Nodame Cantabile

Vol: 25; Ch: 146
2001 - 2010
4.188 out of 5 from 777 votes
Rank #985
Nodame Cantabile

In the world of classical music, Chiaki Shinichi is a stellar talent in the making; yet with everything going for him, he is nevertheless tied down by his own phobias. Unable to leave Japan because of his fears of flying and sailing, he finds himself in the company of another naturally-talented person, the very weird girl Noda "Nodame" Megumi. Together, the two find themselves in a slowly more intimate relationship, as they struggle to develop their talents and overcome their shortcomings.

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Reviews

pup9439
10

This one’s special with a story that feels authentic, and doesn’t consist of the usual shoujo manga tropes. Edit after reading the whole thing: to get to the very end, readers are going to have to track down three separate parts: the main 136 chapters, then the very funny ten-chapter Opera Hen for more story and finally the short one-shot Chapter 0 for the inconclusive conclusion. I chose to watch all three seasons of the anime first, before tackling the manga.  I recommend doing that because there’s so much music integrated into the story, it’s just easier to get the full picture of what’s happening that way.  Luckily the anime is pretty faithful to the manga, with hardly any material cut out--in the first third at least. As I write I’ve now completed 68 chapters, the halfway point in the manga, which I’m now enjoying easily as much as the anime. (Although it’s necessary to stop reading and search for the matching music sometimes.)  Summary of the romance:  the two MCs, who are both music students and apartment block neighbours, one an uber-talented aspiring conductor and the other a still-developing but gifted pianist, come from contrasting backgrounds and have contrasting, flawed personalities. The conductor, a boy, Chiaki, the son of a rich, cosmopolitan, musical family, has a tendency to be cold and perfectionistic, which sometimes alienates others.  The girl, Nodame, a pianist and the daughter of provincial seaweed farmers, is warm and funny and plainly devoted to Chiaki.  However she’s also an oddball, who seems (at least to me) to be suffering from mild Asperger’s syndrome and/or perhaps ADD.  (The way she can reproduce complicated pieces on the piano from memory made me wonder if she is meant to be a savant.)  While he is ambitious, well-organised and clearly headed for success, she is disorganised, unmotivated and seems to be headed for mediocrity.  Eventually, in order to realise her potential and not to be left behind by Chiaki, Nodame will have to get her shit together.  (It’s not going to be easy.)  For his part, the ambivalent-seeming Chiaki has to figure out Nodame is someone he can’t live without. Chiaki’s also a bit of a tsundere and the scenes depicting their rocky relationship are often very funny and sweet. Besides these two, there are numerous other musician characters and episodes involving orchestras, rehearsals, concerts, music lessons, music practise, music exams and music competitions.  Nodame is also an anime-loving otaku which leads to some funny gags, which are probably relatable to manga/anime fans. Even if you’re not a big music fan, this one is heart-warming and very entertaining.  If you love classical music, this is probably the most enjoyable manga you’ll ever read.  Lastly the art is very nice.

nasreen10
8

Story: Music and romance. It sounds like it become really cheesy and predictable. However, it wasn't. It did the music aspect justice. It wasn't just a bunch of bs. I likes the plot and the overall pacing. I never felt like it was too fast or too slow. It had a slice of life feel to it but it didn't drag. It progressed nicely and the changes were subtle but evident. I like the development of the romance and there was ample comedy. There's definite substance and I would recommend this to anyone looking for something with music, romance, comedy or even slice of life. In addition, I enjoyed the ending. I thought it summed up the series nicely and if you're looking for a more complete ending, then there is a small sequel. Art: I am disappointed in the art a bit but I have to remember that when this series came out. The art improved throughout the series but it was still never that great. It was just mediocre. However, it did relay humour well. Characters: Surprisingly likable. I didn't like some at first but they grew on me which doesn't happen. The mangaka has a way of pulling out their good points slowly and subtely that makes you not hate them in the first place but then grows to actual like. Not love but I do like them. They are a fun, interesting bunch that I will remember. I like the dynamics between the characters as well which is suprising because I never thought I was going to like Nodame. Overall: A really enjoyable, worth while, educational, fun, laughable but moving read. It makes you think but it's still light. An overall great read. May not be one of my favorites but I would definitely own and read the series.

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