Summary
Coming-of-age anime realistically depicts the challenges and changes that occur during the transition from childhood to adulthood. These shows explore the journey of self-discovery and the search for identity, often through unique and complex storylines. The main characters of these stories face obstacles and struggles, but ultimately learn and grow, making these anime some of the best in the genre.
Teenage anime focuses on the transition from childhood to adulthood, during which time one is inevitably faced with many changes and new feelings. Change is never easy to adapt to, especially in the face of other external factors, such as new environments or special situations that are difficult to talk about, but not impossible either. , and these programs realistically describe all aspects of the process.
This stage is also often characterized by an earnest desire to explore one’s identity and explore one’s likes, dislikes, fears, and passions. Especially when considering all the new situations and questions that will inevitably arise, it is clear that such a journey is rarely easy, but true growth and development never comes without opposition. face a number of challenges, a fact that the protagonists of these stories understand better than anyone else. anyone else.
10 Anohana: The flower we saw that day
Jinta Yadomi’s peaceful life is suddenly interrupted when the ghost of Meiko Honma suddenly appears, asking him to reunite their group of old friends and grant her forgotten wish. This mission proves to be quite difficult, as Jinta and his friends have grown apart after Meiko’s death, unable to accept the idea of being together without her. Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day follows their story as they make amends for the past and forgive themselves and each other, in an attempt to make their longtime friend happy. This, in turn, allows them to finally start living freely again, after being frozen in time for so long.
9 children on the slope
Kids on the Slope is a heartfelt story of friendship and growth, following three different characters brought together by their passion for music, especially jazz. The story revolves around Kaoru Nishimi, a top student who always has trouble fitting in and making friends, Sentarou Kawabuchi, a criminal who is considered scary but appears to be extremely kind and is really passionate about jazz music. , and Ritsuko Mukae, Sentarou’s childhood friend and traveling companion. daughter of a record store owner. Through their time together, the three not only discover each other but also themselves, grow and mature together, and learn about the complexities of love.
8 Chihayafuru
Chihayafuru is a unique josei sports title about three main characters and their relationships not only with each other but also with karuta, a competitive game that requires exceptional memory and agility. Chihaya Ayase is a girl who initially has no dreams of her own, wanting nothing more than to see her sister succeed in her modeling career, until she meets Arata Wataya, a talented karuta player. , who introduced her to the sport. Arata, Chihaya and Taichi Mashima, Chihaya’s childhood friend, all struggle with various questions and emotions as they grow up, especially as they grow apart, occasionally stumbling on their path to self-discovery. .
7 Wandering Sons
The process of growing up involves a lot of questioning and self-discovery, often about one’s gender and sexuality. As far as the anime medium is concerned, there are few shows that explore this subject more seriously than Wandering Son. The story revolves around two of the best LGBTQ+ anime characters, Shuuich Nitori and Yoshino Takatsuki, who struggle with their gender identity. However, it is this shared discomfort that allows the two to become friends and share their pains and concerns with each other, as they embark on the difficult journey of understanding and acceptance. themselves, as well as overcoming puberty and the pressures of society.
6 Silver Spoons
Silver Spoon revolves around Yuugo Hachiken, who, tired of the pressure and expectations of his family, embarks on a new journey by himself, attending a boarding school. So he ended up at Ooezo Agricultural High School, located in rural Hokkaido, where he was confident that he could succeed despite having no interest in agriculture, knowing he was a hard-working and responsible person. . However, he soon found himself out of his depth, surrounded by peers much more familiar with the world of agriculture. However, it was this challenging life that seemed to have finally given him purpose and understanding of his own dreams.
5 Silence at sea
There are few ways of representing growth and development as clearly as the passage of time, and that is exactly the narrative device that A Lull in the Sea uses. The story takes place in a world where all humans originally lived at the bottom of the ocean, but some chose to live on the surface, which gradually led to a rift between the two. Now, with their school closed, the four children of the sea are forced to attend a school on the water, where they inevitably face discrimination. To add to their troubles, they are also in the process of growing up, learning new emotions and grappling with change as well as some of the most confusing relationships in anime.
4 ladies
Nana is quite different from the other entries on this list, and really most anime shows in general, as it features an adult cast. The film is about two heroines who officially leave their hometown and accidentally meet each other in Tokyo, where Nana Komatsu is pursuing romance and Nana Osaki is looking for music stardom. They couldn’t be more different, but they strike up an unlikely friendship and their destinies become intertwined. Although they are both adults when they begin living together, both Nanas continue to grow and develop throughout the film, only later reaching a point of true maturity and true understanding of themselves. close.
March 3 Comes Like a Lion
Although many people may envy him because he is an elite shogi player and has become a professional since middle school, March Comes In Like A Lion’s Rei Kiriyama does not lucky clown, with his talent being more of a burden than anything. Rei had a traumatic childhood, never being able to form real relationships with his adoptive family, which is why he became increasingly isolated and lonely, struggling with depression. However, after moving to Tokyo on his own and meeting the warm-hearted Kawamoto sisters, he finally finds the family he’s always wanted and learns to open up, mature, and mature along the way. .
2 From the new world
With most other coming-of-age stories being grounded and often positive, From the New World easily stands out by taking place in a more complex Sci-Fi world and having dark and mature. The story takes place in a world where humanity is changed by a sudden outbreak of psionic powers, with peace only achieved through the self-isolation of those with the power. However, a group of children attending such a spiritual school end up learning more than they should have, struggling not only with the process of growing up and accepting their own future, but also with the mysteries of the world around them.
1 Tsuki ga Kirei
Tsuki ga Kirei is a classic story of teenage love, complete with all its inherent innocence and uncertainty. The story primarily follows Akane Mizuno and Kotarou Azumi, two middle school students who slowly but surely fall in love, although other characters are also given attention and given a lot of time to develop, allowing the viewer to observe many different views and feelings. spent youth. Even under the best of circumstances, true love rarely comes without heartbreak, and that couldn’t be more evident, as Akane and Kotarou often have difficulty understanding and expressing their feelings. This realistic depiction is what makes it one of the best romance anime.
Even in the most normal and grounded environments, growing up is a complicated process, and self-discovery is always difficult. Adding other elements into the mix, such as the fantastical elements that depict some of these stories, or the realistic traumas and struggles their main characters are facing, only makes things worse. things get more complicated. Yet, despite all the obstacles they have to overcome and all the difficult feelings they have to deal with, the protagonists of these stories are still able to truly grow and develop. of their title is one of the best stories. teenage anime when.
