Girls Band Cry (Japanese: ガールズバンドクライ, Hepburn: Gāruzu Bando Kurai), abbreviated as GaruKura (ガルクラ), is an original Japanese anime television series created and produced by Toei Animation. The series is part of a multimedia project that began in 2023 in collaboration with Agehasprings [ja] and Universal Music Japan, with music being the focus. It aired from April to June 2024. A mobile game is in development.
Plot
Set in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture,[1] the series follows Nina Iseri, a high school dropout who moves to the city to prove she can live by herself and be successful. She then meets Momoka Kawaragi by chance, and the two realize their commonalities, including a shared love of music. Together with other girls from different walks of life, the girls form a band as an avenue to let their raw emotions out, while facing hardships with their internal struggles and being new to the music scene.
Characters
Togenashi Togeari
Togenashi Togeari (トゲナシトゲアリ, lit. "thornless thorn") is the central band of the series, consisting primarily of high school dropouts. Before the band’s formation, each member was part of two bands, with Nina, Momoka, and Subaru performing under the name Shin-Kawasaki (Temporary) (新川崎（仮）, Shin-Kawasaki (Kari)), and Tomo and Rupa performing as Vocaloid duo Beni-Shouga (derived from the condiment of the same name, stylized in lowercase). After merging, their new name originates from Nina reading an audience member's shirt saying "Togeari Togenashi" during their Suwa live house gig.
The main protagonist of the series and the lead vocalist of Togenashi Togeari hailing from Kumamoto who left her hometown and her strained past life to start anew. She is not on good terms with her father and dropped out of high school due to being the subject of bullying. She initially moved to Tokyo with the aim of studying at a cram school and entering university, only to focus on Togenashi Togeari instead. She is a major fan of the band Diamond Dust and felt that their songs helped her during the difficult times in her life. In promotional material, she is seen with a Butterscotch Blonde G&L Asat Classicelectric guitar, a guitar based on the design of the Fender Telecaster, which she plays as the band's rhythm guitarist in the finale.
The lead guitarist and leader of Togenashi Togeari hailing from Asahikawa who was a former member of Diamond Dust before leaving due to creative differences, a decision she holds regret despite holding no ill will towards her former bandmates. She then performed as a solo artist and planned to quit before meeting Nina and being reinvigorated by her determination. She plays a Costa Azul Metallic Psychederhythm Psychomaster electric guitar, a Japanese-made Fender Jazzmaster clone.
The drummer of Togenashi Togeari hailing from Kobe who attends acting school to follow in her grandmother's footsteps despite showing no interest for acting and desires to follow her own path through pursuing music. She plays a Charcoal Metallic Pearl Roadshowdrum kit.
The keyboardist of Togenashi Togeari hailing from Sendai who ran away from home after experiencing parental neglect and has dreams of performing at the Budokan. Her tendency to give blunt feedback due to being gifted at playing the keyboard and expecting the same level of skill towards her bandmates also resulted in her and Rupa's former band breaking up prior to the anime. She plays a Nord Electro 6HP 73-key electric keyboard.
The bassist of Togenashi Togeari who lost her parents and experiences discrimination due to her half-South Asian heritage. Like Tomo, she has dreams of performing at the Budokan. She plays an Ebony Gibson SG Standardbass.
Diamond Dust
Diamond Dust (ダイヤモンドダスト) is an idol rock band Nina idolizes and which Momoka was a member of, starting as a group of friends forming a school band before dropping out and being signed to a major label by the time Momoka left the band.
The lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of Diamond Dust after Momoka's departure, and a former friend of Nina. She plays a See-Through Purple Fernandes NTG-LTD electric guitar.
Nina's father who works as an advisor to Kumamoto's board of education. Before the events of the anime, Muneo and Nina had an estranged relationship with Muneo having difficulty in understanding his daughter, despite having published a book on parenting.
A talent scout affiliated with Golden Archer who is a fan of the original Diamond Dust and offers her connections to Togenashi Togeari on linking with a label for further popularity.
