Passion drives you towards the brightest path of life. It fuels up your determination to pursue something you love the most. After all, passion is the key to true happiness. If you want to achieve something, then don’t just dream. Stand up and make it real, just like how Carole and Tuesday walk through their musical journey.

Carole & Tuesday is the story of two young girls who encounter each other in the most unexpected circumstances. Tuesday Simmons comes from a high-profile family. She runs away from home carrying her Gibson acoustic guitar to pursue her dream to become a great musician. She crosses the path of Carole Stanley, another aspiring musician, who loves to play the piano. As these two youngsters become closer and share the same passion, they decide to team up as a singer-songwriter duo under the name Carole & Tuesday.  

Carole & Tuesday is more than just a music anime. With its beautiful music, inspiring story, and genuine characters, it offers a similar feel to many stories that are equally passionate, heartwarming, and full of fun. MANGA.TOKYO wants to recommend to you some anime similar to Carole & Tuesday.

BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad

2004
26 Episodes

BECK is a coming-of-age anime series that centers on Yukio ‘Koyuki’ Tanaka, a fourteen-year-old ordinary boy who doesn’t have any goals in life. Everything changes when he encounters Ryuusuke ‘Ray’ Minami who is a guitarist and a former member of a popular rock band. As they get more acquainted with one another, Koyuki starts to see the beauty of rock music. Together with other members, they form a group called BECK to achieve their dream in the most glamorous musical journey. 

While Carole & Tuesday highlights the appeal of pop and classical music and the art of songwriting which mostly targets youngsters with its goal-oriented theme, BECK focuses on western rock culture that feels more energetic and fierce. Both anime are worth watching if you’re a big fan of different varieties of musical entertainment. Like Carole & Tuesday, BECK has English lyrics in most of their songs which are full of meaningful words. Added to that, both anime have some dramatic angles that deeply resonate with the audience.

Fukumenkei Noise

Spring 2017
12 Episodes

A story about young romance, Fukumenkei Noise is a 12-episode anime that is packed with melodramatic moments. It involves a love triangle, childhood memories, and everything you might label as typical scenarios when it comes to a teenage romantic story. The anime isn’t something new to the world of romance, but it will definitely soothe your heart.

While this anime focuses more on its romance genre, unlike Carole & Tuesday that is solely associated with music, Fukumenkei Noise still gives the same vibes with the dramatic aspect of Carole and Tuesday’s struggle with their musical dream. Both anime are relatable as to their goal-oriented stories, and both are pleasantly entertaining when it comes to their music genre.

Nodame Cantabile

Winter 2007 (Season 1): 23 Episodes
Fall 2008 (Season 2): 11 Episodes
Winter 2010 (Season 3): 11 Episodes 

This is a story of two talented musicians who meet each other in the most unexpected circumstances. Shinichi Chiaki is bound to leave Japan to pursue his dreams in Europe to become an elite musician. However, he has a phobia of riding in a plane. He is a third-year music student in Momogaoka Music Academy. He meets Megumi Noda by accident, a second year music student who plays the piano, and she lives next door to Chiaki. The two become closer, and soon realize that they have romantic feelings for one another.

Nodame Cantabile captures the spectacular musical core from Carole & Tuesday. While the anime is a lot more mature in tone, unlike Carole & Tuesday which focuses on young characters chasing their dreams, both anime stand out not only in terms of their incredible music but also their very inspiring stories which are relatable in many ways. If you’re looking for a unique blend of music and romance genre, then Nodame Cantabile is the one anime you’ve been searching for.

NANA

Spring 2006
47 Episodes 

This is a story of two individuals who share the same name, Nana. They encounter each other in one fateful moment, and their friendship starts to blossom. While Nana Komatsu is a helpless, clingy woman to her boyfriend, the other Nana, Nana Osaki, is a punk-styled vocalist of a band. Both ‘Nana’ decide to pursue their common goals while they support each other to the highest extent. NANA is your anime of choice if you’re looking for a perfect world of music, fashion, and complicated romance.

NANA is similar to Carole & Tuesday when it comes to how the story starts with two strangers and how their encounter has changed their lives. Although NANA is a lot more mature with its complex storyline and doesn’t have some fancy tone, it still captures the dramatic angle found in the friendship between Carole and Tuesday. Also, both anime havevery lively and engaging musical performances that are pleasant to the ears. 

Your Lie in April

Fall 2014
22 Episodes 

Very popular in the anime community, Your Lie in April has reached the heart and soul of its audience. This is the story of Kousei Arima, an ordinary boy who loves music. However, his childhood memories remain the most tragic event of his life. It was when his mother passed away, and she was the only person who forcefully let him continue his music career. Due to his mental breakdown, his musical world shatters until he meets a blonde, beautiful girl named Kaori. Kousei gradually learns to trust his ability to play the piano with the help of Kaori. The two become much closer as they share their boundless passion for music.

