Sound! Euphonium

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Sound! Euphonium
Cover of the first Sound! Euphonium novel
響け! ユーフォニアム
(Hibike! Yūfoniamu)
GenreDrama, music, slice of life
Novel series
Written byAyano Takeda
Illustrated byNikki Asada
Published byTakarajimasha
English publisher
ImprintTakarajimasha Bunko
Original runDecember 5, 2013June 22, 2019
Volumes12
Manga
Hibike! Euphonium: Kitauji Koukou Suisougaku-bu e Youkoso
Written byAyano Takeda
Illustrated byHami
Published byTakarajimasha
MagazineKono Manga ga Sugoi! Web
Original runNovember 28, 2014October 30, 2015
Volumes3
Anime television series
Directed by (S1–2)
Produced by
  • Shinichi Nakamura
  • Eharu Oohashi
  • Shigeru Saitou
  • Riri Senami (S2)
Written byJukki Hanada
Music byAkito Matsuda
StudioKyoto Animation
Licensed by
Original network
Original run April 8, 2015 – present
Episodes27 + OVA (List of episodes)
Manga
Hibike! Euphonium: Kitauji Koukou Suisougaku-bu no Ichiban Atsui Natsu
Written byAyano Takeda
Illustrated byHami
Published byTakarajimasha
MagazineKono Manga ga Sugoi! Web
Original runJanuary 15, 2016September 16, 2016
Volumes2
Original video animation
Sound! Euphonium: Ensemble Contest
Directed byTatsuya Ishihara
Written byJukki Hanada
Music byAkito Matsuda
StudioKyoto Animation
ReleasedAugust 4, 2023
Runtime57 minutes
Anime films
icon Anime and manga portal

Sound! Euphonium (Japanese: 響け! ユーフォニアム, Hepburn: Hibike! Yūfoniamu) is a Japanese novel series written by Ayano Takeda. The story is set in Uji, Kyoto and focuses on the Kitauji High School Music Club, whose concert band is steadily improving thanks to the newly appointed adviser's strict instruction.[1]

A manga adaptation illustrated by Hami was serialized on the Kono Manga ga Sugoi! Web website. Kyoto Animation was in charge of its anime adaptations: it produced two seasons of a television series adaptation in 2015 and 2016, depicting the first high school year of the main character, Kumiko Oumae. Two animated films titled Liz and the Blue Bird and Sound! Euphonium: The Movie – Our Promise: A Brand New Day, both taking place during Kumiko's second high year, were released in premiered in 2018 and 2019 respectively. A third season focused on Kumiko in her third year of high school has been announced for April 2024, preceded by the theatrical OVA Ensemble Contest in August 2023.

Plot[edit]

The Kitauji High School Concert Band Club had at one time participated in national tournaments and was a championship-caliber school, but after the club's adviser changed, they had not been able to even participate in the qualifying tournament. However, thanks to the newly appointed adviser's strict instruction, the students are steadily improving and build up their strength. As they fight over who plays solos, some students give priority to studying and quit club activities. Finally, the long wished-for day of the competition arrives.

Characters[edit]

Main characters[edit]

Kumiko Oumae (黄前 久美子, Ōmae Kumiko)
Voiced by: Tomoyo Kurosawa (Japanese); Courtney Shaw (Liz and the Blue Bird);[2] Erica Mendez (Our Promise: A Brand New Day) (English)[3]
Kumiko, a first-year high school student, is the main protagonist of Sound! Euphonium. She speaks standard Japanese, despite growing up in Kansai. She is easily swayed by the opinions of others and is an indecisive person. She dislikes her personality because she cannot make her wishes known to others nor have the courage to interfere with social affairs. She is a euphonium player in the concert band. She lives near Byodoin Temple with her elder sister and parents.
Reina Kousaka (高坂 麗奈, Kōsaka Reina)
Voiced by: Chika Anzai (Japanese); Cristina Vee (Liz and the Blue Bird);[2] Laura Post (Our Promise: A Brand New Day) (English)[3]
Reina is a beautiful trumpet player with long black hair. She was a member of the concert band club at the same junior high school as Kumiko. She is a dedicated trumpet player and goes to the music classroom even outside of club activities. Though she has a polite disposition, she is not viewed so well by others because she usually has a surly expression. She cherishes her trumpet, which was given to her by her parents when she was a junior high school student. She has feelings for her teacher Taki.
Asuka Tanaka (田中 あすか, Tanaka Asuka)
Voiced by: Minako Kotobuki (Japanese); Reba Buhr (Our Promise: A Brand New Day) (English)[3]
Asuka is a third-year student and vice president of the concert band club. She plays the euphonium and leads the bass section. Whenever the club is marching, she leads the band as drum major. She is a natural beauty with glasses and has a playful personality. However in the second season, this is revealed to be mostly a facade to hide her true feelings from her classmates.
Noboru Taki (滝 昇, Taki Noboru)
Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai (Japanese); Wayne Grayson (Liz and the Blue Bird);[2] Robbie Daymond (Our Promise: A Brand New Day) (English)[3][4]
Taki is the new music teacher in Kitauji High School and serves as the adviser to the concert band club. He is also in charge of Class 5 of the second-year students. He is polite and has a methodical personality. He emphasizes independence in his students, and to this end he pushes them to reach their goal of going to the national competition.
Mayu Kuroe (黒江 真由, Kuroe Mayu)
Voiced by: Haruka Tomatsu[5]
Mayu is a euphonium player who transfers to Kitauji High School at the start of Kumiko's third year. Mayu previously attended Seira Girls High School in Fukuoka, a school that is well known for their strong band program.