Production
Background
In August 2019, upon joining Toei Animation, series producer Tadashi Hirayama was approached to produce a new original work focused on music. Hirayama enlisted the assistance of Kazuo Sakai and Jukki Hanada, staff he had worked with on Love Live! Sunshine!!, to brainstorm the initial ideas of the story.[14] Hirayama then approached Kenji Tamai of Agehasprings [ja] around the end of 2019 to compose the music for the project and scout and manage the talents to form the band.[15]
Hanada focused on writing an all-female band story for the project based on his love for Japanese rock music, having already written stories about idols.[16] Hirayama cited the projected economic loss from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the concurrent COVID-19 pandemic as inspirations to make the story grounded in reality, basing it around the hardships of being a musician.[14] The decision to set the story in Kawasaki was based on Hirayama and Hanada's observations of the city being overlooked compared to the neighboring cities of Tokyo and Yokohama, rent being cheaper, and fostering music activity, further grounding the story.[14][16]
Development and casting
In June 2021, Toei Animation, Agehasprings, and Universal Music Japan announced they would initiate a new project which would combine animation with real band activity. In the same year, Agehasprings, with the assistance from Toei Animation and Universal Music Japan, held an audition called "Girl’s Rock Audition" for the vocalist, guitarist, bassist, drummer, and keyboardist of the all-female band which would be the core of the project.[17][18] Tamai recounted how he aimed the band to debut first to foster their popularity before the anime began its airing. He also shared that although the auditions received several applications, there was difficulty in choosing candidates who had proficient skills in both music and voice acting, leading the process to take more than a year and half to find the necessary talent.[15]
An original anime television series produced by Toei Animation titled Girls Band Cry was announced on April 24, 2023, with a teaser visual revealed. The visual features a girl with a guitar, with a slogan "Throw in All the Anger, Joy, and Sadness." (怒りも喜びも哀しさも全部ぶちこめ。)[19] On May 29 of the same year, a key visual of the anime was revealed alongside the main cast and staff.[18] The five members of Togenashi Togeari were also revealed with the music videos of their two songs, "Na mo Naki Nani mo Kamo" (名もなき何もかも, "Nameless Name") and "Itsuwari no Kotowari" (偽りの理, "No Rhyme nor Reason"), released on the project's YouTube channel.[18] In the following months, more music videos that accompany their recently released songs would be released to their channel alongside introductory videos of each member of Togenashi Togeari; these songs would later be compiled into physical singles.[20]
Media
Music
The discography of Girls Band Cry includes two studio albums, one soundtrack album, and nine singles performed by Togenashi Togeari. Additionally, two digital singles were released by Diamond Dust,[21][22] later compiled as an EP. All music is released under the Universal Music Japan label.
On December 20, 2023, the first PV for the anime was released with its premiere set for April 2024.[2][30][31] A second PV was later released on February 9, 2024, confirming its premiere date of April 6 of the same year.[32][33] It is directed by Kazuo Sakai, with Jukki Hanada handling the series composition, Nari Teshima designing the characters, Mari Kondō and Jae Hoon Jung serving as CGI directors, and Kenji Tamai composing the music.[2] The series aired from April 6 to June 29, 2024, on Tokyo MX and other networks.[a] The opening theme is "Zattō, Bokura no Machi" (雑踏、僕らの街, "Wrong World"),[34] while the ending theme is "Darenimo Narenai Watashi Dakara" (誰にもなれない私だから, "I'm Nobody"),[35] both performed by Togenashi Togeari.
Toei Animation digitally released the series on Microsoft Movies & TV, Fandango at Home, Hoopla, and Prime Video on August 13.[36] The decision was met with confusion and criticism by some fans as it was seen as embarrassing and "out of touch" with the show's overseas audience.[37]Crunchyroll streamed the series worldwide outside of East Asia on November 6.[38]
On September 13, at the end of Togenashi Togeari's second live concert, it was announced that a two-part compilation film is in production.[39]
Nina Iseri, a high school dropout who left Kumamoto, arrives in Kawasaki to prove her family she can live by herself. As the agency that rents the keys to her unit is closed for the night, Nina decides to stay at the station. While browsing social media, she sees a post of a street performance taking place within the area and runs towards it, encountering Momoka Kawaragi, a former member of a group Nina idolizes named Diamond Dust. Heading to Momoka’s house for Nina to stay, Momoka discloses she would be leaving Kawasaki the following morning to quit music, much to Nina's confusion. Momoka asks Nina her reason for moving to Kawasaki, and Nina replies that she has no place for her back home after being blamed for an action she did not commit in her past. Nina then asks why Momoka left Diamond Dust, with Momoka citing creative differences as the driving factor. The following morning, Nina wakes up to see Momoka gone; not wanting her to leave, Nina runs to where Momoka held her last street performance and expresses her desire to not see her give up. Momoka appears and both perform a song Momoka composed in her time with Diamond Dust.
