Oushin Girls' Academy is a respected institution reserved only for wealthy young ladies. Very few of its students excel enough to earn the title of Noble Maiden, awarded to those who embody the ideal Japanese woman of culture and refinement. Lilisa Suzunomiya, a girl of common roots, has suddenly found herself as the daughter of a newly remarried real estate mogul and seeks to become a Noble Maiden to prove that commoners like her can be noble as well.
The most difficult challenge Lilisa has faced in pursuit of this goal is abandoning her love of rock music to keep up the rich girl facade she must now wear. But her resolve crumbles once she happens upon Otoha Kurogane, the daughter of a prominent politician, skillfully playing the drums while rocking out in an abandoned school building. Despite initially being at odds, they embrace their passion for music together while leading a double life.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
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Comentários
ZeroMajor12
I'll try to cut to the chase and give you my insight on the entire anime in general. Like most musical anime, this anime slaps with its incredible music. Maybe it's because I'm more fond of the rock genre than any other genre, but the electric guitar and drum play is a real treat. Combined with decent 3D animation to enhance their impact, it makes the music sections really fun to watch when they arrive. Most of its scenes that show the main cast playing and trying to overcome their shortcomings are cool to watch, all together, the music scenes are long but never feel likethey overstayed their welcome, and it's able to deliver the climax really well with all the emotions swelling into one last epic guitar SOLO! Another applause to give is how well done the voice acting for the main cast, particularly Lilisa. She breathes a lot of life into Lilisa that you almost want to root for her. And to top it off, you have Band-Maid performing a good opening song for this anime, so some good things are going into this anime. Unfortunately, this is where the complement ends.
This anime suffers from a lot of downtime. Obviously, you can't just constantly show your main characters playing rock all the time without any story progression, but character progression in this anime is too basic and amateur compared to the already good music production. The anime really likes to rely heavily on tropes to move forward, without considering the chemistry between secondary characters beyond the main cast. So, any good minor characters are simply thrown out the window. Not to mention how repetitive the gags for the comedy sections can be. For example, if you look at Lilisa, her scenes mostly consist of trying to hide the fact that she's playing rock again, but the minor characters that are used for the gag are so poorly emphasised that they practically do nothing to progress the story or add anything to the story's context. It's always the same schtick; therefore, whenever it decides to escalate the story, it usually starts to introduce characters that have some form of relation or similarity to Lilisa, just so it can forcefully invoke the same kind of emotion Lilisa would feel after the end of their conversation. Meets a snobby artist? Show Lilisa being absolutely pissed. Gets insulted for her playing? She gets pissed and tries to outplay herself again. It's practically the same thing, and the story tries to act like Lilisa is growing as a character when she's been doing it since the first episode.
The only character I had some fondness of is Isemi, since her quirk and cute side, along with her little character arc in the anime, makes her the most polished out of the main cast. Going back to Lilisa, I initially liked her at first, but when the anime started to replay the same gags, she got really dull and boring to root for other than her rare crashouts against Otoha, her partner-in-crime, who's also even duller than Lilisa. Otoha is a perfect example of how NOT to write a deuteragonist for a story, she has to be one of the most boring deuteragonists an anime has to offer, there's almost no redeeming qualities about this character other than the fact that she crashes out after delivering the performance of a lifetime, which is fairly good because I like edgy bursts, but it feels like a last minute insert into a poorly done character that only exists to make the main character play again. Watching Otoha is like having a minor character being forced into the role of a deuteragonist without any qualities of what a deuteragonist should have. Yes, sure, she is a constant companion and also as important as Lilisa in most case scenarios, but her dialogues and mannerisms do not suffice as a proper deuteragonist. The chemistry between these partners is extremely stale; you could skip the scenes between them and the anime would run just as fine. The latest character to join the band would be Shiraya, another character that I think is only made for the sake of progressing the story. Nothing about this anime feels real, it's like some copycat that wanted to do rock anime because it saw the success of other anime doing it without recognizing why.
Speaking of character arcs, it does a somewhat okay job at growing the characters, although I find it to be very little in the main cast, despite Isemi (she gets off, because I like her). The character progression is not horrendous by any means, despite how I word this, but for a music anime about teens showing their angst and having frustrations, it's not worth the buildup to watch a character struggle for so little growth. Not to mention that Otoha has received NULL growth because she's seen as the PERFECT drum player who goes mad for every EPIC climaxes she gets. What I don't like is how they set up Otoha being just another school student who just loves to play drum, and then spend the entire season not receiving any growth! And since she's already perfect anyway, you get no insight regarding Otoha, because the series is more interested in showing Otoha just being a maniacal drumroller, and Lilisa going insane with the secrets she has to keep!
Like Lilisa ironically, it's like watching an anime doing an amateur job at writing characters despite having the talents and proficiency of other aspects, like its music, style, and production. Not only are the characters just too basic for this anime, but the characters' arcs are done in such an amateurish manner, it makes me want to scream, "YOU CAN'T EVEN WRITE CHARACTERS PROPERLY!!!!". This anime is an example of how not to exploit tropes to write characters. To summarise, Rock is a Lady's Modesty has irredeemable qualities, such as a boring deuteragonist, abysmal character growth, but it also has its own merits too, great music, good production, and emotionally powerful scenes. Take the good with the bad.