First-year students[edit]

Hazuki Katou (加藤 葉月, Katō Hazuki)
Voiced by: Ayaka Asai (Japanese); Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld (Liz and the Blue Bird);[2] Jennifer Losi (Our Promise: A Brand New Day) (English)[3]
Hazuki is a friendly girl who talks innocently. She is Kumiko's classmate and is suntanned because she belonged to the tennis club when she was a junior high school student. She is a beginner at music. She admires the trumpet and joined the concert band club, but ended up playing the tuba, which she calls "Tubacabura" (チューバカブラ, Chūbakabura, a portmanteau of the Japanese transliterations of tuba as chūba (チューバ) and chupacabra as chupakabura (チュパカブラ)). She is a bright, perky mood-maker, and the type of person who prefers standing out over supporting others.
Sapphire Kawashima (川島 緑輝, Kawashima Safaia) / Midori ()
Voiced by: Moe Toyota (Japanese); Cassandra Lee Morris (Liz and the Blue Bird);[2] Kayli Mills (Our Promise: A Brand New Day) (English)[3][6]
Sapphire is a girl with soft hair and a delicate constitution. She is often timid due to her lack of self-confidence. She is embarrassed by her own name "Sapphire" (緑輝, Safaia, lit."green brilliancy") , so she tells people to call her "Midori". She is from a junior high school named Seijo (聖女) which has a competitive concert band club. She plays the upright bass, which she endearingly calls "George", and electric bass.
Shuuichi Tsukamoto (塚本 秀一, Tsukamoto Shūichi)
Voiced by: Haruki Ishiya (Japanese); Christian La Monte (Our Promise: A Brand New Day) (English)[3]
Shuuichi is a first-year high school student. He is Kumiko's childhood friend, and the two went to the same junior high school. He and Kumiko are not classmates in high school because they are studying different courses. They previously had a falling out, due to Shuuichi having made a snide remark about Kumiko when they were in their third year of junior high school. He was originally a French horn player, but he gets to play the trombone after winning a game of rock-paper-scissors.
Chikao Takigawa (瀧川 ちかお, Takigawa Chikao)
A first-year student and Shuuichi's friend. He plays the tenor saxophone.
Akiko Yoshizawa (吉沢 秋子, Yoshizawa Akiko)
A first-year student who plays the trumpet.
Lala Hitomi (瞳 ララ, Hitomi Rara)
A first-year student who plays the French horn.
Hiyoko Ueda (植田 日和子, Ueda Hiyoko)
A first-year student who plays the clarinet.

Second-year students[edit]

Natsuki Nakagawa (中川 夏紀, Nakagawa Natsuki)
Voiced by: Konomi Fujimura (Japanese); Sarah Anne Williams (English)[2][7]
Natsuki is a second-year student who plays the euphonium. She is lazy and often found sleeping, but she works hard when something motivates her. She becomes the band vice president in her third year.
Yuuko Yoshikawa (吉川 優子, Yoshikawa Yūko)
Voiced by: Yuri Yamaoka (Japanese); Megan Harvey (English)[8][2]
Yuuko is a second-year student who plays the trumpet. She adores Kaori and has a begrudging friendship with Natsuki. She becomes the band president in her third year.
Mizore Yoroizuka (鎧塚 みぞれ, Yoroizuka Mizore)
Voiced by: Atsumi Tanezaki (Japanese); Laurie Hymes (Liz and the Blue Bird) (English)[2]
Mizore is a quiet second-year student who plays the oboe. She was friends with Nozomi in middle school.
Nozomi Kasaki (傘木 希美, Kasaki Nozomi)
Voiced by: Nao Tōyama (Japanese); Stephanie Sheh (Liz and the Blue Bird) (English)[2][3]
Nozomi is a second-year student who plays the flute. She dropped out of band in her first year.
Takuya Gotou (後藤 卓也, Gotō Takuya)
Voiced by: Kenjiro Tsuda (Japanese); Patrick Seitz (Our Promise: A Brand New Day) (English)[8]
A second-year student who is a tall, calm, and taciturn youth. He plays the tuba and sousaphone.
Riko Nagase (長瀬 梨子, Nagase Riko)
Voiced by: Miyuki Kobori (Japanese); Lauren Landa (Our Promise: A Brand New Day) (English)[8]
A second-year student and Takuya's girlfriend. She also plays the tuba and sousaphone.
Tomoe Kabe (加部友恵, Kabe Tomoe)
Voiced by: Azusa Tadokoro (Japanese); Erika Harlacher (Our Promise: A Brand New Day) (English)
A second-year student who plays the trumpet. In her third year, she was tasked alongside Kumiko to instruct and manage the new first-year members of the band.
Keina Iwata (岩田慧菜, Iwata Keina)
A second-year student who plays the trombone. In her third year, she plays the bass trombone and becomes the trombone section leader.
Miyoko Ohno (大野 美代子, Ohno Miyoko)
A second-year student who is a percussionist as the timpani player. She can also play the harp.

