10 best anime about acting, ranked

For anime fans who love theater and film, there are some great series that provides an inside look at the struggles and triumphs of being an actor. Acting is a creative and demanding craft that requires dedication, skill, and passion.

These anime capture the challenges of entering the show business and growing as a performer. From romantic comedies to thoughtful dramas, these anime showcase the challenges of breaking into show business, developing one's talents, finding meaningful roles, and growing as a performer.

Audiences experience the stress of auditions, growth from intensive training, swelling confidence with increasing mastery, and the ultimate joy of losing oneself in a role. These anime expose the hidden struggles of performers, such as scrutiny, competition, and balancing work and life.

Disclaimer: This article reflects the writer's opinions

Oshi No Ko, Skip Beat!, and 8 best anime about acting

10. Skip Beat!

Skip Beat!, a compelling anime about acting, follows the story of Kyoko Mogami, a talented schoolgirl who moves to Tokyo to support her childhood friend Sho Fuwa as he pursues his dreams of pop stardom. After discovering he was using her, she vows to surpass him in showbiz by joining Japan's top talent agency.

Despite having no acting experience, her resolve catches the eye of mercurial megastar Ren Tsuruga, who takes Kyoko under his wing. Kyoko must now balance her thirst for retribution with dedication to developing her skills as an actress and idol.

Over time, she discovers a genuine passion for performing. Skip Beat! provides an insightful look at the grit required to make it in the Japanese entertainment industry. Kyoko's evolution from showbiz newbie to rising star feels authentic and earns laughs and cheers along the way.

9. Glass Mask

Glass Mask (Image via Tokyo Movie Shinsha)

This classic anime series, based on a manga that began in 1976 with multiple anime adaptations, focuses on middle school student Maya Kitajima. She dreams of becoming a renowned stage actress like the elusive Crimson Goddess.

When Maya wins the lead role in a local play over spoiled child star Ayumi Himekawa, it launches a long-standing rivalry between the two girls as they both pursue acting glory into adulthood. Maya and Ayumi must learn to channel their competitiveness into continually refining their skills to land coveted roles.

As they work to master challenging characters and impress discerning critics, viewers get a look at the perpetual perseverance and growth required for success on the stage. With its long-running storyline spanning Maya's acting journey over many years, it delivers an in-depth exploration of an artist's coming of age.

8. Kodomo no Omocha (Kodocha)

Kodomo no Omocha (Image via Studio Gallop)

Kodocha, another entertaining anime about acting, centers on eleven-year-old actress Sana Kurata, a huge star with her own hit TV show. But Sana struggles to balance her career with school, family life, and simply growing up.

She's rambunctious and outspoken, often pushing people's buttons and making impulsive choices that get her into trouble. She finds herself at odds with her aloof classmate Akito Hayama, who causes trouble at school and often clashes with Sana.

Over time, their friendship softens Sana while drawing Hayama out of his hardened shell. Kodocha serves up laughs while thoughtfully exploring the pressure put on kid celebrities to act mature beyond their years. Sana's infectious energy encourages viewers to stay playful and true to themselves.

7. Perfect Blue

Perfect Blue, a psychological thriller movie, follows famous pop idol Mima Kirigoe as she makes her transition into acting. Eager to shed her sugary-sweet image, Mima takes on a controversial role in a crime drama that pushes her into more mature territory.

As she pushes into more mature film work, an obsessed fan grows increasingly unable to separate Mima from her pop persona. The story takes a disturbing turn as Mima finds herself stalked online and in person.

Her sense of reality starts to fracture as her fame and more dangerous new acting roles heighten tensions with the fans. It offers a tense and unflinching look at celebrity culture and objectification in the public eye. Mima's mental breakdown shows the harrowing implications of audiences feeling entitled to famous talents.

6. Oshi no Ko

This unique anime series tells the tale of Gorou Amemiya, a gynecologist, who is reincarnated as Aquamarine Hoshino, the son of the idol Ai Hoshino. Growing up in show business, he is determined to avenge his mother's tragic death.

Alongside his twin sister Ruby, who shares his reincarnated origins and dreams of becoming an idol, Aqua navigates the dark and sinister world of the entertainment industry. The siblings' journey exposes the harsh realities behind the glamour as they uncover secrets and face scandals.