Thank you for reading.
KANLen09
Rock Is a Lady's Modesty — What's the cost of living a life of the fictional rich and noble when all things rock 'n roll are much more frictional to develop a hidden interest so bold and verbose that it tells a better life story above all? High society (or sometimes simply referred to as society). What comes to mind when you hear of these two words that defined a group of upper-class citizens whose world is miles apart from that of the average common folk? If you're thinking of wealth, power, fame, social status, or anything of that sort, you've pretty much got the thinkingon point. Reserved only for the "specially" born and bred, it's a life that no doubt anyone wants to experience, but in the world of mangaka Hiroshi Fukuda's Rock wa Lady no Tashinami deshite a.k.a Rock Is a Lady's Modesty, it is anything BUT the case, with its coming-of-age story about how musicality transcends the borders of one's heart being its driving force to be true to oneself and go against the formalities of the world. And if you didn't know any better, this is the mangaka's 2nd rondo of his works being adapted into anime, which started with the adaptation of his very first work: Spring-Summer 2013's action fantasy series of Joujuu Senjin!! Mushibugyou.
The Noble Maiden, one of a handful of titles bestowed to ladies-in-the-making for being prim, proper, prestigious, and, most importantly, popular. This is the setting for the ladies-only elite school of Oshin Girls' Academy, where young ladies that are bred from the stature and reputation of families that have proven themselves and contributed to high society come together to be taught more of that same nature and be successors to their own families to keep the legacy going. One student in particular is the blonde-haired, twin-tailed young lady who goes by the name of Lilisa Suzunomiya, and the 1st-year lady student racks up her popularity by showcasing through her refined expressions what the next Noble Maiden should be like.
However, deep down, there is a secret that the unassuming young girl holds her resentment for, and that is to play some music with the gift that made her the real lady beneath all the "preposterous" fine facade of hers, with an (electric) guitar that her late father had bestowed upon her. In the rage to fit the demands of high society and a family's remarriage that cemented her future, Lilisa is in one of two camps: to uphold her adopted family name and be the next heir to the Suzunomiya empire or commit to the guitar and see everything fall apart before her very eyes. It's within this context that we see Lilisa bump into another girl, Otoha Kurogane, who, as the daughter of a prominent political family, has all eyes on her as the top popular student that exudes admiration and fangirling from within. Yet, in an ironic twist of fate, Lilisa soon finds out that Kurogane is just like her — a relentless drummer practicing in the music room of the school's old and unused schoolhouse that's way off the beaten path, and a fiery confrontation between the girls' primp image and their preposterous rawness begins to rear its head.
Clearly, this form of high society, or what is more commonly referred to as a "Class S" culture, is one that has existed since the early 20th century in Japan, and the literature's influences and legacy go far beyond as both a social phenomenon and even spawning its own genre as a pseudo-Yuri genre counterpart that depicts lesbian literature. And if there's one thing that's unapologetic about Rock Lady, it's that Hiroshi Fukuda wants the audience to know that this "Yuri" story is more than just an act of symbolism of how Japanese high society has been deemed "unreachable by the average reader," and that it allows the scrutiny of the market itself to be viewed through the lens of both Lilisa and Kurogane, who not only want to upstage themselves as girls of high stature but also as girls who know how to rock the party with "intended" BDSM-like sexual innuendos and phases of seduction that reek much in similarity to Kakegurui.
Also, I think it's a fair judgment to call Rock Lady the "antithesis" of many shows of the same regard that have recently come into emergence to redefine the sub-genre of girls' band series, which you'll instinctively know THE one that made all of this possible: Bocchi the Rock!. In fact, author Aki Hamaji even endorsed and recommended the series alongside her very own when it comes to the deconstruction of the girls' band feature, which, as you can tell, it has revitalized the AniManga scene around that specific culture. With shows being similar in style, like the BanG Dream! franchise with its spin-off series of Summer 2023's It's MyGO!!!!! and last season's Ave Mujica, as well as last Spring's Girls Band Cry, the hype around the girls' band sub-genre has never been more fired up than before.
From the pure to the raw, the fate of Lilisa Suzunomiya and Otoha Kurogane is one that's unapologetically doused in not just "friendly chaos" that's combined with the show's depiction of the class anxiety and societal sexism, but a dynamic and electric Yuri/lesbian relationship that knows no limits to amp the seductive BDSM traits of the series overall. It goes both ways between the ladies trying to be the dominatrix over the other with their explosive but sapphic and proud vulgar expressions. That's the story of "liberation and libidos," and the show constantly makes you aware that you're not just watching a constant catfight, but it's the catfight to end all catfights that doesn't diminish what's to love of the raw friction between the two ladies. However, while it takes two to form a small music team, it takes twice as much to form a band, and that's where both Tina Isemi and Tamaki Shiraya contribute to their "liberation" of rock 'n' roll. The vice-president of the girls' academy, Tina, looks the part of a model, and being the daughter of a family-owned cosmetics brand, she's instantly adept atupholding her Prince Charming persona in public. But in regard to her true self, she's anything but that as a gentle girl who has no mission in life until she chances upon the twin-tails girl's performance and wants to be in their reign. As for the latter, the childhood friend of Kurogane and a 2nd year at the academy's sister institution of Kuroyuri Girls' School, who's also well-versed in the underground music scene, holds nothing back against those who try to oppress her, and having only had Kurogane, who is her central area of influence, to even pick herself up to be a skilled musician, she's the epitome of "don't try to mess with me, or I'll mess you up even worse."
