When most people watch anime, they want the typical action adventure underdog shonen plotline. If your like most guys and only like the mainstream stuff then this isn't your cup of tea. No. Nana is the cup of coffee I need every morning. This show is an emotional rollercoaster. As the first few episodes will give you more into the characters background and later on it gets more and more intriguing. I'll admit it was painful to watch because it was so realistic. Yes, you might get annoyed with hachiko for being dependent and clingy but I'll admit I do know girls that are like that. Nobody's perfect. We all have flaws. What do most of us in our 20s do? Smoke, drink, breakups. Nana does perfect that. There aren't much anime like Nana. Thats because most romantic dramas get adopted to live action series because its more suited to real life or it just stays as manga series only.
Add a Review
-
ikandyofthesharingan30 March 2019
-
la2976515 September 2019Nana, in my opinion, is the best slice of life anime there is. The story is incredibly realistic and you can actually see yourself in some of the characters. Not to mention the impeccable songs the anime produced. For sure a must watch and one of those animes i will always hold close to my heart.
-
jmaruyama26 May 2008It is no exaggeration to say that "Nana", the animated Fuji TV/Madhouse Studio TV series, is perhaps one the best written anime dramas to come out in recent years.
With is poignant, touching, sometimes funny but often bitter-sweet story, it has truly elevated Japanese anime from simply being "otaku" fanboy entertainment to mature, adult drama.
Based on writer/artist Yazawa Ai's best selling "Shojo" (girl's) manga series which ran in the Japanese publication "Cookie" (Ribon), the 47 episode series is a story narrated in flashback by its two very different heroine leads.
Osaki Nana (Paku Romi), a "sexy tomboy beanpole" singer who fronts the Japanese punk rock band "The Blackstones" (AKA Blast), wants nothing more than making it big as an entertainer.
She and the band's talented guitarist Honjo Ren (Hidenobu Kikuchi) were longtime lovers since their garage band days in Hokkaido, up until Ren's fateful decision to leave Hokkaido for bigger opportunities in Tokyo, a move which literally broke Nana's heart.
Two years later, wanting to follow her dreams of becoming a rock star, Nana decides to go to Tokyo as well to make a name for herself. By a chance coincidence she meets up with another young country girl who is also heading to Tokyo. The hopelessly cute Komatsu Nana (Kaori), with her long boots, girly wardrobe and giddy personality is the complete opposite of the brooding, dark and intense Nana O., yet by uncanny coincidence they share the same first name and age. Nana K. is heading to Tokyo to be with her boyfriend Endo Shoji (Takahashi Hiroki) who is going to art college there.
Nana K. and Nana O. part ways when they get to Tokyo but soon find themselves reunited again while out searching for an apartment. The two agree to share a modest, flat which by kismet/serendipity is on the seventh floor (nana kai) and is numbered "707" (Nana Hyaku Nana). The two become instant friends and develop a special bond - Nana O even gives Nana K the pet name "Hachi" (a play on both the number eight and the famous loyal Akita dog Hachiko).
Thus begins their exciting, chaotic, happy and sometimes heartbreaking adventures in Tokyo.
Yazawa's original manga story is faithfully adapted by series director Asaka Morio (Card Captors Sakura, Gunslinger Girl) and beautifully retold in animation by Madhouse studios (Gunslinger Girl).
Yazawa's hopelessly romantic story has all of the elements of teen soap opera or tear-jerking K-drama. Such mature themes like underage sex, prostitution, loyalty, betrayal, mental illness, adultery, tabloid scandal, pregnancy, love and friendship are are addressed in refreshingly candid and frank detail that doesn't talk down to its teen audience demographic. With its emphasis on music, fashion and hip youth culture, it is little wonder why it appeals and speaks to a generation bred on MTV, CW and trendy J-Dorama.
At the heart of "Nana" is an interesting cast of characters, all of whom have equally compelling back stories.
