Summary
Although the term “coming of age” was originally used in reference to when someone enters adulthood, it has since evolved into something much more than that. Coming-of-age stories often portray transitional periods in people’s lives, moments when they are challenged by the world or the people around them. In the end, they learn and grow from the experience and begin their lives anew.
In anime, a coming of age can be represented in a number of ways. There areromances about first crushesand first loves. There are dramas where characters feel trapped in their lives and need to find a way forward. There are slice-of-life stories where characters literally become adults. No matter what the subject, these anime are able to touch people’s hearts by connecting to their shared experiences.
Although most coming-of-age anime feature teenagers, young adults are often in similarly unstable positions in their lives.Honey and Cloveris about college friends navigating their relationships and facing their future. It’s a series of love triangles, unrequited loves, andhopeless romancesthat must contend with tight deadlines, job searches, and upcoming graduations.
Honey and Cloveris a portrayal of many common human experiences, like falling in love with a friend or two friends falling in love with the same person, put together in a single series. It’s an incredibly realistic depiction of relationships and the way they affect everyone involved. However, it places the most importance on cherishing people at the moment because the future is unknowable.
High school can be hard for many people, especially for those with social anxiety. Hachiman Hikigaya is one of those people. Due to many experiences in the past, he has been a loner for most of his life, but when he’s forced to join the Volunteer Service Club, he has no choice but to interact with others. This includes the cold Yukino Yukinoshita and the peppy Yui Yuigahama. Unfortunately, solving students' problems is more difficult than he first thought.
My Teen Romantic Comedyis a great look at teenage relationships and the power certain social dynamics can have. Hachiman’s constant cynicism stems from being at the bottom of the social hierarchy, so he finds it difficult to adjust once he’s actually included. This anime does a great job depicting his gradual change in a nuanced way and without flashing a moral lesson in the audience’s face.
For many students, parental expectations can feel like a huge weight on their shoulders. To escape that anxiety, Yuugo Hachiken enrolls in an agricultural high school where he soon realizes that he knows nothing about farming. Compared to his classmates, he’s a less than exemplary student. Despite his struggles, Yuugo tries his best to acclimate to his new environment.
Silver Spoonis all about exploration and self-discovery. Rather than be controlled by his parents his whole life, Yuugo makes the decision to stray from the normal path and reevaluate his hopes and dreams. In the meantime, he’s able to make new friends and experience new things, learning to appreciate the world he lives in.
Anohanais notorious for being one of themost heartbreaking animeto ever exist. It follows a group of friends who grew apart after one of them died. Now teenagers, they live their lives separately, choosing to ignore their unresolved problems. Then one day, the spirit of their friend, Menma, appears before Jinta, the group’s leader, and it’s revealed that she can’t move on until her wish is granted.
Part of growing up means leaving things in the past behind. That’s what makesAnohanasuch a great coming-of-age anime; it encompasses that sentiment perfectly in its eleven episodes. In order to move on with their lives, Jinta and his friends must leave their feelings of loss and grief in the past. They can’t carry it with them if they want to lead fulfilling lives.
Kids on the Slopeis a more traditional coming-of-age anime that focuses on experiencing new things and accepting new emotions. Set in the 1960s, the story follows Kaoru Nishimi as he transfers to a new school. He soon befriends the school’s delinquent, Sentarou Kawabuchi, and the two bond over ashared love of music, specifically jazz. For the first time, Kaoru is able to connect with others and live like a normal teenager.
Although it appears to be a story about friendships among teenagers,Kids on the Slopehas a lot to say about relationships and the changes they go through over time. What started off as a rivalry turned into a partnership, which turned into a friendship. Nothing stays the same forever, and as people change, their relationships will too. What’s important is learning to accept that.
Everyone has their own concerns, even genius shogi players.March Comes in like a Lionfollows shogi prodigy Rei Kiriyama as he adjusts to life in Tokyo. Originally, he had moved out to escape the pressure of his family and the shogi community, but he finds himself isolated in the big city. Luckily, the girls of the Kawamoto family are kind enough to deter his loneliness.
March Comes in like a Lionis a great story about the profound effects of love and connection. Rei is able to overcome his depression and anxiety through the acceptance and validation he receives from the Kawamoto sisters, who provide him witha sense of familythat he’s longed for. With just a little help, he’s able to slowly turn his life around.
Compared to other anime set in the real world,A Place Further than the Universeis definitely a bit outlandish as it features four girls going on an expedition to Antarctica. Mari Tamaki is spurred on by her sense of adventure but held back by her fear of the unknown. Shirase Kobuchizawa is determined to find her mom who went missing years earlier. With the help of some friends, the two plan for a search and rescue.
A Place Further than the Universeis a fantastic coming-of-age story marked by a fantastical adventure. However, behind all the wonder and excitement are some great lessons about confronting fears and accepting what’s already happened. It’s a truly beautiful anime with stunning visuals and imagery that reflects the story’s sense of wonder and adventure.
Nanais a serendipitousanime where two womennamed Nana meet by coincidence and end up living together. One was there to start her career as a musician, and the other followed her boyfriend to art school. As they adjust to living in the city, they realize that their hopes and dreams aren’t what they thought they’d be, and their love lives become more and more complex.
What makesNanacompelling is its realism. The characters feel and act like real people, making it easier to identify and connect with their choices and mistakes. The struggles they face in their careers and love lives are incredibly relatable, which also makes their growth and development in the end easier to understand.
Coming-of-age stories often come with a loss of innocence, but that’s not really the case inViolet Evergarden. Having been a child soldier and slave, Violet had lost her innocence a long time ago. After the war, Violet begins work as an Auto Memory Doll — someone who types letters on behalf of someone else. Through her experience, she’s able to learn about people and the emotions they feel.
Beyond the stunning visuals and fluid animation,Violet Evergardenis a fantastic anime about love, loss, and humanity. Violet goes through an incredible transformation throughout the series as she learns what it means to be a human and finds value in her own life. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions as episodes can be bright and joyful or incredibly heart-wrenching.
Clannad: After Story
Being an adult can be hard, especially just after high school when so many decisions about the future must be made.Clannad: After Storyis a sequel that tells the story of Tomoya and Nagisa’s life together. While Tomoya struggles to find his place in the working world, Nagisa is stillfighting her illness. Things aren’t easy, but they’re happy. Unfortunately, that happiness doesn’t last forever.
After Storyis like the end of a fairy tale. The wholesome slice of life anime comes to an abrupt close, and what’s left in its wake is a terrible tragedy. Of course, what makes this story so beautiful is that it doesn’t end that way. The characters are able to pick themselves up and move forward. Although the world has changed forever, they don’t allow themselves to give up.
