Hibike! Euphonium S3 — Episode 5 — 10 Second Anime

The Agata Festival forms the backdrop for the concert band kids to focus on the present and the future.

Episode 5 — “Twilight for Two”

Hmm.

Kumiko and Reina continue their tradition of playing music together during the Agata Festival. No date night for Shuuichi this year in Hibike! Euphonium.

The more sober theme of the episode is how Kumiko can’t decide what path to take after high school. It reads to me as if she’s replaying her junior high transition. She saw her sister quit music, and Kumiko reluctantly started to care about winning musical competitions. Now she’s the president of a famous (in the local prefecture) concert band. We’ve seen how Kumiko’s character developed, but she still has elements from her past running around in her psyche. Reina will try her best to convince Kumiko to pursue a music career before the end of the Hibike! Euphonium season. I see better than even odds on that situation, plus Asuka returning to give her a final push over the edge.

Heh.

One of my favorite things about Hibike! Euphonium, and KyoAni in general, is how it animates eyes for emotional effect. The funniest thing to me is how characters’ eyes fade in detail when they’re stunned, emotionally distant, or freaking out. You can tell the base colors behind the irises before KyoAni artists layer on the details when these scenes happen.

How could Kumiko not become a symphony director? Look at her scheduling whiteboard skills! We’ve just seen the roadmap for the rest of the season. Haha! Midori is in Asuka-mode. Hazuki chop! Mayu has a pressing question: What is the Agata Festival? It seems important! This is the Hibike! Euphonium episode for all the Kumiko jump-startles. Date night for Kumiko and Reina at her place? Yes, please!

The eye-catchers give Kumiko and Reina the KyoAni watery eye treatment, and the saxophones take their turn to appear.

Oho! It’s time for summer uniforms! Ha! Michie-sensei became a teacher because she wanted a stable job. Good enough. But she grew to enjoy her role. Can Kumiko find something like that in college? Yay! Mama-senpai finally changed into a Kitauji uniform. Mayu is, in fact, like everyone’s mom — she takes pictures with a film camera! Kumiko has plans for the Agata Festival. No! It’s not with Shuuichi!

Reina has a big house. Ha. Mayu sounds like a Japanese mother taking a picture. Kumiko’s visit with Reina includes a lecture about her future and a music session. Also, Reina is jealous that Kumiko practiced the euphonium-trumpet solo with Mayu before her! Reina worries they won’t see each other anymore if Kumiko pursues something else besides music.

Next time, the auditions begin!