Jump to content

Sound! Euphonium (TV series)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sound! Euphonium
響け! ユーフォニアム
(Hibike! Yūfoniamu)
GenreDrama, music, slice of life
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 byCrunchyroll[b]
Original network
Original run April 8, 2015 – June 30, 2024
Episodes39 + OVA (List of episodes)
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[c] is a Japanese anime television series based on the novel series of the same name written by Ayano Takeda produced by Kyoto Animation, who 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 year of high school, premiered in 2018 and 2019 respectively. With a third season focused on Kumiko in her third year of high school aired in 2024, preceded by the theatrical OVA Ensemble Contest in 2023. The series is licensed in North America, Australia and Europe for home video and streaming by Crunchyroll LLC.

Set in Uji, Kyoto, the series focuses on the Kitauji High School Music Club, whose concert band is steadily improving thanks to the newly appointed adviser's strict instruction.[1]

Series overview

[edit]
Main article: List of Sound! Euphonium episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
113April 8, 2015 (2015-04-08)July 1, 2015 (2015-07-01)
213October 6, 2016 (2016-10-06)December 28, 2016 (2016-12-28)
313April 7, 2024 (2024-04-07)June 30, 2024 (2024-06-30)

Cast and characters

[edit]
Main article: List of Sound! Euphonium characters
Character Japanese English
Eleven Arts Crunchyroll
Main characters
Kumiko Oumae (黄前 久美子, Ōmae Kumiko) Tomoyo Kurosawa Courtney Shaw (LBB)
Erica Mendez (OP)
Reina Kousaka (高坂 麗奈, Kōsaka Reina) Chika Anzai Cristina Vee (LBB)
Laura Post (OP)
Hazuki Katou (加藤 葉月, Katō Hazuki) Ayaka Asai Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld (LBB)
Jennifer Losi (OP)
Sapphire Kawashima (川島 緑輝, Kawashima Safaia) Moe Toyota Cassandra Lee Morris (LBB)
Kayli Mills (OP)
Asuka Tanaka (田中 あすか, Tanaka Asuka) Minako Kotobuki Reba Buhr (OP)
Mayu Kuroe (黒江 真由, Kuroe Mayu) Haruka Tomatsu
Noboru Taki (滝 昇, Taki Noboru) Takahiro Sakurai Wayne Grayson (LBB)
Robbie Daymond (OP)
Secondary characters
Natsuki Nakagawa (中川 夏紀, Nakagawa Natsuki) Konomi Fujimura Sarah Anne Williams
Yuuko Yoshikawa (吉川 優子, Yoshikawa Yūko) Yuri Yamaoka Megan Harvey (OP)
Mizore Yoroizuka (鎧塚 みぞれ, Yoroizuka Mizore) Atsumi Tanezaki Laurie Hymes (LBB)
Shuuichi Tsukamoto (塚本 秀一, Tsukamoto Shūichi) Haruki Ishiya Christian La Monte (OP)
Supporting characters
Takuya Gotou (後藤 卓也, Gotō Takuya) Kenjiro Tsuda Patrick Seitz (OP)
Haruka Ogasawara (小笠原 晴香, Ogasawara Haruka) Saori Hayami Allegra Clark (OP)
Kaori Nakaseko (中世古 香織, Nakaseko Kaori) Minori Chihara Ryan Bartley (OP)
Kanade Hisaishi (久石 奏, Hisaishi Kanade) Sora Amamiya Christine Marie Cabanos (OP)
Masahiro Hashimoto (橋本 真博, Hashimoto Masahiro) Yuichi Nakamura Mike Pollock (LBB)
Patrick Seitz (OP)
Michie Matsumoto (松本 美知恵, Matsumoto Michie) Aya Hisakawa Cindy Robinson (OP)
Satomi Niiyama (新山 聡美, Niiyama Satomi) Houko Kuwashima Ryan Bartley (LBB)
Mamiko Oumae (黄前 麻美子, Ōmae Mamiko) Manami Numakura
Akiko Oumae (黄前 明子, Ōmae Akiko) Haruhi Nanao
Akemi Tanaka (田中 明美, Tanaka Akemi) Kumiko Watanabe

Production

[edit]

Season 1 (2015)

[edit]
Main article: Sound! Euphonium season 1

A 13-episode anime television series adaptation of the first volume of the novel series that constituted the first season, directed by Tatsuya Ishihara, written by Jukki Hanada, and produced by Kyoto Animation, aired in Japan between April 8 and July 1, 2015.[2] Naoko Yamada served as series production director.[3] 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 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,[4] which premiered on April 23, 2016.

