At times, Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight can be somewhat hard to follow, especially when trying to find logic in a premise that simply does not lend itself to that kind of thinking. Occasionally, it is recommended to just accept what is happening on screen and not try to thoroughly overanalyze the story. While a far more simplistic show in its structure and premise, Magic-Kyun! Renaissance radiates with moments of splendor that have no place in reality; however, viewers should not find it too hard to get swept away by the anime's magical spirit!

Magic-Kyun! Renaissance's basic gimmick is that art can transform into magic, as long as the delivery leaves a big enough impact. People with this talent are known as Artistas and attend Hoshinomori Private Magical Arts High School with the goal of becoming entertainers. Kohana Aigasaki, a new transfer student who is immediately enlisted into the planning committee for Hoshinomori Summer Festa, is tasked with impressing six talented boys who are somewhat down in the slumps.

A reverse harem, Sunrise's anime contains a fair amount of romance, but Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight fans should appreciate the anime's more artistic moments. While music is only one of the art styles explored, these scenes are the living embodiment of magical! Similarly to Kinema Citrus' anime, Magic-Kyun! Renaissance cares little for logic, offering to take viewers on an enchanting journey to a colorful world packed with beauty!

Sort of like Footloose but on an intergalactic scale, AKB0048 takes place in the aftermath of a 21st-century interplanetary war that left Earth nearly uninhabitable. After humans extended their reach to other planets, the totalitarian government decided that music is evil incarnate and banned the medium. Concluding that such tyranny cannot go unchallenged, a supergroup named AKB0048 is put together and they quickly set out to stage concerts across multiple planets.

Due to the government's stance on music, AKB0048 is deemed illegal, so the idols are protected by a small rebellion army that consists of mecha fighters. The pilot episode serves as a perfect example of the anime's genre-bending nature, as AKB0048's opening concert is interrupted by armed policemen, leading to a stunning battle while the girls continue to sing their ridiculously catchy song. From that point on, the premise's ambition only balloons to greater heights as viewers are taken on an astonishingly wild ride that spans across the entire galaxy.

In a risky move that pays off, AKB48 is actually a real-life group, so the anime features one of the most polished soundtracks of all time. While this may imply that AKB0048 is nothing more than a publicity stunt, Satelight spared no expense when it comes to the animation and fight scenes!

While Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight's locus is split fairly evenly between music and action, Star Driver: Kagayaki no Takuto's allegiance is firmly on the latter, but the anime shines brightly whenever the former rears its head. Settling within the shounen and mecha genres, Bones' series takes place on a secluded island known for its prestigious school; however, hidden beneath the seemingly ordinary city, an organization recognized as the Glittering Crux Brigade holds meetings to perfect the art of fighting in huge mecha suits.

In a realm known as Zero Time, which exists outside of this universe's regular time and space, pilots can take control of stone giants known as Cybodies. Unfortunately, these massive mannequins turn back to stone in the real world, so the Brigade is desperately trying to decipher the secrets that prevent Cybodies from being engaged in the real world. If such a discovery were made, the entire planet's political landscape would be flipped on its head. On a random day, Takuto Tsunashi arrives at the school, but the student seems to be hiding a mysterious past and quickly challenges the Brigade's position.

Unsurprisingly, Bones' animation is gorgeous, so the action scenes are fluid and second to none. Whenever a battle gets underway, a specific character tends to show up to deliver a gorgeous song that feels almost like a battle cry. Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight and Star Driver: Kagayaki no Takuto are both at their best when blending music and battles.

If asked to describe Hibike! Euphonium's structure to someone unfamiliar with the music genre, Kyoto Animation's anime is eerily similar to a sports series, just with the brass band replacing the volleyball or basketball team. Triggered by a terrible experience at a competition, Kumiko Oumae gives the middle finger to music and chooses to try something new in high school. This decision barely lasts more than a summer, as the girl soon finds herself entangled in the school's passionate brass band.

Whether veterans or newbies, this club presents the perfect opportunity for like-minded individuals to celebrate their mutual love for music; unfortunately, the band lacks any semblance of cohesion, so they would be lucky to not be booed off the stage in their current state. Bringing in a new advisor who might be able to steady the ship, Hibike! Euphonium's two seasons follow the club's journey from amateur hour to masters of their craft.

With a hefty dose of drama and romance, Hibike! Euphonium wholeheartedly embraces its high school premise. When it comes to the music, the anime does a fantastic job of showing the heartbreak that arises from failing to match one's aspirations, an emotion that happens to drive most of Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight's stage girls.

As an overall genre, music may rank among the medium's most consistent. While there are a ton of series worth watching for fans, Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso is the one anime that should be sought out by everyone. Initially coming across as a lighthearted romantic comedy with sporadic musical interludes, Your Lie in April sheds its skin to reveal a tragic heart that is soaked in pain and regret. It is a powerful series that deserves to be experienced.

Hailed as a prodigy, Kousei Arima turned his back on the piano after the death of his mother. Leading a somewhat colorless and depressive existence, the student's life takes a fresh turn when he meets a mesmerizing violinist named Kaori Miyazono. Unfortunately, Kaori has a thing for Kousei's best friend, so the pianist is forced to sit by the sidelines and watch their relationship.

With Kaori's introduction, Kousei gradually begins to appreciate music once again, allowing the artist to properly deal with his own internal grief. While far more grounded than Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight, Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso also focuses on the relationship between music and personal growth.

First and foremost, K-On! is a slice-of-life anime about a carefree young girl who opts to join a music club to experience another facet of her high school life. Lacking any experience with an instrument, Yui Hirasawa takes up the guitar and tries to become the club's lead singer. Packed with comedy and prioritizing character development over anything else, Kyoto Animation's K-On! is popular for a reason.

Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight's entire cast is driven almost solely by their desire to be on the stage, so we really do not see them fall in love with performing. Due to the school's sheer intensity, the girls barely seem to enjoy music, as they are driven exhaustively by a desire to be the very best. As Yui is relatively new to this whole performing thing, K-On! takes a different approach, as the audience watches the protagonist gradually fall in love with the medium.

The music is catchy and unforgettable, while the characters are well-written and quite amusing. While K-On! is a lot more lighthearted than Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight, Yui's club still needs to put together a show by the end of the story!