Upon entering high school, Yui is immediately entranced by the Light Music Club. The problem is, she can’t play an instrument. Deciding to join the club anyway, the other club members, despite disappointment in her lack of musical knowledge, allow her to join to prevent the club’s disbandment. Today begins Yui’s musical education!
There are some that think K-On was the series that transformed the face of anime into something more moe. Certainly its popularity did something to anime, but if you are looking for a series that captures the same feeling then head on down below.
Anime Like K-On!
For Fans of Well-Animated Girls Being Cute
Non Non Biyori
Asahigaoka is rural village in the middle of nowhere, and for the five students who go to school there, their days are all about keeping the boredom at bay. All of different ages, their ways to entertain themselves never border on normal.
The obvious similarity is that four girls are tied together in some way. K-On actually makes an effort at having an overall plot, but in reality both of these shows are just cute girl doing random things for your entertainment.
Love Lab
Student Council President Natsuo Maki is considered the epitome of perfection. However, when Riko enters the student council room on an errand, she discovers Natsuo practicing her kissing and not very gracefully. Riko discovers that the student council president desires more romance in her life and gets roped into helping her practice her romantic technique.
Obviously, Love Lab has a more yuri-sounding premise, but it is really just comedy and not actual romance. While K-On features girls acting silly in a musical atmosphere, Love Lab shows the girls acting silly in a romantic atmosphere.
Working
Souta Takanashi has a fondness for cute things, so when the cute and small Popura Taneshima asks him to work at Wagnaria, a family restaurant, he can’t turn her down. Little did he know about all the unique personalities that also call Wagnaria their place of employment.
While Working has more male characters in it, like K-On it sets itself up with a really loose plot so you can just watch the characters make their own stories. It draws its plot from shenanigans and banks on the characters being quite loveable.
For Fans of Moe Music Clubs
Sound! Euphonium
Swearing off music after a certain incident, euphonist Kumiko enter high school looking for a fresh start. However, it turns out she is surrounded by people with a passion for instruments that end up dragging her into a band aiming for nationals, and not a very good band at that.
Obviously, both shows are about bands. K-On is more of a pop/rock band while this is like a more traditional band. Regardless, both series feature girls with a lot of passion, but not always quite as much talent that they need. Despite that, they struggle – adorably.
Love Live
Chika Takami is a self-proclaimed normal girl with minimal interest in clubs and no discernible talent. However, after visiting Tokyo, she discovers a stage where even a normal girl like her can shine – school idols. Thus, she sets off on a mission to create her own high school idol group, but not without many obstacles along the way.
Take the instruments out of K-On and this is what you get. These girls have a goal, and it is to become idols. In K-On, their goal is to start a band. You watch them work towards it and look cute while doing it.
The Idolmaster
This is the story of 765 Productions, a studio that manages the talents and personalities of 13 different idols.
If you enjoyed how cute the characters were in K-On, then Idolmaster is really for you. It doesn’t have a lot of plot, but it features cute moe girls that want you to love them.
For Fans of Strong Character Chemistry
A Place Further Than The Universe
Upon discovering an old list she made in the last year of middle school, Mari Tamaki, who is now in her second year of high school realizes she is not making the most of her youth. Whenever she tries to do something new, she is paralyzed with inaction. Then one day she meets Shirase, a girl who’s mother went missing when she was in middle school on an expedition to Antarctica. Knowing full well it is close to impossible, she works hard in order to go to search for her mother and invites Mari along for the ride.
In their plots, these two series have absolutely nothing in common aside from girls working towards a goal. However, what really draws them together is the feeling you get when watching all these character interact. They have excellent chemistry together and it really makes the show worth watching.
Tamako Market
The Usagiyama Shopping District is full of eccentric business owners. Tamako Kitashirakawa is the daughter of the local mochi bakers. One day she stumbles upon a talking bird that insists he is royalty from a distant land looking for a bride for his prince. Unfortunately, he develops an addiction to mochi and becomes too fat to return home.
Obviously, they have similar animation and that ties these two together. However, if you also like eccentric characters that interact well together, then this is for you.
Sound of the Sky
On the outskirts of Helvetia lies the tranquil town of Seize. The only notable thing of this idyllic town is the Clocktower fortress where the 1121st platoon of the Helvetian army is stationed. They have recently received a new recruit that joined the army solely to play the bugle. This is the story of their spirited platoon and the town they occupy.
Despite being distinctly military inspired, Sound of the Sky is a lot like K-On. It has a musical element to it, but what you really watch this for is the cute characters who depend on each other.
Do you have any more anime recommendations like K-On? Let fans know in the comments section below.
