Oumae Kumiko starts her high school education with plans to join the wind instrument club. However, upon seeing that a former acquaintance from her previous school is also joining, she decides against it. The situation changes when her current classmates, Hazuki and Sapphire, express their desire to join as well. Influenced by them, Kumiko eventually overcomes her hesitation and declares her intent to sign up for the club. The new advisor for the school’s wind orchestra, Taki Noboru, offers them a choice. To have fun and relax or to work hard and train seriously to try and qualify for the national high school competition. The students almost unanimously vote for the latter option, unaware of the sacrifices and effort that lie ahead.
Hibike! Euphonium (2015-2024) – Audiovisual Design
Video
Hibike! Euphonium is a masterpiece in terms of aesthetics. Kyoto Animation has consistently delivered visual wonders to its viewers from the very beginning. All of their series look stunning. The reviewed series was created over nine years, and each season has a slightly different visual style. The first season has the most unique style. By using various filters, it stood out with a specific feeling. I’m not sure if this was a deliberate choice by the visual directors to highlight the characters’ nostalgia for their first year or if it was simply their artistic vision at the time. The second season doesn’t particularly stand out. It still looks beautiful and has excellent animation. The third and final season has by far the most details and a noticeably higher base resolution in the scanned drawings. I dare say that, considering everything, it looked the best overall.
The subject of visual presentation in Kyoto Animation series is really vast. Many ordinary things appearing in certain shots didn’t end up there by accident; they often reference specific events or moods. The same goes for the use of lighting, which they employ in almost all of their adaptations (as I mentioned in my Clannad review, which, by the way, I’d like to rewrite in the future since I feel that I barely scratched the surface of my favorite title of all time).
Audio
It probably won’t surprise anyone that I’m full of praise for the voice acting. The cast of Hibike! Euphonium is remarkable, not just because of the well-known names involved. The sheer number of characters that appeared throughout the episodes is impressive. Kurosawa Tomoyo in the lead role of Oumae Kumiko delivers what I consider to be her best performance (and she’s had quite a few). I can’t express it adequately in words, but her acting skills and the director’s work made me feel like I knew her character personally from the very start. Her reactions, emotions, and inner thoughts portrayed her as an ordinary, empathetic girl.
Of course, she wasn’t the only noteworthy name. Literally every character, even the supporting ones, was brimming with life. The cast is full of veterans and people who are simply very talented. Anzai Chika, Touyama Nao, Tomatsu Haruka, Hayami Saori, Kotobuki Minako, Amamiya Sora, Hisakawa Aya, Inoue Kikuko, Tanezaki Atsumi, Sakurai Takahiro, Kuno Misaki, Numakura Manami, Asai Ayaka, Ohashi Ayaka, Nakamura Yuuichi, and many others. What more could you ask for?
The soundtrack didn’t particularly stand out to me. However, it excellently highlighted the nature of each scene and simply fit the overall tone well. Each season, however, had really successful opening and ending themes. Tutti!, Vivace!, DREAM SOLISTER, and Soundscape from the first two seasons are tracks I still revisit often. The audio mix deserves special mention. Everything sounded fantastic on good speakers. The levels of both dialogue and background music were perfected. Japanese productions rarely have issues with this (if at all), but here you could clearly hear that extra level of refinement.
Other Details
I must also mention the outstanding execution of scenes involving instruments. Not only during performances but also during practice sessions and rehearsals. I’m not just talking about the fact that what we saw on screen perfectly matched the sounds coming from the instruments. With hand movements on keys or valves in sync on the top of it. The animation of both the characters and the instruments was a masterpiece. The attention to even the smallest details is impressive. Especially if you have even a slight understanding of music and can appreciate what the creators accomplished here.
In one episode of the first season, Kumiko’s band performed a cover of Rydeen by the legendary group Yellow Magic Orchestra. That was the moment when I realized that a wind orchestra performance is something that goes far beyond what I had encountered before (mostly rather clumsy performances by fire brigade members, etc.). I have to admit, I’d love to hear a performance at the level shown in Hibike! Euphonium. After all, a wind orchestra includes many of my favorite acoustic instruments.
Hibike! Euphonium (2015-2024) – Plot and Characters
Introduction
From the very premiere of the first season, I had a feeling that Hibike! Euphonium might turn out to be one of Kyoto Animation’s best adaptations. Each episode showed that it was created out of pure passion. The source material resonated deeply with everyone involved in the production process. The second season and movies reinforced this belief, while the third season and its finale ultimately convinced me that my initial impressions were spot on.
