Lately I haven't been enjoying watching anime that much, and if you've probably seen my old reviews for other shows, I always say that. I checked my last year's Kusogaki anilist wrapped 2024 and i watched around 120+ animes that time, and when I looked into my list this year i've barely watched around 35 animes in total. While most of them got a low score from me or i either dropped them for being so bad and hard to watch. Not gonna lie i've read more manwhas than watched anime this year, but even consuming more manwhas, i still keep missing watching and enjoying anime. So, I decided to look into some romance animes from my favorite studios like P.A studio where i gave True Tears a Try. Though that was a*s. So i remembered, that i enjoyed every anime that Kyoto Animations produced, like Violet evergarden and Clannad. I still cant believe its almost been a year since I've fiinished those anime, even though it felt like a few months ago. So while looking into some animes from Kyoto Animation I saw Sound! Euphonium. I wont lie that this isnt the first time i saw and knew about that anime, since its been popping alot from my fyp in tiktok whenever i try to find something to watch. So i decided to give this show a try and knowing that Kyoto Animation produced it, ofc its gonna be a good show, since kyoto animation produces the best animes ever.

I didn't actually know anything about Hibike! Euphonium except that fact that its about music, 2 girls who made me think its actually a yuri anime, and some clips from tiktok that I tried not to watch since I knew i might watch the show in the future and I didnt want no spoilers, so i did my best to avoid Hibike! Euphonium. Tbh i really like diving into an anime without knowing a thing about it since it gives me the best full experience, though im straight but im not opposed to yuri stuff, but i just dont like watching them, so i did a lil bit of research if this show is whether yuri or not, but thankfully it wasn't, so i decided to give it a try.
Season 1 might be a little bit overrated from what everyone's been saying in my own opinion but I do understand the hype of the anime, its well glaze deserved but not that much tbh. Season 1 was kinda slow from the start on my own experience, but because of that the show made me grow some affections towards the characters especially for the Third Years. I really like how the club started so a*s from the start, but thanks to Taki-sensei they were able to imrpove (Taki-sensei rage baited them to improve lmao). I dont have much to say about season1 but i was really stunned to see Kumiko do her best to improve as she doesnt wanna be left out and stuck while the others go up ahead and improve. Now I understand why she was running at the bridge.

Season 2 was alot greater than season1 by alot. While season 1 made me grow affection towards the characters, season 2 made me emotionally attached to them again, especially for the third years since it was their last year. But i was more attached to Asuka, as she was a really great senpai who took care of her juniors and made them go forward. As silly as she is, shes one of the reasons why Kumiko was able to take her steps forward to actually changing and have some character development. Its sad to see that the third year wasn't able to win gold at nationals but that was the moment where they carved a path for the future students to win what they havent done.

I watched the movies after Season 2 except for liz and the blue bird, which i might watch in the future. after the third year left and Yuuko became the president it made me feel lonely just like Kumiko as we misses the third years. But ngl i didn't expect for the very first scene to be Shuuichi to confess to Kumiko (ill talk about this alot more later on).
After finishing the movies, I've realized the parallels of this show alot, like the audition arc from season 1 where Reina took the solo part from her senpai. While in the movies after season 2, history repeats itself where this time its a little bit different where Kumiko's junior, Hisaishi wants to fluke her audion so the third year could win the audition. But because of Kumiko she was able to save the day once again.

I know this review might be longer than most of my other reviews, but thats because of how much i love this anime already. The parallels in this show is crazy, like in the beggining of season 3 where Kumiko had the problem with Sally, who was doing her best to keep the first year not quit the club due to Reina's strict teachings. But since they've decided to win Gold at Nationals Reina had the right to be strict, but thanks to Sally's efforts to keep them in the club they've stayed. Just like what happened with Asuka in their 2nd year where the 3rd years weren't listening to the first year so they left the club.
Now lets talk about our Mc, Kumiko Omae. She is definitely one of the best anime characters in fiction. Her growth and character development from season 1 to season 3 is super good.In season1 we have Kumiko not caring that much about the club in the beginning and not even liking the Euphonium, but in the end she started loving the Euphonium and wanted to improve for the club and to reach higher level and become a special person like Reina. Then in season 2 we have Asuka senpai talking about Kumiko's personality where shes straightforward with her thoughts which is a good thing, but even though she was brave enough to talk back to her senpais she was still scared to tell her true feelings and take that step forward since shes scared to hurt that person and herself. In season 3 starting from episode 9 to episode 12. They had this problem where because of the transfer student Mayu Koroe. Where they decided to put an auditon every time before the competion to see who would improve the most and be the best pick for the euphonium solo. Alot was discontent that Taki-sensei picked Mayu, not because Kumiko was at Kitauji longer, but they were equally skilled yet Mayu was chosen for the solo. Ofc Kumiko isn't happy either with the results and just told Mayu that the best player should play at the solo and that is Mayu. And again and again, Kumiko is still scared to tell her true feelings and using excuses, and thats why she fought with Reina. I know Reina chose the most logical path to win Gold at nationals and doesnt care about the opinions of other members about Kumiko not being picked as the soloist. I think Reina was right about her decision but at the same time shes wrong, because of that, the vibe in the club was so bad that most students didnt play well. (They said: Your thoughts reflect your Music), They could chose Reina's path of ignorining everyone's feelings and do their best to win Gold at Nationals with Mayu being the soloist, or Kumiko could tell her true feelings and become someone who's well deserved to be a president of the club of saying her real feelings without being scared of hurting anyone or herself. In the End Kumiko remembered Asuka and took advice from her. The story is crazy enough to know that Asuka pretty much knew this would happen in the future so she carved a path for Kumiko and the others. The final Audition was the best development episode for Kumiko, as she became the ideal person of Taki-sensei who became someone true to their feelings and being fair with everything which she was scared to be, but because of this, she was pushed to become that person in the end. Someone whos not scared to be hurt or hurt others. Overall This Show made me realize how much im missing on spending time with my friends, becoming a better person, become someone who wont run away from my true feelings, someone who should work hard and improve to be a deserved to be called an ideal person and become someone who would cherish even the smallest moments in my life. Hibike! Euphonium made me realize all this things in just a couple of days. Im very happy to have discover this Anime. Kumiko is one of the greatest character developed character in Anime.
(btw still happy to know that Shuuichi and Kumiko are together, since if i remember correctly Kumiko told him to give back the hairpin once he's still inlove with her after even graduating highschool, and at the end credits she got the hairpin back so... they are together and its cannon)

Thank you for everything Hibike! Euphonium. Finished at 3:19 AM 12/20/2025