Nana

"I need your love, I'm a broken rose." - lyrics from the first opening.

The anime shows aired during 2007 - 2010 were usually the most phenomenal in my point of view. Shows today were lacking the deep sense of plot, enjoyment, drama and the whimsical world of comedy. These days it is hard to look for an anime that will make you re-watch when you have time and remember for a lifetime. Nana is one of those shows that is heart-wrenching, cheerful and life - changing.

Plot: Nana's story would actually be like soap operas in TV but better. You can see how the storyline ... was put in deep thought and everything was strategically planned. More drama and comedy also more romance.

To tell you the truth, I suspected that this is going to be a music themed anime wherein everything revolves around the world of music, soundtracks, bands and yeah. more music. I thought the two girls coincidentally met in a competition. They looked different so I thought the gothic Nana would sing some alternative rock and other punk style songs (I wasn't wrong about that) and the other who looks like a fragile and cheery girl would venture in pop, love songs, or maybe japanese cultured stuff. Soon, they end up being rivals. On the other hand, that isn't the case. Osaki Nana, one of the main characters explored in Tokyo and met this girl named Komatsu Nana. They both have dreams, Nana wanted to become a successful singer, the other would like to find a job and be independent at the same time, meet her boyfriend who has a long-distance relationship with her. They soon meet again and it led to a deep and happy friendship. Although, it was a bumpy road for the both of them, things did sort out in the end (or so I thought). Heavy and consecutive circumstances will arise like betrayal, abandonment and despicable fate. Moreover, there will also be happy events which you will never get enough. The drama behind the story can happen in reality. We can relate to some of the stories of the characters and we will dive in to their emotions like we feel them, or like we are actually in the story. Honestly, there will always be cliche acts in this show but the point is, they clearly caught my attention. Life will not always be a bed of roses so, there will be various tragic moments along the way. Above all, I give it 9 points.

Art, 6.5: One of the weak points but, it is understandable. The characters, background and other effects really did belonged to Madhouse. The eyes, body structure and dark aura reminded me of Death Note. The color of the hair reminded me of Bokura ga Ita as well as the expression of the characters. Kudos to the background, they somehow paid attention to the detail considering how hard it is to make an anime. They have to make everything from scratch. Developing 47 episodes can be a handful plus it was flashed last 2007 so yeah, I can see why I couldn't appreciate the art that much.

Sound 8/10: Some where phenomenal, some where blowing my brains out, and some where just distracting. I really like songs by the fictional band, BLAST (bias aside) because they were more convincing and new to hear. I'm not a big fan of punk rock or punk bands but it's nice to give it a try. Sound effects were quite repetitive while it adds mood to the dramatic and joyous scenes.

VA's
We'll start with the people I know too well and my favorites:
Osaki Nana's seiyu (Romi Park): Suitable, cool and awesome. She has the whole package. From the lowness of the pitch to the (sometimes) out of pitch voice she makes when she is mad or complaining. She's definitely one great voice actress. As expected to the Best Voice Actress during the First Seiyu Awards.

Nobuo's Seiyuu (Seki Tomokazu): Also Kyo Sohma's voice. It's nice to hear a kinder version of him and also his subtleness and everything. For me, he has one of the distinguishable voice of all and he doesn't have a mediocre voice. On top of that, I really like his acting, he could be goofy and seemingly upset at some parts of the anime.

Kyosuke's VA (Suwabe Junichi): Great and very A-okay. The huskiness of his voice suited the character very well. He has the ideal old guy kind of gesture and voice.

Layla's voice actress (Hirano Aya): Exceptional work as always. She can depict a dramatic and a cheerful voice for the character. She also won an award but I don't remember what it was. On the other hand, I hope she had more screen time because I have always adored her voice.

People I don't really know that well.

Komatsu Nana's, Ren's, Takumi's, and Shin's seiyus were diverse too. Although I'm not a big fan of them, I enjoyed hearing their voices. They were good in catching my attention when I get hooked up in every scene.

The rest, they did okay.

Character 8:

Splendid Characterization but I can only give a few words to some of the characters:

Here goes:

Komatsu Nana: The flirty, selfish but cute girl that always get admired by many people. She can be dependable but she can do things professionally if she gives her heart and soul to perfect it. She is a fan of BLAST and TRAPNEST. She receives too many heartaches in the story but she always get to switch to many guys. She is a bright version of foolish chicks around the world. Naive, a boy lover and can flirt with any guy they like. But I love this woman, seriously.

Osaki Nana: The cool version of a naive chick. She is somewhat a gothic girl. An introvert, independent, and incredible woman. A beautiful singer who will always cherish her fans. She isn't a boy lover but ever since she got to be friends with Nobu, she never had a single female friend (setting Misato aside). She has some problems like promoting her pride and having separation anxiety (because of her terrible past). I love her so much and I like her calm and consistent attitude.

Junko: An awesome friend to Komatsu Nana. She is straightforward and most of the time she can say things that would literally wake a person up and decide in a mature manner. She's definitely not one of those whores who would give second-rate advices and comfort their friends like a whim.

Kyosuke: First Most loyal guy in the show.

Ren: A bassist/guitarist in the band. Almost the loyal guy in the show. He is in love with Nana. He has some issues like being guilty on fulfilling his dream. He will do everything for Nana in a heartbeat.

Nobuo: Short but the sweetest guy ever. He isn't reluctant to give help to troubled girls. He can be a natural when it comes to fascinating conversations with men and even with women.

Sachiko: WHORE.

Shouji: MAN WHORE.

Takumi: THE REAL WHORE

Shinichi: cute and visibly insensitive. He is probably the most chilled-out person in the series. He doesn't react that much plus he's handsome.

Yasu: Caring, Loving, and Dependable. He is like the Batman of this series.

Reira/Layla: Adorable, sensitive and a good singer too.

In the end, there were really hateable characters. I can never get enough of NANA unless they remove all these characters because they are the highlight and the powerhouse of this story.

Enjoyment 8: It was one hell of a ride. I'm lost with words. I shed a tear in many parts of the anime. Everything was unbelievably what I've wanted. Sure, there are some unwanted sex scenes, ecchi, and a lot of matured content but I am no pretentious slut plus I'm already a young adult so yeah I can carry it. The tragedy could be somehow heartbreaking but I eventually got over it soon. It's fine for me since it is has a realistic synopsis. The thought that at some point, they are all "I think I wanna die" but the next thing you know, "Let's be fucking happy you bitches!" It wasn't a total waste of time. We can really see the saying "Forgive and forget" in this anime. I also noticed how knocked up the characters were, they were sacrificing everything for music. Example, leaving your only love to complete your goal, giving up your chance to have good money and taking over a family agenda to be a guitarist, prioritizing your band instead of just studying for your lawyer licenship, and etc.
Giving it an 8 would mean I'm satisfied. I can continue on living and get inspired by this masterpiece.

Overall 8: I think I said enough. Nana's story, music, and characters brighten up my days. Considering how I finished all episodes within 3 days (too long isn't it), I definitely didn't regret watching this show. I learned that life won't always be the way you plan it to be. I might as well just let things hit for me and accept them but I will definitely do better.

TRAGEDY and HAPPINESS always go together in life. It is inevitable.

Nana isn't just another love story, but a moment of truth, friendship, hard work and so on.

If you love romance, drama and realistic characters and plot, check out NANA!

"Epic" - a word used describe the grand and the majestic... not a word you generally associate with romance.

But if there ever was an anime in which the romantic element can be justifiably described as "epic", then "Nana" would be it. Achingly beautiful and searing in its emotional insights, "Nana" takes the romance genre to dizzying heights while still maintaining a strong sense of realism and empathy with the viewer in spite of all its glamour and polish.

