SOUL. THIS is the biggest thing that makes girls band cry special. It’s so UNBELIVEBLED detailed. It makes every scene feel so real ... and alive. And how each character is animated synergies and reflects each character unique personality so perfectly.
The characters man….THEY ARE ALL SO GOATED I LOVE THEM ALLLL. Nina is just the best silly chaotic and naïve gremlin but she grows a lot and learns a lot from everyone else in the band. She’s just so Nina and I love it. Momoka is just the best. I honestly can’t even put to words how incredible she is. She struggles to express her true feelings and seeing her overcome is just incredible. She can be cute and cool and vulnerable and I love every side of her. Then when Nina and Momoka are TOGETHER, ohhh my GOODD MAGIICCCCC. Possibly my favorite thing about this series is the character drama cause IT’S SOO FREAKING GOOD. Nina and Momoka’s fights are THE PINNACLE of that. I love when characters have friction and disagree with each at first so when they do get along more later it feels earned. Also my god, a lot of the time I was like “damn they REALLY like each other” and “they kind of of fight like their married” but at the same time I was like “It’s probably nothing I’m sure they aren’t a thing (they’re just roommates type energy)”. Then they dropped the motherload and I was FLABBERGASTED where they went with that. Anyhoo, I ship them and love them. Subaru is also incredible, acting as the glue that holds the band together and she’s so cute and perceptive. Tomo and Rupa are also such a great duo and I love how emotionally supportive Rupa is for Tomo, they’re just so wholesome together. Also everyone’s fashion and drip is SO FREAKING GOOD AAAAAA. Momoka in red flannel makes my neurons fire like crazy.

The performances are also nothing I’ve ever seen before in anime. Hands down the best animated music performances I’ve ever seen. The energy is just SO RAW AND HYPE. You can FEEL the passion in the air and be injected into your eyeballs. The music is also really good too. It’s seriously next level stuff.

Another thing I liked is how realistic things are (relatively). It provides some nice insight on the harsh reality of how tough the music world is and I really like that.

I could talk for days, but the amount of dopamine this show has given me is absurd. It actually takes me like 1-1.5 hours to watch a single episode cause I keep rewinding to pay attention to every small detail. It's also super funny and has so many great comedic bits. You tell that the team at Toei really just poured their heart and soul into this entire series. My favorite slice of life anime of all time easily and obviously the best band/music anime I’ve seen. I’m telling y'all, k-on crawled so Bochi could walk so Girls Band Cry could sprint so fast it can travel on water.

Synopsis:
Iseri Nina, 17, faces difficulties moving to Tokyo alone, but finds an opportunity when she meets her favorite guitarist, Momoka Kawaragi. Together, they form a band with three other girls, facing challenges in music and their personal lives. United by their passion for music, they persevere in pursuit of their dreams.

Review:

Plot / Narrative: 8.4/10
Girls Band Cry stands out from the beginning with an engaging approach to the musical universe. The story keeps the viewer's interest, skillfully using flashbacks to explore past events without being boring or uninteresting. The central idea of the plot is well-executed, showing care in its construction, demonstrating originality and cohesion from ... start to finish. The narrative goes beyond music and cute girls playing; it has enough depth to keep the audience interested in the personal dramas and challenges faced by the characters.

Characters Charisma / Development: 8.5/10
The anime features characters with varied personalities, with the two most iconic being Nina and Momoka. Nina has an explosive temperament and is extremely honest, making her a very authentic character with great depth in her personality construction. Momoka is also excellently developed, with dreams and frustrations. Being slightly older than Nina, she has a more mature and serious tone in her choices and actions and is also calmer. The anime masterfully executes their personalities in interaction, with moments of misunderstandings, fights, and differences in ideals and future perspectives, adding layers of depth to the work and weight to the dramatic scenes. The other band members also have space for development, with their thoughts, ideals, and motivations explored well despite having less screen time. The anime leaves a comforting feeling, knowing they weren't forgotten.

Art (Character Design, Settings, and Animation): 8.6/10
The animation is entirely done in CGI, which might seem strange to viewers not fond of this style, but it's something one can get used to easily. From a technical standpoint, the CGI is high quality. Though it doesn't reach the level of major Western productions, it offers top-notch animation within the standards of Eastern productions, which have lower costs. The anime features beautiful settings, fluidity, and great character design!

Soundtrack / Audio: 8.9/10
The anime has a very immersive and innovative soundtrack, using the piano but mainly guitar tracks. It hits the mark in climax moments, fitting the OSTs well and amplifying and absorbing the viewer's emotions. The strongest point of the soundtrack is the high quality of the fictional band's songs played in several episodes, likely winning over many viewers with its top-notch Opening and Ending, along with other inserts in presentation episodes. The anime excels in the sound department and offers an extremely gratifying auditory experience.

