(L+CR) Hibike! Euphonium [anime]

[blakstealth]

Originally Posted by Takigan

Totally called it! ....well, mostly

This episode hit a little too close to home for me. The moment Taki cut her out of the group in an instant, I had to pause the video to let all my memories subside before hitting play again. Because that exact same situation has happened to me. I was one of a handful of freshman in a very competitive varsity wind ensemble that had just placed in the Top 10 in Texas the previous year. My first month in the group was tough because the level of music was way beyond what I was used to. During that time, my band director noticed I couldn't play a part. He asked me if I would be able to play it by a certain time....I enthusiastically responded I WILL!. Over the ensuing weeks I practiced vigorously and I thought I was doing ok. The director mentioned it to me a few more times: "Be sure you have this down!". Hai! (<--....I didn't actually say that)

Then one day he'd had enough, and simply said "[*Taki*], I want you to lay out of that section and come back in at this measure....ok band, here we go!" and that was that. The one other Euphonium who sat next me (who was also my section leader), he played it wonderfully. But it still hit me pretty hard when it happened.

I was into Dragonball Z then. I remember wishing that there was a hyperbolic time chamber I could go inside for a year and come back as this insanely awesome, unstoppable euphonium player.

Jesus Christ, Kumiko. :0

[bhl88]

I can now declare that I like this show.

Now all I need is her autograph and I will regret nothing.

[ices]

Originally Posted by Takigan

Totally called it! ....well, mostly

This episode hit a little too close to home for me. The moment Taki cut her out of the group in an instant, I had to pause the video to let all my memories subside before hitting play again. Because that exact same situation has happened to me. I was one of a handful of freshman in a very competitive varsity wind ensemble that had just placed in the Top 10 in Texas the previous year. My first month in the group was tough because the level of music was way beyond what I was used to. During that time, my band director noticed I couldn't play a part. He asked me if I would be able to play it by a certain time....I enthusiastically responded I WILL!. Over the ensuing weeks I practiced vigorously and I thought I was doing ok. The director mentioned it to me a few more times: "Be sure you have this down!". Hai! (<--....I didn't actually say that)

Then one day he'd had enough, and simply said "[*Taki*], I want you to lay out of that section and come back in at this measure....ok band, here we go!" and that was that. The one other Euphonium who sat next me (who was also my section leader), he played it wonderfully. But it still hit me pretty hard when it happened.

I was into Dragonball Z then. I remember wishing that there was a hyperbolic time chamber I could go inside for a year and come back as this insanely awesome, unstoppable euphonium player.

You know, I'm not in a band, but my heart stopped beating in that exact same scene. When Kumiko being left out, my heart really sunk. I really feel sorry for you for having similar situation.

[BBOvenGuy]

Originally Posted by Takigan

This episode hit a little too close to home for me. The moment Taki cut her out of the group in an instant, I had to pause the video to let all my memories subside before hitting play again. Because that exact same situation has happened to me.

I got benched in the middle of a College Bowl tournament once. It was kind of like that.

Meanwhile, I loved Midori's taped-up fingers.

[Stark700]

Not sure if this has been posted yet but here's a video for some of the upcoming OST to be released:

[Myssa Rei]

That tracking shot by the bridge aside, there were several scenes that were framed really well (and very beautifully) this episode. In particular, every scene where Kumiko and Shuichi are together. They're usually in the same ''space'' (the riverbank, the bridge), but are never ''together'', and yet every time it's shown that they're moving toward the same ideal (see their shouting at each other from across the road XD). The distance is emphasized, yet at the same time (particularly in this shot)...



...it might be that distance isn't so huge after all. A shared camaraderie, or aiming at the same goal? Perhaps so.

Also, that scene where it's implied that Reina dropped the bottle from shock. XD Nuance.

[FlareKnight]

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

That makes it sound like she didn't put any effort all this time. That's not right. She wasn't killing herself but she did work hard. That's what got her this far. That and her 7 years of experience.

Now she has to work extra hard in order to play that difficult part. And time is also an issue. Before she had more time to master her parts. Now the competition is around the corner and it seems like she's got only a few days to master this one.

Well that's certainly not what I was even attempting to say. I'm still not sure how you could have interpreted it as implying she didn't put in any effort. You can't get even half decent at an instrument without putting in effort, you wouldn't even learn how to get sound with a mouthpiece or learn sheet music.

[Hero of the day]

I like Reina's dress compared to the white one she wore in the festival. Now, if she can only tie her hair so we an see that beautiful pony-tail again.

The build-up towards the bridge scene was great. Practicing hours and hours to the point of exhaustion and dehydration only to fall short of your goal. I could feel the frustration and disappointment building-up, it certainly doesn't help that your big sis is constantly bitching and complaining. The climax was when Kumiko finally understands Reina's pain when they failed to get to nationals in the past. She empathizes with Reina and that's a good thing since it shows that she's as passionate and serious as her now. I feel like she always loved playing the euphonium but got soured because of her senpai before who blamed her for failing the audition, and her big sis quitting band since she's the reason why she started playing in the first place.