On the sidelines, however, are also people who are in the direct line of fire when it comes to Lilisa and her two-faced facade of a persona, which, as you can imagine, affects them greatly. I've already mentioned that Lilisa was adopted into the Suzunomiya household after the passing of her late father, which brought both her and her mother, Yuka, into the prestigious family. However, like the strict confirmations of the Class S regime, Lilisa is always constantly informed by her mother to give up on rock music, something that was once shared within the commoner family before the remarriage, which is instantly noticed as a change of heart to not want to disappoint the new family's expectations. Moreover, the arrival of the mother-daughter duo does not bode well for the younger "adoptive sister," Alice, of whom she's the true biological heir to the name, and assumes her declaration to chase them both out by exposing Lilisa's facade and proving them otherwise, only for that same "class" act to rather influence her instead as a fan of Lilisa's. How the tables have turned.
Interestingly enough, Rock Lady's production is also a twist on real-life fate as well. For the man who helmed the Gundam Build Divers series, as well as Fall 2023's The iDOLM@STER Million Live!, on a friend's recommendation, director Shinya Watada instantly found the series interesting and was even surprised that the studio of Bandai Namco Pictures reached out to him for a directorial role in the anime project, alongside assistant director Ori Yasukawa, who played drums in an amateur band. That proves more than enough to form a staff team centred around the marriage of rock music. And to make this effect come alive, the idea of using motion capture for the performance aspects of the anime comes as a consensus, but it's only with the help of producer Tatsuya Sunado scouring for bands that best fit what they're looking for that Watada picked the band that fits this rhetoric to a T: the famous all-female rock band BAND-MAID, which instantly hits all the right notes for rather gruesome recording sessions that at first were hard to overcome but went well thereafter. Even the VAs themselves have given recognition that despite the different-than-usual voice recording sessions that prove quite the challenge, at least to both central MC's VAs of Akira Sekine (Princess Principal's Charlotte, Senpai wa Otokonoko's Aoi Saki) and Miyuri Shimabukuro (Fruits Basket's Yuki Soma, Bofuri's Syrup), it's a lot of work and codependence with the author himself to flesh out Lilisa and Kurogane's characters to their very best. All of this combined really gives you the sense of appreciation of how coincidences can actually elevate the original source material to its full potential, which I think Shinya Watada and his staff team did an absolutely great job at that.
When it comes to the actual production, Bandai Namco Pictures is as versatile as a studio you can get for its diverse range of shows, and Rock Lady is no exception to the formula. Great animation alongside the pseudo-3DCG motion capture that is supposed to induce head-turning epilepsy, which I'm thankful that it's not overused at all, gives the show its own identity to tell you that it's not goofing around, not even for a moment. Even the music is specially tailored for a series like this, with Band-Maid and its group members contributing heavily to the musical aspects of the anime, more than just its normalcy of a fired-up, rock-heavy hype of a banger OP song. With Little Glee Monster onboard for the ED, it's not a bad song either, and it's something that's outside the usual comfort zone for the all-female vocal group themselves.
If you fancy a show that's all rock 'n roll, all hype, and Yuri/lesbian-induced, Rock wa Lady no Tashinami deshite a.k.a Rock Is a Lady's Modesty has you all covered for an experience awaiting its doors to be opened. While it has similar vibes to Girls Band Cry, the show is wholly its own thing that does just as majestically (in the ladylike sense), but with hard, punk rock vibes so toxic that it leaves you coming back for more battles.
Even pure-minded ladies do have their antitheses of life as well.
Neremeno
Rock is a Lady's Modesty is a powerful story that plays with a surprising number of topics, some with a light hand, some with a heavier hand, for an extremely pleasant mix. The most obvious ingredient is the foundation of a rock band. It tackles some of the usual issues that go with it, like the dilemma of how to strike a balance between hiring nice people and hiring skilled people, the quest for your first gigs, and so on. But it delves a bit deeper and tackles more intricate questions, like choosing to be an instrumental rock band and dealing with the consequences, the wayeach instrument finds its place in the team effort…
The second important ingredient is how those girls are subjected to heavy pressure from their (mostly rich and conservative) families, their (private) school and their overall environment. It gives more than a nod to old shoujo stories from the 70s and the 80s with the hierarchy-based dynamics between students in the school and the way those girls are forced to hide their own sense of self to become "perfect girls" whose only goal is to find a good marriage in the end. Thinks S manga, but without the yuri element.
