Sound! Euphonium
2015 • Animation, Drama • TV-PG
After swearing off music due to an incident at the middle school regional brass band competition, euphonist Kumiko Oumae enters high school hoping for a fresh start. As fate would have it, she ends up being surrounded by people with an interest in the high school brass band. Kumiko finds the motivation she needs to make music once more with the help of her bandmates, some of whom are new like novice tubist Hazuki Katou; veteran contrabassist Sapphire Kawashima; and band vice president and fellow euphonist Asuka Tanaka. Others are old friends, like Kumiko's childhood friend and hornist-turned-trombonist Shuuichi Tsukamoto, and trumpeter and bandmate from middle school, Reina Kousaka.
However, in the band itself, chaos reigns supreme. Despite their intention to qualify for the national band competition, as they currently are, just competing in the local festival will be a challenge—unless the new band advisor Noboru Taki does something about it.
Delving into the world of 'Sound! Euphonium' through Ayano Takeda's novels offers a deeply immersive experience that extends beyond the audiovisual spectacle of the TV series. Takeda weaves intricate narrative threads with an eloquence that beautifully captures the complexity of adolescence, the pressures of performance, and the camaraderie within the school band. Her prose invites readers to explore the intricate dynamics and individual backstories of the characters in greater depth, providing a rich inner view that is often limited in a visual adaptation.
While the TV series brings the music and movements of the band to life through stunning animation, the original novels provide an intimate journey through the characters' thoughts and emotions. Every note and nuance is depicted with a literary sensitivity that allows readers to savor the internal conflicts and personal growth of each character on a much more profound level. By reading 'Sound! Euphonium,' you allow yourself to become part of a narrative where the noise of a bustling brass band serves as a backdrop for stories of tenacity, friendship, and self-discovery.
Sound! Euphonium inspired from
Sound! Euphonium
by Ayano Takeda