Third-year students[edit]

Haruka Ogasawara (小笠原 晴香, Ogasawara Haruka)
Voiced by: Saori Hayami (Japanese); Allegra Clark (Our Promise: A Brand New Day) (English)[8]
Haruka is a third-year student and president of the concert band. She plays the baritone saxophone and leads the saxophone section. She is a strong-minded character, but has low self-esteem.
Kaori Nakaseko (中世古 香織, Nakaseko Kaori)
Voiced by: Minori Chihara (Japanese); Ryan Bartley (Our Promise: A Brand New Day) (English)[8]
Kaori is a third-year student. She has deep black hair and a gentle character, making her quite popular in the band. She plays the trumpet and is the section leader, in addition to being the band accountant.
Aoi Saitou (斎藤 葵, Saitō Aoi)
Voiced by: Yoko Hikasa
Aoi is a childhood friend of Kumiko, and she is two years her senior. The two often played together, as they lived in the same neighborhood. She and Kumiko drifted apart in junior high school. They are reunited in the concert band, although they do not talk much. She plays the tenor saxophone. She quit the band to focus on her college entrance exams.
Hirone Torizuka (鳥塚 ヒロネ, Torizuka Hirone)
A third-year student who is the concertmaster and leader of the clarinet section.
Kotoko Himegami (姫神 琴子, Himegami Kotoko)
A third-year student who leads the flute and piccolo section.
Juri Sawada (沢田 樹里, Sawada Juri)
A third-year student who leads the horn section.
Hideri Noguchi (野口 ヒデリ, Noguchi Hideri)
A third-year student who leads the trombone section.
Narai Tanabe (田邊 名来, Tanabe Narai)
A third-year student who leads the percussion section. He plays the snare drum and the drum kit. His nickname is "Knuckle".
Raina Kitamura (喜多村 来南, Kitamura Raina)
A third-year student who leads the bassoon and oboe section. She plays the bassoon.
Shouko Hagiwara (萩原 笙子, Hagiwara Shōko)
A third-year student who is the band's photographer. She plays the clarinet.
Yoriko Souga (雑賀 頼子, Sōga Yoriko)
A third-year student who is the band's sheet music librarian. She plays the piccolo.
Tsune Watanabe (渡辺 つね, Watanabe Tsune)
A third-year student who is the band's alumni coordinator. She plays the flute. Her nickname is "Chabudai" (ちゃぶ台, lit. "Small table").
Raimu Okamoto (岡本 来夢, Okamoto Raimu)
A third-year student who plays the alto saxophone. Her lucky charm is written "L.O."
Hitoshi Usui (臼井 ひとし, Usui Hitoshi)
A third-year student who plays the bass clarinet.
Mei Taura (田浦愛衣, Taura Mei)
A third-year student who plays the trombone. She and Hideri are dating.

New first-year students[edit]

Kanade Hisaishi (久石 奏, Hisaishi Kanade)
Voiced by: Sora Amamiya (Japanese); Christine Marie Cabanos (English)[9]
A new first-year student who plays the euphonium. She gives off a good impression to everyone who sees her, but there is a hidden side to her always-polite personality.
Mirei Suzuki (鈴木 美玲, Suzuki Mirei)
Voiced by: Ayaka Nanase (Japanese); Katelyn Gault (English)[9][3]
A new first-year student who plays the tuba and is quite tall. She takes everything very seriously and is a bit antisocial.
Satsuki Suzuki (鈴木 さつき, Suzuki Satsuki)
Voiced by: Misaki Kuno (Japanese); Xanthe Huynh (English)[9][3]
A new first-year student who plays the tuba and is quite short. Like Hazuki, she is very friendly.
Motomu Tsukinaga (月永 求, Tsukinaga Motomu)
Voiced by: Shimba Tsuchiya (Japanese); Lucien Dodge (English)[9][3]
A new first-year student who plays the double bass. He hates being called by his surname.

Others[edit]

Michie Matsumoto (松本 美知恵, Matsumoto Michie)
Voiced by: Aya Hisakawa (Japanese); Cindy Robinson (Our Promise: A Brand New Day) (English)[8]
Michie is Kumiko's homeroom teacher and is the vice-advisor of the concert band. She is known as an intimidating teacher.
Mamiko Oumae (黄前 麻美子, Ōmae Mamiko)
Voiced by: Manami Numakura
Mamiko is Kumiko's older sister. She is a college student and was a trombone player.
Akiko Oumae (黄前 明子, Ōmae Akiko)
Voiced by: Haruhi Nanao
Akiko is Kumiko and Mamiko's mother. Her given name is not mentioned in the original novels.
Akemi Tanaka (田中 明美, Tanaka Akemi)
Voiced by: Kumiko Watanabe
Akemi is Asuka's mother. She tried to make Asuka quit the band.
Azusa Sasaki (佐々木 梓, Sasaki Azusa)
Voiced by: Azusa Tadokoro
Azusa is Kumiko's friend from junior high school. She admitted to Rikka High School (立華高校, Rikka Kōkō), known for its marching band. She plays the trombone. She is the protagonist of the Rikka-centric spinoff novels.
Kohaku Kawashima (川島 琥珀, Kawashima Kohaku)
Voiced by: Haruka Chisuga
Kohaku is Sapphire's little sister. She is a character created for the anime television series and appears in the eighth episode. Her name means "amber" in Japanese.
Masahiro Hashimoto (橋本 真博, Hashimoto Masahiro)
Voiced by: Yuichi Nakamura (Japanese); Mike Pollock (Liz and the Blue Bird);[2] Patrick Seitz (Our Promise: A Brand New Day) (English)[8]
A percussion specialist and longtime friend of Noboru Taki's.
Satomi Niiyama (新山 聡美, Niiyama Satomi)
Voiced by: Houko Kuwashima (Japanese); Ryan Bartley (English)[2][8]
A woodwind specialist and longtime friend of Noboru Taki's.
Masakazu Shindo (進藤 正和, Shindō Masakazu)
Shindo is Asuka's father. Asuka's parents divorced when Asuka was two years old. He is a prominent euphonist and author of book Fun Euphonium (たのしい ユーフォニアム, Tanoshī Yūfoniamu) for beginner euphonists. When Asuka was in first grade, he sent her the euphonium she now plays and a notebook full of euphonium pieces entitled Sound! Euphonium (響け! ユーフォニアム, Hibike! Yūfoniamu).