Oshi no Ko provides a gripping critique of the idol industry's exploitation while exploring the deep emotional bonds between Aqua and Ruby as they pursue their intertwined fates.

5. A3!

A3! (Image via P.A. Works and Studio 3Hz)

A3! is an anime about acting that immerses viewers in the world of the Mankai Company, an all-male theater troupe struggling to stay afloat. When new director Izumi Tachibana arrives, she must convince each eccentric actor to take rehearsals and performances seriously if Mankai hopes to thrive.

Juggling starkly different personalities with their own hangups and artistic visions often tests Izumi's patience and leadership skills. But her perseverance gradually unifies the troupe's efforts, along with judicious bribery through home cooked meals.

Packed with dynamic characters and hilarious antics, A3! still thoughtfully explores the dedication and teamwork essential to theater. Izumi's devotion to bringing out the best in each actor despite their flaws makes for a fun and inspiring coming-of-age tale.

4. Runway de Waratte (Smile Down the Runway)

While not strictly an anime about acting, Smile Down the Runway explores the related world of modeling and fashion design. High schooler Chiyuki Fujito dreams of becoming a Paris runway model despite her short height, which is considered a barrier in the fashion industry.

Meanwhile, Ikuto Tsumura, an aspiring fashion designer, struggles with poverty and the belief that his family circumstances will prevent him from succeeding. When their paths intertwine, Ikuto and Chiyuki come to appreciate their strength in overcoming adversity.

Smile Down the Runway insightfully portrays the modeling profession's narrow ideals of physical "perfection" while celebrating self-confidence triumphing over superficial barriers. Ikuto and Chiyuki support each other while challenging beauty standards in modeling and fashion design.

3. Uramichi Oniisan

Uramichi Oniisan (Image via Studio Blanc)

Uramichi Oniisan anime follows 30-year-old "fitness freak" Uramichi Omota, who works as a children's TV show host. Happily playing the goofy exercise leader Uramichi-Oniichan ("Big Bro Uramichi") on the program "Together with Big Bro Uramichi," Omota puts on a perpetually peppy persona for the cameras.

Away from the set, the constant cheerfulness takes an immense physical and emotional toll on world-weary cynic Omota. Constant overwork leaves him burnt out and disillusioned with the exploitative realities of the entertainment grind.

A mix of satire and surrealism, Uramichi Oniisan unveils the pain behind clowns like Omota who must stifle their true selves to keep audiences laughing. As he masks his misery to protect his young viewers' innocence, Omota invites consideration of how we treat the celebrities entertaining us.

2. Kaleido Star

Kaleido Star, an inspiring anime about acting and acrobatic performance, follows Sora Naegino's childhood dream to become part of a renowned circus-themed performing arts company, leading her to audition in Los Angeles for the Kaleido Stage.

Despite lacking formal training, Sora's gymnastic skills earn her a spot at Kaleido Stage, where she faces rivalries, hazing, and sabotage from seasoned performers. Yet, she remains filled with wonder, passion, and optimism.

Earnest and idealistic, Sora endures intense physical rigor and workplace toxicity in persistently pursuing her vision of what embodies a true Kaleido Star. Her emotional authenticity and gravity-defying stunt work become driving forces for innovations taking the company's performances to spectacular new heights.

1. Millennium Actress

Millennium Actress film frames the life story of Chiyoko Fujiwara, a legendary film actress looking back on her decades-long career. The premise creatively allows director Satoshi Kon to craft a layered narrative across different historical Japanese eras depicted in Chiyoko's acting resume.

Interspersed with clips from Chiyoko's long filmography playing diverse roles in period pieces, viewers experience the real-world events she lived through by seeing them reflected on-screen through each character. Her performances reflect the eras of theater and Japan’s evolving spirit through hardships.

Now elderly and withdrawn from the public eye, the intensely private woman grants a rare interview to document her extraordinary career. As the documentary filmmaker and his cameraman watch Chiyoko's films with her, they are drawn into her memories.

Conclusion

These anime about acting portray the performing arts in nuanced, compelling ways. Whether you're interested in acting, dancing, or producing, their complex character dynamics reveal just how much discipline and introspection the work of entertainment professionals demands.

Fans of the stage and screen will find inspiration from these tales of struggling artists determined to make their mark.