Sakamichi no Apollon


Kids on the Slope

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Alternative Titles

Synonyms: Sakamichi no Aporon, Apollo on the Slope
Japanese: 坂道のアポロン
English: Kids on the Slope
German: Kids on the Slope
Spanish: Kids on the Slope
French: Kids on the Slope
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Information

Type: TV
Episodes: 12
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Apr 13, 2012 to Jun 29, 2012
Premiered: Spring 2012
Broadcast: Fridays at 00:45 (JST)
Licensors: Sentai Filmworks
Source: Manga
Genres: DramaDrama, RomanceRomance
Themes: HistoricalHistorical, Love PolygonLove Polygon, MusicMusic, SchoolSchool
Demographic: JoseiJosei
Duration: 22 min. per ep.
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

Statistics

Score: 8.301 (scored by 172440172,440 users)
1 indicates a weighted score.
Ranked: #2602
2 based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #600
Members: 385,978
Favorites: 7,037

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Recommendations

"A famous violinist once said that by exchanging (musical) notes, you get to know one another; to understand one another. As if your souls were connected, and hearts overlapping. It's a conversation through instruments. A miracle that creates harmony. In that moment, music transcends words." Kids on the Slope has its two MALE leads connect via music. There's every suggestion that the thugish drummer would like to pound more than his drums as they compete and connect by playing jazz together. The glasses-wearing, scrawny lead finds liberation by escaping from the restrictions of classical piano playing and happiness by bonding with his 'friend'. The show does  read more 
report Recommended by AironicallyHuman
Both are based on Josei manga. They have a similar art style, and the characters are somewhat similar. I have a hard time seeing someone enjoy one without enjoying the other. 
report Recommended by holypoop
Beck is a modern high school coming-of-age story where a nobody becomes a somebody by becoming a member of a rock band. Kids on the Slopes is a josei romance drama disguised as a high school coming-of-age story centered around jazz in the 1960's. On the surface the two series appear similar. They both use music as a way of introducing and connecting their characters with the rest of the cast; including love interests that act as motivational factors. However, where as jazz is just a means to romantic ends in Kids on the Slopes, in Beck music is the most important aspect: it's the driving  read more 
report Recommended by AironicallyHuman
Both definitely have a similar feeling, "Nodame Cantabile" is about classical music, where "Kids on the Slope" is about jazz, but they both have the same goal that you should enjoy the music your playing and give it feeling and not just playing it like it's written on the music sheet. 
report Recommended by Kuro-chan
Both are about two high school boys who love music. While Sakamichi is not categorized as Shounen Ai, the two main boys relationship can easily be interpreted as a romantic one with how close they become and how clearly they care for one another.  
report Recommended by Klide
Both series have a very mature approach in romance and relationships. Music is also an important factor in both series, but romance and drama predominate. 
report Recommended by GeniusofIron
•both anime are focused on the shoujo romantic highschool life genre, focusing around a group of musical students •both anime are focused on a group of students, 2 being relatively close, while another sneaks there way into the pair and causes the plot to deepen and develop while causing happiness and mayhem •both anime shows the protagonists relationship problems as it becomes a love triangle, as they face each others feelings towards the situations, while going through highschool and their day to day lives •both anime are heavily musical themed, with beautiful OST that will make you want to download them and listen to them on repeat •they are  read more 
report Recommended by Lupta
Chronicles of youth, love, friendship and family in a 60s setting 
report Recommended by roquefort
Both anime are josei that has romance and focuses on something (Chihayafuru - Karuta whereas Sakamichi - Jazz). Both anime have themes revolving around one-sided love, Love triangles and dense characters. The only difference they have is that Chihayafuru is focused more on sports whereas Sakamichi no Apollon focuses more on slice of life/romance. 
report Recommended by srsng
SOULFUL narrative from the industry's best, the legendary duo, director Watanabe Shinichiro and music composer Yoko Kanno 
report Recommended by AmberFebruary
Sakamichi no Apollon and Ping Pong the Animation feature two bespectacled protagonists, Kaoru and Smile who are taciturn and withdrawn but have a skill and passion brought out by catalyst characters Sentarou and Peco. Sakamichi's common theme may be Jazz and Ping Pong's ping pong however, it's not about the topic itself, it's about people, their ambitions, their challenges, their relationships with others, and why they play.  
