Kyoto Animation (Hyouka, Hibike! Euphonium) have announced a new project to celebrate the birthdays of the characters from the anime adaptation of Ayano Takeda and Nikki Asada’s Hibike! Euphonium (Sound! Euphonium): the Hibike! Euphonium Birthday Concert. However, there is no actual concert.
To celebrate the birthdays of the series’ main characters, a new project has been announced where fans of the anime can purchase special products revolving around the character. From today till June 5th, it is all about Kumiko Oumae. The products are only available for order during this time and are expected to ship in early August, in time for the characters birthday (August 21). The Kumiko products available for order include:
- A Canvas Art of Kumiko for ¥5,400 (~ US$49.00)
- An Kumiko Acrylic Stand for ¥1,620 (~ US$14.70)
- A badge of Kumiko for ¥864 (~ $US$7.85)
Other character products will be available for order during these months:
- Kaori Nakaseko, Early June 2016
- Haruka Ogasawara, Late July 2016
- Sapphire Kawashima, Late July 2016
- Asuka Tanaka, Late September 2016
- Hazuki Katou, Mid November 2016
- Yuuko Yoshikawa, Early January 2017
- Reina Kousaka, Late January 2017
- Natsuki Nakagawa, Early March 2017
The second season of the TV anime will be airing this October.
A compilation film of the anime was announced at the recent Kyoto Animation & Animation Do Fan Event, alongside the second season of the Hibike! Euphonium anime. The compilation film retells the events of the 13 episode series, depicting the band’s journey as they reach the prefectural band competition.
The anime’s main cast includes:
- Tomoyo Kurosawa (Miria Akagi in The IDOLM@STER: Cinderella Girls) will voice leading character Kumiko Oumae, who plays the Euphonium
- Ayaka Asai (Mio Naruse from Shinmai Maou no Testament) as Hazuki Katou, a Tuba player
- Chika Anzai (Chaika Travant in Hitsugi no Chaika) is voicing Reina Kousaka, a Trumpet player
- Moe Toyota (Sakura Inami in Kyoukai no Kanata) who will voice Sapphire Kawashima, who plays the Contrabass
- Minako Kotobuki (Tsumugi Kotobuki in K-ON!) will voice Asuka Tanaka, who plays the Euphonium
- Takahiro Sakurai (Shougo Makishima in Psycho-Pass) will voice Noboru Taki, the brass band club’s advisor
The main production staff of the anime includes:
- Director: Tatsuya Ishihara (Clannad, Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!)
- Series Director: Naoko Yamada (K-ON!, Tamako Market)
- Series Composer: Jukki Hanada (Steins;Gate, Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!)
- Anime Character Designer: Akiko Ikeda (K-ON! and Tokyo Ghoul Animator)
- Instrument Designer: Takahashi Hiroyuki (K-ON!)
- Sound Director: Yota Tsuruoka (Clannad, Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!)
- Music Composer: Akito Matsuda (GLASSLIP, Bokura wa Minna Kawaisou)
- Animation Studio: Kyoto Animation (Hyouka, Amagi Brilliant Park)
Hibike! Euphonium: Kitauji Koukou Suisougaku-bu e Youkoso (Sound! Euphonium) is a music novel series written by Ayano Takeda and illustrated by Nikki Asada. The series began in December 2013 being published by Takarajimasha. To date a total of 4 volumes have been published. A manga adaptation of the series was launched in November last year, by Ayano Takeda and Hami that is being published in Takarajimasha’s Kono Manga ga Sugoi! Web magazine. An anime adaptation of the series was produced for the Spring 2015 anime season by Kyoto Animation (Hyouka, Amagi Brilliant Park) with Tatsuya Ishihara (Clannad, Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!) directing. The anime ran for a total of 13 episodes.
Here is a synopsis of the series from MAL:
Hibike! Euphonium begins when Kumiko Oumae, a girl who was in the brass band club in junior high school, visits her high school’s brass band club as a first year. Kumiko’s classmates Hazuki and Sapphire decide to join the club, but Kumiko sees her old classmate Reina there and hesitates. She remembers an incident she had with Reina at a brass band club contest in junior high school.
The Hibike! Euphonium Birthday Concert project is underway selling various products to celebrate the characters’ birthdays. First up is Kumiko, where orders are available until June 5th. The second season of the Hibike! Euphonium anime will air this October during the Fall/Autumn 2016 anime season.
You can visit the anime’s website here: http://anime-eupho.com/
And follow their Twitter: @anime_eupho
“Hibike! Euphonium”, “Sound! Euphonium”, images, video and all associated brands and titles © 2016 Ayano Takeda, Takarajimasha, Kyoto Animation and the Hibike! Production Committee