Themes: 8.4/10
The work addresses themes such as the importance of not giving up on dreams and the need to make sacrifices to achieve them. It highlights the search for identity, perseverance in the face of adversity and challenges, the value of friendship, and music as a form of expression, inspiration, and personality building.

Script/Storyboard and Direction: 8.7/10
The script and storyboard of the anime are excellent, without leaving major gaps in the plot or character construction. The anime incorporates comedy elements with excellent timing, balancing tense and comedic moments just right. In presentation moments, the direction does a great job, exuding fluidity and originality, using special effects, camera spins, and intelligent transitions. The direction also shines with expressive framing in dramatic scenes, capturing the essence and conveying the right emotion skillfully, making great use of the soundtrack to give scenes the proper weight. The only downside might be for viewers more familiar with music, who may notice small flaws in musical representation compared to reality. However, these details are only noticeable to a minority and do not diminish the brilliance of the work, as the high sound quality almost completely overshadows these minor details.

Strengths and Weaknesses:

Strengths

1: Character Development: Girls Band Cry features well-built personalities and deep interactions with ample development.

2: Soundtrack: High-quality songs and an immersive soundtrack, highlighting a wide range of guitar, piano, and other instruments.

Weaknesses

1: Use of CGI: The use of CGI animation may not appeal to everyone and requires some adjustment.

2: Unrealistic Representation of Musical Elements: Small flaws in the representation of musical elements may be noticed by viewers familiar with music.

Conclusion:
Girls Band Cry stands out for the depth of its characters and the quality of its soundtrack. With an engaging and well-structured narrative, it captivates the audience by exploring the challenges and personal dramas of the characters, alongside their musical journeys. Despite the use of CGI, which may not please everyone, and minor flaws in musical representation noticeable to more discerning viewers, the work maintains its brilliance and offers an emotional and gratifying experience. It is a solid recommendation for fans of musical anime with good character development, being one of the best surprises of the spring 2024 season!

Final Score: 8.6/10

The 'girls making music' genre has been getting pretty saturated, and going in I felt like it wouldn't have anything new to add. I was surprised, however, to find an incredible Anime with massive depth, maturity and jaw-dropping visuals.

Writing 9/10: (very mild spoilers, no plot details)
There is genuinely intriguing and intricate character drama going on in this show, including lovable and hateable characters that struggle like real people. I see a lot of talk about how annoying the characters can be, especially the lead Nina, but I actually found this to be a breath of fresh air, and makes for a fascinating protagonist. She's a ... sheltered kid who struggles with insecurity, anger issues, and forces her ideologies onto other characters, but through this lens there is a very sobering and genuine growth. It would be one thing if the characters were annoying or troublesome without purpose, but the writing is executed with clear intent and maturity. Just in it's 13 episode runtime, it explores a lot of different themes: learning to love yourself, accepting change, rejecting cowardice, revenge, parental roles, independence, creative growth, and probably a lot more I can't intelligently analyze. All of these themes are explored with maturity and fantastic character writing, something that really surprised me when getting into this show. If there is one thing I could complain about, it would be that the pacing was a bit fast over-all, and it barely scratches the surface of actually being in a band and making music. Also, the whole "rock" and "rawness" thing is a bit silly considering their sound is pretty mainstream J-rock stuff, but maybe I'm just an elitist. (its good tho)

Characters 9/10:
The two main leads, Momoka and Nina are simply captivating to follow. Momoka desires Nina's singing, and Nina desires her music, but they aren't compatible. The way they see each other defies expectation. Their relationship is a constant rollercoaster, and that push and pull is a work of art in itself. Subaru is the one character in the show I feel is truly likeable at her core, and she's simply iconic, I love her. She serves as the balance to the volatile dichotomy of the two leads, as well as the comic relief. The two characters who end up being bandmates also add an interesting dynamic to the show, although I wish they had more development. The three main girls, Nina, Momoka and Subaru, are one of my favorite casts to be put to screen in a very long time. I really want to see them continue their story; 13 episodes was not enough.