There were so many parallels with Shuichi and Kumiko in this episode. And after giving it much thought they do have a lot of similarities throughout the show.

- Both have pissed off someone in the past and now are trying to make up for it. It's more brutal for Shuichi since Kumiko can clearly hold a grudge compared to Reina who actually appreciated Kumiko's harsh remark and doesn't drive her away.

- They both wanted to switch it up with the trombone.

- How they both denied that something was going-on between them to Hazuki

we have them specifically singled-out by taki-sensei because of their bad playing, and their intense desire to get better.

[Frailty]

Originally Posted by blakstealth

our new Nibutani x Dekomori

[Moroboshi-kun]

Originally Posted by ices

You know, I'm not in a band, but my heart stopped beating in that exact same scene.

Cmon now, main girl not playing in next week final eppy? Not a chance.

This was your basic sports-anime power-up-moment when MC gets the boot in the ass so as to clear up his mind what is important and what is not. Unfortunately too late and too little to save this show.

[BleedingUranium]

Originally Posted by FlareKnight

I think with Asuka it's always just complicated. I do think she wants Kumiko to improve, but somehow I think she figures that's something that rests more on Kumiko herself. If she can't improve on her own then Asuka isn't going to go all out to help her. Just seems to often draw the line with people and not really try to connect with them. If Kumiko can't handle the part then she'll accept that as a matter of fact and just let it be. And if she can it's the same reaction.

I still just find her a downright odd character. All things being said I really don't understand her that well.

I'd say this is exactly it. She won't help you so much as she will help you help yourself.

Originally Posted by Takigan

Totally called it! ....well, mostly

This episode hit a little too close to home for me. The moment Taki cut her out of the group in an instant, I had to pause the video to let all my memories subside before hitting play again. Because that exact same situation has happened to me. I was one of a handful of freshman in a very competitive varsity wind ensemble that had just placed in the Top 10 in Texas the previous year. My first month in the group was tough because the level of music was way beyond what I was used to. During that time, my band director noticed I couldn't play a part. He asked me if I would be able to play it by a certain time....I enthusiastically responded I WILL!. Over the ensuing weeks I practiced vigorously and I thought I was doing ok. The director mentioned it to me a few more times: "Be sure you have this down!". Hai! (<--....I didn't actually say that)

Then one day he'd had enough, and simply said "[*Taki*], I want you to lay out of that section and come back in at this measure....ok band, here we go!" and that was that. The one other Euphonium who sat next me (who was also my section leader), he played it wonderfully. But it still hit me pretty hard when it happened.

I was into Dragonball Z then. I remember wishing that there was a hyperbolic time chamber I could go inside for a year and come back as this insanely awesome, unstoppable euphonium player.

Wow, that's really cool. :O

Originally Posted by Stark700

Not sure if this has been posted yet but here's a video for some of the upcoming OST to be released:

Can't watch (listen) now, but thanks for the link!

Originally Posted by Moroboshi-kun

Cmon now, main girl not playing in next week final eppy? Not a chance.

No, she's still playing everything else in both songs they're performing, just not this small section Taki just added.

[Frailty]

Originally Posted by Moroboshi-kun

Cmon now, main girl not playing in next week final eppy? Not a chance.

This was your basic sports-anime power-up-moment when MC gets the boot in the ass so as to clear up his mind what is important and what is not. Unfortunately too late and too little to save this show.

you really can't please everybody, can you?

furthermore, this isn't a sports-anime. also, Kumiko didn't get the boot. lastly, this show isn't one you would consider that needs saving.

[spawnofthejudge]

I think the tension between Asuka and Haruka is informing on both Reina and Kumiko respectively. This reflection may be driving the impression that Kumiko (and maybe even Reina!) is intended to be leadership material in the band. Asuka/Reina are too interested in their own music to really be the strongest leaders. Haruka/Kumiko are too interested in pleasing/helping others to really find their own way.

But Reina and Kumiko are growing beyond this dynamic. Reina clearly cares more about Kumiko's personal growth on this Euph part than Asuka did about Kaori when she was in a similar position. Kumiko clearly is finding her personal drive with this episode, something that Haruka seems to have long stalled out on.

Both Reina and Kumiko are very different now than they were at the beginning of this show. And it's to their credit in nearly every way I can see. I am now convinced that, were they to be elected to the same positions as their opposite in a year or two (President Kumiko and VP Reina), they would be far more solid in their role. And not just sure in their worth (Asuka), but helpful in their position (Haruka).

[Moroboshi-kun]

Originally Posted by Frailty

...furthermore, this isn't a sports-anime. also, Kumiko didn't get the boot.