Media[edit]

Novels[edit]

Sound! Euphonium is a 319-page novel written by Ayano Takeda, and features cover art drawn by Nikki Asada. Takarajimasha published the novel on December 5, 2013. Two sequel novels were released on March 5 and April 4, 2015. In addition, a short story collection was released on May 25, 2015. In 2016, a spin-off novel was released in two volumes on August 4 and September 6. Another spin-off novel was released on October 6, 2016. A two-part sequel to the novels was released in August and October 2017; the story takes place in Kumiko's second year and Mizore's third year of high school.[10] Another short story collection was released on April 5, 2018. Two follow-up novel volumes focused on Kumiko's third and final year on high school were released in April and May 2019.[11]

Yen Press released the first volume of the novel series in English in June 2017.[12]

No. Title Original release date English release date
1Sound! Euphonium: Welcome to the Kitauji High School Concert Band[n 1]
Hibike! Yūfoniamu: Kitauji Kōkō Suisōgaku-bu e Yōkoso (響け! ユーフォニアム 北宇治高校吹奏楽部へようこそ)
December 5, 2013[13]
978-4-8002-1747-9
June 20, 2017[14]
978-0-3165-5859-4
Prologue
  1. Nice to Meet You, Euphonium
  2. I'm Home, Festival
  3. Welcome Back, Audition
  4. Good-Bye, Competition
Epilogue
2Sound! Euphonium 2: The Hottest Summer of Kitauji High School's Wind Ensemble Club
Hibike! Yūfoniamu 2: Kitauji Kōkō Suisōgaku-bu no Ichiban Atsui Natsu (響け! ユーフォニアム2 北宇治高校吹奏楽部のいちばん熱い夏)
March 5, 2015[15]
978-4-8002-3906-8
3Sound! Euphonium 3: The Greatest Crisis of Kitauji High School's Wind Ensemble Club
Hibike! Yūfoniamu 3: Kitauji Kōkō Suisōgaku-bu, Saidai no Kiki (響け! ユーフォニアム3 北宇治高校吹奏楽部、最大の危機)
April 4, 2015[16]
978-4-8002-3982-2
4Sound! Euphonium: Secret Story of Kitauji High School's Wind Ensemble Club
Hibike! Yūfoniamu: Kitauji Kōkō Suisōgaku-bu no Himitsu no Hanashi (響け! ユーフォニアム 北宇治高校吹奏楽部のヒミツの話)
May 25, 2015[17]
978-4-8002-4119-1
5Sound! Euphonium Series: Welcome to the Rikka High School Marching Band (part 1)
Hibike! Yūfoniam Shirīzu Rikka Kōkō Māchingu Bando e Yōkoso Zenpen (響け! ユーフォニアムシリーズ 立華高校マーチングバンドへようこそ 前編)
August 4, 2016[18]
978-4-8002-5872-4
6Sound! Euphonium Series: Welcome to the Rikka High School Marching Band (part 2)
Hibike! Yūfoniam Shirīzu Rikka Kōkō Māchingu Bando e Yōkoso Kōhen (響け! ユーフォニアムシリーズ 立華高校マーチングバンドへようこそ 後編)
September 6, 2016[19]
978-4-8002-5874-8
7Sound! Euphonium Kitauji High School's Concert Band Diary
Hibike! Yūfoniam Kitauji Kōkō no Suisōgaku-bu Nisshi (響け! ユーフォニアム 北宇治高校の吹奏楽部日誌)
October 6, 2016[20]
978-4-8002-6226-4
8Sound! Euphonium Kitauji High School Concert Band, Second Turbulent Movement (part 1)
Hibike! Yūfoniamu Kitauji Kōkō Suisōgaku-bu, Haran no Dainigakushō Zenpen (響け! ユーフォニアム 北宇治高校吹奏楽部、波乱の第二楽章 前編)
August 26, 2017[21]
978-4-8002-7489-2
9Sound! Euphonium Kitauji High School Concert Band, Second Turbulent Movement (part 2)
Hibike! Yūfoniamu Kitauji Kōkō Suisōgaku-bu, Haran no Dainigakushō Kōhen (響け! ユーフォニアム 北宇治高校吹奏楽部、波乱の第二楽章 後編)
October 5, 2017[22]
978-4-8002-7491-5
10Sound! Euphonium: True Stories from the Kitauji High School Concert Band
Hibike! Yūfoniamu Kitauji Kōkō Suisōgaku-bu no Honto no Hanashi (響け! ユーフォニアム 北宇治高校吹奏楽部のホントの話)
April 5, 2018
978-4-8002-8301-6
11Sound! Euphonium: The Kitauji Concert Band's Decisive Final Movement (part 1)
Hibike! Yūfoniamu Kitauji Kōkō Suisōgaku-bu, Ketsui no Saishū Gakushō Zenpen (響け! ユーフォニアム 北宇治高校吹奏楽部、決意の最終楽章 前編)
April 17, 2019
978-4-8002-9399-2
12Sound! Euphonium: The Kitauji Concert Band's Decisive Final Movement (part 2)
Hibike! Yūfoniamu Kitauji Kōkō Suisōgaku-bu, Ketsui no Saishū Gakushō Kōhen (響け! ユーフォニアム 北宇治高校吹奏楽部、決意の最終楽章 後編)
June 22, 2019
978-4-8002-9401-2

