15 [Similar Anime] Like Your Lie in April

Throughout the course of both series, we see character interactions between the two main protagonists who expresses their interests and emotions. There's a decent degree of realism present by the way their characters are fleshed out including their past.

Both series has a great deal with focus on music as a prominent theme. Inspiring to fulfill a dream, the plot centers on their goal and what to make of it by their efforts while dealing with their internal struggles.

If you were to combine Clannad and Nodame Cantabile, I think you'd have a pretty close approximation to Shigatsu~.

graphics-wise, both anime has a similar style. it can be gloomy in times and bright the other. the main character is a boy wearing glasses with a blonde older sister-type support female character.

March Comes in Like a Lion has more unique visuals and better direction than Your Lie in April due to the very different animation studios and directors. Also YLIA has way more romance (3-gatsu being more of a slice-of-life series), but anyone can feel the similarities while watching one after having seen the other. Both are touching dramas that serves as a memorable experience for fans of the genre.

In terms of soundtrack, both are astounding. Both of the openings fit perfectly with the shows and good in their own rights. The OSTs for both are spectacular in their own, unique ways. Clannad involves music that will make the scenes even more of a tear-jerker. Whereas Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso has a many genres of music within the OST, which fits the show.

I chose After Story, rather than the original Clannad series, because of the way it makes you cry or at least want to. Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso is very similar in that way.

My personal preferences: If you're a person who've watched Your Lie in April first and is going to watch Anohana, I prefer you watch in a minimum of 1 episode per day. Because Anohana is a show that will do everything in it's power to make you cry in every episode it has. Granted, it's shorter (11 episodes) so it's kinda understandable. Some of you might be fine with that but in my own experience, I didn't cry as much as other people did because I watched it in one sitting and when a dramatic scene does come in an episode, I just feel numb because I'm still not over about the dramatic scene in an episode prior.

Kids on the Slope has its two MALE leads connect via music. There's every suggestion that the thugish drummer would like to pound more than his drums as they compete and connect by playing jazz together. The glasses-wearing, scrawny lead finds liberation by escaping from the restrictions of classical piano playing and happiness by bonding with his 'friend'. The show does try to mask the homosexual undercurrent with heterosexual romance subplots for both characters, but since music is the main focus, both subplots remain on a road to nowhere. And, fittingly, the male leads end together... in a spiritual sense, at least. It's all too obvious the series was created by a female, both in terms of top/bottom character designs and the actual content.

Shigatsu is a far more male-orientated, shounen experience. The piano playing lead in Shigatsu is still very much four-eyed and scrawny, just like the lead in Slope, but his musical performance partner is a beautiful long-haired blonde violinist. The same way jazz liberated the lead in Slope, the heroine in Shigatsu injects life into its male lead by inspiring him with her rock-star style violin playing and energy; prompting him to be her partner. Like Slope, there's also romantic subplots with other characters, but it's crystal clear the musical pairing will later pair up in other, just as passionate ways. Maybe.

Also, although it's just a matter of preference, I prefer Shigatsu's shouenish FREAK OUT humour over Slope's more subdued, realistic tone. That's a key difference between the two. Shigatsu presents an inexplicably anime mental block issue over piano playing, yet it's never as depressing as Slope because of the injection of humour. Childish but fun. Also-also: THE MUSICAL PERFORMANCES. A lot of attention was put into them; especially in Slope where an actual person did the drumming motions. And the violin playing in Shigatsu was equally captivating.

The stories started in spring. Where the sakura blossoms in spring.

Differences are that WA2 is more (undecisiveness) drama and (love triangle) romance oriented so a more serious approach.

-Both expresses deep emotions through scenes involving solemnity, despair and sadness.
-Both anime gives the viewer a powerful impact wherein one character shows despair or sadness.
-Both anime have great animation.
-Both anime have the point of focus to a young girl.
-Both anime involves death of loved ones (spoiler alert *sorry* T~T)

Differences:

-Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso expresses emotions to its viewers through music while on the other hand, Violet Evergarden is about the tragedy of war the main character has gone through and is being brought back being it's flashback and its dignity to help people achieve what they want to have through her writings on letters.
-Violet Evergarden does not contain expressions from music.
-Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso has 4 main characters while in Violet Evergarden, there is only one.
-Violet Evergarden renders bloody and tragic flashbacks about the spoils of war the main character has gone through while on the other hand, Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso doesn't. Except, it does flashback on the memories of the main character's without tragedy yet filled with madness and anger about his (Arima, Kousei) mother forcing him to be a prodigy (spoiler alert *sorry* T~T)
-Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso's setting is on a modernized era and is taking place on schools in Japan while in Violet Evergarden, it takes place on around 1800s or 1900s wherein it is more likely American or European due to their names (?)

Plot:
Whilst Shigatsu's plot always stays centered in Kousei, with much of it mopping over the same very particular issue; Hibike's story deals with more approachable day-to-day circumstances spread over several members of the group, while still focusing the main character's POV. The pace is much better, with problems quickly getting acted on (or, purposely, not) as soon as the audience is aware of them.

Characters:
Whist Shigatsu, once again, tends to develop around Kousei (and Kaori in the last episode), Hibike's story jumps development from character to character, with the main character's development being almost a side-story to those.

Sound:
Hibike is so, but so much better in this stage. Unlike the constantly interrupted by monologue pieces of Shigatsu, Hibike's performances flow much better with the story. There are actually moments when having your eyes open is optional. Another point that I liked is that while Shigatsu constantly shows the reaction of the audience, with the usual "WOOOAAHH!!11!", Hibike shows the performance. No need for anyone to tell you how to feel, you will simply know.

The atmoshpere in each show is lighthearted, with comedy and heartwarming moments along with periods where the show is more serious. There are also romantic undertones in each - this forms a large part of each show's appeal. Art style in both is crisp and features a vivid palette.

Well, in a sense, the main 2 protagonists of Kousei and Kaori are somewhat similar to Sorata and Shiina of Sakurasou. Albeit, Sorata goes through his "transformation" whilst trying to reach what he feels to be a sense of "accomplishments" that can match up to Shiina, while Kousei is already an accredited pianist. However, in Kousei's story, it is more about him being able to accept his position in life and being able to break out of the mental shell that was left behind after his mother's death.

The story of Kousei and Kaori is an enriching tale of friendship and tragedies that is sure to leave you wanting more. From the character development, to the scenery, Shigatsu wa kimi no Uso is probably one of the best anime of it's time. I strongly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a beautiful Slice of Life style anime and hope that it brings as much happiness and tears to you as it has for me.

Enjoy!