2
"Three Nocturnal Creatures" Transliteration: "Yakō-sei no Ikimono San-biki" (Japanese: 夜行性の生き物3匹)
Maya Asakura
Kazuo Sakai
April 13, 2024 (2024-04-13)
As Nina enrolls at a cram school, Momoka proposes on forming a band upon seeing her skills as a vocalist, which Nina declines. Nina also opens up on her strained past life, and she and Momoka promise to do well in their endeavors. Later, Nina receives a message from Momoka on gifting her a spare light and Nina agrees to pick it up, meeting her friend Subaru Awa in the process, who is enlisted as the band's drummer. The three girls head out for dinner, with Nina becoming isolated from Momoka and Subaru’s banter. Subaru attempts to engage in a conversation with Nina, making her uncomfortable enough to leave; Momoka confronts Nina on her behavior, and Nina voices her assumption that Subaru seems to be looking down on her like her bullies did. Refusing to be convinced otherwise, Nina angrily leaves, declaring she will close herself off from anybody; she begins to mope on her cynical outlook and lashes out. As she breaks down in tears upon realizing she will be left alone in darkness, Momoka and Subaru arrive to comfort her and help, with Momoka stating her admiration of Nina sticking true to herself as she enlists Nina to the band.
3
"Misaligned Questions and Answers" Transliteration: "Zukkoke Mondō" (Japanese: ズッコケ問答)
Miho Hirayama
Kazuo Sakai
April 20, 2024 (2024-04-20)
The girls discuss on what type of song they should compose as a band. After the meeting Subaru offers to walk Nina home. Nina, still nervous around Subaru, goes home ahead of her. The next day, Momoka requests Nina to return Subaru's phone and Nina reluctantly complies. Arriving at Subaru's acting school in Tokyo, she hands Subaru her phone back and prepares to head back home despite Subaru's polite requests for dinner, resulting in Subaru explaining she has no intention to cause problems and is open to any comments Nina has of her to settle any internal disagreements, with Subaru also adding she merely took up acting to follow her grandmother's footsteps even if she has no interest in it and prefers music; after a few conversations, Nina and Subaru begin to speak on equal footing. Momoka has also reserved a public concert for them to perform in, but Nina has doubts on performing to a big audience. On the day of the public concert, the girls, debuting under the temporary name Shin-Kawasaki, wait for Nina to come onstage. Momoka calls out to her and motivates her to let her emotions all out, giving Nina the confidence to perform with her bandmates.
While taking a break from rehearsing, Subaru receives a message and leaves ahead of Nina and Momoka. Subaru messages the following morning she would be leaving the band, much to Nina's shock. Reaching the acting school to convince her not to follow through, Nina and Momoka see Subaru accompanying her grandmother, actress Tendou Awa. Subaru explains to them she cannot directly express to her grandmother on not wanting to be an actress. She reiterates on having no intention to quit and states she would only be seen as an actress following Tendou's footsteps, further proven as she receives an email on being cast to a drama per Tendou's recommendation. Nina visits Subaru's apartment and she suggests on coming clean with her intentions, which Subaru agrees; during a shoot for the drama days later, however, as Tendou conveys her gratefulness on Subaru coming to appreciate her profession, Nina prevents Subaru from confessing, much to Subaru's annoyance. Despite this, Subaru figures she would have to deal with the issue soon and decides to help out the band at present.