"Nana" is a tale of two Nanas, Komatsu Nana (aka Hachi) and Osaki Nana (aka, uh, Nana). (I can't be bothered with their full names, so I'll just ... refer to them as Hachi and Nana, which is what most of the characters in the anime do anyway.) A chance meeting between Hachi and Nana on a train to Tokyo marks the beginning of a special friendship. Hachi is on her way to join up with her boyfriend who is studying in Tokyo, while Nana is heading for the big city in order to take her career as a musician to the next level. The lives of the two Nanas soon entwine, and the story gets complicated, juggling friendship, romance, career aspirations and many other things simultaneously.

I had high expectations for "Nana" before I started it, but I have to admit that I didn't get into it straight off the bat. There is one big reason for this - Hachi. Hachi is a fickle, self centred airhead whose number of past boyfriends probably rivals other girls in terms of the number of pairs of shoes they own. While she's not annoying in an excessive and unrealistic way a la Asuka from "Neon Genesis Evangelion" or Menma from AnoHana, I really didn't feel interested in a story centred on this kind of character. In fact I stalled for several months after watching episode 3, where the show laid bare the worst of her clinggy character.

Thankfully, the series' attention shifted away from Hachi onto Nana soon after that, and, with two stunning episodes 4 and 5, showed me just what it is capable of. Nana is an intruiging character: controversial, pretentious and fiercely proud, her compelling portrayal gave me the motivation I needed to continue with the show.

While "Nana" does eventually meet my lofty expectations, it doesn't truly take off till about a third of the way through. After those two terrific episodes early on, the show went back to focusing mostly on Hachi. In spite of this, I didn't find them as hard to get through as the first few episodes. This is partly because Nana is now also in the picture to provide some relief, and partly because Hachi isn't quite as annoying once you get to know her a bit more. Though the first third of the show is far from being the series' best, they do throw up some spine tinglingly great moments. It could have been a lot more, however, if it wasn't for the excessive use of comedy. I feel that some of material dealing with emotional turmoil should have been given a more serious treatment, especially seeing how well "Nana" does that kind of thing. Instead, the series' often opted for a more comic portrayal, which undermined the mood at times.

Luckily, that criticism is only valid for that first part of the series. Everything changes once the members of Trapnest comes into the story. This is when "Nana" started producing episode after episode of drama of the highest caliber. These episodes are not only remarkable in their quality, but also in their consistency to stay at that remarkable level. At the heart its whirlwind drama, the show exposes, dissects, and examines in minute detail the emotions of the characters. The sensation of being dazzled by someone shining more brightly than yourself, the tug of war between pride and love, the feeling of not only needing someone, but more paradoxically, of needing to BE needed by someone... virtually everything explored in "Nana" feels startlingly real and relevant.

For all its romantic elements, the centrepiece of "Nana" is the relationship between the two Nanas themselves. Despite the two of them being so different in personality, they share a bond that seems to transcend normal friendship, and yet at the same time is as fragile as a glass figurine, and just as beautiful. The mutual envy and emotional support, the honesty and the dishonesty, the similarity and contrast between the personalities all contribute towards a fascinating and contradicting relationship.

Initially, the story is narrated from Hachi's point of view. You get to experience the full range of her whimsical nature and her helpless, almost piteous attraction towards the glamourous, bright star in her life that is Nana. Hachi was never gonna be my favourite character, but she did grow on me quite a bit. Nana is still the more intriguing character though, so when the narration, after an astonishingly long run of excellent episodes, switched to her point of view at around the 30 episode mark, I was hopeful that the show would get even better.

These expectation does get filled to a certain capacity. The change allowed a deeper insight into Nana's complex character, insight that threw up some quite shocking revelations and served to make some things a lot clearer. Even though the show had already strongly hinted at Nana's fragility and pretentiousness, the extent of these traits only starts to surface at this point. I still wasn't completely sold by her feelings with regards to Hachi though... perhaps an narrative that interlaced the two perspectives all the way through would have made it more convincing than being dumped into the revelation all at once.

But anyway, the switch in perspective unexpectedly marks the point where the series starts to go down hill. Not by much, mind you. The problem isn't to do with the actual switch itself; it's to do with the romantic plots and subplots. You can only juggle so many relationships for so long a time before things start to feel ridiculous. When the monstrous webs of love triangles ends up involving nearly all the significant members of the cast, the show starts to buckle under the weight of their sheer number and complexity. While this isn't quite a show stopper for "Nana", especially considering its great execution, it's the worst kind of problem for this kind of series to pick up - it makes it feel too much like a soap opera. This causes the drama aspect of "Nana" seem a little too sensationalist, a little less believable. I find the characterisation of Takumi from Trapnest to be particularly problematic - while I liked the professionalism in his character, his constant changes in attitude sometimes makes him feel more like a plot device than a believable rock star, and in fact the whole of Trapnest feels altogether too down to earth.

"Nana" more than made up for this slight lapse in quality eventually though, finishing the series with another strong run of episodes that are at least as good as any of the ones previously. While it remained a little over-convoluted, it's hard to take too much notice when the blossoming romances and the intensifying drama is so sublimely good. "Nana" ends on a hanging, bittersweet note that just begs for a continuation. Continuation seems unlikely though. This first season ended as the makers wanted to avoid fillers, and the intention is that a second season will be made once the manga is finished. Though this decision to avoid fillers should be applauded, the manga has stalled and the anime can no longer be considered as a recent one. With interest in the show cooling, that second season seems increasingly unlikely.

It would be a crime to review "Nana" without mentioning the music in it. In addition to the romance and relationships, "Nana" is about two bands, BLAST (Nana's own band) and Trapnest (band of Nana's lover Ren). A couple of Japanese artists, Anna Tsuchiya and Olivia Lufkin, were drafted in to perform the songs by the fictional bands. The songs are used heavily throughout the series, and in fact all the opening and ending themes are made up of them. There are several noteworthy things about these songs. The first is how they're impressively written to suit the story and the characteristics of the bands that perform them. Trapnest, a band that's hit mainstream popularity in "Nana", has songs with quite mainstream melodies. In contrast, BLAST have an edgier, more punk influenced sound, but one that isn't completely devoid of mainstream appeal, as one of the characters once commented. Anna Tsuchiya, who provides the singing voice of Nana, has a rasping voice that's so similar in quality to the Nana's talking voice that for a while I wondered whether it was the same person.

Most of all though, I *loved* Olivia as the singing voice of Reira, the lead singer of Trapnest. The pure, ethereal beauty of her soaring vocals is exactly how I would imagine Reira's vocals to be. No wonder Ai Yazawa (author of the "Nana" manga), upon coming across her songs while helping to select the right singer for Reira, apparently exclaimed "It can only be her!" (A bit of trivia: Olivia, like Reira, is also half American!)

It's not just about the songs though, it's about the atmosphere too. The scene where Hachi being overwhelmed by the experience of going to her first concert has such a dense, authentic atmosphere that it reminded me of my own first time at a concert. The background music is also very good for setting the mood, but I think it could have done with more variety. A lot of tracks are just variations on the same melodies and themes. I also thought some of the elegant, classical instrumental tracks doesn't quite fit in with the style of "Nana", especially considering the nature of the bands the show feature, with their often heavy instrumentals and rebellious punk influences.

I don't normally mention the voice actors, but the ones in "Nana" deserves a special mention for having so many stars in their midst. Even ignoring Romi Park (Ed from "Full Metal Alchemist; Teresa from "Claymore") as Nana, there's a host of heavyweights such as Aya Hirano (Misa from "Death Note"; Haruhi from "The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi") and Tomokazu Seki (Sousuke from "Full Metal Panic!"; Chiaki from "Nodame Cantabile") to be found in support... it's like the "Ocean's Eleven" of anime. The big surprise though, is that amongst this glittery line up, Hachi is voiced by a relative unknown KAORI (don't ask me why her name's all in capitals, I'm just writing it how I've seen it elsewhere). But what's perhaps more surprising is that, despite her lack of star credentials, her near flawless portrayal of the whimsical Hachi is one of, if not THE most ear catching performance of the series; even short phrases such as the often used "hey, Nana" line are injected full of nostalgic feelings. It's to her and the show's greatest credit that Hachi eventually went from a character I disliked to a character I could not only tolerate, but like and even respect to a degree.