Art 9/10:
Some of the most emotive, creative, and beautiful CGI-2D hybrid art I've ever seen. It's so good it almost transcends 2D animation at some points, for me. The amount of nuance in the facial expressions, the intricate and diverse mannerisms of the characters, the slapstick comedy moments, they squeezed every last drop they could from the CGI backbone of the show and it WORKS SO WELL. There are some brief sections with just 2D art that don't look very good, but it's overshadowed by the incredible CGI character animation/dramatic direction. There is also a great use of effects, especially the visual motif of the red and black sparks coming off of Nina in certain scenes, that are incredibly memorable and emotionally effective. The directing consistently proves how much love they had for this show, it just oozes with personality and detail.

Music 8/10:
I'm very glad that the song driving the entire plot is actually a banger; I think it would have been silly if a mid song changed Nina's life and set this whole story off to begin with. I love that Nina's VA is actually doing the singing, especially since it's a driving conflict in the show. I also love the music video style insert songs throughout the Anime, great visuals and outfits. Other than that, I don't think all the music is peak or anything, but it's not bad in the slightest. The actual OST of the anime itself, not the band music, was just fine. In some parts it sounded a bit cheap or emotionally ineffective, but it never bothered me too much. Again, this anime excels in it's character drama, the music is mostly a vehicle to deliver the themes of the show.

CONCLUSION/TLDR:
This anime blew me away. It isn't a masterpiece by any means, but as a 'girls making music' anime, it's probably the best written I have ever seen. Almost no fan-service or tropes, it relies completely on the characters and the plot, which has a very unpretentious, genuine, mature quality to it. The main character, Nina, is refreshingly broken and difficult to deal with, and this dynamic leads to fantastic depth, conflict and potential growth. It has some of the most emotive and well-performed CGI I have ever seen, borderline exceeding 2D animation for some of the emotional moments.
While 'Bocchi the Rock' excels in it's music, animation and comedy, for me, I will always prefer genuine or even uncomfortable drama and complex characters over just pure fun, which this anime delivers excellently. It is an absolute shame this anime didn't get licensed, because it now has less eyes and ears to enjoy it. Even though it's gaining a strong cult following outside of Japan, I fear that it won't be enough for a second season. But I still plan to buy Blu-Rays, push for localization, and support them to show we care. Please, do the same!

tl;dr tl;dr - it is absolutely worth watching, and gets better with each episode.

9/10 - Amazing show. Use NakayubiSubs for fan-translation please! Thanks.

The MC(Nina) is a one-of-a-kind character. A high school dropout who isn't afraid to argue and shout in public, yet can be equally shy and timid. She's irrational, indignant, and volatile, but has a lot of love and commitment for those who are able to break down her walls and become close with her. Some negative reviews don't look fondly upon her hot-blooded attitude, but she is a high school girl with a lot of pent-up frustration and anger, and she acts like it. She does not fit the standard socially conscious archetype you usually expect out of a Japanese character, and that's what makes ... her such a great protagonist and singer for a rock band. She wears her heart on her sleeve and stays true to herself above all else, even if it's to her own detriment.

Girls Band Cry is a music focused anime first and foremost, and the music is phenomenal with a talented young vocalist. The voice actresses behind the main cast are in a real-life band together, so the music presented in the show has some real effort and production behind it. Even if you're not a fan of J-Rock the songs are catchy and unique enough to grab your attention.

The 3D animation used in the show is amazingly well done. The amount of effort they put in makes it obvious that the 3D was a deliberate stylistic choice, and not some cheap cost cutting measure. The characters' movement is incredibly smooth with dynamically changing facial expressions that make the characters feel very alive and expressive. They also make full use of the 3D environment with panning and zooming camera shots that are particularly impressive during the musical performances where they pull out all the stops.

Girls Band Cry is an original work with screenwriter Hanada Jukki at the helm, a man with half a dozen credited shows in the top 100 here on MAL, and many more acclaimed shows below that. While the overarching plot isn't anything wild or unpredictable, the main focus on the character drama and how they interact, grow, and change is potent and touching. There are some very humorous hi-jinks that the girls get up to when they're not fighting which will help put you at ease before the next tear-jerking moment.

The first three episodes was a pleasant surprise. It’s hard not to compare when there are two girls’ band anime in the same season; so far I enjoyed Girls Band Cry more due to its polished screenplay and vivid characters.

Ep.1, serving as an intro, was quite rushed, a bit exaggerated, and somewhat clichéd. I understand that conflict is the heart of drama, but this 24-minute episode crammed in too much! However, the merit of efficient storytelling emerged in ep.2, with a much better viewing experience. The screenplay was so developed that a short dinner scene revealed the distinct personalities of three characters naturally, including new ... character Subaru.