Momoka reserves Shin-Kawasaki to a live house gig and tasks each member to sell tickets. In the process of doing so, the live house manager requests Nina and Subaru to give a Diamond Dust concert ticket gifted to him by one of its members to Momoka, but the girls decide to watch the concert themselves knowing Momoka would not accept the ticket. At the concert, Nina recognizes the band's new vocalist, Hina, as a former friend who had a connection to her bullying, causing her to leave in anger. Nina and Momoka later come to a head with how they view Diamond Dust, with Momoka defending her former band. Subaru interrupts by taking their quarrel to an izakaya to settle it, where Nina questions Momoka's indifference with the direction of the current Diamond Dust and calls her out on quitting due to the changes not favoring her vision, remarking the Diamond Dust Momoka formed was what helped Nina at her lowest point. Momoka opens up the circumstances of her leaving Diamond Dust, saying they promised to stick together, and even with their pleas for Momoka to stay as they commercialized, she nevertheless quit. After airing out their misgivings, they make amends as the girls head home and prepare for their gig.
6
"Hymn of the Stray" Transliteration: "Haguremono Sanka" (Japanese: はぐれ者賛歌)
Yasuhiro Tanabe
Kazuo Sakai
May 11, 2024 (2024-05-11)
Two girls are shown rewatching Shin-Kawasaki's live house gig before recording a song. Meanwhile, Momoka asserts to the band they should continue practicing. Nina and Subaru ask her if she has any goal for the band and Momoka replies having none, leading Subaru to also ask Nina later what her own goal is. Nina infers after inquiring with the live house manager that a large following can be a way to be noticed and proposes ways to gain followers to Momoka and Subaru. When they question her sudden drive, Nina makes it clear on wanting to go professional and not lose to Diamond Dust. As Nina expresses to Subaru her plans, they are overheard by the two girls. Introducing themselves as Rupa and Tomo Ebizuka of Beni-Shouga, they scout Shin-Kawasaki for a collaboration after watching them perform. Hearing Rupa and Tomo's dream of reaching the Budokan, Nina is inspired. Nina and Subaru approach Momoka on evaluating Rupa and Tomo's skills and offer to collaborate; they then discuss Momoka's reluctance to go professional after giving up once even if she is still passionate for music. Shin-Kawasaki and Beni-Shouga later jointly rehearse and see their synergy. Nina convinces Momoka on letting Rupa and Tomo join the band and they apply for a music festival, noticing Diamond Dust is a headliner.
7
"I’ll Give It a Name" Transliteration: "Namae wo Tsukete Yaru" (Japanese: 名前をつけてやる)
Kazue Otsuki & Kenji Imura
Kazuo Sakai
May 18, 2024 (2024-05-18)
After the merge between Shin-Kawasaki and Beni-Shouga, the girls discuss on renaming the band from Shin-Kawasaki as Momoka is invited by one of her friends to perform at a live house in Suwa. While making travel preparations, Nina is surprised by the visit of her sister Suzune, who shows concern for Nina's future and warns she might not be welcomed back by the family if she gives up on her studies. Shin-Kawasaki later sets out for Suwa, where Nina also learns about Rupa and Tomo's backgrounds. They meet Momoka's contact Mine, who reserves them to the live house and is impressed with their skills. While rehearsing, Momoka announces their performance would be her last before quitting the band again, jeopardizing Nina's plans. Mine later notices a troubled Nina and they talk on the circumstances of quitting music, with Mine expressing her fear of failing after setting high hopes; she however advises not to dwell on that fear, inspiring Nina. On the day of their live house performance, Nina proclaims to the audience and her bandmates their new name as Togenashi Togeari and announces she will be dropping out of school to continue her goal, shocking her bandmates.