It's interesting to compare this to "Beck", a show that overlaps on many of the same themes of music, romance and life, but is a far more humble take on them. The difference is like the bands they feature - "Nana" is like the chart topping band while "Beck" is the indie band that's looking to make it big. And while the production power and glitzy glamour of "Nana" does help make it the better show (in my opinion), the two are ultimately very different, each with its own unique charms. It's just a shame that while "Nana" often transcends the romance genre with its powerful introspective insights on love and life, it ultimately doesn't completely break free of its trappings.

There is a lot I'd like to tell you about this simply epic anime.
Even by the first episode I was caught, I just couldn't stop watching or think about it.

This anime really touches you deep in your heart and soul and what makes it even more epic is that you can really imagine yourself as one of the characters. This isn't your typical happy-go-lucky story this is what you can call a real-life story.

The characters are so realistic that sometimes it's hard to understand that they are animated and actully not real human being. This may sound amazing but I am not even going out ... of line here, everything I tell you is what I truly feel about this story.

The story is full of love,happiness,despair,hate,angst and hope. What makes it so special is how it really tries to capture the ups and downs in love (not only between partners but also between friends and family) and career.
The relationships between the characters are so deep and so well written that it takes your breath away.

The art in the anime is beautiful and as it is a "music" anime, the music you'll hear in it is so touching and rememberable. Even now about 8 years later, I can still put on the soundtrack and just feel all the emotions that comes with it.

After the anime ended, I immediately started reading the manga, and as the anime had been, the manga was simply breathtaking.

This is truly one of my absolute favorites and I have never seen (or read) any other anime (manga) that even come close to NANA. It's really a must watch for everyone who loves an epic story that you won't ever forget.

This show might hurt a little or make you feel nostalgic for memories of your own. For an unlikely scenario, you feel as though it is very, very real.

I expected Nana to be, the first 15 episodes in, a series where you live vicariously through the main character, Nana Komatsu, later known as Hachi. She meets a new cool and beautiful best friend, she's starting a new life in Tokyo in a cute apartment with a handsome boyfriend, friends all around, including getting to know some really attractive members of a famous band. Sounds great, right?

It's not all blown away by tragedy, it's shaken ... up by misunderstandings/lies, fear, love, career pursuits, and life in general, as the two girls are very different and live very separate lifestyles, and it becomes more apparent as the show goes on, causing some interesting rifts. Despite this, their friendship and caring for one another is one of the strongest aspects of the show, but it's not shoved down your throat in a 'FRIENDSHIP IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER!!!1' type way. Nana portrays realistic emotions that apply to any situation very straight and bittersweet, yet savory at the same time.

The Story: 10/10. There are no loopholes. Everything has a purpose, every action is made understandable, and everything is well done. There are no filler episodes, which is saying a lot for a series with 47 episode slots to fill. It's far from boring, especially during the second half, where things escalate quickly.

Characters: 9/10 How I WISH I could give this a 10 out of 10, as the characters are arguably the best part of the show. Hachi is more than just your ditzy, friendly, feminine young adult, she is also very considerate, yet struggles with her own selfishness, a trait she acknowledges but dislikes. Nana Osaki is not just a cool, punk, lead singer, she is just as, if not more, selfish than Hachi, and worries about depending on other people to the point where it hinders her relationships or makes her seem distant. The other main characters: Reira, Shin, Yasu, Ren, Nobu, Takumi... are very, VERY fleshed out and interesting, the minor characters: Misato, Junko, Kyosuke being just as much. The reason this has a 9/10 is because Naoki, a drummer in the band Trapnest, who appears regularly in the show and openings, has little to no character development. I get that he's not that important in comparison, but I would have liked him to have had a bigger role.

Art: 9/10 It's Ai Yazawa. All of her designs are very pretty, appealing, modern, and fashionable, with punk edges Vivienne Westwood herself would be proud of, and lace. This has a nine out of ten, as this is a slice of life series, and there is very little room to be super experimental with the art, but all the lighting, scenery, and little details such as the accessories, are very tastefully done, and all the characters are easy on the eyes.

Sound: 10/10 ANOTHER one of the best aspects of the show. Since Nana revolves not only around the two main girls, but two bands: Blast and Trapnest, the show has songs recorded by fictionalized versions of these two bands, and it is AWESOME. Blast's songs are punky and energetic, with a demure husky female voice. Trapnest's songs are pretty and poetic, with an angelic female lead voice with a slight rock edge. Personally, I prefer Trapnest's sound and voice to Blast's, BUT that's like saying you prefer cookies to cupcakes. Both are absolutely savory and you'll take them if available.

Enjoyment: 9/10. I watched this show when I was going through relationship troubles on my own. It was simultaneously a big mistake and a much needed detox, as I cried a few times, and at one point got so emotional that I could not finish it until a year later. When I did, I took a while to take everything in, as that ending really got to me. It's not sad, per se, just very true. It's a 9/10 because parts of it made me sad, and while I personally enjoy shows that make me sad and think a lot, I realize some might not. I -did- very much enjoy it though, and it has a heavy rewatch value to relive some of those moments the show has to offer.

Overall, I cannot recommend Nana enough, even if you typically do not do slice of life/shoujo. You are not too manly for Nana, unless you eat feelings and rocks for breakfast. I feel as though not enough people have seen it, and it perplexes me as it is delicacy. Nana is an experience.

A girl I liked at the time made me watch this show, right after I finished she ended up ghosting me and later getting a boyfriend. The show does always remind me of it whenever I see anything related to it.

Overall the anime was fine, not my cup of tea, but I can see why people like it. The anime was older so the art style is different than most modern animes, still pretty enjoyable. 5/10 for me since I’m pretty neutral on it. I would 100% recommend this to anyone who likes older animes.

Note: I’ve moved on and I am completely fine lol

To girls trying to make their dreams come true. Two life stories joined together by pure chance. A hundred feelings that every girl has to cope with. A beautiful story about love and friendship, choices and dreams.

"Nana... how come being happy and making your dreams
come true are two different things?
... Even now, I still do not understand..."

"NANA" was definitely one of the best anime choices I have made. There are tons of shoujo out there and I have watched a bunch of them, but, for me, Ai Yazawa has created "NANA" in an unique and marvelous way.

The story is simple to follow. It is about the lives of two 20-year-old girls, both named Nana, who came to know each other after a fateful meeting on a train heading to Tokyo. Simple as it starts, the story that unravels is beautifully plotted and it enraptures you. It is not an anime that will not appeal to your emotions. Sometimes you will laugh, others you will get angry, while the moments that you will find yourself in tears will not be a miss. The strongest feature of the story is Yazawa-san's realistic perspective. She keeps a fairly good distance from the typical, idealized shoujo love story and focuses on portraying emotions and situations that every girl may come across. My only disappointment was the "ending". It ended while there still are many things you wanted to see. Still, with the manga on a long term hiatus there would not be any choices but to end it.

As far as art is concerned most people would find the really thin and tall figures a bit bizarre, however they really are artistically made, inspiring the idea of beauty which keeps up with the elegance that the story is written. Each one character is carefully designed to fit his personality without whatsoever give everything away

The sound was also very good. Not only do the voices of the actors match with the character outlook but also with their personalities and emotions. Also, as a music genre, the singing was also pretty delightful as Tsuchiya Anna and Olivia Lufkin have beautiful voices. However, I expected due to its genre a bit more of singing. The OST's were fine, kept simple, without any exaggerations to give a boost to the emotions.

The characters, matching the realistic style of Yazawa-san, are not flawless or very bad. Their personalities are deep and you get to know and understand them better as the story goes on. The backgrounds of the two girls were told right form the beginning which made a solid base for someone to get their personalities outline. The supporting characters were also treated with care and had a depth in their personalities as they play an important role to the development of our heroines.

