Sakamichi no Apollon
Summary: Introverted classical pianist and top student Kaoru Nishimi has just arrived in Kyushu for his first year of high school. Having constantly moved from place to place since his childhood, he abandons all hope of fitting in, preparing himself for another lonely, meaningless year. That is, until he encounters the notorious delinquent Sentarou Kawabuchi.
Sentarou's immeasurable love for jazz music inspires Kaoru to learn more about the genre, and as a result, he slowly starts to break out of his shell, making his very first friend. Kaoru begins playing the piano at after-school jazz sessions, located in the basement of fellow student Ritsuko Mukae's family-owned record shop. As he discovers the immense joy of using his musical talents to bring enjoyment to himself and others, Kaoru's summer might just crescendo into one that he will remember forever.
Sakamichi no Apollon is a heartwarming story of friendship, music, and love that follows three unique individuals brought together by their mutual appreciation for jazz.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Description
Introverted classical pianist and top student Kaoru Nishimi has just arrived in Kyushu for his first year of high school. Having constantly moved from place to place since his childhood, he abandons all hope of fitting in, preparing himself for another lonely, meaningless year. That is, until he encounters the notorious delinquent Sentarou Kawabuchi.
Sentarou's immeasurable love for jazz music inspires Kaoru to learn more about the genre, and as a result, he slowly starts to break out of his shell, making his very first friend. Kaoru begins playing the piano at after-school jazz sessions, located in the basement of fellow student Ritsuko Mukae's family-owned record shop. As he discovers the immense joy of using his musical talents to bring enjoyment to himself and others, Kaoru's summer might just crescendo into one that he will remember forever.
Sakamichi no Apollon is a heartwarming story of friendship, music, and love that follows three unique individuals brought together by their mutual appreciation for jazz.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Available At
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Sakamichi no Apollon Trailers
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Sakamichi no Apollon Review
Sakamichi no Apollon — Introverted classical pianist and top student Kaoru Nishimi has just arrived in Kyushu for his first year of high school. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.
Thematically, It sits firmly within Drama, Romance conventions as a TV work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 8.29). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.
Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.
On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.
The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.
Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.
No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.
In sum, Sakamichi no Apollon offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Drama, Romance, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.
Characters & Voice Actors
Kawabuchi, Sentarou
Main
Love, Andrew
English
Kawabuchi, Sentarou
Main
Hosoya, Yoshimasa
Japanese
Kawabuchi, Sentarou
Main
Gimenez, Pascal
French
Kawabuchi, Sentarou
Main
Vandroux, Sandra
French
Kawabuchi, Sentarou
Main
Assali, Heitor
Portuguese (BR)
Kawabuchi, Sentarou
Main
Palma Toscano, Abraham
Spanish
Mukae, Ritsuko
Main
Nanri, Yuuka
Japanese
Mukae, Ritsuko
Main
Stevens, Rebekah
English
Mukae, Ritsuko
Main
Longeac, Amandine
French
Mukae, Ritsuko
Main
Hostekint, Justine
French
Mukae, Ritsuko
Main
Souza, Jacque
Portuguese (BR)
Mukae, Ritsuko
Main
González, Desireé
Spanish
Nishimi, Kaoru
Main
Patton, Chris
English
Nishimi, Kaoru
Main
Kimura, Ryouhei
Japanese
Nishimi, Kaoru
Main
Furuki, Nozomi
Japanese
Nishimi, Kaoru
Main
Maïnö, Michaël
French
Nishimi, Kaoru
Main
Camargo, Bruno
Portuguese (BR)
Nishimi, Kaoru
Main
Florentín, Santiago
Spanish
Nishimi, Kaoru
Main
Ruiz Padilla, Ditter
Spanish
Arita, Isao
Supporting
Sakurai, Takahiro
Japanese
Staff
Konaka, Daisuke
Producer
Maruyama, Masao
Producer
Morosawa, Masao
Producer
Ootsuka, Manabu
Producer
Ozaki, Noriko
Producer
Udagawa, Sumio
Producer
Watanabe, Shinichirou
Director, Episode Director, Storyboard
Aoi, Sayo
Episode Director, Key Animation
Deai, Kotomi
Episode Director, Storyboard, Assistant Director
Nakazawa, Kazuto
Episode Director, Storyboard, Animation Director, Key Animation
Shishido, Jun
Episode Director, Storyboard
Sugahara, Shizutaka
Episode Director
Umemoto, Yui
Episode Director, Storyboard
Yamaoka, Minoru
Episode Director
Decouzon, Mélanie
Script
Dutel, Julien
Script
Kakihara, Yuuko
Script
Futamura, Hideki
Storyboard
Kodera, Katsuyuki
Storyboard
Miya, Shigeyuki
Storyboard, Key Animation