Undoubtedly, main character Nina was the most impressive. I saw the unique vitality of adolescence on her - strayed, naïve, hysterical, yet filled with a contagious power. Her backstory wasn’t uncommon in anime characters, but Girls Band Cry was able to convey the "volume" of her trauma, rather than glossing over it lightly. Her paranoid and sensitive personality made her a "troublesome" character, but this vulnerability was exactly what adolescence looks like. Yelling at a random stranger while flinging a lamp? That’s quite rock’n’roll for a high school dropout. She needed to vent; she needed to make her scream heard. She needed to join the band.

There are some lesser satisfactory (but not detrimental) aspects. First, 3D animation wasn’t that enjoyable - the characters’ movements were unnaturally smooth, and there was always a greasy lighting on the characters. Secondly, Nina’s voice when singing lacked the rage and loneliness as shown in the anime; it was not bad though, I still enjoyed most of the singing scenes.

Hopefully Girls Band Cry will never turn into another “cute girls doing cute things” anime. According to the screenwriter Hanada Jukki, the anime aims to explore the story of young people floating between dreams and reality - and I hope it ends that way.

Girls Band Cry is a real gem that came out of left field to dominate this season, even if it never got an official sub. It is a surprisingly nuanced story, and while it never again quite hit the highs that I expected from it after episode 8, it was consistently fantastic from beginning to end.

To start off, yes; this show is CG. In past years, this alone would've been enough to have most anime fans turn up their noses at it. However, Studio Orange has in the recent past shown more and more that you can make a beautiful show with CG, and with ... this offering Toei has blown even that out of the water. While there are the occasional animation error, the characters are so expressive, both in face and movement, and the backgrounds are so well done that it's entirely forgiveable. Additionally, there are tasteful drops of 2d animation throughout the series that are used brilliantly to emphasize certain aspects (like a flashback or a character you should notice.) Overall, one of the better looking animes I've watched! The music is also phenomenal, and the band has also released numerous songs outside of the show (as this is looking to be a multimedia project). If you have the chance, you should listen to their discography, as if you like the music in the show I can guarantee you'll like everything else they have to offer.

Up next, the characters. Nina, the main character, can be grating at first. However, as the series goes on, and her backstory is fleshed out, it becomes more understandable, and she mellows out by around episode 8. The other characters are all supremely well done, and most get episodes unto themselves that really flesh out their backstories and characters. They're far from caricatures, each having a distinct personality, all of which end up being enjoyable both on their own and how they bounce off eachother.

Finally, the story. While still fantastic, this is probably the weakest point of the show. At points it's among some of the best anime I've ever seen (particularly episodes 8 and 10), though at others it feels like it meanders a bit. I also feel like, though every episode resolved well, there are some which I felt would've been better if certain other story directions were taken rather than what was shown. Still a fantastic story overall, and much more consistent in quality and plot than its main competitors this season.

Overall, I cannot really recommend this show enough. If I could I'd give it a 9.5; almost there, just with a few plotlines that wrap up in a way that's a bit weaker than what I could've hoped. Far and away my number 1 for the season, really hoping that it's officially localized in the near future!

Girls Band Cry is the best girls band anime I've ever seen. No, correction: the best anime I've ever seen, period. If you let the fact it's 3D dissuade you, you're missing out big time. Girls Band Cry is outstandingly well animated, written, and a pure joy to watch.

On the topic of animation, the characters more expressive and detailed in 3D than they could ever be in 2D. From dynamic music performances to casual conversation scenes, they're nothing like the stiff, glassy dolls you may know from D4DJ or BanG Dream. I actually found myself realizing how underwhelming 2D can be after watching GBC.

The story ... is refreshing. For the most part, it avoids overdone tropes in the music/slice of life genre by excluding the characters from a typical school environment. The story also strikes a wonderful balance between drama and comedy, never getting to heavy handed or losing focus. There's also basically no filler, each episode contributing to the overall story in some meaningful way.

Characters, especially our protagonist Nina and guitarist Momoka, have real depth and relatability, but not in the memeable "literally me" Bocchi sense. Her story and those of her bandmates unfold at a natural pace, avoiding the typical "1-episode-per-character-arc" writing style that plagues slice of life anime.

The ending of an anime can make or break it, and I'm glad to say Girls Band Cry's ending is pretty good. Many lingering questions are answered and we get to see how our cast of 3D girls have grown. That said, while the ending is satisfying, its not super "conclude-y." Season 2? Who knows.

But just because I say Girls Band Cry is my favorite anime to date doesn't mean its without fault. To avoid spoilers, I'll say that some characters leave some development to be desired. They're introduced (in my opinion) too late into the story and I feel the writers are forced to gloss over their backstories.