Hibike! Euphonium is not easy to review, especially given the type of reviews I’ve been striving to write for years—often delving into details and less obvious aspects. There are dozens of threads to explore here, but the series does not focus solely on playing instruments. I would even dare to say that the performances, rehearsals, and practice sessions are just the glue that binds all the other events together.
A Brief Summary of the Hibike! Euphonium Plot
Oumae Kumiko begins her high school journey with plans to join the wind instrument club. However, seeing that her acquaintance from middle school, Kousaka Reina, is also joining, she decides to back out. The situation changes when her current classmates, Hazuki and Sapphire, express their desire to join as well. Influenced by them, Kumiko eventually overcomes her hesitation and decides to sign up for the club. The new advisor for the school’s wind orchestra, Taki Noboru, gives them a choice. To have fun and relax or to work hard and train seriously to try and qualify for the national high school competition. The students almost unanimously decide on the latter option, unaware of the sacrifices and effort that await them.
Kumiko is particularly interested in playing the euphonium, a brass instrument known for its relatively low pitch. She owes much of her interest in brass instruments to her older sister, Mamiko, with whom she has always shared a close bond. Even before the events of the series, she had developed significant skills in playing this instrument.
Characters
Main Character
Oumae Kumiko is clearly presented as the central character of the series. Although there are other prominent characters, it is her character development that plays the most crucial role here. The course of events is also presented entirely from her perspective. Her growth throughout the story is nothing short of remarkable, and most importantly, it feels genuine. Initially, she is portrayed as somewhat indecisive and lacking in self-confidence, often questioning her motivations and abilities. This nature leads her to introspection and reflection, which in turn causes her to ponder the deeper consequences of her actions and choices. Despite this, Kumiko is very empathetic and kind, often showing concern for her friends and fellow club members.
Over time, however, she begins to gain a bit more confidence. As a result, she becomes more engaged in the work of the team she helps build with other students at Kitauji High School. Simultaneously, her passion for music grows. Although she struggles to imagine herself as part of a band in her adult life. The instrument she plays is clearly based on the Yamaha YEP-621.
Rival and Kindred Spirit
Kousaka Reina is a calm, quiet, highly individualistic girl with a deep passion for music. She is polite, especially towards her seniors. Unfortunately, this does not translate into how others perceive her. She usually has a stern expression and can come across as somewhat cold. Above all, she does not compromise when it comes to practice sessions in the club. Moreover, she cannot stand it when someone criticizes the actions of their advisor, Taki Noboru, whom she harbors feelings for.
The relationship between Kumiko and Reina is rather complicated. In middle school, Kumiko witnessed Reina’s distress and tears after the tournament results were announced, as they failed to qualify for the national competition despite winning gold. Kumiko then asked her a somewhat thoughtless question, which strained their relationship for a long time. It is only in high school that their relationship starts to revive. They become dependent on each other, and although they do not express it directly, they deeply value their unique bond.
Childhood Friend
Tsukamoto Shuuichi is a friendly, polite young man. He is usually calm and always strives to do his best. Because most people trust him, he gets to know the problems of other team members and connects them with one another. However, he does not use this information for his own benefit and only shares it with Kumiko. They often try to ease the tension together. Moreover, it’s clear from the beginning that Kumiko is the object of his affection. He doesn’t show it openly, or at least tries not to make it obvious. The two of them get along so well that they don’t use keigo (formal speech) when talking to each other, except during public performances.
Other Characters
As I mentioned at the very beginning of this review, the number of characters appearing throughout the series is impressive. Including those who have an active and significant impact on the course of events. I don’t want this review to turn into a summary of the series or an analysis of each character. These aspects are an integral part of the experience of consuming art.
However, I must mention a few characters who contributed to shaping Kumiko’s character. One of them was undoubtedly Tanaka Asuka. Two years older than Kumiko and also playing the euphonium, Kumiko holds her and her talent in high regard. She frequently mentions her until the very end. Asuka has a very playful personality, which also makes her very friendly and caring. However, she carries a strong sense of responsibility. Many younger girls see her as an older sister figure they want to emulate. Yet, her sense of humor and carefree behavior are just a facade for a range of deeper feelings that Asuka has been suppressing for many years. These feelings stem directly from the despotic treatment by her mother, who also completely cut her off from contact with her father.
