Peach Girl and Nana: Two Exciting New Series Added to Our Ranks

Proud to bring you coverage on our two latest anime featured on this site. Peach Girl and Nana cover the Shojou / Josei angles quite well, and are among the best series I have seen in this respective genre. This goes without saying but, you are missing out if you categorize these shows as being "too girly", trust me. Personally, I was also hesitate to get introduced to these titles, but I was pleasantly surprised. Like I mentioned earlier I would rate these at the top of the Shojou genre and they have plenty to offer a male audience. People generally don't make this comparison often, but watching a show with a protagonist of the opposite gender is like roleplaying in an MMO. Except of course you are in the shoes of the opposing gender. It ultimately offers a different experience and viewpoint which is a welcomed change.


Peach Girl follows our dark skinned, blond haired protagonist, Momo Adachi. Often she is teased because of her physical appearance, which is a rarity when you think of Japan's cultural makeup. I don't think anyone (minor rare instances) is born with blonde hair and dark skin being of 100% Japanese heritage. The story claims that she took on this appearance due to being in the sun due to her swimming hobby, though I believe she is of mixed heritage. One major theme of the show is Momo overcoming the adversity she faces just due to the fact that she looks different from everyone else. She is determined to find her true love and happiness and the story does a good job at showing us how she grows emotionally over the course of the series. Peach Girl, clocking in at 25 episodes is longer than your typical series, so expect most of the loose ends to be tied by the ending.

Our second featured anime of the moment, Nana, is musically inspired, much akin to Sakamichi no Apollon and Tari Tari. We are given a glimpse into the lives of two women ironically called "Nana" and how their fates become intertwined and altered by a simple meeting. Nana Komatsu (the younger, red-haired woman pictured) is our main protagonist of the story, although you could argue that both Nana's play that role. Nana Osaki, (the older, black haired woman) meets the younger Nana by chance when traveling and our story progresses from there.

We are shown how the two eventually come to terms with each other and become friends, despite their immensely different personalities and lifestyles. Nana, as a series, gives us quite a mature and realistic outtake on life and its obstacles. One prevalent theme throughout this series is the choice between love and the path of fame, fortune and one's career. Nana Osaki's band is a recurring element in the anime and Nana Komatsu, by befriending the former Nana, finds herself thrust into a world and environment foreign to her. We are given quite an interesting perspective on the commitments and lifestyle of someone in an up and coming band group. With 47 episodes in total, you can look forward to an in-depth and grandiose story that keeps you hooked from beginning to end.

These two shows offer something for everyone. Drama, romance, slice of life it is all here. Compared to the horde of Shounen anime on the market, Nana and Peach Girl are a breath of fresh air, and certainly something different. Don't be ashamed to possibly shed some mainly tears at some point (that is if you're a guy). A worthwhile, inspirational and engaging viewing experience all around that manages to leave quite an impact at their conclusion.

Stay tuned for the latest coverage on Tari Tari, Kokoro Connect and Sket Dance in the coming weeks.

Peach Girl - Episode List
Nana - Episode List

Peach Girl on Wikipedia
Nana on Wikipedia