In a nutshell, "NANA" was definitely worth-seeing. It is an anime that i have watched over and over and still love it. The plot was amazing and I felt a part of the story. It is one of those kind of anime that you never forget. Even though the ending is unsatisfactory and anyone who has gone through it craves for more, it surely does not affect the pleasure that "NANA" has to offer!

What was so special about NANA for me was that it didn't feel as if I needed to personalize the story, as if I was approaching something foreign and making it familiar to me. Nana spoke to something that already existed in myself. NANA was a story about Nana(s), but it was also my story, not in any particular way... it just was.

There was something so honest about it--it wasn't about art, or fame, or sex, or money, it wasn't even about music itself. It was about people, and how we cannot go on without love. We need love almost more than we need to ... breathe.

And yet, it seems so hard to hold onto. We look for love where we won't find it. We walk away from love that we didn't believe was there. We make so many excuses for why we do the things we do because sometimes we're not even sure if love is real, maybe all you have in this world is yourself. As people go their seperate ways and life just happens to them, the struggle to hold onto love becomes that much harder to bear, we have no choice but to approach our lives one day at a time, searching for a balance between all the things we want, all the things we lost, and all the disappointments we live with. Nothing can change that for anyone, we all have to find our own peace.

I saw that in every character, but I saw it most in Nana herself. On the outside, she's tough, and strong, and she stands her ground. But on the inside, she's more lost than anyone, she's a child that is desperately hanging onto love. She wants Hachi, she wants Yasu, she wants Ren, she's so afraid of losing what they mean to her but she can't force time to stop. She doesn't give a shit about where she's going in life because she knows and feels that it doesn't mean a thing if she gets there at the expense of her love. She'll do anything for love, she'll even die for it if she has to. It's kind of tragic, but what is she going to do? What choice are we given in life? A lot of people can point to times where they regret having given up on love, but even someone like Nana, who keeps trying so hard not to give up--what can she do? Even if we abandoned everything for love it wouldn't permit us a permanent connection to any one person or point in time.

I guess this anime was so important to me because I felt connected to someone I didn't even know, I suppose to Yazawa Ai and her own portrayal of that experience, but in just a general sense, to *someone* who clearly had felt these emotions. Because I watched NANA around the time I was struggling to make peace with the same exact feelings in my own life. I mean, it's an ongoing struggle, for everyone, but it came at the perfect time for me. NANA didn't do anything special with those feelings, and it didn't want to, that wasn't the point. It just existed with them, and in doing so, it quietly reminded me that I am not alone, in a way that I could actually feel. Nobody is alone, and that's not only some trite fucking sentiment you write on a bathroom stall in a moment of self-intoxication or something. There's really something behind that, you just have to be in the right place to receive it. NANA could do that for me and for a lot of people. I think there's something so magical in that.

"Nana, how come being happy and making your dreams come true are two different things? Even now, I still don't know why.."

Story/Plot: 10/10
NANA is an anime that involves punk/rock music culture, romance, drugs, alcohol and the male prostitution of japan (sex for money).
It takes a lot of maturity to understand how deep this story is. The drama of it is so real, that makes you think: "this could be happening to me right now." I can't say much without using spoilers but this story had one of the best development I've ever seen.

Art/Animation: 9/10
The art is simply beautiful. This isn't an anime that the characters ... use the same basic clothes every day, same make up or even the same haircut. there's an huge variety of styles. For example, we've the two main characters, both named Nana but being totally different in terms of styles.
Where one goes for cute/pinkish style the other dresses up in a punk/rock style, which is a really nice difference to see.
Since NANA was released in 2006, the episodes don't have such good quality like nowadays, so I have to give it a 9, only because I can't see the art of the characters in HD.

Sound/Music: 10/10
So, we have two bands in this anime, obviously there's gonna be a lot of different type of songs. You think to yourself, maybe I will like band 1 more because I think this genre of music is better.. no. Believe me. Coming from an hard rock/metal lover, I enjoyed every single song, including the ones that are not my genre at all. why? because the songs are so well written for each character to sing. they talk about their feelings, they talk about their lives, about their lovers, about their past. All of the songs have an huge meaning behind it.
adding up to that, the openings and endings are sung by band 1 and band 2 members, that is just.. so precious!

Characters: 10/10
I have to be honest, the first time I watched NANA, I was probably 13/14, and for a time I had harsh feelings against some of the characters. But by re-watching it over and over again through all these years ( I am currently 23 btw ) I've learnt how to like all of the characters. Why? Because of life experiences that made me become an open minded person. Now, NANA is probably one of the few animes that I don't have any problem with the characters. Everyone commits mistakes, sure, but in NANA when a character commits a mistake, in terms of love, work, life, we get to see the character's side, their reasons to do what they did and explanations. We see them get stronger through the story.
I've got to say there are characters that had such an HUGE development and that was gold.

tl;dr - NANA was the first anime I fell in love. I re-watched it 8 times and I still would get emotional watching it. I recommend it if you would like to experience real life problems and drama. This anime portraits the real world. People go through these phases in their lives, have the same problems and mentality. There will be a moment where you will want to hug them and make them feel better. Just watch it, it is worth the time.

Overall: 10/10

the beginning of this anime was absolutely amazing. it was easily a 10/10 anime. it was something special. but the last half of the anime... i wish i could get the time i spent watching this back. it was horrible. seriously. i've never gotten stressed out from an anime before, but this one really stressed me out and made me anxious and sad. the ending wasn't even good, they didn't resolve anything. i just wish it would've worked out in the end. i guess i'm just not the target audience, i hate sad endings. if you're a sucker for sad endings, this one is for ... you.

“The dreams we are chasing and the reality that is chasing us are always parallel. They never meet.”

I still remember clearly the first time my perception of anime crossed over from childish, adrenaline-driven fascination to a full-blown obsession that even then I knew already would form an integral part of my life for a long time to come. It was when I first watched Elfen Lied: more specifically, seeing alternating episodes of dumbfounded boob groping, incestual and sadomasochistic innuendo, and mass slaughter juxtaposed over an overall atmosphere of emotional fragility that, despite its often downright kitsch clumsiness in retrospect, truly made an impact ... upon my often turbulent emotional state at the time. It was the first time that I truly realized that anime could be used as a medium for more than just the adrenaline-driven beatdown fests or fantastical escapes into dreamland that appealed to me so much as a child. Especially given its idealistic, symbolic molds of humanity that seemed to dramatically bring out the emotional core of one’s being to the artistic surface, I suddenly realized that anime could be a highly compelling, and for me at the time perhaps the only compelling, form with which to portray the powerful sentiments that touched and connected different individuals.

Needless to say, this triggered a long period of exploration, and I combed through countless slice-of-life, romantic drama, and tongue-in-cheek harem shows looking to capture that same powerful essence that had initially left me in wonder, discovering many classic series that I still treasure dearly to this day. However, as the backlog of completed shows piled behind me and the same predictable character archetypes and –dere derivations appeared time and time again as lethargic substitutes for true character depth, I naturally grew more jaded. It’s not to say that a series suddenly had to be completely original to evoke enjoyability, or that I couldn’t from a subcultural perspective appreciate the “language” that anime used to call to its more hardened devotees, yet that obsessive, soul-consuming sense of awe that in the past had gripped me when encountering a truly mind-blowing tale only grew scarcer and scarcer in frequency. Going through a new show had simply become far too routine and workmanlike of an affair when I felt that everything I could have seen in it I had already seen in the past, and better.


“Don’t just give up. Life is about getting knocked down over and over, but still getting up each time. If you keep getting up, you win.”