Also, this is a bit of an aside, but I feel the musical styles of Togenashi Togeari (the main band) and Diamond Dust (the rival band) are a bit backwards. Diamond Dust is shown to be an idol-like group, but their music is more "rock." TogeToge, to my ear, leans toward a J-pop sound, despite having an edgier aesthetic. That said, the music is okay overall. Not my vibe, but that's my opinion and it doesn't change what I think about the anime.

In conclusion: watch Girls Band Cry. Or don't. But you should.

messy, beautiful

i uh, really loved this show

anime has a way of being so earnest and, hm, no, what i mean to actually say is

i wish i could bare my soul to this extent, just be so earnest and vulnerable that it feels utterly embarrassing to witness. but if i'm being honest i cant. i'm a shadow of a person, turn the light on and i disappear. my every rotted bridge, all neglected away into nothing, even the slightest possibility of intimacy and closeness, no, it petrifies me. i let all my chances of deepening friendships slip by me, left as a glancing, yet fatal blow ... on any relationship like an iceberg scraping the titanic. alone by choice? weird way to describe fucked brain chemistry and circumstance, but i can't dispute it. if you fail it means you never should have tried. you should see how red my face is right now. fade everyone into a light acquaintance until they move on. never really there, flighty, anxious, too terrified of human connection to really open up to anybody. nothing but lightly pleasant and frustratingly noncommittal to everyone, moving at a coward's pace, unfocus the lens and you won't have to see anything anymore, quicker that way

i can't even imagine how it would feel to be so disgustingly free, just all feathers and fire like that.

you'd think for an industry bent specifically to manufacturing commodified sincerity to sell to teenagers, that they'd somehow come by it a little less easily.

when genuine storytelling is codified in such a way as the way to tell your product's story, what speaks genuine about that? art as genre as mad libs, fill in the blanks, paint by numbers, give me the premise and i can probably tell you how it ends, lets kill god, lets nebulously choose free will and uncertainty over an unfeeling stability. if i melt my skin into yours can we understand each other? if my blood runs through your body will that make us feel any less alone

have you read that old sci-fi book yet you probably should its pretty good except for the parts where its comically, outrageously racist and sexist, but its where your favorite show got all their ideas from and its still a surprisingly easy read today

if we can make it to the Budokan, maybe the stars will start reflecting in your eyes again, that's what everyone says anyway. turn the music up and let it all come pouring out

everything is someone's first time somewhere, that's what makes it so special, its a miracle anything good gets made at all, flowers growing through cracks in the concrete i guess, i can tolerate a little cliché if you smash through my ribs and tear out my heart with it. god bless the people who aren't "well-read" in anything, they get to experience love for the first time again.

i was terrified of even resisting

one day we'll look back and see the ruin we dragged ourselves out of, and on that day i hope you'd have found someplace you can truly belong and be at peace

every time i watch one of these prescriptively life-affirming anime meant to encourage teenagers to follow their hopes and dreams, i always feel encouraged to cultivate and nurture my own relationships in my life, but i almost immediately come to the crashing event horizon that i discarded some of my closest ones willingly, and the rest withered with them. "i abandon here a part of the flesh of my body." over and over again until there's nothing left, just a stain on the wall, when the alternative is nursing increasing masses of necrotic tissue, it almost sounds like the sane thing to do. "you don't understand me at all," i understand you're a disgusting person, and i hope i never see you again in this life or the next

fuck you. i still miss you so, so much, you absolute piece of shit. fuck you.

eventually the question of whether it was the right or wrong thing to do fades away like everything else and all you're left with is whether you regret it or not. when i crawl out of this pit i threw myself into i can tell you where i eventually ended up at

i want to make things, i want to live a life worth living, i want to be a person worth loving, i want to be a person loved, i also just want to lie on the floor forever and feel nothing, i also want to lie on the floor forever and just fucking seethe, wow, multitudes. clench my teeth until they crack open and choke on my own blood, my dentist is going to scold the shit out of me next time i see her

Where were you twenty years ago? Ten years ago? Where were you when I was new?

the joy of art and others is that they're able to get past the sandblasted wasteland of that emotionally blunted hellscape you call a heart and bring that passion bubbling back to the surface like breaching magma, spikes and valleys. i haven't cried since 2017, but on rare moments i feel close, and i think in those moments, i'm happiest. distant figures on the moon, the bright tone of a butterscotch telecaster, feels nostalgic. the joy of art and others is that the only thing that truly matters is who you are when you bring yourself to them. maybe the best art, the best people, are the kind that can change who you are when you're exposed to them. never forget, you're a canvas too:

messy and beautiful.