NANA

Two young women named Nana meet on a train heading to Tokyo, each chasing a different dream, and decide to share a place as they pursue those goals. Despite their starkly different temperaments, they forge a strong friendship that fuels both of them through the urban maze and the rough edges of adulthood. One Nana is drawn to the stage, the ferocious energy of a rising musician, while the other longs for ordinary happiness and stable love. Yet their paths keep colliding as romance, ambition, and friendship pull them in opposite directions. The series follows their parallel lives as they chase music, build careers, suffer heartbreak, and test whether a close friendship can endure the toll of chasing personal dreams.

Released in 2006 as an animated adaptation of Ai Yazawa's Nana manga, the series was directed by Morio Asaka and produced by Madhouse, with Tomoko Konparu contributing as the series writer.

Fans remember Nana for its bold fashion moments and the music that powers its story. Nana Osaki's punk style and Anna Tsuchiya's singing voice gave the show a distinctive sound and look, helping spark conversations about artistry, female friendship, and city life in Japan.

Critics noted a mature portrayal of goals and relationships, balancing heartbreak with humor. The series centers on themes of ambition and loyalty, the tension between personal dreams and supportive friendship, and the question of how independence fits with closeness when life in a big city demands hard choices.