How was it then that Nana conflagrated my blood as easily as a river after an oil spill, causing me to blow through 47 episodes at speeds exceeding that of some of the most hook-laden Shonen series? For starters, Nana pulls no punches when it comes to fleshing out a cast of believable, imperfect, and painfully human characters that stumble over the mess of their own weaknesses time and time again, and every time they fell, you were there bleeding alongside with them. Indeed, the mistakes that each of the characters make, many of them blindingly obvious yet all too human, serve to endear the viewer to the characters’ stories. For me at least, the ability to attach the viewer to the characters to the extent where the lines between perceptions of fiction and reality became blurred saturated every second of the show with raw emotion. This was only able to be accomplished because, regardless of the hyperbolized drama, the characters in Nana and their lives were all too real and all too relatable to the mundane. I could see more than one starry-eyed, naïve, and painfully clueless girl I had known in my life in the character of Nana K, and have seen my fair share of fragile, dependent souls hiding behind their cold walls of emotional stoicism (Nana O), pure-hearted nice guys lacking the maturity and perceptiveness to carry out their ideals (Nobu), and self-proclaimed assholes that avoided genuine, heartfelt emotional attachment as a way of coping with their sad, insecure life experiences (Takumi and Shin). Watching Nana thus felt akin to gaining a near-omniscient insight into the lives of real, multifaceted individuals unbound by literary clichés, especially the parts of themselves most people prefer not to reveal to any but those closest to them. The show in essence achieved a level of insight into human nature that caused the everyday to subsume itself into the transcendental through an excess of detail, much like in classic Russian literature.

In many ways, perhaps partly by virtue of its Josei subgenre (a subcategory of anime I admit I have little experience with), Nana subverted and undermined many of the troupes I was so used to seeing in romance anime, feeling like a breath of fresh air in a dusty, stale room. For example, the seemingly strong, independent, career-driven rocker that was Nana O, who would in a different context act as a liberated foil to a weak, maudlin female character, was gradually revealed to be, as far as I could see, the most emotionally delicate, dependent figure in the entire show. What was so beautiful about the manner in which this was executed was how from episode to episode, the masks that Nana put around herself, many of which she herself only later realized she had, were gradually peeled away from her like the layers of an onion. Nana O’s own growing self-awareness of her true nature is paralleled by the viewer’s changing perception of Nana O, with every human interaction casting a clearer definition upon her multidimensional character away from the initially formed “independent, rebellious female” archetype that one probably lumped her into at the beginning of the show. This “movement” from character stereotype to someone more resembling a real-life individual given greater dramatic license occurred with almost every major character within the show. In that sense, character development within Nana not only occurred through standard plot driven changes to the characters’ knowledge and base nature, but also a more meta- self-realizing unraveling of the characters’ base substance, something that was always there but not always apparent to see, for either the characters themselves or the viewer.

The striking level of realistic detail given to every major character also made it hard to unequivocally love or hate any one of them, as all their actions had associated with them reasoning that one would be hard-pressed not to emphasize with to some degree. The hackneyed adage of “walking in another’s shoes” is taken to a new level within Nana, with acts of sexual manipulation, infidelity, and hollow affection contextualized within the plot to almost, just almost, seem rational and perhaps even inevitable. Of course, this hardly served to undermine the inherently heinous nature of such actions, but rather emphasized the ubiquity of the sentiments undergirding them within the depths of human nature, for both the seemingly well-adjusted and blatantly malformed alike. Regardless of how one chose to judge a said character in the end, one at least saw clearly the difficult, winding road they took to reach the point in life they did.


“Hey, Nana...people's feelings change easily...what you see is a house of cards...nothing's sure, and nothing lasts forever.”

I could go on dwelling upon the characterization for novels on end, but equal emphasis has to be put upon the message their stories serve to convey. From one perspective, Nana can be viewed as two parallel journeys undertaken by two incredibly different girls to outrun their pasts and achieve their dreams. All in the meanwhile, they yell across at each other from their parallel roads, eventually becoming the best of friends and both deep down seeking to jump onto the other’s path instead of simply moving in tandem. However, they continue to dream of what lies at the end of the roads they are currently on, and thus ignore the forks on the road they can branch off into, continuing to stare only ahead into the darkness and never truly coming into contact with one another. If this reeks of subtle hints of yuri to you, I’m not going to deny that Nana is not totally devoid of such innuendo, at the very least one-sidedly. However, the subtle “longing” that always hangs uncomfortably in the atmosphere over interactions between the two Nanas acts more as a reflection of the girls’ perpetual dissatisfaction, a result of chasing often reactive, nebulous dreams that cause both to ignore, neglect, and indeed shatter (literally and metaphorically in the story) the relationships that they use to maintain their fragile worlds, relationships that are taken for granted up until the moments of their imperilment. Thus despite having seemingly different motivational drivers (Nana K. chases true love, while Nana O. chases something that would provide a perpetual bulwark against her fears of abandonment), the two girls only seem to find true peace and acceptance as they actually are within each other, a relationship ironically forged by an accidental encounter on a train. The gradual development of these feelings that the two Nanas create as a haven for one another is beautiful to watch, though tragic that conscious acceptance of these sentiments comes only after their relationship almost gets destroyed.

The conflict between idealized conceptions of love and the reality that love must come to bear with is perhaps the major plot driver in Nana. Nana K. struggles through failed relationship after failed relationship with a menagerie of men from ranging from adulterating husbands to overly well-intentioned idiots, all while under the impression that she will find a one true love that could break all of the doubts and insecurities she has built around her. Yet with time, she begins to come to the horrifying revelation that she had simply “fallen in love” with whatever guy happened to be around her in need at multiple respective time periods, and realizes just how replaceable men were in her fickle heart. The reduction of the most seemingly sublime romantic emotions down to base needs for dependence begged the question of the foundation behind attachment, something that in the story was only grimly realized within Nana K.’s growing life wisdom coinciding with the desanctification of her heart. This would ultimately result in her surrender to a (on the surface) bona-fide villain of a man that ironically proved to the man she needed to provide a shoulder she could safely prop her delicate ego upon.

Indeed, the dark realism of Nana is nowhere more evident than in the failure of dedicated effort, genuine kindness, and pure love time and time again to reach positive conclusions, a striking contrast to standard consoling romantic narratives in anime where, in their own way, the nicest, most genuine man (usually manifested in the form of a bumbling, usually unpopular male MC that one could vicariously live through in their plot armor-clad march to victory) always won out in their own way. The men in the series that displayed such characteristics all ended up inevitably lacking in other areas that unfortunately their love and devotion could not compensate for, whether it be decisiveness, maturity, or resilience in the face of adversity. This resulted in unconsummated relationships that could not hold up against the constraints of circumstance, belying that the arena love had to contend in was a cold reality where it took far more than simply the authenticity of one’s feelings to achieve a happy ending. On all ends, the characters of Nana were exposes of the often base, self-serving drivers behind relationships and the tenuous ground on which they rested. Even the apparently “destined” relationship between Nana O. and Ren is left cold, abandoned and unfulfilled, much like Nana O. herself in her childhood, in the face of career ambitions and personal insecurities, insecurities that would eventually lead to the raw love between the two transforming into a complete liability. The cynicism of the series serves not as a final indictment of the institution of love itself as a failed ideal, however, as much as a recognition that it is an emotion as complex, varied, and imperfect as the imperfect mortals that will forever continue to suffer for it by their very nature as solitary, sentient beings seeking wholeness in that which lies outside of the constraints of the isolated self.


“I’ve always thought that life was about standing your ground, no matter how strong the current was. But going with the flow isn’t so bad after all, as long as it takes you forward.”