8
"If You Were to Cry" Transliteration: "Moshimo Kimi ga Naku Naraba" (Japanese: もしも君が泣くならば)
Miho Hirayama
Kazuo Sakai
May 25, 2024 (2024-05-25)
In a flashback to Momoka's time in high school, she discusses with her Diamond Dust bandmates on dropping out to focus on their music career, with an idealistic Momoka assuring they will succeed. Back in the present, Nina's announcement is met with criticism from a furious Momoka. Tensions rise as Nina and Momoka argue, almost leading to a physical altercation that is only stopped by Subaru. Subaru points out to Momoka on how Togenashi Togeari has been getting traction lately, proving Nina's goal is not impossible. Meanwhile, Nina begins to practice playing guitar and work part-time at Rupa and Tomo's restaurant. Momoka visits her during a shift and takes her to a Diamond Dust concert. She points out how even if Diamond Dust did not prefer going commercial, they were forced to do so to continue making a living; Momoka then reveals she was compelled to form a new band after seeing her younger self in Nina. Nina slaps her, rejecting on being seen as a projection for Momoka, and makes her see that her music can reach and save people, adding she is living proof of such. Both girls and Diamond Dust meet and declare a duel between their bands at the upcoming music festival. Hina notices Nina but claims not to know her. Heading home, Nina confesses her love to Momoka, causing Momoka to cry as they reconcile.
9
"The Waning Moon Was Out" Transliteration: "Kaketa Tsuki ga Deteita" (Japanese: 欠けた月が出ていた)
Masayuki Iimura
Ayako Hiraike
June 1, 2024 (2024-06-01)
Togenashi Togeari rehearses a new song for the festival; however, Momoka feels their song sounds generic. Tomo wishes to give feedback but hesitates and lies that she accepts the song as is, concerning Rupa as Tomo is not being honest. Nina offers Rupa and Tomo to watch her practice guitar and asks Tomo for feedback. Tomo bluntly criticizes her skills, surprising Nina. Flashbacks reveal Tomo’s blunt feedback led to her and Rupa’s bandmates quitting their previous band, leading Tomo to keep any feedback to herself. Nina asks Subaru for advice with talking to Tomo as Subaru points out she is a shy person who tends to lash out at people who reach out to her, similar to Nina; Tomo and Rupa also return, where Tomo lies to Nina on doing better with the practice as a way to reassure her before leaving ahead. Rupa recalls how she and Tomo formed Beni-Shouga after their previous band's dissolution; Rupa later takes Tomo to see Nina practicing her guitar and points out the rest of the band is serious about improving so they are open to her blunt advice. Once Tomo sees this, she criticizes Nina's skills again and Nina takes it to heart. Assured by this experience, Tomo gives feedback to Momoka during their next rehearsal that their song currently feels lacking, and Momoka agrees with the sentiment.
As Togenashi Togeari wonders if they have really gained popularity, a talent scout named Shiomi Miura approaches and tells them she is willing to use her connections to attract a label if they perform well at the festival. As Nina writes lyrics for the song, she is shocked to see her parents trying to visit her and avoids them. She is however persuaded by her bandmates and Suzune to make amends, with Rupa and Tomo providing her train tickets to Kumamoto. Arriving home, Nina reunites with her family as her father Muneo voices his dismay on Nina abandoning her studies for a music career, causing friction between the two. Muneo requests Nina to accompany him to her former school, where the school apologizes on their conduct with Nina's bullying case; Muneo is left bewildered at the school not being transparent and makes it clear on siding with Nina, surprising her. After returning home, Nina opens up to Suzune on how discovering Diamond Dust saved her from having suicidal thoughts caused by the bullying and brought her peace in finding her true passion, finally being able to love herself. Suzune also reveals how much the family still cares for her despite past events, with their mother even gifting the ticket in the first place, causing Nina to cry. Before returning to Kawasaki, Nina learns of Muneo accepting her career and she asks him to watch her perform at the festival. She regroups with Togenashi Togeari to showcase her lyrics, sporting a more positive outlook.
11
"The Center of the World" Transliteration: "Sekai no Mannaka" (Japanese: 世界のまん中)
Miho Hirayama
Kazuo Sakai
June 15, 2024 (2024-06-15)
With the festival approaching, Togenashi Togeari conducts final rehearsals as the band sees they will be performing on the first day. Nina wonders if they can be able to perform well with numerous bands vying for attention, but Momoka suggests taking the second day with the opportunity of having a bigger audience, and the band agrees to the schedule change. Momoka also takes the band to the festival grounds to see the venue, and she and Nina feel confident in challenging Diamond Dust as the band notices how much Nina has positively matured recently; when Subaru sees these changes, she reflects on having not yet told Tendou her interest in pursuing music rather than acting. Each of the girls discuss with one another on their reasons and motivations of getting into music. On the day of the festival, Subaru talks to Nina on having messaged her grandmother with her band career after being inspired by Nina's actions, pleasing Nina. Togenashi Togeari later watches Diamond Dust's opening set as they see Diamond Dust openly take on their duel, motivating Togenashi Togeari to perform better at their own set, emotionally giving their all with Nina's song.