One of the most controversial sub-plots of the series involved the taboo romance between 15 year-old Shinichi (Ishida Akira) phenom bassist for Blast and 23 year old Japanese-American lead singer Serizawa Reira (Hirano Aya) of Blast's rival band "Trapnest" (Tora-Nesu). Their romance, while somewhat scandalous, is told with almost poignant and deep affection.
Underage/Lolita romance (a dominant theme of Japanese Shojo manga) seems to be a recurrent theme in Yazawa's works including her recent "Paradise Kiss" - Hachi's past history included an adulterous relationship with an older man while still a teen. She loses her boyfriend to the petite Lolita-like Kawamura Sachiko (Kojima Megumi)and is also befriended by the genteel,junior high school cosplay enthusiast and Blast mega-fan, Uehara Misato (Kanai Mika).
Friendship is also a strong thematic element in "Nana". Nana and Hachi certainly share a strong friendship and bond and as the story progresses that friendship further strengthens despite a falling out between the two over Hachi's affair and pregnancy by Tora-Nesu guitarist Takumi (Morikawa Toshiyuki). Nana O's relationship with her band is also given much insight particularly with stoic leader and fledgling attorney Yasu (Kawahara Yoshihisa) who harbors a crush on Nana O. and Terashima Nobuo (Tomokazu Seki) heir to a famous family business.
Nana O's own romantic storyline with rebel Honjo Ren (Kiuchi Hidenobu) is touching and one can't help but want to have them hook up and be happy.
The music is another highpoint in the series complements of two very different singing talents - Anna Tsuchiya, the Eurasian model/singer whose hard hitting, rock n' roll style is reminiscent of Joan Jett and Oliva Lufkin, the Okinawan Japanese-American singer whose powerful vocals style evokes comparisons to singers like Mariah Carey and Kelly Clarkson. Their music complements the tone of the anime and adds emotional impact to storyline.
While Madhouse's animation is in tune with the manga, some may find the frequent shifts from serious anime style to highly stylized, cartoonish and "goofy" pop art a bit irritating, although it did help to break some of the more somber and serious moments.
The series ending was a bit abrupt and contrived and seems to deviate from both the endings of the live-action adaptation with Nakashima Mika and Yazawa's original manga. I can't say that I liked the anime ending as it seemed very unsatisfying although there are talks that a second series is in the works to resolve this.
Like other anime "soap operas" like "Maison Ikkoku" or "Touch", "Nana" succeeds because it refuses to be pigeonholed as just being anime and strives to use the medium of animation to tell a mature storyline that is certainly not for children but is bold and touching enough for adults. -
This one is good guys =) I had never heard of this when I started watching and didn't know what I was in for.
I'm currently on episode 28 and it's awesome. Every episode leaves you wanting more. I really can't say anything bad about this one because the animation is interesting and beautiful, the music is rocking, the voice acting is perfect and the plot is very deep, subtle, shocking and suspenseful. Also, there are so many laugh out loud moments and you really start to care about these characters.
Summary------- Two girls both with the same name and age meet unexpectedly and become roommates in Tokyo whilst chasing their dreams. The interesting thing is that they are polar opposites but somehow fit together like a glove.
One is strong, proud and independent while the other is the opposite but oh how their characters learn, grow and change.
I don't want to give away anything so that bare summary is just 5% of the depth of this Anime.
I recommend this to adults as there are many serious themes covered. Despite that this one is just plain fun and addicting to watch. You never feel preached to.
What else can I say......give this one a good chance (at least 3-5 episodes before making any judgments).
Also, I must mention that the music is very good as well. We have music by Anna Tsuchiya (first op. third ending) and Olivia Lufkin (first ending, second op. second ending). Both are popular rock singers in Japan so the music is top-notch.
I haven't enjoyed an anime series this much since Hunter X Hunter (my all-time favorite). -
mir217 June 2020Nana is the best anime in its genre. Nothing will ever top the emotion poured into this show, and did I mention that it has the most beautiful soundtrack? I still listen to all the songs six years later.