Your Lie in April is fantastic and its music blends well with the drama and romance. It is similar to Carole & Tuesday when it comes to the story of young individuals who struggle to reach their musical dreams while surpassing all the barriers and difficulties along their journey. Your Lie in April is more focused on classical music, Carole & Tuesday feels more youthful. Although with a slight difference as to their musical aspects, both anime offer the same sentimental stories and emotional melodies, and they are pleasant gems that soothe your heart.

Your Lie in April Series Review

K-On!

Spring 2009 (Season 1): 13 Episodes
Spring 2010 (Season 2): 26 Episodes

This anime is about four high school girls who join the Light Music Club of Sakuragaoka High School. The story starts with Yui Hirasawa. Although she doesn’t know how to play any instruments, she ends up joining the music club, and to her surprise, she is greeted by other three members. Although Yui lacks any musical skills, the members are able to convince her to join their club to prevent it from being disbanded. Their bonding becomes more exciting as they find the beauty of their own music.

K-On! is very fun and cute. Although it’s a music anime, it is also a slice of life series that has a focus on high school girls and their common goal to make the most pleasant musical entertainment. Both K-On! and Carole & Tuesday highlight the importance of friendship, teamwork, and determination. Plus, they both feature young girls who deeply struggle to reach their musical dreams. 

Fuuka

Winter 2017
12 Episodes 

The story starts with Yuu Haruna, a socially awkward guy and an avid Twitter user, who accidentally bumps into a strange girl named Fuuka Akitsuki (the heroine of the story). Yuu is accused of being a pervert as the girl thinks that he was taking a picture of her panties. Fuuka leaves behind a CD, and Yuu soon returns it to her. As Fuuka realizes that Yuu is a good guy, they become closer, and romance blossoms. They start their own band called The Fallen Moon. However, Koyuki, Yuu’s childhood friend and now an idol, invites him to attend her concert.

Fuuka has a complicated love triangle that highlights the complexity of young romance. Despite the involvement of musical entertainment, Fuuka is rather more on romance (with a little fan service) unlike Carole & Tuesday that is purely associated with music. However, what’s even more compelling that is found in both titles is the emotional core that deeply touches the heart of the audience. Also, both anime have a theme about friendship and teamwork.

Manga Video: See Mangaka Kouji Seo Draw Fuuka

Kids on the Slope

Spring 2012
12 Episodes

Kaoru Nishimi is a first-year high school student who moves to Kyushu to live with his relatives. Everything changes when he encounters a delinquent boy named Sentarou Kawabuchi who inspires Kaoru to learn more about jazz music. While Kaoru is a good pianist, he gradually learns to love the genre and even plays the piano in after-school jazz sessions. Their friendship grows stronger as they share the same appeal and passion for music. 

Kids on the Slope, also known as Sakamichi no Apollon, is very heartwarming and inspiring like the story of Carole and Tuesday. Although the anime features a different music genre, it captures the classical ambiance from the musical performance of Carole & Tuesday. Both anime highlight the beauty of classical music in the most realistic approach. 

Real Localization – Kids on the Slope and My Journey with Sasebo Dialect

Welcome to the Ballroom

Summer 2017
24 Episodes

Life has become complicated for Tatara Fujita as he doesn’t know what future lies ahead for him. One day, he encounters a man named Kaname Sengoku who invites him to a dance studio. Everything starts to become brighter and more glamorous for Tatara as he learns to appreciate the beauty of ballroom dancing. His fellow classmate, Shizuku Hanaoka, is also a part of the studio, and both of them become closer. They set on a journey towards the most passionate world of dancing.

The anime isn’t related to music per ce, but it has a very inspiring concept like Carole & Tuesday. It focuses on individuals trying their best to show their passion and talent, and this particular appeal is found in the competitive world of Carole & Tuesday. Both anime have main characters that end up in the wonderful world of performing arts that is very engaging to watch. Plus, both anime have bright and lively animation that’s visually pleasing, especially during a particular performance.

Welcome to the Ballroom Series Review

Michiko & Hatchin

Fall 2008
22 Episodes

This anime is set in a fictional South African country. Michiko Malandro escapes from a prison fortress and rescues a young Latin American girl from her abusive foster parents. The little girl is known as Hatchin. It turns out that Hatchin’s biological father named Hiroshi is the former lover of Michiko. Both Michiko and Hatchin embark on a journey to search for him and to seek freedom for themselves.

Although Michiko & Hatchin doesn’t have any musical theme in the story, it’s quite similar to Carole & Tuesday. Both anime series start with two strangers who encounter each other in the most unexpected moment. Michiko and Hatchin make a strong bond while struggling with their fated journey to overcome their obstacles in life. Their adventures and how they pursue their goals offer the same kind of feel as when watching the inspiring story of Carole and Tuesday.

Michiko to Hatchin Series Review

Feel the melodies of love and friendship

The anime on the list are filled with lovely melodies. They will thrill you with their music and their worlds that are full of challenges. No matter how hard the circumstances could be for their characters, these anime will show you how joy and positivity about life can bring your own in perfect rhythm and harmony.