Hibike! Euphonium S3 — Episode 13 [END] — 10 Second Anime

Kitauji High School plays for National gold at the senior’s last concert competition. Series Finale.

Episode 13 — “Connecting Melodies”

Hmm.

Have you watched all the seasons and movies of Hibike! Euphonium? Have you fallen in love with your favorite character? Then this episode is for you. All the memorable emotional scenes appear as recap montages during Kitauji’s final performance together. Watch it. And watch it again.

Heh.

A cherry tree sapling is the graduation gift for the seniors. The tree will show up again, all grown up. I’m sure of it. KyoAni nails the little moments of characters so well. Look at how Kumiko and Reina scooch closer together.

Hahaha! Creepy Kanade! Aw. Kumiko finally played “Sound! Euphonium” with Mayu and Kanade. And Kumiko will hand down Asuka’s music to the younger euphonium players. It’s only the basis for Hibike! Euphonium’s title. Huh? Why is Kumiko using a silver euphonium to practice with Reina? Is she emulating Mayu’s sound? Of course. Of course! Reina aims to become as great a trumpet player as her father so she can confess her love to Taki-sensei.

The night before. Hazuki sits with the band’s celebrities, so she should expect her bandmates to listen to her conversation.

Fun. Kaori and Haruka came to the Nationals performance. Where’s Asuka? Euphonium players’ selfie. Suzume supplies the puns for the bass section. Kanade’s punches are so cute. Reina wants a hug before they start. Also, she doesn’t get jealous over others’ remarks about Hottie McTaki-sensei. They can’t help it in Hibike! Euphonium. KyoAni lists all the band members during Kumiko and Reina’s rousing speeches. Kitauji, 100 percent!

And the next piece begins. “一年の詩, Hitotose no Uta,” by Toda Hideaki. The title means “The Song of the Year,” having four movements corresponding to the seasons. Oops. Yuuko and Natsuki arrived late! They must wait until Kitauji’s performance is over before sitting.

The last eye-catches for Hibike! Euphonium feature the percussion section. Timpani!

Start the waterworks. This montage is nine years in the making and tells the series’ story through the characters’ instruments. The faces of satisfaction: Kitauji, maxed out! The moments that affected Kumiko the most during the last three years run through her mind before she learns if Kitauji won gold. Reina appears last, of course. Gold. Gold! Taki kept his promise to his late wife.

Epilogue montage for the winners. Now’s your chance, Reina! The girls finally let Tsukamoto into a group picture. From bronze to gold at the national stage.

Hibike! Euphonium series epilogue? The band practices its usual first song of spring. Which teacher’s feet are these? You know it’s Kumiko. Predictable, as Matsumoto-sensei said. Tuba-kun! That cherry sapling is tall now. Kumiko’s teaching station has her old shared executive notes and her mug from home. Kumiko’s voice fills us in on her friends, but nothing about Shuuichi! KyoAni shows off its 3D skills. Look at Kumiko strut toward the practice room. She walks like Asuka. And she has Shuuichi’s sunflower hairpin from their date in high school. The club president looks just like Reina. Welcome to the Kitauji High School Concert Band! The end.

Final Thoughts.

I don’t have any last thoughts for Hibike! Euphonium. I’m happy KyoAni returned from its terrible arson attack and poured the studio’s dedication and emotion into the project. Fans of the light novel could complain about the twist the anime adaptation placed on the solo decision between Kumiko and Mayu. The original story had Kumiko win without the extra vote. However, the author approved the anime’s change because it fit better with Kumiko’s meritocracy commitment. In the last episode, Kumiko and Reina crying for each other emphasized a more emotional impact on their relationship’s themes of growing up and separating.

Kumiko’s euphonium story is over. Could another Kitauji character tell a similar story in the same setting? I hope not. Kumiko, Reina, and Kitauji’s tale of growing, accepting loss, balancing life with artistic goals, and exploring the emotions (both positive and negative) of friendship, loyalty, and ambition played out to the end of Hibike! Euphonium.

I am curious about Taki-sensei’s plans after he fulfilled his goal of winning gold for his wife. Did he leave immediately? Did Reina ever confess to him? And did Shuuichi finally connect romantically with his childhood friend, Kumiko? The next piece for these characters begins, but not for us.