I didn't say it was. I said the show was using some sports-anime gimmick which was welcome reprieve amidst sea of depressive teen angst.

And Kumiko is booted from playing until she can get the piece right, as far as I can see.

[Frailty]

from what I understand, Taki only removed Kumiko from that one part she's having difficulty with.

[risingstar3110]

Yeah, basically as i understand Taki was trying to improve the piece by adding ufo euphonium playing into that certain section. But it proved to be too difficult for Kumiko so he removes her from that part.

And considering how she was so confident that she could get it by the time of the competition. It ended up crashing on her when her chance was taken away.

[Marina2]

Yuuko's VA, Yamaoka Yuri plays trumpets IRL. (3.05-3.31)

[GMT]

For those of you hoping Asuka would step out from behind her mask ... well, you got it. For, like, five whole seconds. Earlier in the season, she would've simply accepted her new solo, and that would've been that. In this episode, she actually hesitated ... to the point where the teacher had to repeat himself. Asuka gave more of a reaction to Kumiko being cut than Reina did.

So Kumiko succeeded in doing something that Kaori failed to do last episode. This is juicy symbolism here, folks, as this comes as part of the resolution of Kumiko's character arc. Kumiko from the beginning of the series wouldn't have been so assertive, or as willing to put her own pride on the line. And for that, she lost. However, after losing, she didn't choose the quitter's path of her sister, or her childhood friend. Instead, she declares that she wants to become the God-Emperor of Mankind the band. In it, she discovers the drive that powers Kaori, Asuka, Midori, Hazuki, and as she learns, Taki-sensei ... that she wants to improve, and she wants to improve because she loves the instrument that the fates have gifted upon her, and she wants to do it justice.

This isn't the cool, detached, Kumiko that attracted someone like Reina to her. This is the start of a passionate Kumiko who loves her craft, and her chosen instrument. In this, she starts to contrast with Reina, whose statements suggests that she values "specialness" over everything else. Reina plays trumpet because it can make her special. Kumiko plays euphonium because she likes it. In a way, her last scene with Reina in this episode can be seen as a kind of rejection. A bemused Reina wonders why she got called out late at night, only to be stunned when Kumiko announces that she has spent time with Taki-sensei (where she realizes that to be passionate about something is its own driver); and is ignored in favor of Eupho-kun.

We're also shown that Kumiko and Shuichi walk parallel paths (calling and answering across the river, while they practice,) and they intersect at that poignant moment on the bridge; where they both proclaim they want to improve. In a way, Shuichi shows that he is a far better friend to Kumiko than Kumiko was to Reina in middle school. Kumiko dismissed Reina. Shuichi helps Kumiko realize that she really was an ass to Reina.

I like how they succeed in wrapping up these character arcs, while leaving things open-ended enough to show that the stories of the kids of Kitauji HS concert band will continue beyond the time we spend with Kumiko. Kumiko starts to turn away from Reina's lonely path ... she becomes more like her friends Hazuki and Midori. But on the other hand, we see that Reina is, at least, starting to try to be less stand-offish, when she apologizes for being so smug at the audition. So will Reina start to follow Kumiko, and in that, form the bonds of friendship (with the group) hinted at in the ED? While nothing will take away what Kumiko and Reina shared in this season, we're left with the potential that their relationship could be different in the future. And while the distance between Kumiko and Shuichi shrank over the course of this episode, it only closes enough to show that Shuichi is a potential path in Kumiko's future.

So, in terms of themes and other such literary juiciness, one can say that the show ends here. The last episode and the OVA are going to just be icing on the cake.

[Benigmatica]

Episode 12:
As expected from Kyoto Animation, they did well this week in regards to Kumiko's frustrations as an euphonium player! Seeing tears running down while sprinting across the sidewalk was the best part!

Of course, she and Shuuichi need to step it up if they want to meet (or succeed) Taki-sensei's expectations for the finale!

[BBOvenGuy]

Originally Posted by risingstar3110

Yeah, basically as i understand Taki was trying to improve the piece by adding ufo euphonium playing into that certain section. But it proved to be too difficult for Kumiko so he removes her from that part.

You've got it right. But I got the impression that he planned to put her back in by the competition, or at least to give her a chance to prove herself in the final rehearsals.

These things happen in music. Directors change stuff around if they don't like the way a piece is sounding. Just recently, my choir was performing the same Mass setting for a concert that we'd done Easter morning, but the guy conducting us for the concert took the alto lines in a couple of passages and had us tenors sing them instead. So not only did we have to learn the new parts, but they were pretty high for us.

It can be frustrating, but in the right frame of mind it can also be fun and exciting. It's even better when you're working on a new piece with the composer, and the composer is there changing things right up to the last minute.

Meanwhile... sorry, shippers, but Kumiko and Shuichi looked a lot more like siblings than like boyfriend/girlfriend to me.