Another character who played a significant role in shaping Kumiko’s worldview was Nakagawa Natsuki. A year older and also playing the euphonium. Natsuki is initially portrayed as a laid-back and carefree girl, often seen as someone who doesn’t take anything seriously. As the series progresses, it becomes clear that Natsuki is more sensitive than she initially appears. She supports her friends and fellow band members, often lightening the mood in her own way.
What is the series about
Each season of Hibike! Euphonium roughly covers one year in the life of Oumae Kumiko and her friends and classmates from the school’s wind orchestra club. The films, on the other hand, depict specific events that occur in between the seasons. All but the first film are canonical to the main plot. These three years encompass the entire period of Kumiko’s high school education. The final episode of the third season includes a brief epilogue from her adult life, showing the path she ultimately chose.
In one of the last scenes, there’s a glimpse of a sunflower hairpin that Kumiko received from her friend Tsukamoto Shuuichi, making it clear that, as hinted throughout each season, Kumiko and Shuuichi are together.
Each year brings new welcomes and farewells for the characters, leading to significant rotation among the supporting cast. This has numerous implications for the development of events and potential challenges within the band itself. Each new year also brings fresh problems that both main and secondary characters must face. Almost every subplot of this kind is brought to a conclusion, so nothing feels forced or lacking deeper meaning.
I also appreciated how the romantic subplot was subtly yet clearly presented, remaining in the distant background. The reactions and mutual regard between Shuuichi and Kumiko pleasantly influenced the dynamics and helped build their bond. That’s why, when I see people wearing yuri-glasses and their delusions about the friendship between Kumiko and Reina, I don’t know whether to laugh or feel deeply disgusted—probably both at once.
Even More Character Development for the Main heroine
The final arc likely had the most significant impact on Kumiko’s future life. This part of the story focuses on events involving Kuroe Mayu (whom I liked from the very beginning) and Kumiko herself. It was this stage in her life that allowed her to be honest with herself and showed that it’s worth sticking to one’s resolutions and ideals, even if they lead to intense internal struggle, feelings of injustice, and a perceived lack of fulfillment. Mayu also made Kumiko realize that it’s never wise to rest on one’s laurels. Sooner or later, someone will surpass you in skill and achievements.
Incidentally, I can’t quite understand the widespread dislike for Mayu’s character. I haven’t found any concrete arguments in the negative comments I’ve seen about her.
Hibike! Euphonium (2015-2024) – Evaluation and Summary
Initially, I considered Hibike! Euphonium to be just another excellent adaptation by Kyoto Animation. Gradually, however, I came to realize that I was dealing with something more—something created out of pure passion. The third season, in particular, after beautifully tying everything together, highlighted the character development of the main protagonist and finally presented the ending in the best possible way. This ensured that the series will remain in my heart forever.
One of the key factors responsible for this was the phenomenal balance of genres. Nothing here tries to overshadow everything else. The creators did not attempt to completely distance themselves from their heritage and culture. We still have a lot of elements from Japanese pop culture (which is a huge advantage). There are beach episodes, summer festival episodes, and a whole host of other popular tropes, which delighted me. I can wholeheartedly include Hibike! Euphonium in my personal canon of essential anime series. Even if I tried to find something to criticize, there simply wasn’t anything that allowed me to do so.
Finalny werdykt
Final evaluation
Which translation do I recommend to watch Hibike! Euphonium?
- Season 1 – Kantai
- Season 2 – Kantai
- Season 3 – TakaNishi
- Movie 2 (Todoketai Melody) – Glenn
- Movie 3 (Chikai no Finale) – HibikeCord
- Movie 4 (Ensemble Contest-hen) – TakaNishi
- Liz To Aoi Tori – 35mm
Kolejność oglądania Hibike! Euphonium
- Season 1
- Kitauji Koukou Suisougaku-bu e Youkoso (Movie 1 – recap, can be skipped, there is no new content)
- Season 2
- Todoketai Melody (Movie 2, mostly a recap, but a few scenes were added that were not in the TV series)
- Liz To Aoi Tori (Movie, spinoff focused on Mizore, brings a lot to the table though, worth watching)
- Chikai no Finale (Movie 3)
- Ensemble Contest-hen (Movie 4)
- Season 3
Gallery