report Recommended by xxxATiON
Both are Josei and have a love polygon where almost everyone´s love is unrequited. Both give you the same feeling and have excellent voice actors and soundtrack.  
report Recommended by Orulyon
Similar to Doukyuusei, this anime features: - two male protagonists who are very different from each other; one is smart, reserved, wealthy, and a bit of a loner, while the other is eccentric, lively, poor, and a bit of a troublemaker. The two of them are classmates, and they are both misunderstood. As a result of their opposite personalities and lifestyles, they foil one another and grow closer as the story progresses. - musical themes. The two male protagonists develop their friendship through their common passion for jazz music. - plenty of feels and romance. Unlike Doukyuusei, it's not shounen ai, but you can certainly view it  read more 
report Recommended by the-end-is-Near
Both have very similar themes involving achieving dreams with music. In the process it affects the feelings of and between the characters. Although they take place at different times and under difference circumstances, both are dramatic and can be emotional. 
report Recommended by neben93
In both shows, music unites two very unlikely friends (the best pupil and the delinquent). 
report Recommended by Atanvarnie
These Anime give a nice look into a small aspect of the Japanese culture, one being about the inns that are popular over there while the other deals with an era of change. 
report Recommended by Yemi_Hikari
If you watched one for the music, you should watch the other. They're both heart warming stories, I'd say sakamichi is heavier on the drama and amount of music played and hibike! is more light hearted. I was equally hooked by both animes though. 
report Recommended by shootsbrah
They both revolve around love and friendship..both are based around multiple friends who love each other. Both will make you cry, laugh and experience tons of emotions and feelings at once. Both are amazing. Both are masterpieces. 
report Recommended by AidanTheGreat
While the stories in these are quite different, they both give me a similar vibe. Very stylish and fun. Good character drama and progression, though I would say Kids on the Slope handles some of it's drama-focused plot points a bit better. They both put lots of detail into what the characters are performing (jazz or ballroom dancing).  
report Recommended by Xaeveax
Both shows are directed by Shinichiro Watanabe and are about music with the main performers being a person from a rich family and someone whose working hard to try and make ends meet. Essentially, Carole and Tuesday is Kids on the Slope with the main characters being females and in a futuristic setting like that in Cowboy Bebop. 
report Recommended by GridironOtaku
Both are exceptionally gripping slice-of-life anime produced by Studio MAPPA. Even though Sakamichi no Apollon concentrates on music and Yuri!!! on Ice focuses on figure skating as a competitive sport, friendship, love and growth are at the core of both stories. The main characters' passion for their work are conveyed very well in both shows. Chances are if you like one of the shows you are going to enjoy the other as well. Please give it a try! 
report Recommended by zeitgeistalter
Both animes are about groups of friends that have sort of love triangles. The stories are very different but they both have a light hearted feel to them.  
report Recommended by BFbooklover
Music anime that doesn't sugarcoat what it's like to be a musician, one is a rock guitarist and the other is a jazz pianist. Introverted protagonists Hitori Gotou and Kaoru Nishimi need to break out of their shells for them to be able to play their instruments alongside other bandmates. Also, both anime serve their respective genres with its scene justice. 
report Recommended by Earphonian
Music and coming of age centeric romance animes with lots of memorable characters , both of these anime are heavily underrated go and watch them you will not regret it . 
report Recommended by ZXEAN
Both the anime accompanies beautiful music, beautiful scenery and romantic story. Both the anime about the daily life and painted quite realistically. a similar atmosphere.  
report Recommended by fischermori
The main character (both voiced by Ryohei Kimura) attends school in a unfamiliar setting and gradually adjusts to it through the people around him. Both don't know exactly what they want to do in the future but have expectations from their families. Both quickly develop a crush on the girl who is sweet and caring to him and a one-sided rivalry with the girl's childhood friend. Both series are about finding your passion and a sense of belonging; Silver Spoon through agriculture, Sakamichi no Apollon through jazz. 
report Recommended by xxxATiON
