Common Sense Media Review
By Polly Conway
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Romantic anime about the power of music, friendship, love.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Your Lie in April
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 13 kid reviews
Kids say this show is a beautifully made yet emotionally heavy anime that tackles profound themes such as death, mental trauma, and domestic abuse. While it offers heartwarming moments and stunning musical expressions, many reviewers caution that its mature content makes it more suitable for older audiences, recommending viewers to be mindful of its sadness and intense topics.
- emotional depth
- mature themes
- beautiful music
- suitable for older kids
- heartwarming moments
- intense sadness
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Your Lie in April is an anime series about a young musician who finds romance. Former piano prodigy Kousei is living a somewhat uninspired life, until he meets Kaori, a free-spirited multi-instrumentalist. Softball-loving Tsubaki and soccer star Watari are Kousei's best friends who support him through thick and thin.
Is It Any Good?
As inspiring as Harold and Maude, with all the romance teens love, this series is a true classic. Teens will likely see themselves in at least one character from Your Lie in April. It explores the pressures many teens feel; from the desire to be in a relationship, to stand out, and pressures from parents. Kaori experienced this from his mother before she died -- even though she loved him, she wanted his success because she didn't have her own. It's poetic, dramatic, and is sure to elicit tears from even the most hardened anime watcher. Not to mention the animation is gorgeous, with cherry blossoms signifying the lightness of spring, and a lovely musical soundtrack. This is an outstanding "beginner" anime for those unfamiliar with the genre.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about music. Why do you think it's so powerful? How does it affect the characters in this anime?
How do the friends support each other during hard times? Does their friendship change throughout the series?
TV Details
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate