WARNING: The following article contains brief discussion of suicide.
takt op. Destiny is a new hit anime and game series taking the world by storm. The story opens with the arrival of D2s, an invading species that hates music, pushing the United States of America into a state of pandemonium. This leads to music being outlawed to prevent more tragedies caused by the D2s' disdain for it. Musicarts, young ladies who symbolize pieces of classical music, and Conductors, who govern them, are humanity's sole defense against the D2s. An aloof piano prodigy conductor and his newfound friends embark on a risky voyage to save music.
Released in October 2021, this series has enchanted the anime world with its beautiful melodies, which focus on classical music while incorporating futuristic science fiction elements. For fans of takt op. Destiny and music-focused anime, here are a few series that play out beautifully.
Carole & Tuesday
Released in 2019, Carole & Tuesday is the latest creation from Cowboy Bebop director Shinichirō Watanabe. Set in the same universe as Bebop, titular character Carole lives in Alba City on a terraformed Mars. She works part-time and plays keyboard at night in the hopes of one day breaking into the music industry. Tuesday, the other main character, meets Carole after fleeing from her wealthy family in Hershell City.
Following their chance encounter, the two decide to work together on music. In the face of the AI-dominated industry, they believe they must remind people where music came from: the human heart. The power of humanity is not lost on these two and together, they may just bring about the greatest miracle Mars has ever seen.
This 24-episode series was produced by Studio Bones and is available to stream on Netflix.
Your Lie in April
Music is the heart and soul of Your Lie in April. The story follows Kousei Arima, a gifted pianist with a bright future. But after the sudden, tragic death of a loved one, Kousei falls into a deep depression. He is no longer able to appreciate his melodies and loses all interest in music.
For the next two years, Kousei leads a bleak existence. Everything changes, however, when he meets Kaori Miyazono, a lovely violinist who breathes color back into his life. Her passion for her art reminds him that life is worth living and that he should not forget his natural gifts. For those who loved takt op.Destiny's drama and classical music, Your Lie in April is sure to tug on any anime fan's heartstrings.
Your Lie in April is available to stream on Netflix.
Zombie Land Saga
The popular idol anime Zombie Land Saga follows the adventures of Sakura upon forming the music group Franchouchou. All of the band members are female zombies who endured extreme trauma in their past lives. Zombie Land Saga doesn't shy away from heavy topics like depression and suicide, all the while managing to smile in the face of such strong adversities. Through music and friendship, the girls learn that life is worth living and begin to believe in themselves again.
This girl power series hits high notes with its great cast of characters and fresh storylines. It also includes the popular and groundbreaking character Lily, who spawned a meme that made it all the way to UK parliament.
Zombie Land Saga is available to stream on Funimation.For more information on the warning signs and prevention of suicide, click here. If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). If you live outside the U.S., click here for a list of international hotlines.