both are mature, developed josei stories with really beautiful art/character design, both have a sophisticated, jazzy vibe, both draw the viewer in very early with great music/seiyuu... 
report Recommended by octal9
Both feature end of high school romance with a large cast of likable characters. Kids on the Slope is very rooted in it's time period, but both have a very similar feel. Kids on the Slope is a bit more "fun" and "upbeat" though, given the fact that jazz is a huge part of it. Good romance and coming of age stories that are easy to get invested in.  
report Recommended by Xaeveax
Both anime can be very tear jerking and really fun to watch with it's in depth characters 
report Recommended by L-Boogie
Same vibe and similar character motivation. Complex relationship between teen with in Apollon music in Dancer ballet on the background.  
report Recommended by aroum
- Similar setting and atmosphere: Mid 20th century Japan, which means the characters in these two shows face the same kind of struggles; the after-WW2-poverty and the absence of fathers for some reason or another. - Music—jazz—is present in both series, more in SnA of course. - They will give you the same warm, sad, yet beautiful feeling while watching. - Real BROMANCE, friends through good and bad who support each other more than brothers do. - Finally, I personally consider both to be bright examples of modern time classics; so wonderful and classy, a must watch for serious anime fans. 
report Recommended by Skyclad-Observer
The sense of warm love and the complications around it when there are more than two involved. 
report Recommended by fiore777
Very similair atmosphere. Relaxing. Plot revolving around strong friendship between two male characters. 
report Recommended by 2-D
Brotherhood! Both Suwa in Orange, Sentaro in Sakamichi no apollon not only have similar character designs i feel but they also have similar character. Both play critical and influencial roles for the main charcters in the plots. Both are giants,kind, good in something that have main characters trying them too(Suwa- soccer, Sentaro- jazz) and can cry!  
report Recommended by animerecordz
Both with high quality drama, mature plot, very wise narration and good characters. 
report Recommended by riorangel21
Both are impactful due to the emotional aspects of the stories, and are intended for more mature audiences. Sakamichi no Apollon is one story while Bartender has many different people's lives, but if you enjoy one you'll likely enjoy the other. 
report Recommended by Currytofu
Slice of life, but also a slow progression of relationship development, and the endings are rather similar as well.  
report Recommended by aienmas
Both have a slow, relaxing pace and focuses on the characters. 
report Recommended by svrye
The story of Sakimichi is set around 1960s and Kamichi around 1980s. It gives the series a countryside feel. Both the series center in school. 
report Recommended by Kurini
Both go all-in on the small town atmosphere and involves storylines centered on revitalization.  
report Recommended by MarylandIzumiKun
I don't know how to explain it, but it just gives off the same vide I guess. 
report Recommended by NoItsMyList
A group of high schoolers form a band. In K-On! it's four girls in the light music club forming a rock band, and in Sakamichi no Apollon it's four guys playing jazz together. 
report Recommended by Numi
Their ending is kind of similar if you want that kind of feeling. Given the fact, their story is really different from each other. it was very enjoyable. 
report Recommended by doma1n_
Booth of these shows include main characters who are passionate about learning a new form of art. If you like jazz or painting you are for sure going to love one of these. 
report Recommended by devilishclover
School Rumble is also about a delinquent student who doesn't care about school, these anime has a few things common but i personally think i you liked this anime then you will also enjoy school rumble. 
report Recommended by Scarhead
An endearing duo pairs up and goes on adventures together. 
report Recommended by Chisuku
Both have the theme of music and are youth centered. Both focus on jazz. There are heart warming moments for character development. I will sakamichi no apollon this anime has more life to music balance.  
report Recommended by tiff777
A pair of boys with dreams and relatively thorough representations of failure and miscommunication. They both also show interpersonal problems that can show up pretty much anywhere. But at the end of the day, they're about youth and aspirations and can be relatively inspirational if seen at a low point in one's life. 
report Recommended by Sekaiou
Both shows are centered around friendships with romance being secondary to the plot. However in Sakamichi no Apollon it's a little deeper(josei) and focused on Jazz as well. 
report Recommended by otakureese
They both revolve around these kids in high school that are going to be friends forever and they're very heartfelt and happy. They both get very sad as they progress and make you cry though. 
