Reviews

Jan 8, 2025
Mixed Feelings
Hibike! Euphonium as a series will forever stay dear to me, no other anime could make me emotionally attached like this did. It hurts that I could "only" rate it 7, but there are few issues that are hard to look past and hindered the finale.

For the final season KyoAni dropped the ball, it felt like the series lost its identity towards the end. There was barely any music, the bad storylines took priority over interesting ones, the drama could've been better. Objectively it wasn't a bad season but considering that it's part of Hibike! Euphonium it could've been significantly better. It would've been as easy as scoring on an open net, yet they decided to make anime original changes, waste time on the wrong characters.

I can't understand the motive behind leaving a gazillion storylines open in favor of dragging out the most obvious drama about Mayu and Kumiko competing for the soli part. The LN could be blamed for introducing this character in the first place, but it was at KyoAni's discretion what to focus on. The entire season felt rushed, but no wonder.

Year 1 consisted of 2 seasons and 1 movie. Year 2 consisted of 3 movies (it was outrageous tho). You'd expect them to learn from their mistakes, the insane rush and lack of individual focus in year 2 was clear as day. Yet they decided to finish off the last year in just 13 episodes, and this is the end result. The complete lack of focus on the individuals of the band felt so distant, the emotional bond to the entire series was disregarded completely. It's as if the characters were never important to the story in the past, a proper sendoff and more detailed after story was expected for the 3rd years, but it ended like it was a one-man show with Kumiko.

I don't understand the 8.72 rating on this season, but I don't blame anyone either, the emotional attachment to the series as a whole makes it harder to critize it.

It's sad it had to end like this, but I don't regret watching Hibike! Euphonium at all. For me it will always feel unfinished.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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