Girls Band Cry Review: Girls Band Cry (GBC) initially seems connected to the Love Live! franchise due to its lead writer Jukki Hanada, who worked on three of Love Live!’s main anime projects, and director Kazuo Sakai, who collaborated with Hanada on Love Live! Sunshine!! Both shows feature a group of girls coming together for a musical project, but any similarities between the two fade quickly. This Girls Band Cry review will highlight how, from the first episode, GBC distinguishes itself with its unique tone and setting.
While Love Live! is known for its cheerful and optimistic stories, Girls Band Cry is more grounded and realistic, even cynical. This Girls Band Cry review points out that it portrays a more authentic experience of starting a band in your late teens. The characters are high school dropouts and musicians in their 20s who work part-time jobs to fund their band. They perform at small venues that will give them a chance.
One subplot involves music copyright, where Momoka gave away the rights to her original songs after leaving her previous band and now has to watch that band succeed with her work. Girls Band Cry delves into the challenges of being a professional musician and the struggle between creating art and making money.
The character drama is driven by the constant clash between angst and hope. Nina and Momoka’s intertwining stories dominate the season, with their intense arguments reflecting their passion and dedication. Nina is determined to prove that her decision to strike out on her own was the right one, believing that staying true to herself was better than compromising with those who mistreated her.
Momoka, drawn to Nina’s fierce energy, struggles with her own regrets about her past choices, understanding all too well the price of standing by one’s beliefs in a tough entertainment industry. They push each other away while also pulling each other closer. Nina encourages Momoka to express her anger, while Momoka tries to protect them both from the harsh music industry.
Despite the intense drama, the real charm of Girls Band Cry, as highlighted in this Girls Band Cry review, lies in its ability to mix all that angst with sharp humor. The show is full of physical comedy, from Nina hitting a passerby with a lamp to bassist Rupa catching a beer can thrown at her and drinking it quickly. The drummer, Subaru, brings endless goofy and entertaining expressions, many of which are sarcastic.
Nina and Momoka often have loud arguments in crowded restaurants, adding a layer of awkward humor as strangers watch them throw drinks and make dramatic statements, while their bandmates either cringe or try to quietly leave. The slapstick comedy in this show perfectly balances its heavier moments.
As noted in this Girls Band Cry review, the show’s use of 3D animation might take some getting used to, but it suits its dramatic, comedic, and musical purposes. The characters are very expressive and move with a lot of energy, yet they can also deliver subtle performances, which is rare for many CG anime productions.
While there are some drawbacks, such as the simplistic backgrounds and occasionally stiff background characters, the overall direction makes the animation work well, making you forget you’re watching a 3D show—until the camera does something dynamic that wouldn’t be possible in a 2D production. Alongside a strong rock-inspired score, GBC seamlessly shifts between comedy, drama, tragedy, and other emotions you’d expect from the lives of struggling musicians.
This Girls Band Cry review emphasizes that the show’s visuals truly shine during the musical performances. Although not every episode features a new song, the band’s performances frequently serve as powerful climaxes to the characters’ conflicts, presented with the flair of a musical. The music of Togenashi Togeari is full of the same rebellious spirit as the characters, capturing their pain and loneliness while defying it.
The music blends modern rock with indie influences, making each performance dynamic and exciting. Even outside the context of the show, these performances are captivating, and in context, they provide some of the most satisfying moments in anime this year. These scenes are both visually stunning and emotionally impactful, often making viewers feel a mix of joy and sorrow.
While the show is emotionally engaging, some plot points are left unresolved by the final episode. This Girls Band Cry review notes that Nina’s story is well-developed, showcasing her as a complex character who is both charming and challenging.
Her journey is deep and layered, but it takes up so much screen time that the other characters don’t get as much attention. Momoka plays a significant role due to her connection to Nina, but others have only brief moments to shine, with Rupa barely getting any focus.
Additionally, the show’s rivals, Diamond Dust, particularly Hina, a former friend of Nina’s, have untold stories that are left unexplored. These loose ends suggest that the show’s characters are compelling enough to warrant more screen time, but without news of a continuation, it feels like missed potential.
There’s also the issue of accessibility, as this Girls Band Cry review explains. As of now, Girls Band Cry isn’t available on any English-language streaming service. The only way to watch it in North America is by purchasing the episodes digitally from online stores like Amazon Prime and the Microsoft Store, costing around $8-10 USD for the whole season.
While this isn’t much more than a month’s subscription to a typical streaming service, it’s still an extra hurdle for viewers. It’s unclear why this limited international release was chosen, but it’s an unusual choice for anime fans.
Despite these issues, as this Girls Band Cry review concludes, the show is worth the price of borrowing episodes through library services like Hoopla. Whether you’re a fan of the “Girls Band” genre or simply love music, Girls Band Cry offers an emotionally intense experience with a fantastic cast, impressive animation, and energetic songs. Missing it would mean missing one of the best anime of the year.