Manga[edit]

A manga adaptation of the first novel illustrated by Hami was serialized on the Kono Manga ga Sugoi! Web website between November 28, 2014 and October 30, 2015.[23][24] Takarajimasha published three tankōbon volumes between April 3 and November 20, 2015.[25][26] A manga adaptation of the second novel followed, and was serialized between January 15 and September 16, 2016; the first volume was released on September 8, 2016,[27] and the second on October 11, 2016.[28] A manga adaptation of the third novel followed; the first volume was released on July 20, 2017,[29] and the second volume on August 26, 2017.[30]

Anime[edit]

Television series[edit]

A 13-episode anime television series adaptation of the first volume of the novel series, directed by Tatsuya Ishihara, written by Jukki Hanada, and produced by Kyoto Animation, aired in Japan between April 8 and July 1, 2015.[31] Naoko Yamada served as series production director.[32] The opening theme is "Dream Solister" by True, and the ending theme is "Tutti!" (トゥッティ!) by Tomoyo Kurosawa, Ayaka Asai, Moe Toyota, and Chika Anzai. The ending theme for episode 8 is a trumpet and euphonium duet version of "Ai o Mitsuketa Basho" (愛を見つけた場所, "The Place Where We Found Love") and the ending theme for episode 13 is a wind orchestra version of "Dream Solister". The anime is licensed by Ponycan USA in North America,[33] and by Anime Limited in the United Kingdom.[34] The seventh DVD/BD volume, released on December 16, 2015, bundled an original video animation (OVA) episode titled "Kakedasu Monaka" (かけだすモナカ, "Ready, Set, Monaka"). Kyoto Animation produced an anime film retelling the events of the television series, Sound! Euphonium: The Movie – Welcome to the Kitauji High School Concert Band,[35] which premiered on April 23, 2016.

A second season of the television series began airing on October 6, 2016.[36] The opening theme is "Soundscape" (サウンドスケープ, Saundosukēpu) by True, and the ending theme is "Vivace!" (ヴィヴァーチェ!, Vu~ivu~āche!) by Kurosawa, Asai, Toyota, and Anzai. The ending theme for episode 9 is a euphonium solo version of "Sound! Euphonium" (響け! ユーフォニアム, Hibike! Yūfoniamu) (uncredited) and the ending theme for episode 13 is an orchestra version of "Sound! Euphonium". A short anime, titled "Hanabi-taikai Kiss e Yōkoso" (花火大会キッスへようこそ!, "Welcome to the Fireworks Festival Kiss"), was bundled with the second season's first home video release volume, which was released on December 21, 2016.[37] A second anime film retelling the events of the second season, Sound! Euphonium: The Movie – May the Melody Reach You!, was released on September 30, 2017.[38][39]

A new anime project was announced in 2019, focusing on Kumiko as a student in her third year.[40] It was later revealed to be a third season that premiered on April 7, 2024 on NHK Educational TV.[41] Along with re-confirmation of the third season, the theatrical OVA Sound! Euphonium: Ensemble Contest was announced in 2022, and was released on August 4, 2023.[42] Tatsuya Ishihara returned to direct the OVA, with Taichi Ogawa serving as assistant director, Jukki Hanada writing the screenplay, Shoko Ikeda handling the character designs, and Akito Matsuda composing the music. The theme song is "Ensemble" by True.[43]

Films[edit]

Two new animated films telling the events of Kumiko's second year at Kitauji High were scheduled for release in 2018.[44] The first film, directed by Naoko Yamada and written by Reiko Yoshida, titled Liz and the Blue Bird (リズと青い鳥, Liz to Aoi Tori), focuses on Nozomi and Mizore and premiered on April 21, 2018.[45][46] Theatrical distributor Eleven Arts released the film in theaters on November 9, 2018 in the United States. Shout! Factory released it on home video on March 5, 2019.[47] The second film, titled Sound! Euphonium: The Movie – Our Promise: A Brand New Day (劇場版 響け!ユーフォニアム~誓いのフィナーレ~, Gekijōban Hibike! Yūfoniamu: Chikai no Fināre, lit.'Oath's Finale' or 'Oath of the Finale') and originally scheduled for release in 2018, is directed by Tatsuya Ishihara and focuses on Kumiko as a student in her second year and premiered on April 19, 2019.[48][49] The film was released in select US theaters on July 11, 2019, and the English dub debuted on July 15, 2019.[50][51] The English dub has a different voice cast compared to Liz and the Blue Bird, though Sarah Anne Williams, Ryan Bartley and Megan Harvey reprised their roles as Natsuki, Satomi and Yuko, respectively.[52] The film was released on a DVD/Blu-Ray set on June 2, 2020 from Shout Factory.[53]