But our protagonists find a way to rebel against that trend through rock. And when they play, all hell breaks loose and they lose all restraint. The dynamic between Otoha and Lilisa has only two settings: in school they stick to their overly polite and artificial persona; in the rehearsal room they have no filter and interact mostly through aggression, as befits their music.
That sort of conflict-driven, yet fruitful, interaction is typical of how many rock stars behaved in big rock / metal bands in the 70s and the 80s.
So when these girls play, the anime puts a lot of effort to show the almost physical explosion of their emotions, their frustrations and the liberation of their true selves through rock and metal. Instruments are kicked, insults are thrown around and sweat is dripped!
This staging is greatly enhanced by the motion capture recorded with the talented women from Band-Maid and by a very good soundtrack (it takes talent to write instrumental titles that everyone can get into!)
I reeeaaaally hope that we'll have a second season. But even if we don't, this first season was a wild ride from start to finish, and it ends mostly on a satisfying note, so no regret!
Marinate1016
I love when you know from the first episode what your anime of the season is. The first 20 minutes of Rock is a lady’s modesty were all I needed to see to know there was nothing that would touch this show this season and 3 months later, I can confidently say that’s still the case. I have been the biggest fan of this series for the last 12 weeks, pushing the agenda everywhere I can. It’s one of the 3-4 hyper fixations that I get every year and just can’t shut-up about. This was incredible. I’m such a big fan of series where characterscome out of their shells and embrace who they really are as people, and Rock Lady does it in such a cool way, using rock music as a tool of expression for emotionally(and sexually)repressed girls at a school for rich kids. I had so much fun seeing the girls come together, form a band and open up to one another. Living your life hiding who you really are from the world just to fit in has to be so suffocating. While we aren’t all rockstars, I think a lot of people will be able to relate to the themes in the story of self-acceptance and doing the things YOU want to in life. Life’s too short to waste it trying to please other people at the expense of yourself. I hyped this show up as “my weekly dose of rock lesbians” every week and don’t get me wrong, it is unapologetically gay af which is awesome, but it’s also so much more than that. It’s an inspiring story that should make you want to pursue the things you’re passionate about, even if others laugh at you or think you’re naive. You combine that great story setup with some of the greatest 3DCGI musical performances of all time, an amazing cast of seiyuus and of course our dose of Yuri, and you got an amazing show.
“What does it mean to be a proper lady?” That’s the foundational question of this series. Society has a predetermined notion of what “proper” looks like, but is it worth forcing yourself into a box just to be what others want you to be? What good is living a life if it’s not your own? To hell with what anyone else thinks! Lilisa’s gradual descent into just not giving af what other people think of her love of rock and roll is one of the more satisfying character arcs I’ve seen recently. At school she’s known as this perfect girl who can do everything, everyone looks up to her as a role model, etc., but after school she’s rocking her soul out with Otoha trying to get better on the guitar. Having to hide what she’s really passionate about from her mother, classmates and sister is difficult, but it’s that challenge that makes the after school performances with Otoha, and later the full band, that much more special. After wearing a mask all day and pretending to be someone she’s not, Lilisa can truly let go and be herself when she’s got a guitar in her hands. Again, most of us are not trying to be rockstars, but there’s probably something you enjoyed doing that you felt you had to grow out of, or were even forced to stop whether it’s because of peer pressure, a parent or just life circumstances. This series is all about encouraging people to be themselves and embrace that passion. If you wanna try out being an artist, or making music or chasing some dream that others have deemed “unrealistic”, go for it. NOW.
Following up on the Otoha x Lilisa point, their relationship is the other foundation of the series and man it was great. There’s this really interesting sexually charged dynamic in almost every scene with the two of them, but it’s not just for fanservice. It’s used to further the point of two young women who’ve been forced to present themselves in a certain way, finally having an opportunity to be free and just lose themselves in their passion. Their profanity laced shouting matches were hilarious, Lilisa’s BDSM kink fantasies and of course, their actual musical performances which the studio did in a way that conveyed this feeling of being lost in spiritual and physical ecstasy, were amazing. It truly is such an intimate and liberating feeling when you find people with whom you can be yourself with no reservations.
So we’ve had a few rock/music shows in the last few years with similar premises and concepts to Rock Lady, what makes this different is the focus on instrumental musical performances as opposed to traditional voiced band performances. There’s no vocals, just pure rock and it works very well as a means of conveying the girls’ feelings. This show has an emphasis on letting you FEEL the music. It’s a different sort of experience than hearing lyrics. It goes very well with the girls’ punk rock alter egos as well since rock is inherently a counter cultural style of music that young people have always turned to as a way of rebelling against predefined social roles. The music in this show hits you like a wave and while you might not have a fangasm like Otoha, it will move you.
Speaking of fangasms, while the show does have sexual themes and some fan-service, I like that it’s not just there for the sake of it. For example there’s a scene where a character is revealed to flatten their chest using a girdle and then suddenly her breasts spill out of the girdle. It’s done for a bit of comedy, but it also shows how this character’s been living a lie her entire life, she’s literally suffering everyday pretending to be someone she isn’t. Same with the BDSM stuff, yea it’s cool and kinky, but importantly it shows Lilisa’s desire to have control over things in her life instead of being a passive observer all the time. Rock performances are the only time she can be a “dom” and exert her will over another person through her performances. I’m cool with fanservice when it actually serves a purpose and isn’t just there for goon-bait, this series handles it well.
