While its original manga was relatively short-lived, that didn’t stop K-On! from being an immense anime hit franchise to this day. Beginning back in 2007, the high school band series is still playing in one form or another 15 years later, and streaming has only helped its popularity.
Featuring a group of musically challenged girls who eventually go on to hit the high notes, K-On! is far more than the generic moe series that it might come off as. Given that this year marks its 15th birthday, here’s a look back at the Cagayake Girls, as well as where their greatest hits can be read and watched.
The Plot of K-On!
K-On! is set in Sakuragaoka High School, where a few girls join the school’s light music club in order to keep it from being disbanded. Among the group is Yui Hirasawa, who has absolutely no musical talent or experience. However, by spending time with her friends and undergoing plenty of practice, she eventually takes to the guitar with gusto.
The series chronicles not only their musical pursuits but also their academic careers throughout high school. As they progress through the years, their club is joined by another guitarist and saved from the brink of collapse. Yui, as well as her friends Mio, Ritsu and Tsumugi eventually leave for college, joining the light music club while the one at their old school is continued with Ui’s sister.
Where to Read the K-On! Manga
Created by Kakifly, K-On! began as a 4koma manga in 2007, running until 2012 and accumulating into 6 volumes. The later years of the book’s publication were adapted into the anime’s later section, where Yui graduates high school and begins college. A sequel series titled K-On! Shuffle began four years ago, although it follows an entirely new group of girls.
Yen Press handled the English localization of the book, although it’s now a bit hard to physically come by in the West. This is due to the fact that the series hasn’t been big in America in years given the anime's age. Said anime also came out at a time when anime popularity was in a bit of a slump outside of Japan, so K-On! couldn’t quite catch on as it could now. Still, it can be purchased physically through Amazon, as well as digitally through the Comixology app or as an eBook on Kindle. K-On! Shuffle has not been localized, but if this happens in the future, it could see the original series rereleased as well.
Where to Watch the K-On! Anime
The most well-known aspect of the franchise is the K-On! anime adaptation by Kyoto Animation, which aired for an initial 13 episodes in 2008-2009. Thanks to the show’s general quality and the catchiness of songs like “Cagayake Girls” and “Don’t Say Lazy,” the series was a smash hit, later receiving an additional OVA when the first season was over. 2010 also saw the release of the second season, titled K-On!! (two exclamation points) and adapting the later stories of the manga. This season was twice as long, its 26-episode run proving just how popular the series had become. K-On! The Movie was also produced, telling an original story in which the girls travel to England after graduating.
Both seasons of the K-On! anime can be streamed on both Hulu as well as the anime service HIDIVE, with the latter also having the OVA and the movie. Big-store retailers such as Target, Amazon and Walmart all stock the K-On! Ultimate Collection containing the series and movie. Thus, whether you’re streaming it or putting in a disc, it’s very easy to jam to the K-On! anime.