Perhaps for me, Nana was the right show at the right place at the right time in my life, a show that broke through the layers of jaded apathy I had built up over the years with its absolute refusal to compromise the integrity of its interactions to what for me had become hackneyed convention. The role of music within the plot itself, in the form of the professional rivalry and personal attachments between the bands Blast! and Trapnest, only serves to aesthetically enhance the impact of the music itself (not too shabby I must say) on the viewer. The artwork, embodied by long, glittering eyelashes, lanky, almost emaciated frames, and vibrant yet chillingly faded coloration, would certainly be an acquired taste for many, but serves perfectly through its attention to detail in visually representing every single emotion that passes through the hearts of the characters. The beauty of the execution brings the nuanced realism that underpins Nana’s appeal into a realm of hyperbolized exaggeration, where the repeated destruction of the cliché itself at the hands of the characters turns them into a new pantheon of ideological representation. I suppose the supreme irony is that the full essence of reality, in its all of its uncomfortable glory, could be so appropriately represented by fictionally, drawn characters in such a visually appealing waltz. Not a single second did pass however, that I was not fully ensorcelled. Now if only they would adapt the rest of the manga, if it ever finishes.

Nana is about two girls who share a lot in common including the same apartment and name. While one aims to be a famous musician the other aims to have the perfect love life. However,things don't go their way and it is a story of the trials and tribulations they go through.

The story is amazing in that is is so realistic. The most realistic anime i have ever seen. It shows the harshness of reality and this allows people to empathize with the characters as well as keep you glued to the screen because you don't know what will happen next,(life is unpredictable). The romance ... is also very realistic and not so much idealistic so i find it more worth while to watch, though it can be quite harsh to some who are used to the more "easily" acheived lovelife.This is also where a lot of drama is inculcated into the anime so if your a drama-romance fan you will defnitely like it.

The art is good, not like your typical animes, it has a more unique style and is particularly good in the illustration of the characters.Nothing bad about it at all.

The songs are fantastic! I loved every single one of the songs sun g by both bands(the opening and closing songs are performed by the bands as well).The songs are punk-rock mostly but there is one or two more light-hearted songs, but i still like them all even though im not much of a punk rock fan.

The characters are the anime's winning factor. The characters are all so vivid, all the chraracters are expressed well being able to see all their pasts, it gives you a better understanding of the story and the reason for their dreams. The character development is also astounding, one of the best i've seen, they mature a lot from the beginning to the end. Back to my previous point that most of the characters have a significant role to play which makes it quite realistic in that you are not focusing on only the main characters but the supporting chracters have a big role to play and this makes the story complex and entertaining.

I enjoyed the anime a lo, from the songs to the characters to the story, it was all very good. There is a fair bit of comic relief in the anime and you really get swept away with it, i was like shouting at the screen at point at the main characters decisions,it was very engaging. But i must warn people that the ending can be said to be quite open ended which bothers me a bit as well.But its the same for the manga as well, and it is quite a surprise too(go watch and youll see, the last episode is a big surprise) it leaves you with a ton of questioons if you only watch the anime. But i suspect there will be a second season because of the ending and it was quite clear that the company will show the rest after the manga finishes. So i really look foward to it. It is definitely worth watching though it is adviced for a slightly more mature audience because it is really about REAL LIFE, not your idealistic bullshit.

This is the only anime I gave a rating of 10. One of the best manga to anime adaptations I have ever seen. The pacing is nice and slow, perfect for character development. Plenty of time to go into the back stories of the characters which really helped draw me in. Getting to know the characters feels the same as getting to know someone in real life. You can't make judgments about a certain character as their complex personalities are revealed delicately. and one finds that the characters are far from stereotype. Even the supporting characters will wake the empath in anyone. They ... are the type to move you. Make you fall in love with the characters as they make you laugh, cry, or feel annoyance, frustration, even hate. Yazawa Ai is a genius.

The plot is rich with heart wrenching and heart-tugging moments. Girls, get a box of tissues ready. This is not to say that NANA can only be appreciated by girls. True, there is romance but it explores the psyche of two women in a way that men will still derive some value in watching it because if ever they do decide to sit down and watch this, it will give them a better insight on women. Oh and did I mention this is a mature anime?

I am crossing my fingers for the continuation of the anime. Although I read the manga, I don't want to miss the music. The songs and the seiyuu are excellent, especially coupled with the music...ahh the music. These elements really brought the manga to life.

NANA is perhaps one of the better shoujo series out there, and I give full credit to Yazawa-sensei's beautiful characterization and plot developments. This series is very character-driven, and without its memorable characters, it wouldn't be half as good as it is. And when it comes to plot, yes, it's filled with your typical shoujo elements but they're all done well, which just goes to show that it is possible to breathe life into old cliches.

Story -- As I said, the plot is very character-driven, focusing heavily on two girls who, by amazing coincidence, are so similar but also very different as they walk their ... paths of life. It really would be nowhere if it weren't for all the wonderful characters that Yazawa-sensei has created. Furthermore, the story in the anime is so heart-wrenchingly told at certain points. The narrations at the beginning and end of each episode are told as if the future Nana or Hachi are looking back on old memories, reminiscing and possibly regretting, questioning and hoping, leaving you to wonder if Nana and Hachi ever got their happy ending.

Meanwhile, the pacing of the story was very well done. At times, especially near the beginning, I thought it lagged a bit much by going over the Nana and Hachi train meeting, but after that's over and done with, it goes at what I considered a perfect pace. I never felt once that the story was dragging and was always wanting to know what would happen in the next episode.

Art -- The art was done very nicely. The colours were vibrant but never too unrealistic, and the animation and CGI were smooth and never felt cheap. If I had any complaint, I'd say that the characters were often drawn too thin to the point where they looked anorexic or even completely unrealistic, even for anime characters. Otherwise, it was all very good.

Sound -- For anime series revolving around music, I tend to judge the music a little more harshly. Still, I loved all the songs from both Blast and Trapnest. Anna Tsuchiya provides a harsher, rougher tone, that nicely reflect Nana's character and style, while Olivia Lufkin's softer vocals provide a more romantic and feminine tone, which again shows the theme of contrasts. When the OPs or EDs were used as insert songs, they were done very appropriately and suited the situations well, so they didn't feel randomly thrown in for the sake of having music. The other background music tracks were less noteworthy and barely noticeable, to be honest.

The voice acting was done very well and I applaud all the voice actors here because they did a terrific job. They were very believable from when they were laughing and having fun to when they were crying, yelling, or frustrated.

Character -- Like I said, this series is so character-driven it would be nowhere near this level if it weren't for them. The contrast between the two Nanas was done excellently - you really get the sense that they play off each other well and that their friendship is so deep that it's hard to describe in words and is something that can only be felt. Meanwhile, the relationships between all the other characters are complex and tangled, and the ways in which they deal with these complexities is incredibly realistic.

Junko summarizes it nicely in the later episodes when she says, "There really is no right answer to these questions" because in real life, there really isn't. You have to do what you can do and make the best out of a bad situation, even if it means that someone is going to get hurt in the end, and it's these things that Yazawa's characters contemplate and face. They hurt others, get hurt themselves, make mistakes, and as a result, they learn and grow. Or in the end, they might realize it's an "eat or be eaten" kind of world and that "justice doesn't always prevail" (as Yasu puts it). And as they face these problems of life, you can really identify with them and cheer them on to simply do their best. After all, that's all anyone can ask, right?

Overall -- NANA is truly a series to watch, especially if you like shoujo. But it's not your typical shoujo. It's something different and goes beyond your simple clichés, but in order to truly understand it, this is something you have to watch.

“You know Hachi, I've been alone for a long time and I've felt lonely practically for all my life, but back then when I turned around and found you intent on cheering up our devastated lives, for a few seconds, I felt as if I had finally found a real home… our home.”

Watching NANA takes me back to the first month that I moved out of home with a friend into the big wide world. Not knowing how to get electricity connected or how we were going to survive with $10 in our bank accounts. Literally going months without buying groceries or how tiresome it ... got walking up and down the countless flights of stairs. To me, Nana is one of the most realistic anime shows to date.

Love. Friendship. Family. Identity. Independence. Reality. Arguments. Memories. Dreams. Beliefs. Morals. Fate. NANA covers the contents of life. The good, the bad and the uncertainty this is life itself. Which is part of the reason why I feel as though it is completely relate-able to.