Emotional and sexual liberation aside, the other big thing here is the cast! I love each and every member of this cast so very much. The way everyone comes together to form a band, bringing their own strengths and weaknesses to this ragtag group of individuals who seemingly have no business being together was awesome. All the girls have great personalities, but Tamaki was my personal weakness from a design and character standpoint. I’m weak to crass speaking alt girls and I love the chaos she brought to every episode. Could be recency bias talking, but this was probably my fave rock band cast. The yuri teasing, the fights, the way they all push each other to be better, it moved me.
This was a marvel from a technical perspective. I’m constantly amazed at how far 3DCGI performances have come and this had the best I’ve seen yet. It’s so easy to lose yourself in these musical performances, just like the characters, because of how well done they are. The camera angles, the fluidity of motion, the way the music almost seems to hit you physically.. it’s great. I didn’t even miss having a vocalist in this because I’m a huge Shoegaze/Alt J-rock fan so I’m used to hearing entire songs with no lyrics. The art in general also looks gorgeous with bright and colourful backgrounds and character designs!
Another show I could yap about nonstop for hours, and tbf I did, every week on Twitter and in the MAL/Reddit discussion threads, but simply put this is a must watch to me. In fact, it’s one of like 3-4 shows this season that if you don’t watch anything else, you NEED to watch. These girls rocked my world and I’m gonna miss them so much.
Rock Lady gets 10 notes out of 10.
PanzerIV-J
This is FUN. This is a masterpiece. This is ART. Honestly, Rock Is a Lady's Modesty is so good that you should watch it NOW. The best way I can describe it is that it's an immaculate anime with stunning art, a cast that feels realistic and mature, a great selection of music, and—most importantly—actual character growth throughout the season. I couldn't find anything wrong with this anime. The pacing is great, the visuals are great, the characters are understandable and enjoyable, and it's super easy to binge. I guess I should elaborate though... (but really, you should just go watch it instead of reading any more ofthis review).
1. Characters
You ever watch an anime, TV show, or cartoon and think, "I would’ve snapped and said something absolutely horrible if I were in that situation"?
Well... GOOD NEWS! Almost every member of the main cast has no filter and will say whatever they want to whoever pisses them off—including each other.
These girls try to maintain that pristine image at their expensive private academy, but they couldn’t care less when performing. On stage, they wear revealing clothes, play loud and aggressive rock music, and will intentionally humiliate rival bands. It’s chaotic. It’s raw. And it’s incredibly fun to watch.
2. Art
This covers both the visuals and the music, and honestly? I can’t complain about a single thing. It all looks amazing, sounds amazing, and fits the show’s vibe perfectly. That’s really all I need to say.
3. Story
You might be thinking, "Is this just another anime trying to ride K-On's fame?"
Well, dear reader, that’s a solid NO from me. This is 100% its own thing.
Now this might be controversial but... I uhh... might even say I enjoyed this more than K-On... Yeah, I know. That probably counts as heresy in the world of girl band anime.
But hear me out—both Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty and K-On are great, they just aim for different vibes. K-On is very much about "Cute Girls Doing Cute Things" (CGDCT), while Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty focuses more on interpersonal relationships, musical progression, and a far more intense music theme overall.
One of the big highlights is the theme of musical growth, especially with the keyboardist—her development is front and center, and it also spreads out to the rest of the cast.
Story-wise, everything that happens feels grounded. The drama isn’t ridiculous or out of place—it makes sense, and it pulls you in. Most episodes spend time showing off each character's personality and how they grow with their instruments, and you end up genuinely caring about them.
4. Comedy
The comedy here is fresh and doesn't feel overused or stale. A lot of it comes from the girls completely dropping their filters and either flaming each other or tearing into rival bands.
It’s all well-deserved, it’s often hilarious, and it contrasts perfectly with the super clean, proper image they put on at school.
The Ugly (I wouldn’t even count it against the show, but it’s worth mentioning):
The way the characters dress when performing (Fanservice Warning) –
Yeah... the characters dress very revealing during performances. We’re talking almost-nude levels at times—just leather barely covering key areas, or outfits that are clearly meant to accentuate their bodies.
Personally? I don’t care. It totally fits the “we do what we want” attitude that the show embraces. But I get that some people might find it off-putting—especially if you're watching with other people. So yeah, just be aware of that.
Final Thoughts
I can easily recommend this anime to anyone. It’s definitely one of the best anime that’s come out this year—and it’ll probably stay that way.
10/10.
Have you not started it yet??? What are you waiting for, homie? Get to it!
BrotherCoa
This show is one more of 'girl rock band' shows we have seen in recent years like 'Bocchi the rock'. But unlike Bocchi or K-ON for that matter I would say this one is more mature which makes it unique and rather good. Animation and sound: excellent in both fields. Animation is fluid throughout the entire show and when they are playing songs and preforming concerts you can notice cgi but it very well done. They really went all out on performance scenes, watching each of them was so enjoyable I would rewind episode just to enjoy the music and performance again. The music is outstanding,the OP and ED are both enjoyable and catchy and despite the band being instrumental in nature all the songs they have preformed were great.
