Euphoria’s rise in popularity was rapid, and challenged what mainstream television could be. The show's descent into addiction, identity, and adolescent turmoil carved out its own unique place among countless other series. Critics described it as raw and unflinching, and audiences couldn’t look away. It explored vulnerability and was provocative, bold, messy, and cinematic. For a time, it felt like one of the few shows willing to dive headfirst into the chaos of coming-of-age in a world that seems to be collapsing.

However, before HBO’s hit series, Nana had already explored the trials of finding your own place in the world with greater emotional depth and restraint. Ai Yazawa’s manga and its adaptations created a world where messy relationships, ambition, and mistakes were all part of the characters' soul-searching. Nana resonated powerfully with audiences while remaining authentic and raw, and now is the perfect time for it to make a striking comeback.

Euphoria Was a Major Hollywood Success

Euphoria Earned 25 Primetime Emmy Nominations and 9 Wins

When Euphoria premiered in 2019, it quickly caught fire and became one of the most successful series on HBO, ranking as the second most-watched series in 18 years, just behind Game of Thrones. Created by Sam Levinson and featuring Zendaya in one of her most notable roles, the HBO series has an unflinching portrayal of addiction, sexuality, trauma, and identity in the contemporary social media age. It was visually stunning, emotionally raw, and pushed boundaries unapologetically. The nonlinear storytelling, dreamlike scenes, and exceptional editing provided the show with a distinctive rhythm, leading to critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base.

What set Euphoria apart from other series was its willingness to portray the pain and confusion of youth without moralizing or offering easy resolutions. The characters spiraled, recovered, relapsed, and unraveled in ways that felt both theatrical and painfully authentic. The show was especially praised for Zendaya’s portrayal of Rue, a teenage addict who narrates the story with brutal honesty and vulnerability. Paired with the iconic makeup, wardrobes, and soundtrack, the series successfully became a touchstone for a generation searching for meaning amid the chaos.

Nana Is the Timeless Classic Fans Are Craving

Fans of Euphoria Would Fall in Love Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu’s Stories

Long before Euphoria made a name for itself, Nana had established itself as a powerful, raw, and unforgettable story. Ai Yazawa’s manga and its adaptations into an anime and live-action film follow the story of two women who share the same name and meet on the same train bound for Tokyo. One is an independent punk rock singer striving to make a name for herself, while the other is a naïve, hopeless romantic chasing love. Their journeys intertwine as the narrative delves into themes of friendship, ambition, heartbreak, and identity with unmatched complexity, featuring characters who feel raw and authentic.

Official Nana artwork of Nana Osaki in the anime adaptation.

After Nearly 20 Years, Nana Is Returning to Stores With a Very Special Collaboration In 2025

After almost two decades, Nana gets its very own clothing line through a partnership with Uniqlo and fans will not want to miss these stunning pieces.

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What makes Nana a timeless classic and so deeply missed by fans is its ability to balance gritty realism with moments of beauty. It explores messy relationships and emotional dependency, as well as the willpower needed to make a name and carve out a place in the universe without losing yourself in the process. Unlike many teen dramas, Nana offers viewers slow-burn character development that is surrounded by art, music, and fashion. For both longtime fans and newcomers, it stands as one of the best and most vulnerable stories created, and it’s time for Nana to return to screens.

Nana Was Majorly Successful Across Several Mediums

Nana Deserves To Make a Live-Action Comeback

Collage style image featuring official manga artwork from Nana, with images of Nana and Hachi together in the background.

Nana began as a groundbreaking manga that touched the hearts of readers worldwide. The manga ran from May 15, 2000, to June 2009 and became a cultural touchstone for young adults navigating the complexities of life. Its art style, combined with carefully developed characters and raw storytelling, sets it apart from many other titles and has created a large, dedicated fan base ed by critical acclaim. Its influence extended beyond the pages, shaping trends in fashion and music both within Japan and internationally, speaking to how deeply the story affected fans. It received an anime adaptation on April 5, 2006.

Nana’s anime adaptation found new life in a medium that amplified its emotional intensity and unique, eye-catching style. The anime’s soundtrack, which featured rock and punk influences, paired perfectly with the storyline’s tone and setting, effectively creating an immersive experience that drew millions more viewers in. Beyond its anime adaptation, it also received two live-action films, Nana and Nana 2, which successfully translated its emotional weight into a cinematic masterpiece. The first film achieved notable commercial success, grossing over $33 million at the Japanese box office and maintaining a top-10 position for several weeks.

Despite its early success across various mediums, Nana has since quickly faded from mainstream attention, despite the fact that its core themes remain strikingly relevant in today’s cultural climate. The demand for authentic, character-driven narratives has never been stronger, and audiences crave stories that explore identity and emotional vulnerability with honesty. With Nana’s loyal following, reviving the josei series in a new live-action format would be a successful rebirth of the beloved show while increasing accessibility and awareness for new viewers.

Nana Stands Out in Comparison to Euphoria

Euphoria Has Its Merits, but It Has Nothing on What Nana Can Achieve

While the HBO series is undeniably a groundbreaking story with stunning visuals and bold portrayals of teenage hardship, Euphoria often wears its intensity on its sleeve, sometimes sacrificing subtlety for spectacle. The characters, while compelling and well-developed, are confined within heightened emotional extremes that may serve the narrative and style of the story, but can limit deeper explorations. Nana, on the other hand, thrives on complexity, with each character's flaws, dreams, and heartbreaks carefully crafted with precision. By treating it this way, the story allows fans to fully experience the weight of their struggles without relying on overt sensationalism.

As conversations about mental health, identity, and ambition continue to evolve, Nana’s grounded storyline could occupy a significant space in modern pop culture.

A live-action revival of Nana wouldn’t just revisit a beloved classic, but could potentially reshape how drama is crafted for modern audiences. Its return could challenge shows like Euphoria by presenting another rich narrative of growth that doesn’t shy away from harsh reality and the messiness of life and relationships. As conversations about mental health, identity, and ambition continue to evolve, Nana’s grounded storyline could occupy a significant space in modern pop culture. It would win hearts with its honesty, avoiding an overreliance on shock value and sensationalism.

Nana’s timeless appeal lies in its ability to capture the beautiful chaos that comes with discovering one’s identity with authenticity and heart. While Euphoria is a visual, cinematic spectacle with powerful, unyielding intensity, Nana offers a deeper, more intimate look at the hardships people can face on a more universal level. Bringing Nana back to the spotlight in a live-action format would reinvigorate longtime fans while also raising the bar for emotional storytelling in contemporary drama.