-
ievasutkute13 February 2022All time favorite. It's the most realistic romance anime, and all tho i hate all the romance animes or series, this is another level!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everyone should watch it, it changed my perspective to a lot of things, and I love it. -
akshitanpanchal2 January 2021To everyone telling the ending wasn't good: This isn't even an ending, it's just the mid part of the anime. This show needs a season 2 to answer many questions of audience.
Now to enjoy this show thoroughly, you must read manga so you will understand what ending is going to lead to(coz manga was halted halfway due to writer's health issues). Only some chapters feel missing in manga and many things seem to be sorted out. Go watch this anime, read manga and you will have experienced one of the most mature and realistic show. -
vanessacjlee29 April 2021This anime tore into me deep. I related so greatly to the characters, I felt almost as if the things they experienced, were also happening to me. Particularly, the relationship between the two protagonists, left me shocked. There were so many moments that were poignant and sorrowful and others that were pronounced and light. While watching, I couldn't help but wince as characters made bad decisions, but I also understood them and saw myself making them as well. I will say I am saddened by the long hiatus from the manga and show as the creator Ai Yazawa is ill. I do hope that they animate the panels from the manga that haven't been animated yet, because there is quite a big event towards the last published release. A criticism that can be seen within the show however is that it does lean into queer-baiting, while maintaining and show based around hetero relationships and the friendship between two women. Whether or not this is for sure queer-baiting is yet to be seen since again the show hasn't been completed.
-
diyamariam13 April 2020I fell in love with Nana just a couple of episodes into the show. It was beautiful, and more complex and mature than most other animes I've come across. It's hard to not fall for the two main protagonists. And it's hard to choose between them. Both have their own flaws, and their own strengths. Each might seem to be the polar opposite of the other, but both our Nanas love each other, and get along perfectly, contrary to our expectations. And the love they have for each other makes the viewers fall for them even deeper.
All the characters are well-written. Each has a backstory that's revealed in bits and parts as the anime progresses. And none of the side-characters FEEL like side-characters even with the lack of screen time because they're all so well-written and complex and real enough. And all their lives turn out to be more interconnected than we'd expect.
Each episode leaves you wanting more. The story gets more intricate amd complex, untill you find yourself staring at one glorious mess of a plot.
And then, perhaps, it goes downhill. You'd expect for character development. You'd think the strong flawed characters you fell in love with will atleast not give in without a fight. But they just disappoint you, in a way. Miscommunication, the tension of hurtful words once said, the absence of understanding between the characters, the lack of effort on their parts to mend things, everything results in a lonely bitter mood towards the end of the anime.
Nobody expected this to be a fairytale. Nobody assumed there'd be a happy ending. But... The ending was too heart-breaking. It shows the characters settling for the bitter surprises life throws at them. Accepting bad outcomes. Not properly trying to fix anything. Not even in the name of love, or friendship, or for the sake of old sweet memories they made together.
Basically, according to me, it was a story where "nobody lived happily ever after." But perhaps, if the manga is continued, we might get a more satisfying ending. Nevertheless, I am so glad I watched this series. It's beautiful in a way I never thought anything could be. And it strikes closest to home. Being as realistic, and imperfect, as the ending is... -
Bright_eyes_1724 March 2018Even though this show had drama from the beginning to end (which I thoroughly enjoyed) I was so disappointed with the ending. How could a shows ending be abandoned in the way 'Nana' was? We had no clue where the hell Nana was to the point where when the episode finished, I went to find the next one only to find that it was THE LAST ONE. It was so great and I finished it so quickly but just that last episode.. how could you not explain why one of the major characters wasn't there?? Overall a great show full of drama and also hilariously funny BUT the ending severely ruined it for me.