Overall animation and music - great. Which is very important in music band shows like this.
Characters: MC Lylisa has a dream of becoming the ultimate ojo-sama in her private girl academy where all the elites of Japan are attending. In order to get that dream she must act as a lady and do proper lady things, while deep down in herself she is hard rocker. Otoha on the other hand is a proper lady who likes to let herself loose from time to time. The dynamic between these tow is great (lot of yuri vibes) and they really carry the show with their interactions and development. Later in the show they are joined by Tamaki and Tina, each with their own quirks and skills. They add more flavor to the already established dynamic and it is a joy to watch development between them. I would also like to note Alice, Lilysa's younger sister who gets most development in this show.
Overall characters are great and their interactions are enjoyable to watch - especially after concert. xD
Story: story is about Lylisa aiming to be the top ojou-sama so that she could easy life of her mother who remarried into rich noble family. But that road is full of obstacles as not only she needs to act like a proper lady (which she founds very hard as she was raised as an ordinary girl) but she also must hide her love for things like rock as they are not lady like things. Soon she meets Otoha by chance or fate and from there the story goes it's usual rock band way. Overall it was a great story and very enjoyable form start to finish. Especially the concert bits and events after them, they were a pure joy to experience.
Overall grade: 10. One more hidden gem of this season of hidden gems.
I would highly recommend this show, even if you might feel saturated by cute girls band shows this one is different enough to give it a go. And it is experience that is worth giving a try.
LelouchSenpai
LIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD The synopsis of this anime doesn't even begin to describe how amazing this show is. I started this show because I was bored one night and I couldn't go to sleep until I was up to date. Now, I have to write a review BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO WATCH this anime! Story: The main characters spend their daily life as students at a private elite school for high class girls (ojou-samas). They are forced to main etiquette, manners and become the representation of a feminine elegant maiden. This is the face that they show to their family, to their teachers, to their classmates,to their friends. But what Lilisa, Otoha, Shiraya and (eventually) Tina all have in common is a CRAZY PASSION for rock that they can only show to their band mates. They balance their daily school and family activities with grace, but after class they meet in the old school building where no one can find them and ROCK OUT. They are able to completely unleash their inner, true and PERVERSE selves while playing. They become their true selves. It's great to see, it feels so raw and real. Did you ever come back home from work/school tired of keeping the professional look, only to open Discord with your friends, swear like pigs, put loud music that you enjoy, have your favorite drink and snack? This is exactly how this anime feels, a guilty pleasure that we can share with ourselves and inner group after putting up with other's people shit the entire day!
The story isn't complicated, there are some problems when the band is formed, they also have to navigate their daily high class girls life, but when they play together it's the highlight of the episode. Each episode is better and better. Episodes 8-13, after the initial buildup, are especially PEAK.
Characters: They all compliment each other so well. Each one of the band members has their own qualities but also weak points. What I like the most is how BRUTALLY HONEST they get with each other during rock time. They are hot and ready to get down and dirty with each other through rock music. The trash talking they do to each other after a performance goes CRAZY. The character development, after playing with each other for a while and learning more about their band mates was so great to see. Also Lilisa never giving up on Tina was awesome and the highlight of her character.
Music & Art: OP and ED are straight up bangers. Animation? Clean and pristine. Also may contain crazy rock shockwaves, hot and sweaty girls trapped in ice, chains or thorns. There is fan service here and there, but it's done so well I have absolutely no problem with it
DON'T SLEEP ON THIS ANIME! I have over 230 animes on my list and I only gave 20 of them 10/10. This is one of them. My new favorite music/girl band anime.
10/10
RakuMugetsu
Absolutely loved this show! SYNOPSIS: Yes, the premise is pretty simple (it definitely gives Ouran High School vibes), but it works. You follow Lilisa as she navigates two conflicting paths: her passion for rock music and her dream of becoming a refined High Lady. The storyline keeps evolving in a way that pulls you in more and more—it just gets better with each episode. ANIMATION: Top-tier quality. The frequent style shifts keep your attention sharp, with vibrant color palettes that harmonize beautifully. The facial expressions are especially exaggerated in the best way—they bring out the emotions perfectly. MUSIC: It’s rock. But make it lady. ;) The performances are dynamic and emotionally rich—youcan really sense what the characters are feeling while they play, which makes it so easy to connect with them.
Watch this show!!! I’m a fan of all music anime, but this one really stayed with me.
Gucci100
Wow, that was a really great episodes. The anime is a girl rock musical, but with a great story. The characters are amazing girls with impossible dreams that they want to achieve. The playing is excellent and kind of exciting. The characters of Atoha, Lilisa, Shiroha, and Tina are all really amazing. Their status in society and their dreams are incompatible, but I believe in following your dreams no matter the difficulties. It was a really good season, and I enjoyed every episode. I'm excited for any news about the next season so we can complete their dream, which is (Fuji Rock). 7/10: Excellent. I recommend anyone interestedin this genre to watch it. It's worth your time. Peace be upon you.