The anime was formerly distributed by Ponycan USA in North America for home video and streamed on Crunchyroll,[5] and licensed by Anime Limited in the United Kingdom.[6] An English dub of the first season will be released on Blu-ray by Crunchyroll LLC on December 17, 2024.[7]

Season 2 (2016)

[edit]
Main article: Sound! Euphonium season 2

A second season of the television series began airing on October 6, 2016.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10][11]

As with the previous season, it was formerly licensed by Ponycan USA in North America and Anime Limited in the United Kingdom.

Season 3 (2024)

[edit]
Main article: Sound! Euphonium season 3

A new anime project was announced in 2019, focusing on Kumiko as a student in her third year.[12] It was later revealed to be a third season that premiered on April 7, 2024 on NHK Educational TV.[13] The opening theme for the third season is "ReCoda" by True.[14] 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.[15] Tatsuya Ishihara returned to direct the OVA, with Taichi Ogawa serving as assistant director, Jukki Hanada writing the screenplay, Shoko Ikeda being posthumously credited for the character designs, and Akito Matsuda composing the music. The theme song is "Ensemble" by True.[16]

This season is licensed outside of Japan by Crunchyroll LLC for home video and streaming on its namesake service.[17]

Films and theatrical OVA

[edit]
Main articles: Liz and the Blue Bird and Sound! Euphonium: The Movie – Our Promise: A Brand New Day

Two new animated films telling the events of Kumiko's second year at Kitauji High were scheduled for release in 2018.[18] 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.[19][20] 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.[21] 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.[22][23] The film was released in select US theaters on July 11, 2019, and the English dub debuted on July 15, 2019.[24][25] 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.[26] The film was released on a DVD/Blu-Ray set on June 2, 2020 from Shout Factory.[27]

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.[28] Tatsuya Ishihara returned to direct the OVA, with Taichi Ogawa serving as assistant director, Jukki Hanada writing the screenplay, Shoko Ikeda being posthumously credited for the character designs, and Akito Matsuda composing the music. The theme song is "Ensemble" by True.[29]

Soundtrack

[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[30]" (episodes 1.3–1.4)
(piece incorporates Marines' Hymn[d] 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[e] (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[f]" (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[g] 
21."Hibike! Yūfoniamu" (響け! ユーフォニアム; episodes 2.3, 2.9, and 2.13[h])Shindo Masakazu[i] (Akito Matsuda) 
22."Starting the project[j]" (episode 2.13)Akito Matsuda 

Reception

[edit]

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.[31][32][33] Crunchyroll's Twitter account acknowledged the pairing by tweeting a screenshot from the show,[34][35] 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.[36]

Notes

[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.
  2. ^ This series was originally licensed by Ponycan USA for seasons 1 and 2 in North America and the streaming rights were sublicensed to Crunchyroll, then owned by The Chernin Group and AT&T, prior to the streaming service's acquistion by Sony Pictures Television via Funimation Global Group in 2021.
  3. ^ Japanese: 響け! ユーフォニアム, romanized: Hibike! Yūfoniamu
  4. ^ The music from the "Gendarmes' Duet" from Offenbach's opera Geneviève de Brabant.
  5. ^ Fictional female composer.
  6. ^ The fourth of five required pieces for real-life All-Japan Band Competition 2015.
  7. ^ In the anime's plot, the piece was credited by Shindo Masakazu.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Fictional male composer.
  10. ^ >Music from promotion video for season 1.

