"The sound we create is a refection of who we are right now"

Hibike! Euphonium 3 is the climax to all of the Kyoto Animation has been working to since 2015, a season with the burden of years of development, heartbreak and ambition. This fourth season is not merely a culmination of the story of Kumiko, it is its reinterpretation, revealing to us the truth of what it takes to give yourself to the cause bigger than yourself, to make a choice even when it is painful, to enter the world of adulthood with all its uncertainties.

Continuing on the same note as The Movie: Our Promise: A Brand New Day, this time around Kumiko is now the president of the Kitauji High School Concert Band, a role that instantly places her in the middle of all the conflicts, decisions and desires that occur in the club. In contrast to the previous seasons when Kumiko was mostly a passive reactor on the surrounding world, this season is concerned with her becoming a planet-shaker. She has to juggle the egos of her peers, the high stakes of competition and her own wavering self-confidence as she coaches Kitauji to the much-anticipated gold at Nationals. This is, however, not a victory lap as Euphonium 3 is all about tension, friction, and how the most beautiful sound is created by that messiest of emotions.

The development of maturing of Kumiko is perhaps one of the best elements in this season. She is not the clumsy euphoniumist who sees Reina on the sidelines anymore, she is self-confident, authoritative, and she is sometimes cold-blooded. The emotional cost of leadership is not any secret in the writing. Kumiko has to make hard decisions that displeased her friends, instilled discipline where those she loved went wrong and made certain sacrifices to herself in order to achieve the success of the band. This is the most grown-up Euphonium has ever been, and it is by far the most character-driven season of the show.

The dynamic is complicated by the new characters, most specifically the character of Mayu Kuroe. The perfect mastery and carefree character of Mayu instantly endears her to be admired and creates a slight conflict in the group. One of the most interesting strands of the season is how Kumiko manages her relationship with Mayu, which unveils her insecurities as well as her intent to live to her position of president. The character of Reina, in the meantime, has a more subtle yet just as important trajectory, as the dynamic between her and Kumiko progresses into a more intimate and not a mere rivalry in music.

Here, Kyoto Animation is in its best visual forms. Each slice, each shot that seems to be staying put on the instruments under the stage lights, every detail expression on the face of Kumiko is carefully designed to enhance the drama. And the concert scenes, especially, are simply breathtaking, the camera is going with the music and you feel as though you are inside the concert, holding your breath at the very end note. And when it finally comes to that last National performance, it is no longer an episode of anime, it is closer to a live concert you have been emotionally getting ready to in eight years.

Thematically, Hibike! The Euphonium 3 is the one that deals with the process of growing up and the sad and yet sweet reality that youth has its limits. The series has never not been chasing the sound that is present only in one moment and this season is more inclined towards this theme than ever. The issues that Kumiko faces no longer concern the idea of being good enough but the definition of what it means to be good enough when it comes to taking care of everyone.

The one thing that could be criticized is that the pacing could be too pacey to some audiences. The series does not waste a lot of time on plot twists but instead spends some time on character development and this aspect does not ensure that the episodes are fast-paced like the first two seasons. However, to those who take interest in the emotional subtext of this cast, every word, every silent moment is not in vain - and that patience is rewarded in one of the most gratifying endings in the modern anime.

In the end, Hibike! Euphonium 3 is no mere forte it is a farewell. It is challenging you to rejoice not only in the wins but also in the battles, in the tears, and the sacrifices that have made these characters what they are. As the last note dies away, you get a sense that you too have been walking across that stage with Kumiko bearing the burden of all the things you have learnt with you.