6/28/2025
BerryBlitz
Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty might start off like your typical elegant academy drama, but don’t let the lace and etiquette fool you—this anime is loud, raw, and unapologetically bold. Lilisa Suzunomiya, once a passionate guitarist, is now trapped behind the facade of a “Noble Maiden” at a prestigious all-girls school. That changes when she meets Otoha Kurogane, a secret drummer who reignites her love for rock. Their mission to form a band becomes an act of rebellion—against school norms, social expectations, and even family pressures. The story is equal parts fierce and heartfelt, delivering strong emotional beats while never losing its chaotic energy. Lilisa andOtoha absolutely steal the show. Their dynamic is intense and layered—Lilisa’s internal battle to reclaim her identity contrasts beautifully with Otoha’s rebellious fire. Watching Lilisa gradually let go of her polished image and embrace her true self is one of the most satisfying arcs I’ve seen in a while. One of my favorite episodes was when she gave a tour to the former “Maiden” and realized that girl gave up music just because her parents asked her to. That hit hard—Lilisa can’t do that. She’s too passionate, too stubborn, too alive when she’s playing. Supporting characters like Tina and Tamaki also shine, each adding depth, humor, and their own struggles with appearance versus authenticity.
The visuals are slick, stylish, and full of personality. The way the show blends traditional animation with motion capture during performances gives the musical scenes a kinetic, realistic energy. And those performances? They’re absolute fire. Band scenes explode with life, from sweat flying off drumsticks to the power in every guitar solo. Character expressions, especially during key emotional or musical moments, hit with real weight.
This was my first music-focused anime, and I have to say—it kicked ass. I may be a little biased since I’m a huge Band-Maid fan, but even without that connection, the music here is genuinely phenomenal. The opening (“Ready to Rock”) is a certified banger, and the in-show performances are packed with passion. Voice acting is equally excellent—Akira Sekine and Miyuri Shimabukuro bring serious fire to Lilisa and Otoha, and the cast as a whole feels locked in. Every song adds emotional weight to the story, and it’s clear the show cares about sound as much as it does character.
I didn’t know what to expect going in, but I ended up loving every minute. This show hit something personal: that struggle between who you’re expected to be and who you actually are. It’s got elegant settings, intense rock concerts, sapphic tension, and more than a few “did they really just say that?” moments. What impressed me most was how it balanced high-society polish with chaotic energy. It’s refined and unhinged—and never boring.
Rock Is a Lady’s Modesty takes the music anime formula and smashes it open with glitter, sweat, and pure emotional honesty. It’s loud, stylish, sometimes vulgar, and always driven by heart. As someone new to music anime, I couldn’t have asked for a better first experience. And if you're a Band-Maid fan, this is essential viewing. But even if you’re not, the characters, story, and sound come together to create one of the most exciting, emotionally rich shows of the season. Easily a standout—and maybe my favorite new anime this year.
kiyo_seibah
the premise was interesting as it was about elite, noble, rich girls in a prestigious private school who's actually obsessed with rock music and forming a band, while they try to keep it secret and maintain their noble image outside. This contrast is very funny and the main comedy aspect in this anime. And about the music, from other band themed anime, i like the type of music in this anime better. A very noisy and loud rock. Also kudos to the production team for recording the natural movements of a real human playing music instruments and apply it into the anime. So everymovement are accurate and detailed, although yes the 3D isn't blend well enough with the 2D and the animation still looks stiff and like a video game but hey i still appreciate the production team for recording real humans movement for this.
The directing also really well especially during the performance, capturing the intensity of the performance well.
I hope there'll be sequel bcs i would love to see how the band will do and will they make it to fuji rock
Overall recommend, especially if u like band themed anime and loud rock music!
GT3_gamer
When I saw the trailer for this anime, I knew I was in for a treat. And boy, let me tell you, they cook well, I am full from their meal. This is definitely my pick for anime of the season; if there's one, it's just that good. How did I find this? I stumbled upon it while scrolling through Twitter/X. I researched it by myself to see where I could watch it, and surprise-surprise, Anione Asia provides it for free. Appealing (Why did I get into the anime?) Have you seen the trailer? Mate, my God, the girls' designs are so stylish and stunning. How can you skipit? You can't.
Platform
I have mentioned Anione Asia. It is also on Bahamut Anime Crazy for Taiwan to watch, and HiDive. Kind of surprised that Netflix doesn't have this on their platform.
The review;
Plot/Story
The premise is thus! A ladylike girl who goes to a prestigious school and has to keep up her daily routine as a lady. No time to spare, no fooling around to do. All she has to do to become the elite among the elite is... well, act as a lady.
But what's the fun in that? Lilisa wasn't born in a wealthy family; she was a commoner whose mother remarried to a rich man. She has the blood of a rebellious girl; she wants to rock out. That's why in this series, she secretly rocks out with her fellow ladylike friends.