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. ^ "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.
  3. ^ Oguro, Yuichirou; Itsuki, Shouta (November 30, 2015). "Sound! Euphonium Interview: Director Tatsuya Ishihara & Series Director Naoko Yamada". Animestyle. No. 7. Style Inc.
  4. ^ "Kyoto Animation's Sound! Euphonium Gets Film & TV Series Sequel". Anime News Network. October 31, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "Anime Limited Updates from London MCM Comic Con". Anime News Network. May 28, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  7. ^ "Crunchyroll Lists Sound! Euphonium Season 1 Blu-ray With English Dub". Anime News Network. September 16, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  8. ^ "Sound! Euphonium 2 Anime Premieres October 5". Anime News Network. September 7, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  9. ^ "Sound! Euphonium 2's 1st BD/DVD Includes Unaired Short Movie". Anime News Network. October 7, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  10. ^ "Sound! Euphonium Anime Gets 2nd 'Flashback' Film This Fall". Anime News Network. March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  11. ^ "Sound! Euphonium: Todoketai Melody Film's Teaser Video, Visual, September 30 Debut Revealed". Anime News Network. June 4, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "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 2024-02-03.
  14. ^ Mateo, Alex (2024-03-23). "Sound! Euphonium 3 Anime's 2nd Promo Video Features TRUE's Opening Song". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  15. ^ Harding, Daryl. "Kyoto Animation's Sound! Euphonium Gets 3rd TV Anime in 2024, Theatrical OVA in 2023". Crunchyroll News. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  16. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (April 7, 2023). "Sound! Euphonium: Ensemble Contest Theatrical Anime's Trailer Reveals August 4 Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  17. ^ https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2024/2/3/sound-euphonium-season-3-drops-kumiko-character-trailer-april-7-premiere-date?srsltid=AfmBOopTHiHuPlzBgOi0KFZZCJDKm271wFfchDV8wKSwh_OsA81O-HNJ
  18. ^ "Sound! Euphonium Anime Gets 2 New Films in 2018". Anime News Network. June 4, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  19. ^ "1st New Sound! Euphonium Film Reveals Teaser Video, Poster, April 21 Debut". Anime News Network. September 30, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  20. ^ "Sound! Euphonium's Liz to Aoitori Film Reveals 2nd Video, Visual, Staff". Anime News Network. December 15, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ "Sound! Euphonium Chikai no Finale Anime Film Opens in Spring 2019". Anime News Network. June 3, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  23. ^ "Sound! Euphonium: Chikai no Finale Anime Film's Trailer Streamed". Anime News Network. December 28, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  24. ^ "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.
  25. ^ "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.
  26. ^ "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.
  27. ^ "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.
  28. ^ Harding, Daryl. "Kyoto Animation's Sound! Euphonium Gets 3rd TV Anime in 2024, Theatrical OVA in 2023". Crunchyroll News. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  29. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (April 7, 2023). "Sound! Euphonium: Ensemble Contest Theatrical Anime's Trailer Reveals August 4 Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  30. ^ Fulton, James M.; Chenette, Edward S. (1942). Let's cheer! : band book. Philadelphia: Theodore Presser. OCLC 54807266.
  31. ^ Henderson, Alex (2017-11-10). "Escape from Yuri Hell: FLIP FLAPPERS' critique of the Class S genre". Anime Feminist. Archived from the original on 2021-10-06. Retrieved 2022-06-19. 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...
  32. ^ Schultz, Misty (2019-04-26). "Queerness and the Power of "Subtext" in Sound! Euphonium & Liz and the Blue Bird". Anime Feminist. Archived from the original on 2021-07-09. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  33. ^ "What's So Gay About Yuri!!! on Ice?". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2022-06-19. ...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...
  34. ^ "No matter what happens in episode 13, #LoveWins in America and in Sound! Euphonium". Twitter. Archived from the original on 2021-05-19. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  35. ^ "Sound! Eupho isn't *technically* yuri (yet?), but we DEFINITELY need and want more Yuri/Yaoi titles on our site". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  36. ^ "【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 2023-04-14.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sound!_Euphonium_(TV_series)&oldid=1246976039"