Theatrical OVA[edit]

Along with re-confirmation of the third season, the theatrical OVA Sound! Euphonium: Ensemble Contest was announced in 2022, and was released on August 4, 2023.[54] Tatsuya Ishihara returned to direct the OVA, with Taichi Ogawa serving as assistant director, Jukki Hanada writing the screenplay, Shoko Ikeda handling the character designs, and Akito Matsuda composing the music. The theme song is "Ensemble" by True.[55]

Music[edit]

Wind ensemble music for both seasons were performed by the 2014 Freshman Wind Ensemble (フレッシュマン ウィンド アンサンブル) of the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music. Original music was composed and some featured pieces were arranged by Akito Matsuda (松田彬人, Matsuda Akito).

Featured music
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Abarenbō Shōgun Theme" (暴れん坊将軍のテーマ; episode 1.1)Shunsuke Kikuchi 
2."Infernal Galop" (from Orpheus in the Underworld; episodes 1.1 and 1.12)Jacques Offenbach 
3."The Marines[56]" (episodes 1.3–1.4)
(piece incorporates Marines' Hymn[n 2] in second part)
James M. Fulton and Jacques Offenbach (uncredited) 
4."Symphony No. 9" (part II Largo, episode 1.3)Antonín Dvořák 
5."The Fairest of the Fair" (episode 1.5)John Philip Sousa 
6."Funiculì, Funiculà" (episode 1.5)Luigi Denza 
7."Rydeen" (ライディーン; episode 1.5)
(from Solid State Survivor by Yellow Magic Orchestra)
Yukihiro Takahashi 
8."Crescent Moon Dance" (三日月の舞; episodes 1.6–1.13, 2.1–2.3, 2.5, 2.7, 2.9, and 2.13)Namie Horikawa[n 3] (Akito Matsuda) 
9."Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" (episode 1.6)French folk song 
10."Ai o Mitsuketa Basho" (愛を見つけた場所 (The Place Where We Found Love); episode 1.8)Hanako Oku 
11."Wind of Provence[n 4]" (プロヴァンスの風; episodes 1.10, 1.13, 2.3, and 2.5)Naoki Tasaka 
12."Scheherazade" (episode 1.13)Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov 
13."Gakuen Tengoku" (学园天国; episodes 2.1 and 2.6)Tadao Inoue 
14."Finale from Symphony No. 4" (episode 2.1)Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky 
15."Gliding Dance of the Maidens (Polovtsian Dances)" (episodes 2.1–2.2, and 2.5)Alexander Borodin 
16."Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" (episode 2.5)Sergei Rachmaninoff 
17."Kimi wa Tennenshoku" (君は天然色; episode 2.6)
(from A Long Vacation)
Eiichi Ohtaki 
18."Takarajima" (宝島 (Treasure Island); episode 2.7)
(from S.P.O.R.T.S. by T-Square)
Hirotaka Izumi 
19."American Patrol" (episode 2.8)Frank W. Meacham 
20."Kitauji Shijuusou Dai-1-ban Euphonium" (北宇治四重奏 第1番 ユーフォニアム; episode 2.8)Akito Matsuda[n 5] 
21."Hibike! Yūfoniamu" (響け! ユーフォニアム; episodes 2.3, 2.9, and 2.13[n 6])Shindo Masakazu[n 7] (Akito Matsuda) 
22."Starting the project[n 8]" (episode 2.13)Akito Matsuda 

Reception[edit]

In April 2018, it was reported that the novels had more than 1.4 million copies in print in Japan.[57]

The series has often been criticized by Western viewers for perceived queerbaiting with regards to the relationship between lead characters Kumiko Oumae and Reina Kousaka.[58][59][60] Crunchyroll's Twitter account acknowledged the pairing by tweeting a screenshot from the show,[61][62] which was still airing and being officially simulcast by the service at the time, in the wake of the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States.

In 2015, Nio Nakatani praised the anime for its perceived yuri aspects, which she said had inspired her while she was drawing Bloom Into You.[63]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Kitauji (北宇治), is translated as "North Uji" at the English official website. Although the subtitle is sometimes translated as Welcome to Kitauji High School's Musical Instrument Club, suisōgaku (吹奏楽) actually means "concert band (wind ensemble)", not "musical instrument".
  2. ^ The music from the "Gendarmes' Duet" from Offenbach's opera Geneviève de Brabant.
  3. ^ Fictional female composer.
  4. ^ The fourth of five required pieces for real-life All-Japan Band Competition 2015.
  5. ^ In the anime's plot, the piece was credited by Shindo Masakazu.
  6. ^ Due to the plot, the piece name was not disclosed until the end of episode 2.13, so it was uncredited for episodes 2.3 and 2.9.
  7. ^ Fictional male composer.
  8. ^ Music from promotion video for season 1.

Director credits[edit]

  1. ^ Although Yamada is credited as シリーズ演出 (series unit director), her role in the series' production is equivalent to Ishihara's own role.

