This is a spoiler-free review.
Kono Oto Tomare is an excellent shounen anime that incorporates many shoujo elements, bringing into life many of its feelings into the music its provides. This is a thematically brilliant story with heart-wrenching scenes that bring the viewer a great amount of enjoyment. Takezou, Chika, and Houzuki shine with their respective development as characters. While the first season of the series did an excellent job at establishing the foundations of both the club and the individual club members, the second season elevated it as the cast tries to overcome their issues as they aim for the national stage. Kono oto Tomare is everything you will look for in both a shounen and shoujo and more.
The masterful storytelling and the unique premise of the story is undoubtedly one of the strong points of this anime. The premise of reviving a struggling club and bringing them to glory was entertaining and was a canvas that held a beautiful painting and that painting is made up of the incredible main cast.
This anime is not principally about music or musicians but its music is the medium to which the story is told. Kono Oto Tomare is a wonderful piece of storytelling using flashbacks while using the music of koto to accentuate the given moments. Every performance is breathtaking and gives their own take on the world of koto. There are many complex themes in this anime and it likely shines a light on some of the negative aspects of contemporary Japanese society namely the crushing burden placed on the youth to live up to the expectations of their parents, teachers, and society. I also have to give a comment on the amazing art and colors this anime provides. The vibrant colors give justice to the message each scene wants to provide.
Lastly although it might be labelled as a romance anime, there is a great lack of it or at least in the parts that have been in the anime. Some moments may be found here and there but don't hope for much of it in this anime. Besides, romance is not really what makes this anime amazing but rather everything else. Overall, I find this anime to be a great adaptation of the manga and the music sold me on the fact that Koto is a wonderful instrument. I would generally recommend this to everyone and look past its demographic. I believe that this is an anime everyone can enjoy and it has earned a spot as one of my favorite anime from the past 5 years.
Overall: 8.5/10
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