report Recommended by noah-wah
Same time period. While SM always includes popular music from Shouwa 39 (1964), SnA focuses on Jazz. There is some romance for the college boy and high school girl in SM but this is mostly slice of life based on the real daily experiences of a working class family in Tokyo during the year of the Olympics. SnA deals with the romantic and personal entanglements of four high school students. Both series have a nostalgic feel. 
report Recommended by rodac
These shows have a similar approach to telling a coming-of-age story. They're not absolutely similar, but they leave the same aftertaste. I'd say they have a similar vibe. 
report Recommended by Eine
They both have unrequited love in it and that sweet feeling of reality :) Although one is about music and finding friends and love and the other is about gender problems and accepting yourself, they have that something that makes them similar. 
report Recommended by Lylaaz
Ei-Chan and Kaoru are both start a New hobby. Ei-Chan start to play tennis and Kaoru join a jazz band. Both Guy are smart. Both Guys are fall in love with the main girl. 
report Recommended by shirley1994
Both have a small thin guy hanging out with a big tough guy ! and they are both airing spring 2012 ! 
report Recommended by Startronica
- Both are stories of high school-aged characters discovering their love for music, and their friendship that changes with making music together - Fantastic soundtrack; Sakamichi is more focused on jazz and Ongaku is more a mix of everything - You see the process of music-making, jam sessions, and bits of history in music throughout history - Sakamichi has more of a romantic element, but both explore the coming-of-age genre 
report Recommended by cornonacob
After watching Sakamichi no Apollon I couldn't help but be reminded of Ore Monogatari, they both are about youthful love and friendship, both anime take part in school, and they're both touching but can also be funny (although maybe Ore Monogatari is more on the funny side). But I think you will enjoy it if you have enjoyed Sakamichi no Apollon. 
report Recommended by yorozuyano
Character relations and the atmosphere. Colour and artwork. Drama, slice of life. Glasslip reminded me of Sakamichi. Sakamichi has an older setting though, and it revolves around Jazz and that era. Glasslip is modern and into glass making. But both are about friends, relationships and have some complexity of characters... If you caught one, catch the other. 
report Recommended by Kundalini
2 guys having a bromance though sakamichi no apollon is just hinted... theyre very similar though .3. 
report Recommended by superizzy64
Watanabe Shinichiro is the director of each of these series. Music is a huge focal point in both series, Hip-Hop being Samurai Champloo, and Jazz being Kids on the Slope. There is strong bond between a group of three friends that grows stronger as the series goes on. 
report Recommended by ILLustrious-PR
Both of these shows are very similar in terms of themes and issues but especially regarding the development of the story there are many parallels. First of all, both shows are slice of life, school, romance animes with a fair share of drama and comedy. In each case we get to see the development of a kind of love triangle and a strong friendship over a longer time span. Secondly, regarding the development there are certain similarities such as the sudden development of deep friendship, rejections of love confessions, changing romantic interests and especially the way the characters support one another in critical or gritty situations is  read more 
report Recommended by Kottbullar
Both of these series involve the trial and tribulations of a group of friends and portrays how strong friendship truly can be. 
report Recommended by _romeomontague
Both have music elements, a similar ambient, and great romance stories. 
report Recommended by HizakiTeru
teen melodrama, music and a quiet kid who comes out of their shell at the end.  
report Recommended by fades
for one, they are both music anime I like - which says something. Though Apollon is jazz in the late 1960s, and kaikan phrase is rock in 1980's (or so), both have the sort of charisma that just draws you in until the very end, leaving you wanting more. both are 9+ one my list another you might like is Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad 
report Recommended by Era-lightning
Similar casts: Quiet glasses boy + oblivious girl + quirky second guy Similar atmosphere: Both shows are known to have very atmospheric presences, a strong tranquility feeling and elegant mood. Directed by the same person. Same musician did the BGM/OST in both. Both are one cour anime with a conclusive ending. 
report Recommended by Mayuka
friends trying to understand eachother with romance, love triangles and there is a main group of friends. Also one of the girls is in love with an older guy. 
report Recommended by R2k2k