References[edit]

  1. ^ 宇治舞台に吹奏楽部の青春描く 同大生で作家の武田さん. Kyoto Shimbun (in Japanese). January 16, 2014. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Eleven Arts Reveals Liz and the Blue Bird Anime Film's English Dub Cast". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "ELEVEN ARTS Announces English Cast for 'Sound! Euphonium: The Movie'". Animation Magazine. June 27, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  4. ^ Daymond, Robbie (July 8, 2019). "DESTINED to voice this handsomeshaggyhairedconductingtoughbutfairbanddad, Taki". @robbiedaymond. Twitter. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  5. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (November 23, 2023). "Sound! Euphonium 3 Anime Reveals New Visual, Haruka Tomatsu as Mayu". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  6. ^ Mills, Kayli (June 26, 2019). "Welcome to today's secondary reality. I'll be your guide, Kavlii". @KayliMills. Twitter. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  7. ^ Williams, Sarah Anne (June 29, 2019). "Okayed to say I'm voicing Natsuki Nakagawa again in Sound! Euphonium The Movie – Our Promise: A Brand New Day! #soundeuphonium". @SarahAnneWillia. Twitter. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Samm The Man (July 18, 2019). "Not anywhere online yet but if you saw it in theaters they had a full cast list at the end! Lucky for you I was there and quick snapped pictures of the dub credits so I'd remember who to congratulate afterwards! [a photo of the English credits is shown in the tweet]". @SammTheMan999. Twitter. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  9. ^ a b c d "Sound! Euphonium: Chikai no Finale Film Unveils New Cast, Visual". Anime News Network. December 14, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  10. ^ "Sound! Euphonium Novels Get Sequel About Kumiko's 2nd Year". Anime News Network. June 5, 2017. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  11. ^ "Sound! Euphonium Series Gets 2 New Novels About Kumiko's 3rd Year". Anime News Network. December 7, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  12. ^ Luster, Joseph (November 23, 2016). "Yen Press to Publish First "Sound! Euphonium" Novel in English [UPDATED]". Crunchyroll. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  13. ^ 響け! ユーフォニアム 北宇治高校吹奏楽部へようこそ [Hibike! Euphonium Kitauji Kōkō Suisōgaku-bu e Yōkoso] (in Japanese). Takarajimasha. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  14. ^ "Sound! Euphonium – Yen Press". Yen Press. Hachette Book Group. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  15. ^ 響け! ユーフォニアム2 北宇治高校吹奏楽部のいちばん熱い夏 [Hibike! Euphonium 2 Kitauji Kōkō Suisōgaku-bu no Ichiban Atsui Natsu] (in Japanese). Takarajimasha. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  16. ^ 響け! ユーフォニアム3 北宇治高校吹奏楽部、最大の危機 [Hibike! Euphonium 3 Kitauji Kōkō Suisōgaku-bu, Saidai no Kiki] (in Japanese). Takarajimasha. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
  17. ^ 響け! ユーフォニアム 北宇治高校吹奏楽部のヒミツの話 [Hibike! Euphonium Kitauji Kōkō Suisōgaku-bu no Himitsu no Hanashi] (in Japanese). Takarajimasha. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  18. ^ 響け! ユーフォニアムシリーズ 立華高校マーチングバンドへようこそ 前編 (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ASIN 4800258723.
  19. ^ 響け! ユーフォニアムシリーズ 立華高校マーチングバンドへようこそ 後編 (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ASIN 480025874X.
  20. ^ 響け! ユーフォニアム 北宇治高校の吹奏楽部日誌. ASIN 4800262267 – via Amazon.
  21. ^ 響け! ユーフォニアム 北宇治高校吹奏楽部、波乱の第二楽章 前編 (宝島社文庫). ASIN 4800274893 – via Amazon.
  22. ^ 響け! ユーフォニアム 北宇治高校吹奏楽部、波乱の第二楽章 後編 (宝島社文庫). ASIN 4800274915 – via Amazon.
  23. ^ 【速報】『響け!ユーフォニアム』コミカライズ、11月28日より「このマンガがすごい!WEB」で連載スタート! (in Japanese). Takarajimasha. November 22, 2014. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  24. ^ "響け!ユーフォニアム 北宇治高校吹奏楽部のいちばん熱い夏" (in Japanese). Takarajimasha. Archived from the original on November 12, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  25. ^ このマンガがすごい! Comics 響け! ユーフォニアム 北宇治高校吹奏楽部へようこそ 1 (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ASIN 4800239680.
  26. ^ このマンガがすごい! Comics 響け! ユーフォニアム 北宇治高校吹奏楽部へようこそ 3 (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ASIN 4800248914.
  27. ^ このマンガがすごい! Comics 響け! ユーフォニアム 北宇治高校吹奏楽部のいちばん熱い夏 1 (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ASIN 4800260205.
  28. ^ このマンガがすごい! Comics 響け! ユーフォニアム 北宇治高校吹奏楽部のいちばん熱い夏 2 (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. ASIN 4800260248.
  29. ^ このマンガがすごい! Comics 響け! ユーフォニアム 北宇治高校吹奏楽部、最大の危機 1 (このマンガがすごい!comics). ASIN 4800274435 – via Amazon.
  30. ^ このマンガがすごい! Comics 響け! ユーフォニアム 北宇治高校吹奏楽部、最大の危機 2. ASIN 4800276128 – via Amazon.
  31. ^ "響け♪ ユーフォニアム Sound! Euhonium" (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Archived from the original on April 6, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  32. ^ Oguro, Yuichirou; Itsuki, Shouta (November 30, 2015). "Sound! Euphonium Interview: Director Tatsuya Ishihara & Series Director Naoko Yamada". Animestyle. No. 7. Style Inc.
