Girls Band Cry

Both stories introduce us to a group of girls forming a rock band. Although Bocchi the Rock! focuses more on comedy and the reactions caused by the extreme shyness of the protagonist, personal and interpersonal conflicts are also discussed. These conflicts are treated in Girls Band Cry in a more adult way. The story places emphasis on these types of conflicts that develop the relationships and way of being of the protagonists, and channeling them into their songs. 

Dysfunctional girls start a band together. Tons of raw human emotion without easy resolutions or "hug together and drama is over" moments like in other girl band shows 

Both anime have very similar stories: The protagonist met with the girl she idolized and they had impromptu performance on the street. Said girl is experienced in showbiz and has just quit her previous group. Then they started recruiting members to form a new group. This new group is trying to survive (and hopefully succeed) as artists in digital era where everything is measured by numbers on social media. 

Both series delve deeply into the entertainment industry. Oshi no Ko explores the darker side of the idol and acting world, while Girls Band Cry centers on the struggles and aspirations of an all-girls band trying to make it in the music industry. The characters in both shows are portrayed with depth and complexity, often dealing with personal traumas, societal pressures, and the pursuit of their dreams, which adds a layer of emotional intensity to the stories. Both anime feature dramatic themes that touch on issues like identity, ambition, and the cost of fame, often highlighting the sacrifices and hardships the characters endure in their respective fields. hile Girls Band Cry is more directly focused on music, both anime incorporate music as a key element, whether it's through performances or as a backdrop that enhances the emotional atmosphere of the story. read more 

Both anime focus on passion for making music, conveying feelings through music, as well as young adult girls trying to make a living in a big city. 

The two series have the same scriptwriter (Jukki Hanada of Euphonium, YoriMoii and Stein's Gate fame). Both series use a mixture of constantly alternating drama and comedy. Both titles are super popular in Japan but less known in the West. Both use 3D-CGI for animation (Medalist extensively, Girls Band Cry almost exclusively). Both series use motion-capturing as input for the CGI process, Medalist for the skating perfomances, GBC during the rock concert scenes. Both have great OP / ED and OST music. 

Girls Band Cry (nicknamed Garukura) is the spring 2024 dark horse 3D-CGI anime which took Japan and East Asia by storm and comes from the very same creative staff (producer, script-writer, episode director) who made Love Live Sunshine. Both shows are about music, but GBC is j-rock themed instead of idol j-pop and takes places outside of the usual school setting, with the main characters being 16 to 22 years old. GBC is an experience that slaps in every sense of the world so don't miss out on it now that you can easily find the title on CR, but be ready for the great drama and silly comedy (or both at the same time)! read more 

In both titles, the main theme is music. They also touch on other similar topics, such as growing up, writer's block, stage fright, and the insides of the music industry.