-
This show is highly addictive. The story is about two girls the same age with the same name who are both moving to Tokyo. NANA, a punk rock beauty trying to make her band Black Stones "Blast" famous and Nana who is ultimately trying to find happiness through love. The show is a flashback NANA and Nana are talking to each other from the year 2008 (I think) and the episodes are their memories. The show has many undertones but the friendship of the two Nanas is the core theme of the show. I would recommend it for adults, not so much for young people it does contain sex scenes but also because the themes of the show are more for people who're eighteen and older. As a 25 year old I love it, Nana, is very real. The characters really make you feel for them. Watch 3 episodes and you'll be hooked. The show should come with some sort of warning, you won't sleep until you've watched them all! I hope that they make another season!
-
unicaelora27 July 2022This is one of the longest animes I have watched. It has 47 episodes.
After all that time spent, that I will never get back, they could have completed the ending a little.
The end is like watching another episode and leaves you with a yucky feeling and incomplete.
Yes realistic in the sense that people sleep around without being married and emotions are complicated and life is complicated.
Its not a happy anime to watch. Not entirely depressing but it becomes more negative every episode and never recovers or redeems itself.
I regret spending soooo many hours of my life watching this series. -
DonaldDooD24 December 2014Some works of art can be tragic, yet amazing. Their lack of a happy ending can hit close to home, or emphasize a real truth about this world. Nana did not hit that sweet spot. Its a downer of a series - but isn't evocative enough. Its too happy and slow to be a drama, too merciless to be a romance or slice-of-life.
I liked the characters. I fell in love with our two Nanas from the first episode. I wanted them to succeed, and find real love. I knew they would go through a lot of trials and self-discovery, but I was excited for the journey. I sat through episodes, each slightly less cheerful than the last. The romances became less passionate, the Nanas more distant. I was eagerly waiting for the day things all came together.
Nope. I'm not that lucky. The world in Nana freaking sucks. People only grow apart. They don't learn their lessons, they don't overcome their difficulties, they don't have solid, healthy relationships. It is a downward spiral, so subtle that, by the time you realize the descent, you're 20+ episodes in.
But again, its not major enough to call it a tragedy. It just winds up melancholic. I ended up disliking everyone for not being mature enough to solve their issues. In real life, I'd expect more effort. I can't take away anything from this show.
I know some people can relate more to this anime than I can. Congrats. But it left me cold and empty. No powerful emotion, no new insight, wishing for the opposite. This show bites. -
hermione171721 December 2011This is such a great show! I had first read a few manga of Nana and then became very excited to hear that they made it into a TV show. It's a show that I can easily relate to the main character Nana Komatsu. This may contain spoilers.... . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The ending of the show really left me with a lot of questions. I am in the process to see if there are more manga than episodes so that I can further my answers. Just be prepared to be left a little upset after you watch the show because its so frustrating that there are so many unanswered questions!!!! I will try to post anything more if I find more out for you viewers!! Can't wait. -
dnaplayboy30 December 2006A well done adaptation of Ai Yazawa's manga(comic) "Nana." It's about two girls named Nana rooming together in Tokyo in order to fulfill their respective dreams. Nana Komatsu (Hachi) moved in order to be closer to her boyfriend Shoji. Hachi's dream is to become a good housewife. Nana Osaki's dream is to become successful with her punk band "blast." I find the anime enjoyable. Even though it's supposed to be for girls, it doesn't include all cliché of most girl anime's. Its mostly about friendship, and the hardships of knowing and finding what you want.
There's two decent live action movies out.
A plus is the opening theme song is pretty good, and there are a lot of rock themes throughout the anime. -
usagidu417 July 2023I still dream of the manga will finish if the writer Ai Yazawa can not finish it I would love to just read the ending I can collocate picas from here and there but still the end if Nana will ever return to her friends, Tokyo or not still a mystery within Maybe Hachiko son with Nubo (Ren) will meet her by coincidence and she will return with him to Nana back home, who knows I wish Ai Yazawa will just tell us or just release the ending in writing without any drawing will be helpful.
I hope she read this too to know how are we still waiting for a long long long time and just wounding when is the end coming.