  33. ^ "Pony Canyon to Localize Sound! Euphonium, Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers, Lance N' Masques". Anime News Network. April 3, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  34. ^ "Anime Limited Updates from London MCM Comic Con". Anime News Network. May 28, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  35. ^ "Kyoto Animation's Sound! Euphonium Gets Film & TV Series Sequel". Anime News Network. October 31, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  36. ^ "Sound! Euphonium 2 Anime Premieres October 5". Anime News Network. September 7, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  37. ^ "Sound! Euphonium 2's 1st BD/DVD Includes Unaired Short Movie". Anime News Network. October 7, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  38. ^ "Sound! Euphonium Anime Gets 2nd 'Flashback' Film This Fall". Anime News Network. March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  39. ^ "Sound! Euphonium: Todoketai Melody Film's Teaser Video, Visual, September 30 Debut Revealed". Anime News Network. June 4, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  40. ^ "Sound! Euphonium Gets New Anime Project Centering on Kumiko's 3rd Year in High School". Anime News Network. June 1, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  41. ^ "TVアニメ『響け!ユーフォニアム3』📺NHK Eテレにて 4月7日より 毎週日曜午後5時 放送決 🌸". Twitter (in Japanese). Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  42. ^ Harding, Daryl. "Kyoto Animation's Sound! Euphonium Gets 3rd TV Anime in 2024, Theatrical OVA in 2023". Crunchyroll News. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  43. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (April 7, 2023). "Sound! Euphonium: Ensemble Contest Theatrical Anime's Trailer Reveals August 4 Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  44. ^ "Sound! Euphonium Anime Gets 2 New Films in 2018". Anime News Network. June 4, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  45. ^ "1st New Sound! Euphonium Film Reveals Teaser Video, Poster, April 21 Debut". Anime News Network. September 30, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  46. ^ "Sound! Euphonium's Liz to Aoitori Film Reveals 2nd Video, Visual, Staff". Anime News Network. December 15, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  47. ^ "Shout! Factory to Release Liz and the Blue Bird Anime Film on BD/DVD in March". Anime News Network. December 29, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
  48. ^ "Sound! Euphonium Chikai no Finale Anime Film Opens in Spring 2019". Anime News Network. June 3, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  49. ^ "Sound! Euphonium: Chikai no Finale Anime Film's Trailer Streamed". Anime News Network. December 28, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  50. ^ "Eleven Arts Confirms U.S. Screenings of Sound! Euphonium The Movie – Our Promise: A Brand New Day Anime Film in July". Anime News Network. May 18, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  51. ^ "Sound! Euphonium: Oath's Finale Anime Film Listed With July Screenings in the U.S." Anime News Network. May 3, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  52. ^ "Sound! Euphonium The Movie – Our Promise: A Brand New Day Anime Film's Dub Cast Revealed". Anime News Network. June 26, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  53. ^ "Shout Factory, Eleven Arts Release Sound! Euphonium The Movie - Our Promise: A Brand New Day Film on BD/DVD on June 2". Anime News Network. May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  54. ^ Harding, Daryl. "Kyoto Animation's Sound! Euphonium Gets 3rd TV Anime in 2024, Theatrical OVA in 2023". Crunchyroll News. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  55. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (April 7, 2023). "Sound! Euphonium: Ensemble Contest Theatrical Anime's Trailer Reveals August 4 Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  56. ^ Fulton, James M.; Chenette, Edward S. (1942). Let's cheer! : band book. Philadelphia: Theodore Presser. OCLC 54807266.
  57. ^ "Ayano Takeda's "Sound! Euphonium" Novel Series Has 1.4 Million Copies in Print". Crunchyroll. April 20, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  58. ^ Henderson, Alex (November 10, 2017). "Escape from Yuri Hell: FLIP FLAPPERS' critique of the Class S genre". Anime Feminist. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2022. Western fans have been (understandably) frustrated by series like Sound! Euphonium for not committing to the apparent queer romance at the center of the narrative...
  59. ^ Schultz, Misty (April 26, 2019). "Queerness and the Power of "Subtext" in Sound! Euphonium & Liz and the Blue Bird". Anime Feminist. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  60. ^ "What's So Gay About Yuri!!! on Ice?". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 19, 2022. ...and the girls of Kitauji High's concert band in Sound! Euphonium technically have male love interests that they just happen to either spend no time around or pine for at a distance. So it's curious that both shows are dripping with such overtly sexual imagery...
  61. ^ "No matter what happens in episode 13, #LoveWins in America and in Sound! Euphonium". Twitter. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  62. ^ "Sound! Eupho isn't *technically* yuri (yet?), but we DEFINITELY need and want more Yuri/Yaoi titles on our site". Twitter. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  63. ^ "【コラム】 「やがて君になる」第一巻発売記念!仲谷鳰先生インタビュー". アキバBlog. Retrieved April 14, 2023.

External links[edit]