12
"The Sky Darkens Again" Transliteration: "Sora ga Mata Kuraku Naru" (Japanese: 空がまた暗くなる)
Masayuki Iimura
Sōichi Masui
June 22, 2024 (2024-06-22)
Shiomi signs Togenashi Togeari to her agency sometime after the festival and works as their agent; Momoka then notes how their career is just getting started. The band holds an afterparty that evening as they reminisce on working hard to reach their current point, which Momoka uses as inspiration to write a new song. Some days later, the band rehearses Momoka's song for several weeks, expressing excitement to perform what they feel to a wider audience. During a rehearsal, Shiomi forwards to Togenashi Togeari an offer for a two-day battle of the bands against Diamond Dust, with the prize of producing a theme song being offered to whoever amasses the most earnings and audience. Sensing that Diamond Dust may be setting them up, Togenashi Togeari plans to back out, but Shiomi states her concern they might fade into obscurity if they do so; Nina is determined to nevertheless perform in the concert. Nina takes the band to a shrine where she reassures them to believe in themselves as the band prays in wishing their song to pull millions of views and sales. A month later, Nina checks out the finished song and is shocked to see it garnering only a hundred views.
13
"Rock 'n' Roll Will Never Stop" Transliteration: "Rokku `n` Rōru wa Nari Yamanai" (Japanese: ロックンロールは鳴り止まないっ)
Kazuo Sakai
Kazuo Sakai
June 29, 2024 (2024-06-29)
In a flashback to Nina's time in high school, Nina shares to Hina her desire to help a student getting bullied, but Hina warns she would be made as the next target and would not be siding with her as Nina heads off to intervene. Back in the present, Togenashi Togeari and Shiomi discuss the poor reception of the band's song despite their online popularity showing otherwise. Nina reluctantly reconnects with Hina as Hina reveals Shiomi approached Diamond Dust for a compromise for them to perform on both days for Togenashi Togeari to break even. A frustrated Nina points out to the band later on how accepting the compromise means they are admitting defeat and wishes the band to not give up. The band meets with Shiomi to decline on the offer and resign from the agency, which Shiomi gracefully accepts. Each of the girls make a promise to one another on continuing as a band. On the day of Togenashi Togeari's performance on the battle of the bands, they are glad to see a smaller but much more dedicated audience of fans turn out. Nina sees Hina in the crowd and talks about her past and how Diamond Dust's songs were an inspiration to her when she realizes that Hina was inspired by Diamond Dust as well, showing that Hina does not hold any ill will towards her. Togenashi Togeari then performs their new song proudly for their fans as Hina and the rest of Diamond Dust watch on.
Game
On August 31, 2024 after the anime's streaming marathon on their official YouTube channel, the cast of Girls Band Cry announced that a mobile game is in development,[43] with auditions for new cast members to be performing as a band being currently held.[39]
Future
Hanada tweeted from his Twitter account before the twelfth episode's airing addressing the risks of relying on making sales from an original anime like Girls Band Cry, adding that because of these risks, no current plans for a second season or movie succeeding the anime have been made.[44] After the finale aired, the project tweeted on its official Twitter account that the story will still progress in the future and it, alongside Togenashi Togeari, shall continue to be supported through its real-life activities.[45]
On July 12, 2024, however, it was announced that Natsu and Mirei both went on an indefinite hiatus due to poor health. The remaining three main cast members will be still performing in Togenashi Togeari.[46]
See also
K-On! – band music anime with some episodes written by Jukki Hanada
Love Live! Sunshine!! – idol music anime directed by Kazuo Sakai and written by Jukki Hanada