Now, I'll be honest, at first I was kind of disgusted at the premise. Why? I'm an Indonesian commoner, and of course, I feel like the premise just makes fun of me. But boy, I'm glad I checked this anime out because the story was so good, I went ahead and read the manga. It is one of those hidden gems that you should not miss out on.
Character
Man, I don't even know where I should start.
Lilisa? Otoha? Isemi? Shiraya?
Man, they are all so well-made characters. It is hard to just talk about one of them; all of them are so cool. Even their character arc were some of the most interesting stories among other anime in this season.
I hope they make 2nd season. I'm well aware that the manga doesn't have enough source to make a 2nd season yet, but one can hope, right?
OST/SFX
Both OP and ED are just magnificent. This one takes the win for the best OP and ED, no doubt in my mind.
Other than that, I give them 2 thumbs up for the OST/SFX for the actual anime itself. They are all well done.
Animation
You know what's crazy? I have watched an anime by this studio in the past, and no wonder their 3d actually good. Have you seen an anime called Brave Beats? The one that... I don't know the normal term for this. It's a... AP (Age Progression) music anime...
Yeah...
Basically, a kid has this chibi monster-looking thing, and they fuse. That fuse transforms the kid into an adult to battle the enemy, bear with me, with dancing.
And those dance sequences are animated with 3D, and I have to be honest here, they look amazing. The same goes for this anime. It is so gorgeous to watch.
Kudos to Bandai Namco Pictures. You outdone yourself and impressed me, once again.
VA
I'll be glazing this anime even more, dude. The girls' voice acting are so amazing, dude. Especially Isemi. Man, this girl just... You know, capture me. She is probably my favorite and also the cafe owner, Mariko. I am in love. I want them to do ASMR.
The conclusion;
The good
I'm glad I checked this anime out, it's so much fun to watch and read.
The bad
I might want to start finding more of these anime/manga, and making other anime/manga on my readlist has to be put on hold. Dang it, man. 😂
Gratitude
As always, thanks for providing us Asians to watch this anime for free, Anione Asia. You are the goat. Love you so much.
Overall, 8.7/10
Not the worst, not the best. But amazing nonetheless.
MoriNicholas2002
So I've been watching anime for 8 years and watched 5+ music shows, BECK, Given, Bocchi the Rock! etc. When my cousin's friend showed me this show. I was blown away by it. Not only that, I looked, and they do real motion capture from Band Maid. This anime broke the music barrier by the Ouran High School Host club setting, but drags it down with the rock music really fast, then focuses on Lilisa and Otoha differences on their performances. My Favorite is Tina Isemi (Later character), which is similar to K-on or Given, where the character is changed by the band members from themusic. Thus, coming with the episodes, Favorites are 1, 5, 7, 9, 13.
The 5th episode is my favorite episode of ALL TIME. I've been in the band for 3 years, and I had a whole smile during the performance. Out of context, it's like Mario Kart OST.
When coming into this anime, I recommend headphones, but also in a private space, as it is very loud and sometimes hectic.
5iv3_
Band shows for the win 🎸🥁🎤🎹 I will mention, when this show started airing I was on a kick for band shows at the time (example: Hibike, Girls Band Cry, etc.) so this show came at the perfect time for me. And it did not disappoint at all. I felt it was such a different view for band anime that it felt like a breath of fresh air. Firstly, Characters! The strongpoint of this show to be honest. Cause to be frank, just seeing them interact was a treat. Each character had their own personality, and such a strong color that if put next toa completely neutral character would make them stand out too much, so having all these types of characters in one group really showcases them in a certain light.
They're just all very different from each other so it separates them easily from the audience. Another aspect that really makes this show stand out is not shying away from more vulgar language and imagery, because it really highlights their true personalities when with each other. They don't shy away from showing it to other people either.
Next, animation! The standard animation used for the most of the show is nice, but I want to talk about the 3D animation used for the performances. Personally, I think it looked really really nice. (Girls Band Cry is in a league of its own because the models for that were special.) The animation used for the performances wasn't janky looking, and was really clean. Overall really really well done in that front.
a small little tidbit here: the music for this was great. the opening, ending, and the music in the show were all really really good.
In summary, it was a really good show. It didn't lack anything, and excelled at what it wanted to show. Need a season 2 now :p
Kurosaki1580
First of all, I know this isn't an anime for everyone to watch until the end. But it's an anime that's worth at least giving a chance. I feel privileged to have had the experience of climbing the ranks of girl band anime. First K-ON, then Bocchi The Rock, and now this.Not every anime can move me, but this one managed to make my heart race with joy, just by watching it. First, the characters. The four main characters have a dynamic that I had never seen before, and their chemistry is impressive because it works so well.The songs are a delight to listen to, they appealto those who really like rock, and the anime managed to convey this very well.All the performances are filled with emotion, and make us feel the same way as the girls who are playing.
Along with the animation, which has a 3D that didn't bother me, but which helped to convey the intensity of the shows, and mainly which brought realism to the instruments.It gives a much greater immersion to see the characters actually playing according to the music that is being played, this for me is perhaps the most important detail in a music anime.
For me, this anime was a rollercoaster of good emotions, which for me is more than enough to recommend this anime, especially among those from this season, who didn't have much to offer.