The character development was strong from beginning to end. Every main character had the spotlight to share their past, and they all grew in front of us. They weren't portrayed at the ideal human beings, just every day people who have dreams and have to work hard to make a living. I believe it allowed viewers to quickly learn about each character, forming a bond between viewers and characters based on personality.

The music… Ah the music. Seeing as this anime is based around the theme of music, it’s obvious that it was going to be good. But from the moment that I listened to the OP in episode 1, it had already surpassed my expectations and I was drawn in, needing to hear more. I’m a fan!

The artwork in this series was better than I thought. Initially i wasn't too fond of the work but after time passed it really grew on me. It pushes the boundaries of society with the thin bodies, ripped clothing, and identity. Many people don’t like this style because many of the characters look malnourished, however this is anime. It defies logic, and it shouldn't be thought of as a personal attack against humans who aren't stick thin. It is simply the style that is best suited towards the plot and image of characters personalities. My only negative is that some episodes were noticeably better than others.

Now that I have basically just shared my embarrassing love for this anime, I suppose I had better discuss my one and only negative, rather than being biased. The ending... it really didn't sit well with me. I've got questions that I need answers to! It felt rushed in my opinion and I wish there was one last episode or ova so that my questions can be answered. But in saying that i still enjoyed the ending, it just had a lot to live up to.

I've been procrastinating about watching NANA for a loooooooong time, as I didn't expect that I would like it as much as everyone else was claiming. I regret waiting so long. I’m a sucker for a nice friendship/romance story, and that is exactly what NANA delivered, except with a more realistic twist on it.

I loved every minute of it, and would recommend everyone who hasn’t already seen this to watch it. This was truly special.

Now I understand the prologues that begin during each episodes.

Nana is one of those anime series that is just realistic and not one of those magical girls with big boobs or high school romance cliche. I've always had a soft spot for anime with character development. Nana is a perfect example for character development, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

I did not know what to expect from this show, it has been on my "Planning to watch" list but I never got the chance to watch it. And I don't regret watching it. I just love how this show is like an ... opposite attracts kind of show. Nana Osaki being the punk rock girl while Nana Komatsu being the cheerful cute girl the band members call Hachi.

The relationship between the two girls is just amazing. The ending of the anime was just sad, honestly I wanted Hachi to be with Nobu. I never thought Hachi would pick Takumi over Nobu which upsets me. Towards the ending of the anime was kind of depressing. I wish the anime would have completed with the same ending of the manga.

The art of the anime gives off that old school vibe, which I like. New anime these days only focus on boobs or panties for their artwork which is kind of annoying but fine for fan service. This show mostly consists of desires for each character.

Overall I give this anime a 10. When I have the time I go on Netlfix to watch this show. There should be more anime that focuses on character development, because this one exceeded my expectations.

if this is the 12 years old me that's writing this review, i will give it a solid 2. The first time i watched this, i only lasted 5 episodes and i said "no more". Few years later, i feel like i'm missing out because everyone who are familiar with anime love Nana. So i watched it again. I guess its because i'm much older and mature, i actually understand and feel the emotions the characters were portraying.

The characters are realistic and the story seems as if it is actually happening somewhere in this world. I feel like i'm watching a real live action ... drama when i'm watching Nana. I love so many things about this series. The music. The plot. The feels especially. Whenever i see Nana related post or hear the songs, i feel nostalgic as if it used to be something that meant a lot to me when i was growing up, but it's been only a few months since i finished it. That's the kind of impact Nana gives to me. and i don't always feel that with a lot of other things.

i really hope the manga will be finished soon and the anime will be continued from where it left off.

(This has been adapted from my reddit thread)

Hey, Nana....When I think about the different experiences you've had, with your band, with Ren, and most importantly with Hachiko, I begin to realize something. That love is not always what it means. On the outside, love is this perfect sphere of happiness and joy that can never be tainted. But on the inside, it's a swirling mess of betrayal, sadness, and hardship that leaves scars that even time cannot heal. But despite all of this, the connections we establish with the people that we truly love are impossible to break. It's with this mentality in mind that ... "Nana" goes down as one to remember.

STORY

Nana, like the name implies, is a story about two young women, both conveniently named Nana. After moving in together, their relationship with each other and with those around them is tested on a multitude of levels.

"Nana" the show is a trek. Resting at 47 episodes for its single season, it is a lot to get through (based off of conventional anime standards). But it's for this reason that the show is just so good. Having so much time to work with the characters and the story allows everything to be fleshed out, explored, and developed as much as possible. One might think the opposite, that most of the progression would begin to stagnate due to the sheer amount of episodes. But with "Nana," this was not the case.

As described in my preview, "Nana" focuses heavily on love and all that it entails. This should be interpreted literally; all facets of love are explored and investigated over the course of the show. From betrayal to true passion, nothing is off limits. This is something that the show can do so well because of the setting itself. The cast involved are all (more or less) over 20 years old. Meaning, this isn't your run-of-the-mill romantic comedy. It's a mature, adult look at the relationships and love between men and women. For this reason alone it is already unique in the anime world. Most shows do not look at relationships "so far ahead" because that isn't the demographic. But even disregarding the show's maturity, its ability to capture this essence of what it means to love and be loved makes it far superior compared to other romantic shows.

When watching "Nana," the story is told from an interesting perspective. It's done in such a way that you know something isn't quite right early on, and that the overall progression of the story is leading up to this reveal. The entire time, you are wondering how the characters are going to end up not only individually but with each other.

By the time the story concludes, despite everything that you've been through, it still leaves you wanting more. The show ends on a rather peculiar note that has many unanswered questions left, but it is succinct enough to let you know that, for better or for worse, love is and always will be this rather strange phenomenon.

ANIMATION

"Nana," like its subject material, takes on a rather mature look. The art style is rather realistic, both in terms of the environments and the locations depicted, as well as with the characters. Whether it is the buildings, decor, or its people, everything just feels "older" when compared to regular anime. The show does incorporate reaction and minimalist faces, but this is almost always used for comedic effect.

Talking about the actual animation in the show is different. When looking at it critically, it is rather average. The show is dialogue heavy, but even for the sections that involve character movement, there isn't much detail. This is especially true when it comes to the most important sections which are the band performances. Many of the shots are either cut in such a way as to not show the characters performing their instruments or the shots that are used are recycled throughout the show. This is unfortunate considering how well everything else is done, but the show's actual animation is just not on the same level.

CHARACTERS

One of "Nana's" strongest parts is in its characters and their characterization. There are way too many to go into great detail about, but I will talk about my favorite three. Suffice it to say that they are all very well done and any one of them can be talked about at great length.

Let's start with Nana-one, or "Hachiko" as she becomes later on. Hachiko is caring, loud, dependent, and carefree. Her view on love begins rather one-sided. That is to say, she believes that love is something that should be cherished dearly and can only bring someone happiness. She realizes through the relationships that she has that love is not so simple. Love brings both pleasure and pain, for both the receiving and the giving parties. As Hachiko begins to experience these different sides to love, her character also begins to change. While she starts off rather immature in her view on the world, by the show's end it is clear that she understands that love is not as idealistic as she initially made it out to be.

One of my favorite characters from the show is Shin. Shin, despite his appearance, is among the most mature and wise people within the group. While his past is mysterious and ominous, his troubles give his view on love the exact opposite take when compared to Hachiko. Where she views love as something to be obtained, Shin views love as something to be used. Shin starts off using love for his own personal benefit, but he learns that love's best rewards come from not hogging it all to oneself and instead sharing it with someone who you care for deeply.

Arguably one of the best, if not the best, character from the show is Nana-two, or simply Nana. Like the rest of the cast, her relationships with those around her are both strong and broken. While her demeanor gives off a cold, stoic vibe, she is actually quite soft and sensitive towards the people around her. While she never goes out of her way to make her feelings known, she is always in a constant struggle trying to balance the varying forms of love she has for everyone.

