Tari Tari

Wakana Sakai used to be involved in music, but she stepped away and now keeps a low profile, while Konatsu Miyamoto can barely be separated from singing. Their friend Sawa Okita is fiercely loyal and ready to help in quiet ways. Alongside classmates Taichi and Atsuhiro, they share ordinary school days full of fights, laughter, worry and small triumphs. Through rehearsals, setbacks and everyday choices they begin to piece together what matters to them, and music becomes the thread that helps them sort out hopes and fears. The show follows their slow, intimate shifts toward adulthood, focusing on friendships and the songs they make together without revealing major plot turns.

Tari Tari premiered in 2012 and was created by Masakazu Hashimoto. The series is presented as an original anime project and features voice work from Ayahi Takagaki, Asami Seto, Saori Hayami, Nobunaga Shimazaki and Natsuki Hanae, among others.

The series didn’t collect major industry awards, though it did earn attention for its soundtrack and voice performances. It found modest recognition with critics and viewers rather than dominating award season, gaining praise mostly within anime communities for its tone and music.

While not a mainstream phenomenon, Tari Tari built a dedicated fanbase that often highlights its musical scenes and realistic teen relationships. Songs from the show crop up in fan covers and playlists, and a few episodes are commonly recommended as standout examples of music-centered slice-of-life anime that emphasize character over spectacle.

Critics and viewers generally responded positively, reflected in a humble aggregate score of 7.6 out of 10 from audience votes. Major themes include friendship, identity, and the role of music in healing and motivation. The tone mixes light comedy with quieter, emotional beats, and the ensemble cast is usually singled out for making the characters feel warm and believable.