Alternative titles: Hibike! Euphonium, Hibike! Euphonium Kitauji Koukou Suisougaku-bu e Youkoso
Novel Adaptation by Kyoto Animation
Streaming on Crunchyroll

Premise

Kumiko has just started high school away from most of her old friends. she used to be in band, but now doesn’t seem to want anything to do with it. Despite mixed feelings, her new friends slowly lead her back to the concert band.

Marlin’s verdict: Mixing Well

This was a solid start for a KyoAni product. This is pretty important, as the name has definitely lost some luster in the past few years. Going back to its wheelhouse, we have a slice of life show that seems like it can be more than it appears. I’ll admit this was a lot more fun for me to watch purely from a musician’s standpoint. I definitely can empathize with Kumiko on her thoughts of not going to Nationals in Junior High. When you’re not the best, it’s hard to really expect anything better. That goes double for such a hyper-competitive field as concert musician. I honestly don’t even get why they give out this “dud gold” prize if it means you don’t get to go any further in the competition. I’m also not sure I’ve ever heard of a concert band that’s had a lack of boys, but this is an anime, and I guess the band scene is probably a lot different in Japan.

Kumiko definitely stood out to me this episode. I like that she’s a bit grounded and actually has some thoughts that a normal teenager would have. She’s not ridiculously cynical like Houtarou nor out of her mind like Yui. Instead, she has insecurities but also her own strengths and motivations. It’s nice to see that her supporting leads also have some brains between them as well. Hazuki works well as the genki girl, but you can tell she’s not a complete idiot, just a bit quick to jump on things. Initially I thought someone named Sapphire would be a total joke character, but she quickly showed herself to be an equally knowledgeable musician. I’m not quite sure how a girl that small started out playing the double bass, but more power to her. I’m not sure if she’s just avoiding the trumpet girl because of her comments or what, but the red string of fate thing in the ED is kinda weird. Either way, I really enjoyed what this show is bringing to the table, and I’m definitely going to keep up with it. Let’s hope KyoAni can redeem themselves.

Jel’s verdict: In Tune

I feel like KyoAni has been in a slump the past year or two but if this first episode is any indication, Sound! Euphonium sees them returning back to form. Aside from the stunning production values, the level of detail and nuance they add helps flesh out an otherwise simple story in a way no other studio can. Little shots like Kumiko blowing a cherry blossom back into the air (watch the episode, it will make sense) say so much without saying anything at all. And speaking of Kumiko, she makes a really strong first impression as a main character. She has realistic concerns, fears, and expectations without being angsty or feeling sorry for herself. Even the cast as a whole has a level of passion you don’t often see in these kinds of shows. There will be no eating cake or longing for a “normal” high school life here. I wasn’t wild about some of the dialogue that ran too long, like the girls’ introducing themselves, and I could also care less about the musical instrument porn. But those are shortcomings I am willing to put up with if Euphonium can keep up this level of quality going forward.

Aqua’s verdict: Perfect Pitch

If you think about it, it’s been quite a while since we’ve had an honest-to-goodness Kyoto Animation show. There was the surprisingly enjoyable side trip to cute boys doing cute things with Free!, the not so successful foray into dark fantasy with Beyond the Boundary, and the at times unexpectedly black comedy of Amagi Brilliant Park, but the soft, gentle, slow-paced slice-of-life comedies the studio is known for saw their last hurrah with 2012’s Tamako Market. Sound! Euphonium is a return to the studio’s roots, and it immediately becomes evident that being Kyoto Animation is still what Kyoto Animation does best. This first episode wastes no effort in showing just how well the studio has fine-tuned its formula to near-perfection, and Haruhi director Tatsuya Ishihara once again proves he is miles ahead of most of his contemporaries, delivering a piece of art shimmering with cinematic flair and atmospheric beauty. Anime does not get a lot prettier than this.

Of course, with every pretty KyoAni production comes the inevitable ‘but why don’t they use all that money and talent on a show where something actually happens?’ non-argument, but the important amounts of immersion Euphonium‘s stunning production values bring to the table must not be understated. Those going in expecting another K-On! might be pleasantly surprised. Euphonium and its sardonic main character aren’t fueled by the same saccharine powering most other KyoAni shows. Kumiko and her friends feel like actual, tangible people with impressions and opinions that extend beyond love and excitement. It’s rare to see a character in this kind of show who explicitly criticizes and dislikes things, who wavers, feels regret or contradicts herself, but these traditionally ‘unlikeable’ traits make Kumiko a fantastically endearing and surprisingly realistic character. The drama in Euphonium is wonderfully understated, and combined with its gorgeous visuals makes an engrossing coming-of-age story, rather than the umpteenth sugar rush about babies eating cake. If Hyouka was the only KyoAni show you’ve ever liked, Sound! Euphonium might be the second.

Artemis’ verdict: Dud Performance

One episode in and I can already tell this series is going to annoy me if I watch any further. It sure looks pretty – that much is a given whenever KyoAni is the studio behind production – but this isn’t a show about music so much as it is a show about girls with short skirts and high-pitched voices who are apparently interested in music. It might eventually become a show about music, but I honestly don’t have the patience to wait and find out, especially when I’d have to try and ignore high school students referring to themselves in third person, a ton of close-up thigh shots, and an overabundance of cherry blossoms (no doubt later to be replaced with wisteria, hydrangea, autumn leaves, etc. etc.). Oh well, never mind – KyoAni is terrible at dramas anyway. Wake me when they make another comedy. Or a sequel to Hyouka.