Most notably, her and Hachiko's relationship is, understandably, the most interesting. They care deeply for one another, not as friends or as lovers, but as something in-between. It's almost as if they were sisters separated at birth. They could not be any more different personality-wise, but their connection to each other is something special to behold. It guides the shows narrative and more often than not it decides the characters actions. In this way, Nana and Hachiko understand that the love they have for one another isn't something that can just be explained. It's almost like this ethereal existence that, no matter what may occur between them, their invisible link will never be broken.

SOUND

"Nana," alongside being a romantic comedy, is also of the music genre.

The first OP of the three is, to me, the best among everything that the show has to offer. It's punk-rock sound and lyrics fit so perfectly with the show it's almost scary. I still remember the lyrics and that sweet sounding guitar. The second OP is also very good. Coupled with the visuals, it gives you this feeling of drowning or being trapped that mirrors its section of the anime. The third OP goes back to the punk-rock roots to finish off the show on a high note. The beat and especially the lyrics just make you want to jump off your feet and to "keep going on."

The EDs take on a different role by being generally more melancholy. The first ED seems rather boring relative to the other OPs and EDs, but its meaning actually serves a greater purpose once the entire story has actually been told. The second ED is my favorite of the three. Its beautiful singing always captivates me when I hear it and its inclusion in the show was a definite boon. The third ED is perhaps the weakest, but it is by no means bad. Its sound gives off a sense of hope and longing for things out of reach.

I said this briefly, but what all three of the OPs and all three of the EDs do extremely well is be relevant. If you pay attention to their sound, tempo, and lyrics, they have a much greater meaning to them in relation to what is currently happening in the show than them just being a few different pieces of music.

The rest of the soundtrack is fine. Nothing amazing of note, but all of the pieces are used appropriately and sound fitting enough for the shows overall tone and atmosphere.

As for voice acting, Midori Kiwana as Nana/Hachiko and Romi Park as Nana do a fantastic job in their respective roles.

ENJOYMENT

You would be hard pressed to find another anime watcher who loves romance more than I do. If I can ship a couple in a show, I do it immediately. If there are any hints whatsoever as to two characters having feelings for one another, I'm already having a huge, beaming smile on my face. So, for many parts of Nana, I was in heaven. Not only because of the constant romantic developments but also because it was something that I could potentially relate to.

Beyond the romance, the show is surprisingly very funny. Again, due to its adult-like nature, many of the jokes are older, dealing with topics such as sex and work. But at the same time, the show can also be more playful, such as making Hachiko "act" like a little puppy or having a character's cigarette floating in the air due to shock. The vast majority of the laughing happens in the first half of the show because the vast majority of the drama occurs in the second half.

There really isn't anything that "Nana" does wrong. It has strong characterization, memorable music, mature themes, nice humor, and good story-telling. I can't remember where I read it before, but sometimes "Nana" is referred to as the "Fullmetal Alchemist of romance." And after completing the entire season, I can safely say that it is absolutely worthy of this title.

SUMMARY

Story: Great, love is investigated inside and out

Animation: Good, mature look with average actual animation

Characters: Great, their experiences define the show

Sound: Great, every OP and ED has meaning, soundtrack is nice, VAs perform wonderfully

Enjoyment: Great, romantic, funny, and mature

Final Score: 9/10

FIRST of all-- i dont often write reviews, and to be honest i tend to be picky so you may or may not agree with what i have to say. but im putting this out there as a WARNING for anyone else like me who read the reviews and came to an entirely different conclusion. This anime has an amazing story, crazy good character establishment, and the art and sound are of course up to par. WHY then did i give this such a poor score? because according to reviews, synopses, and even by genre this was supposed to be a perfect story. every perfect ... story has their tragedies, their tear-jerkers, and their heart wrenching scenes. but in the end, a perfect story leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling. haha ok so i dont need it to be some shallow "the prince and princess live happily ever after" shit. but i expected to feel satisfied after heartbreak occurred over and over again. i wont ruin this review by adding a serious spoiler here but i want you to know that after several depressing episodes leading up to the finale, the "happy ending" was nowhere to be seen. for me, this was an anime that was the work of a genus. the one obstacle that killed this story for me was the one name i needed to see on the happy ending list; NOBUO.

Being young is really really hard. You go out into the world and it's up to you to figure out how to be a human being and fend for yourself. You have big dreams and a big heart and you want everything now now now. You meet incredible people and you swear you'll stay together forever because they're so cool and amazing and you've never had so much fun.

But then life happens. People change. The guy you were madly in love with actually sucks. You find someone else but it's not quite the same. You drift apart from old friends. The people you ... love pick up worrying habits. You learn that being surrounded by people doesn't mean you can't be lonely. And you learn to live with that and make peace with it, as you go down your own path and your friends go down theirs.

As you get older, the burden of those memories weighs you down more and more, until you feel your heels start to sink into the pavement. You think about the things you regret not saying. You miss the people you let slip away. You long for those summer nights of just tangled bodies, smoke, fireworks, staying up late, and convenience store snacks. It almost makes the tears, bruises, and heartbreak worth it. You're so full of memories it hurts. And you know by the time you get old, really old, it'll ache and ache and ache.

Nana's premise is simple: a bunch of twenty year olds want to be musicians and lovers and two girls share the same name. But it's anything but simple. The characters, themselves nuanced and complicated people, have to make incredibly hard decisions and you just sit there and watch as they have fun together and break each other's hearts, all while trying to make it in a cutthroat industry. It's heavy, heavy stuff. Every episode hits you like a freight train. But more than anything, I'm so happy this exists. I'm so happy there are characters like Nana who throw a middle finger to gender norms. I'm happy there are characters like Hachiko who show that kind people with loving hearts can still do awful things and not be vilified for it. I'm happy there are healthy relationships between men and women, and some unhealthy ones that highlight why they are unhealthy. I love it when artists embrace the messy complexity of human beings and showcase that in their art.

I'm really glad I found this at the time in my life that I did. Love you Nana!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3

NANA is a slice of life anime, combined with romance and drama also about music.Some people will call this a josei or shoujo anime, but there sure will be guys who will like this too. I don't think it is the perfect anime, but I do think this is one of the best anime of this kind of genre.

- Story 8.5/10
Like I said, it's a slice of a life anime. You can expect it to go about normal life issues, ups and downs, about struggles, hopelessness, and happiness, like the realistic life. It's a pretty deep anime, and the story was bringed out very well ... Imo.

- Where the story is about
It goes about two young women who are both share the name ''Nana'' (Means 7 in japanese) and age (20 years old) who met each other in a train and began sharing their lives. One of them is a vocalist of a band(''Black Stones''). In the beginning it's more about the other Nana (''Hachi'') not part of the band, later in the anime it goes more about her roommate's life too. It goes about their work, friends, and relationships, which are connected to another band as well (''Trapnest''). Those members of the two bands are involved too, they play a big role in the story.

- Art 9/10
The artwork and animation are awesome. I think it's a pretty unique artwork, since I haven't seen anything like this so far. It's very detailed, they did a great job.

- Sound 10/10
The voices and the background sounds ect. were very good. The voices didn't sound exaggerated at all, which I hear sometimes in anime.. and they fitted the characters perfectly Imo. I also like the music very much, but what else do you expect from an anime about music?

- Characters 8.5/10
I like the characters from NANA, they all have their own, unique not completely perfect personality. It feels for me they introduced them also well, they show you history about almost all of them. You emperize in their live, thoughts, feelings and grow with them. You really can get attached to them.

- ''Enjoyment'' 8/10
Everyone experiences it in a different way. Everyone has different tastes and preferences. There were parts for me I loved, but also parts I found a bit boring, but in overall I'd give it an 8. It was definitely worth spending my time on.

I recommed you to watch it, at least try it. I didn't love it right away when I started watching it either.

Enjoy! ^^