:( -
amnabh22 July 2023What happened to Nana is really realistic, this is what happens to the innocent and naïve personalities, to be a victim of all kinds of exploitation, betrayals and confusions, Nana suffered because of her kindness and superficiality. But what saddened me a lot is the end of the series, the last episode that is devoid of the other Nana, the whole series talks about them so how is it canceled in the end, I was saddened by their separation and that incomplete ending, as well as the fact that the character Rain actually died in the manga that's why nana is far away. And they didn't fix this in the anime. Sad ending.
-
harshamajeed18 July 2021It's a great anime I totally agree. But it in the the remind one is broken heart. I wish I hadn't seen it because it hurts me so much. I really really feel sorry for nobu😭 if you don't want to break your heart don't watch it it'll be better.
-
noodlechickenbeef16 January 2022I love nana so much. What a powerful message. I watched it at quite a young age which I regret because I learned thing from this show that are realistic and sad. This show made me sob more than I needed to. So many emotions in one anime.
-
sallyymeyer4 November 2021I initially thought this series wasn't bad, and I would definitely rewatch it again if I could, but still, there are some things which I would develop, for example the main plot, it seemed interesting and not too sad in the start, however after a bit it started to feel heavy and kind of dark making the series hard to watch... I still believe it is worth a watch tho!
-
Littleman959 August 2020This is an anime that you have to watch. Especially if you like slice-of-life! There are a lot of events that can makes you cry, laugh or even angry. After the first episode you'll be perplexed since this anime go backwards without some kind of warning, but after the first five episodes it will be all clear. The animation is good but the drawings are quite bad, in my opinion. But you'll don't even bother since its history will capture you, totally. Anyway it's tragic, just to let you know.
-
mondas-9169013 September 2022The show has excellent characters, who are all well rounded and fleshed out. Generally, they all have distinct and interesting chemistry.
Unfortunately, this is very much a product of its time (accepted conservative culture of the 90s/2000s) : there is a lot of casual sexism and very staunch female gender roles present. For me, I tolerated this up to about the 2/3rds way mark before I had had enough, because the show threw extreme pro-lifism into the mix too. It is strange to think that a show about a punk band would have such strong conservative tendencies, but the author's viewpoint on certain parts of society rather clearly shines through.
If you can stomach the conservative tendencies of the show, the actual character dynamic is great, and well done. -
Nana is one of those anime that begin-just phenomenally but turn out to be an unexpected failure, which is really disappointing because this anime gives you such high hopes, but then destroys every shred of it at the end. Yes, while it may be realistic and mature, that doesn't necessarily mean that it's good. I think this anime is a bit overrated, considering its probably one the worst anime endings ever. The conclusion-there is none, the romance is confusing and overwhelming, the drama was okay but was ultimately destroyed with that ending. The anime could've been a nice sweet anime to watch but it ultimately decided to be terrible and melancholic. So please reconsider this anime, you'll be disappointed.
-
deysoumyadev16 May 2023A beautiful anime with interesting and realistic characters, every single character which you will see in this series can be related to someone in your life or in the real world this is the extent of the realness in the animated characters which is absolutely amazing. The lead characters are unique in their own way not to mention they aim for different things in life but find themselves stuck in the same path this series takes us to a tour of adult life and shows us the glimpse of reality. This movie is not a wholesome youth drama which you mostly see in romantic anime nowadays, this anime is very realistic and it will shatter your expectations of a good and satisfying ending because that's what true life is you can't really have a happy ending all the time in your life sometimes the conclusion will not be in your favour but you still have to move on no matter what cause life and time never stops, this is the message what this anime teaches you.
-
NicolasTheWolf15 October 2023Nana is a series, where you get to really know each and every character with their flaws and strengths. If it's love or hate, you really understand them because they are so well fleshed out.
It makes them feel so real that every interaction between them hits you hard, if it's in a happy, funny or sad way, often it's devastating.
All that is only possible with the brilliant character writing from Ai Yazawa.
The songs are phenomenal and how they integrated them in the openings/endings is wonderful.
I can only hope that the story will continue and find its conclusion someday.
One of my all time favorites.